For the Love of the Game.

The Kirkwood Adams Community center in Roanoke Rapids 
was filled by baseball talk Tuesday night as the Roanoke 
Rapids Youth Baseball Association (RRYBA) inducted four 
Valley men into the first class of the "RRYBA Hall of Fame".

From the welcome by Al Haskins to the closing remarks by Todd 
Arthur, a couple things were said over and over. For the love 
of the game, I gave it my best, I played with Heart, the memories 
we made as teammates, the impact you made on me as a coach 
and Everyone in the Roanoke Valley missed Les Abshire's all-star 
game winning home-run on the radio years ago.

Guest speaker, former Roanoke Rapids baseball stand-out and former 
Major League Baseball expos pitcher Brian Barns returned home to 
share a few memories from his Youth baseball day in Roanoke Rapids. 
In the 44 years of organized baseball, Barns in the only player to date 
to make it to the Major League action.

 
The former league president from 1971-1984, Alton Dickens was the 
first member inducted in to the RRYBA Hall of Fame, followed by 
League founder and administrator for 44 years Dicey King. Next was 
a former coach for many years and one who gave each of his players 
a nick name Coach Cecil Arthur. The final inductee was the Voice of 
the Roanoke Valley baseball league (play by play announcer) for 
many years, Al Haskins.