James ‘Beaver’ Burch

 

Player (Slow-pitch)

 

Inducted 2004

 

Beaver started playing softball in North Carolina in 1969.  During that time, he played in four National tournaments and seven State tournaments.  He moved to Virginia in 1979 and continued to play through 2004 on powerhouse teams such as Ray’s Exxon, Kirk’s Glass, Larry’s Painting and Bethel Baptist.  He was on six City League Championship teams.  He played in twenty Metro tournaments, ten Regional tournaments with one MVP award, and twenty-five State tournaments with one MVP award.  He also played in twenty-five National tournaments that included twelve Church National tournaments that had ten top finishes.  Beaver received three MVP National tournament awards.  Beaver had a lifetime batting average over .600 with over six hundred homeruns.  He played in over 3,500 games with at least two hundred local tournament wins.  Beaver won many defensive player awards.  In addition, Beaver served as a manager, umpire, TVASA Senior and Church Commissioner and the Senior Association President.