By Staff
FAN n LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez signs an autograph for Emily Darnell Friday. Lopez and her family are in Meridian for the national softball tournament. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star.
By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
August 4, 2001
While the real heroes of the 2001 ASA Girls 16-Under National Tournament are the girls who are playing, the two most notable people in attendance are a former major league baseball player and the best-known member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
Former major league standout Ray Knight and wife, Nancy Lopez, are with the Albany (Ga.) Crush slow-pitch team. Their middle daughter, Erinn, plays first base for the Crush.
The Crush has lived up to its name, beating Biloxi 8-7 and Troy's Sports Center Powerhouse of Mabelvale, Ark., 18-6 in its first two outings.
Erinn went 3-for-5 in the rout of Powerhouse.
Crush faces the Satsuma (Ala.) Rebels in a winners' bracket contest at 11:30 a.m. today.
Taking in softball tournaments has become habit forming for Lopez and Knight.
In 1978, her rookie year, Lopez won nine LPGA tournaments, including a record-setting five in a row.
She was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame on July 20, 1987, as its 11th member.
In 1997, she crossed the $5 million milestone in career earnings.
Being recognized and asked for autographs are something the two handle quite gracefully.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com or call him at 693-1551, ext. 3234.