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Waterworth field to be dedicated as Metts Field

SALEM

The former West Field at Waterworth Memorial Park will be dedicated and marked as Terry Metts Field at 2 p.m. April 22, honoring a longtime Salem youth coach who died last year.

Donna and Jim Greenamyer, Terry’s sister and brother-in-law, attended the Salem Parks Commission meeting Wednesday to consult on a date for the event.

The commission members agreed unanimously last fall to rename the field in honor of Metts, who actually started his coaching career on that same field. He passed away in August at the age of 61. The family had made the request as a way to honor his time and commitment to the young people of Salem.

A 1973 graduate of Salem High School, Metts established a batting title record of over .500 average that lasted more than 30 years and his coaching career began at age 15 in Salem Junior Baseball and spanned more than 40 years.

During that time, he coached and umpired Salem Junior Baseball, coached Salem High School JV ball, led the 1990 Hot Stove E league team to the state tournaments and proudly held the title of President of Salem Junior Baseball for 10 years.

He also coached Salem Little Quakers football for 15 years, coached Junior Olympic volleyball, coached and refereed basketball at the Salem Memorial Building and started a youth basketball program for high school kids.

Last fall, it was stated that the field will become known simply as Metts Field, similar to Galchick Field named after longtime Salem Junior Baseball coach Bill Galchick and Herman Field named after Salem Junior Baseball founder John Herman.

Jim Greenamyer said the sign is being donated and friends and family will be in attendance for the dedication, which will include some remarks. The commission members will attend.

In another matter involving ball fields, Salem High School assistant varsity girls softball coach Rodney Thorn asked for permission to host a softball tournament at Waterworth Memorial Park Sept. 15-17 as a fundraiser for the high school softball team so team members can take part in a softball session next spring at the Ripkin Experience in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Thorn and varsity head Coach Mike Thorpe have organized tournaments before and Thorn said they’ll be enlisting the help of some softball parents who will handle the money and the concessions. The tournament will include teams for 10 and under, 12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under and 18 and under, all playing 70-minute games with a drop dead rule after 70 minutes for early bracket games.

He said travel teams will come from all over and plans call for putting together a flyer featuring hotels available in the area and restaurants in the city.

“You’re looking at a lot of people coming into the community,” Thorn said.

The goal is to raise $5,000, with any excess given to the athletic boosters. He also said they’ll donate a sum back to the parks department, which is standard practice for tournaments like this.

Recreation Supervisor Shane Franks brought up some issues that occurred during a similar tournament held previously, saying there was a lot of complaining from Salem Community Center members about parking and people driving through from Sunset being asked to pay a fee.

Thorn said that won’t be happening. He said they’ll put up a sign for donations, but that’s it. If someone’s driving through and not going to the tournament, they won’t be bothered.

Commission members saw no problem with the idea and granted the request.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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