The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

STEPHANIE Meadows, still sobbing, was too overwhelmed to express her gratitude to the New Providence Softball Association for remembering her son.

The NPSA named their best-of-seven championship that is currently being played in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex in memory of Carl ‘Bang Bang’ Johnson, the manager of the Electro Telecom Lady Hitters, who died during the regular season.

His chair that he normally sits in while at the park was placed on top of the scorer’s booth overlooking the field.

On Saturday night, league president Godfrey ‘Gully’ Burnside officially opened the championship series with Meadows, Johnson’s brother Mario Dawkins, his sisters Sheretta Meadows and Francis Perez and his cousin Betty Ann Mackey all sitting in the stands.

Perez, speaking on behalf of the family, said she’s so excited about the gesture by the NPSA.

“I just see Carl if he was here, just how happy he would be,” she said. “So I’m happy that the softball league took the time and the initiative to dedicate the rest of the season to my brother Carl.

“This is his passion, this is what he loves, so we are happy to be here to share in this memorial for him. We are here to show our support to the league for what they are doing to keep his memory alive.”

Another sister, Sheretta Meadows, said it was a proud day for their family.

“This is probably what Carl would have wanted. Even if he was alive, he probably would have still wanted it,” she said. “We still feel like he’s out here watching the game, so we know he’s enjoying it wherever he is.”

Perez said although she heard about the pennant winning Sigma Wildcats and how dominant they were this year against her brother’s Lady Hitters, she is actually pulling for the Sigma Brackettes.

The Brackettes, the defending champions, found themselves in an 0-2 hole against the Wildcats after losing game two on Saturday night 12-2 just before the opening ceremony was held.

“I have to go with the Brackettes because one of my co-workers, Ernestine (Stubbs, the ace pitcher) is on that team, so I have to support the Brackettes,” Perez said. “She loves softball, so I have to go with the Brackettes. I hope they can win.”

Unlike Perez, Sheretta Johnson said she is sticking with the Lady Hitters, even though they didn’t make the playoffs. “I have to pull for the Lady Hitters because if he knows I have gone against them, he might just want to come out of the grave and slap me, so I have to pull for the Lady Hitters.”

While he’s not around to receive his accolades, the league has made sure that the memory of Carl ‘Bang Bang’ Johnson will live on.