Slowpitch - Softball Nation

        Warren sets up shop in Mount Airy, N.C., the town that was the inspiration for Mayberry, N.C., the fictitious site of the Andy Griffith and Mayberry RFD TV shows.

       Mount Airy is actually Andy Griffith’s hometown.

       This year, Mount Airy is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the Andy Griffith Show that debuted in 1960 and remains a TV re-run favorite.

       “Downtown looks just like Mayberry, with the jail, police car and Floyd’s Barber Shop,” said Warren, a graduate of Mount Airy Senior High. “You can’t believe the tourism … busloads of people coming every day.”

       Let’s not get carried away here. Gomer, Goober and Opie don’t play for East Coast Elite, Aunt Bee isn’t the team mom and none of the sluggers date Thelma Lou.

But Warren’s long-ball crushers and stylish glove men can give their opponents a worse headache than an Otis Campbell hangover.

East Coast Elite posted six straight playoff victories and scored 173 runs en route to the Gold Division title of the SoftballNation Beast of the East title in Petersburg, Va.

Warren’s hand-picked all-star collection hails from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and as far off as California.

“We put this team together this year from about five or six other teams,” said Warren.

So far Elite has played in 13 tournaments and won five times – including a 24-11 rout of Virginia Select in the finals of the Beast.

Warren, who serves as the backup pitcher as well as lineup maker, is a veteran hurler who competed in the past on such juggernauts as Piedmont Fire and Kubota Tractor.

“I think they picked me to be manager because I know just about every softball player there is,” said Warren.

He added:

“I also know about every umpire and tournament director.”

Warren manages and pitches, but does not sponsor the team.

The sponsor, who is also a player, prefers to remain anonymous.

“I will tell you this – our budget this year is about $75,000,” said Warren.

All airline tickets and hotel rooms are covered for the players, along with some meals.

“We’ve got great chemistry,” said Warren. “We make a point of eating out together at every tournament … players, wives, girlfriends and children.

“We don’t have any problem with a bunch of drunks. I’m not saying the guys don’t have a good time, but mostly they just eat dinner and go back to their rooms.”

Elite plans to return to the Old Dominion for two SoftballNation events: Tournament of Champions in Salem, and Gold Nationals in Virginia Beach.

They also plan to play in national tournaments in Las Vegas, Orlando and Peters’ Creek, N.C.

  The most noticeable Elite player is 6-foot-8 first baseman Jesse Maloney, a former Greensboro College baseball All-America.

In Petersburg, Maloney launched a home run estimated at more than 500 feet.

“Jesse’s won a bunch of home-run contests,” said Warren. “But that one he hit in Petersburg will have people talking for a long time.”

 Better watch out - Elite might be as tough in the parking lot as they are on the field.

 The middle infielder is Bill Rhew, a competitive kick boxer who once played baseball in the Chicago White Sox chain.

Joining Elite from Class A power Woodlawn-Miken are Mitch Mabe and Mike Martin.

From California comes Ronni Salcedo, who is a representative for the Elite TAI Sporting Goods firm, based out of Gastonia, N.C.

Several other Elite players are Elite TAI reps.

And then there’s the brawny Elite third baseman … let’s not overlook him.

His name?

Matt Fife.

No, this is not a joke.

“People pick on him all the time,” said Warren with a laugh.

A guy named Fife from a team out of Mayberry?

No, Matt Fife is not related to the world’s most famous deputy, Barney Fife, but it does prove that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.