An interview with Major League/Dynasty/D2E's Derek "Twink" Jones
Derek "Twink" Jones
Why do you like the game of softball?
competition
Who is the best softball player you have ever seen?
I have several, it is hard to pick just one. The most dominating hitter with a high average and power would be Dirk Androff, the smartest would be Mike Bolen because he hit his pitch every at bat, unreal, and all around would be Charles Wright because he gloved it and hit it for years.
Where do you call home?
Brasstown, NC
What do you do for a living?
I work for Windstream Communication
What is your softball background as a player?
I started out with a team in 1988 called Big Daddys out of Marietta, GA then Major League, Lighthouse, Steeles, Reese Roosters, R&D, US Vinyl,Aftershock Easton, D2E, and back to where I am at now with Major League the team I was with in 1989.
How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
I was playing with a local team called ODI that had a lot of older guys that had played big time ball their whole life. They introduced me to a guy named Porky Bagwell who had a team called Big Daddys and he had sponsered teams like big daddys and big eds royals for 2 decades and when he decided to get out he introduced me to a great man Cecil Alford [Lighthouse] and thats how it got started.
Who are you managing/sponsoring in 2012?
Major League/Dynasty/D2E
What does your roster and schedule look like?
We are playing all the conference tournaments in the Southeast.
matt rando
david samples
greg milsap
rodney roland
derek jones
jason magnum
josh robinson
criag davis
dakota beavers
mike banks
heath center
dj johnson
matt easterday
ricky hayes
coach donnie munford
What is your teams goal for 2012?
We are gonna sanction 'C' but we hope to compete in 'B' also and all conference tournaments. We have some young talent with 3 older guys like myself.
Where do you look for talent?
'C' and 'D' level. I think that their are a lot of 'C' and 'D' players that can play with the upper guys, they just need a chance, and most of them are hungry and looking to improve.
What is more important, talent or attitude?
Attitude. I've seen teams with the best talent get wore out by teams that didn't have near the talent but had good attitude and played good together.
What is your favorite sports team?
Them Dirty Birds [Atlanta Falcons]
What is your favorite sport other than softball?
Basketball
Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?
Well I can't stand to hear someone talk about run ruling someone, it will come back to haunt you, just play til the game is over. It happened to us at the Smokys one yearr, we [lighthouse] was playing Ritchs and we was up by 24 needing 1 run to end it in the 3rd. Well we didnt get that 1 run and it came a flood and when we came back ritchs put up about 50 to run rule us, unbelievable.
What is your most memorable softball moment?
Winning the ASA Super in 1995 against Ritchs who was the best team for a decade. There was some great players on that field that night. It was my 1st World
Is slowpitch softball a sport or a game?
both
What is the best improvement upper level softball could make to bring in more sponsors?
Split the players up and only allow 3-4 per team and that will spread the sponsers out to.
What is your favorite non-World tournament?
Smokys no doubt
What can be done to improve the Conference Championships?
Allowing 3 major players a team would help alot.
Is the game better or worse with homerun limits and why?
Worse cause back in the day when there wasn't that much hr limits there was a bunch of teams playing up. But now you have so many sandbaggers that play down that can play up. When i was coming up 'E' class was for rec teams and people just getting into softball and now its a competitive level but i would say that 70% of them could play c. Just my opinion. But you have more athletes come through that can catch hit and run now.
Who was the best team in softball history?
Ritchs Superior
What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on a softball field?
I hate to say it but the Danny Williams episode in Lafeyette, LA. It got crazy.
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