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Tom Heffernan Memorial Softball League heats up Milton diamonds

Fun co-ed league named for loved local
Balls Deep second baseman Josh Lofland makes a running catch to end a big 684 inning. The Balls Deep team fell to 684 10-2 in the opening game of the Tom Heffernan Memorial Softball League. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
September 11, 2023

A 12-team, coed, semi-competitive softball league had its inaugural games at the Milton Little League complex Sept. 5, when the action was hot as the summer night.

The Tom Heffernan Memorial Softball League is an informal affair honoring the local insurance agent who died July 27, 2022, after a battle with lung cancer. Tom formed a coed softball team called the Beach Bums and is remembered for his sense of humor and sports knowledge.

“A couple other players and I took over running the informal coed softball league,” said Rob Baxley. “We were having a preseason team captains meeting when we heard of the passing of Tom. We decided to call the league the Tom Heffernan Memorial Softball League, with the approval of his daughter who still plays. Tom had been a staple in the league. We have 12 teams that love the game and want to enjoy fun, semi-competitive camaraderie, and some friendly banter.”

The teams are Dropping Bombs, 684, Starboard Sliders, PPP, Balls Deep, Croll Construction, Beach Bums, Hunters Creek, Hazzards Electric, The Slammers, Good with Wood and Atlantic Refrigeration. Games are played Monday and Tuesday nights in Milton.

For more information, email Rob Baxley at rbaxley33@yahoo.com.

 

Kavon Trader goes deep for the 684 team.
Alyssa Collins goes yard for 684.
Balls Deep outfielder Carol Fehr robs a 684 player at the fence.
Kenna Justice garners a hit for the 684 squad.
Balls Deep pitcher Alicia Lynch delivers to the plate.
Balls Deep second baseman Josh Lofland makes a diving catch.
The Milton 684 team won its first game 10-2 over the Balls Deep squad, but fell 11-8 to the Hunter’s squad in the second game of the evening. Shown are in back (l-r) Hunter Absher, Nicholas (Doodle) Bradley, Jimmie Allen, Kavon Trader, Kelsi Collins, Barry Bettsa and Hannah Jones. In front are Grace and Rachel Fetterman, Alyssa Collins, Gage and Braylee Betts and Kenna Justice.
Balls Deep right fielder Katie Conlin Rocheleau robs a 684 batter of extra bases.
Balls Deep pitcher Alicia Lynch gets a hit.
Rachel Fetterman from the 684 squad gets the ball in quickly from right.
Balls Deep catcher Stef Stevenson Spigone shows her battle scar from a foul ball.
Kavon Trader slams a hit for 684.
Jimmie Allen drives a hit for the 684 squad.
Balls Deep outfielder Colby Lynch looks to hit the cut off.
Gage Betts of the 684 team throws to first for an out.
Balls Deep outfielder Colby Lynch gets a hit.
Mike Spence goes yard for the Balls Deep squad.
Kaylynn Dick gets a hit.
Jimmie Allen looks to snag a fly ball for 684.
Nicholas (Doodle) Bradley slams a hit for the 684 team.
Balls Deep shortstop Justin Skipper throws out a 684 base runner.
Balls Deep left fielder Colby Lynch gets the ball in quickly after a 684 hit.
Grace Fetterman of the 684 team slams a hit.
Hunter Absher goes yard for 684.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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