Toni Lovell is not the most decorated softball player to have ever played in the Busch Classic. She is, however, one of the tournament's most recognizable figures.
Lovell apparently holds the lone distinction of having played in all 36 of the tournament's events.
"As far as we can tell, she's the only one who can say she's played in every one of them," tournament director Clint Albright said. "We put the question out on our Facebook page asking if they knew anyone who had played in all of them. No one responded that they did."
This weekend, Lovell and her Lady Swagg teammates are hoping to make a run at the women's division title and qualify for the Women's World Series in Orlando, Fla.
"She just wants to be a part of the game," said Kaci Landers, who has been teammate of Lovell's for the last 12 years. "She just wants to be out here and be a part of it. That's just what makes her Toni."
A 1975 graduate of White Hall, Lovell was living in the northeast Dallas suburb of Sunnyvale when the Busch Classic held its inaugural event in 1979. Lovell said she and her sister became members of the Texas A's because of the team needed players to participate in the Classic.
"We were just a pick-up for the team because they needed outfielders," Lovell said. "They saw us play. After that, we played with them on a regular basis."
Lovell played six years for the Texas team before moving back to central Arkansas. She now lives in Carlisle and has worked the last 30 years with Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Lovell has two sons and two daughters, but never missed a Busch Classic because of a pregancy, having had all of her children in the offseason.
Lovell has played for numerous teams in the Busch Classic. "Too many to count," she says. And many of those teams were "two and Q." But in 2010 while a member of Team Arkansas, Lovell's team won the Classic.
"I was so excited," Lovell said. "After 31 years, it finally came true."
Seven weeks after winning the 2010 Classic title, Lovell's softball career was placed on hold. While driving on I-40 near Earle and heading for a tournament in Tunica, Miss., Lovell was attempting to pass a semi-trailer truck when a tire on the 18-wheeler suffered a blowout.
"It was my first injury and it was a car accident," Lovell said.
Lovell said her car was hit by the truck, thrown across the median and hit three sand barrels.
"Three of my tires were ripped off the car," Lovell said. "It's amazing that when we hit the median that I didn't flip the car several times. I hit the barrels and we went across the median again. We ping-ponged across the highway and were lucky no one hit us."
Lovell and both passengers -- Landers and Nikki Springer -- all survived. Springer was taken to a hospital in Memphis. Lovell was taken to the Forrest City Medical Center. Landers was sore but she played in the tournament later that afternoon.
"The doctors told me my softball career was over," said Lovell, who had suffered a fractured back. But she was back playing six months after the accident.
Lovell has moved from left field to pitcher and now to catcher. Because of the accident, she rarely plays when the fields are slippery because there is an increased risk of reinjuring her back. She admits her playing days are becoming less frequent.
"This year has really slowed down," said Lovell, who, at her peak, was playing 20 of 25 tournaments a year. "It's almost come to a halt. I've played this year, maybe three or four [tournaments]."
Lovell seems, however, intent on playing in the Busch Classic for as long as she can.
"This is one of the highlights of playing softball in Arkansas," Lovell said. "I've always just done it."
Sports on 07/05/2015