Jones, Paul (PJ)

If one was lucky enough to have followed PJ Jones around softball parks, they would have discovered a couple of constants concerning PJ's roundball game-#1, he could always be seen with a smile on his face and always had fun while playing and #2, PJ's talent was second to none as he possessed a rare combination of base hitting and power to go along with defensive skills that allowed him to pitch, play infield and outfield on a high level.

His jack of all trades defensive skillset earned him an All-American award in the "utility" category with JWM/Herb's from Riverside, California at the #1 tournament of 1990, the ASA Super Nationals. Jones hit .700 at the Super which was the norm for him and that .700+ routine each weekend secured PJ several other all-tournament and individual awards at venues around the Bluegrass Region and beyond. At the 1995 Mt. Laurel Classic in Pineville, KY he hit .782 with 9 homers. In back-to-back seasons, 1996 and 1997, PJ eclipsed the 800 mark at.808 and .850 respectively, both times taking home the MVP from Maryville's East Tennessee Spring Open. His 1996 team was Chip's based out of Nashville, and in 1997 it was Sports World from Lebanon, TN.

Hitting 700 from the left side of the plate seemed natural for PJ who had a beautiful swing. Perhaps it looked so easy for the lefty because of his Minor Leagues.

fundamentally sound baseball background which enabled him to be drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1992 where he played a couple of seasons in the Minor Leagues.

As mentioned before, PJ's raw athletic ability enabled him to accumulate many individual awards, yet his team-first attitude mixed in with a class clown personality kept his teammates loose and at ease in otherwise tense softball situations which seemed to equate to many wins and several tournament championships.

An example of his aloofness comes several times a weekend when, in mid stride and just at contact with the soon to be base hit, one could hear him belt out a high pitched BOOO-WHOOP. Several giggles could be heard from each dugout until his fourth or fifth BOOO-WHOOP of the game when the giggles turned to laughter for his team, yet his opponents giggles became silent. PJ always explains he wasn't trying to rub any dirt in his opponents by his antics, he was simply just trying to have fun.

He learned to have fun in the early 90's with the Bowling Green Merchants when he met his lifelong friend, Randy Cropper (Crop Dawg as he was affectionately known). Those Merchants won two Kentucky State titles before Mr. Jones went on to play for Kentucky giants such as Vinnie's/Astros and Planet Softball where he won a couple of "AA" Kentucky State titles as well as finishing 4" in Salem, OR at the ASA Major National championship.

After his Kentucky days, he went south of the border to Tennessee with Chip's and Sportsworld, then out to the West Coast with Herb's and back to the Bluegrass where he ended his career with a world title playing for Bertie's/Hub City.

"I loved the people I met and the places I got to see as much as the sport itself," recalls a humble Jones. The atmosphere at the Smoky Mountain Classic was PJ's favorite with fans filling the hillsides of Sandy Springs Park in Maryville, TIN, and "I couldn't wait until that Ray guy (Ray Molphey) announced your name as you stepped into the batter's box. That was the moment you knew something special was going on." A close second for places to play and see was at Sherbrooke Canada's Yvon Pif DePatie Memorial Classic. There were 20,000 plus spectators over the Canada Day weekend. PJ said, 'they gave us massages, we got to hit in home run contests, and they all spoke French." For a man from Russellville, KY, that was a big accomplishment, according to PJ's mother and hero, Wavie Jones. And, for this man from Russellvile PJ Jones another milestone will be met today with a big smile and maybe even a big BOOO-WHOOP!