(Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)

PARKERSBURG – The ranks of the Mid-Ohio Valley Softball Hall of Fame will grow by 22 during induction ceremonies at Moose Lodge 1118 on Saturday.

A total of nine players, three coaches, two umpires, one director, one legend, one team and five sponsors will comprise this year’s hall of fame class, according to MOVSHOF Board of Directors Chairman Jimmie Bee of Parkersburg. Additionally, the enshrinement status of the late Terry Lazear will be upgraded to Legend.

Activities begin at 5:30 p.m. with a meet and greet, followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the induction ceremony at 7 p.m.. At the close of the evening, the hall of fame will stand more than 180 members, according to Bee.

Legends

Terry Lazear: A long-time member of the Hall of Fame under the player category, Lazear’s status will be posthumously upgraded to Legend, which is the highest honor the MOVSHOF bestows upon an individual. The MOVSHOF’s Draft Tournament Women’s Home Run Derby is named in Lazear’s honor and memory.

Donna Newberry: It would be difficult to find a person who’s accomplished more in the sport than the late Newberry, who was a superb center fielder and all-around player before becoming a nationally-recognized collegiate coach. A 1969 graduate of Parkersburg South High School, Newberry coached women’s softball at Muskingum University for 36 years. During that time, her teams won 18 Ohio Athletic Conference titles, made 18 NCAA postseason appearances and earned eight trips to the NCAA Division III World Series. Newberry’s 2011 Muskies squad won the Division III World Series.

Newberry’s 907 wins at Muskingum are the most by any Division III women’s softball coach and she is the only person to be named National Coach of the Year in two different sports (softball and basketball).

Players

Tony Burke: Before the days of limited arc on pitches, Burke, known as “Turn Around Tony”, could, it is said, “make it rain”, throwing pitches high into the air and then making them drop into the strike zone (a.k.a. the bucket). Also known for his fielding prowess, the late Mr. Burke, of Parkersburg, was a standout on some great Walker Parkersburg squads, including the 1971 state champions.

Larry “Hank” Butler: Big-time power hittting second baseman for Cowgill Chevrolet in Caldwell, Ohio. In one season, Butler teamed with three teammates to smash 80 home runs in 35 games. Also starred on The Port men’s 35-older teams, which were loaded. Butler is one of several players from that juggernaut to be inducted into the MOVSHOF. Butler’s nickname, reportedly, is a reference to major league baseball home run champion Hank Aaron.

Amy Grady: Known as “The Senator” during her playing days on championship Fruth Pharmacy teams. The native of Leon, W.Va., joins several of her Fruth teammates in the hall of fame. Fruth won the 2010 WSL world championship.

Greg James: One of the finest all-around players to ever suit-up in the area, the late Mr. James was a great hitter and base runner. Known as “The Boss”, this superb athlete starred on, among others, the Royal Crown, Foodland and Baron Men’s Shop (Athens, OH) powerhouse teams. James’ hometown was Bidwell, in southeastern Ohio.

Deanna McKenzie: Better known as “Dee”, the McConnellsville, Ohio, native was a great all-around player with power. McKenzie is still active in senior leagues. She started playing at age 14 in the Ohio Power League in Beverly.

Ron Merritt: Star pitcher for the legendary Parkersburg Independents teams, Merritt excelled at both fast-pitch and slow-pitch for more than 20 years. He hails from Washington, W.Va. and enjoyed a long career in leadership roles away from the field.

Freddie Scott: Known as a great hitter with speed to burn on the basepaths. Often played first base. Scott was a top player on the Walker Parkersburg 1971 state championship team as well as the strong Jimbo’s squads.

Jessica Trippett: A standout multi-sport athlete at Parkersburg High School, Trippett was a star pitcher and opposite field power hitter for a number of highly-touted women’s and mixed league teams.

Dick Wigal: First baseman from Washington, W.Va.. Starred on some great Parkersburg Independents squads.

Coaches/Managers

John Badgley: A baseball player at Parkersburg South, Badgley was a power-hitter as a player (Eastern Electric and other teams) and also found much success as a coach, particularly with the Kompak II squads, which won a pair of state championships in the one-pitch division. The Badgley-coached St. Ambrose teams were forces in church league ball for many years. “Badge” also gained notoriety as a promoter of sports collecting hobby events and as an athletic official.

Bob Dye: Spent more than 30 years coaching teams in the Marietta area and won more than 200 trophies. Dye’s teams won the 1977 Marietta City League upper and lower bracket championships on the same night. Retired from coaching in 2010.

John Workman: Coached Tyler Trucking teams and two world championship teams. Also coached one of only two West Virginia men’s teams to place in men’s major tournament (fifth in 2011 Cincinnati major). Workman is a native of Charleston.

Umpires

Dean Brannon: Versatile umpire from Vienna who’s called games in youth fast-pitch, slow-pitch and high school ranks in West Virginia. He was a member of the Ohio-West Virginia Baseball/Softball Association for more than 210 years. Also served as a football official at levels from youth through high school and onto the collegiate ranks.

Rocky Morris: Has served as an umpire for 46 years. Called games in the Music City Major in Nashville as well as at Universal Studios. Was a player of note before becoming an umpire.

Director

Joe Muscati: The late Mr. Muscati ran Waverly leagues and tournaments from the 1940s to ’70s. Donated monies received from tournaments to local Little League baseball program. Well-known Justice of the Peace. Passed away in 1990.

Team

Premier Keiser: Won a world championship in the girls’ 13-under division earlier this year.

Sponsors

DuPont Washington Works (DERC): A mainstay in the industrial leagues for many seasons. DuPont sponsored teams which won two AISA Industrial national championships. These teams were previously inducted into the MOVSHOF. Many DuPont players are in the hall of fame.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 972: Long-time sponsor of Marietta teams, right up to the present. One of its teams won a big midwest IBEW tournament.

Walker Parkersburg: Sponsored a strong team for many years in the industrial leagues, WP won the 1971 state championship and two of its many skilled players are being inducted this year.

Thermo Fisher/Forma Scientific: Long time sponsor of successful teams. Was a featured team at the draft tournament.

Tyler Trucking: Sponsored some of the greatest teams in the history of softball in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Based in Bloomingrose, W.Va.. One of the feature teams at this year’s MOVSHOF draft tournament. Tyler won the 2006 NSA 35-over world championship.