Goldsboro's Rains inducted into N.C. USSSA Hall of Fame

By Phyllis Moore
Published in Sports on January 13, 2014 1:47 PM

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pmoore@newsargus.com

DURHAM -- Bruce Rains got to relive some of his glory days Saturday night as he was inducted into the North Carolina USSSA Hall of Fame.

He was one of six individuals recognized for achievements in softball, receiving an Eagle statue and Hall of Fame ring in the "male player" category. Others inducted for 2013 were Debra Koontz of Clemmons, female player; the late Alan Miller of Greensboro, manager/coach; umpire Sandy Powers of Fayetteville; director Danny Deans of Lucama and Pete Coston of Knightdale, recipient of a specialty award.

This is the 17th class of inductees into the state softball association's hall of fame, according to Andy Richards, eastern director. A committee selects nominees each year for the honor, which has been presented since 1996, he said. So far, 102 have received the distinction.

Rains, 52, is a 1979 graduate of Southern Wayne High School and attended Wayne Community College before graduating from East Carolina University.

But his love of the game of softball began early on and took root when his father, the late Bowser Rains, began taking him to games in Wilson. He recalled being in awe of some of the players, which solidified his own interest in pursuing the sport.

"Throughout my career I always wanted to play (for the USSSA)," he said. "It was always a symbol of being the best. USSSA provided a nice venue."

He amassed a good run on the ballfield, playing in nine USSSA World Series, including one championship in 1990. He was also on the American Softball Association men's championship team in 1985, a runner-up in that category the following year, first runner-up in the super major in 1989, played on the International Softball Association championship team in 1985 and participated on a fourth-place ISA championship team in 1992.

But while the facts and figures might be a distant memory, Rains said he had no trouble recalling the players along the way.

"I could not have had a great career or whatever without a lot of good teammates," he said, adding, "I'm mostly proud of the team I spent five or six years with -- Blanton's in Fayetteville. They flew me all over the country and we won a lot of games."

His own children, Holt and April Grace, may have been too small to witness their dad playing in his heyday. But they, along with his wife, Angie, were there Saturday night to cheer him on.

And Rains, owner of Goldsboro's B&G Grill -- whose initials represent the original ownership, his parents, Bowser and Grace -- would like to think his father was there as well.

"Anybody that knew me playing, my dad was always with me," he said in his acceptance speech. "I would like to thank him. He was always there. I would like to accept this award for my dad, Bowser."

Richards also announced 2014 inductees for the Hall of Fame -- B.J. Fulk of King, male player; Luther White of Pittsboro, coach/manager; umpires Don Young of Wendell and Ray Johnson of Raleigh; and specialty category, Mike Cornell of Charlotte. The female player recipient is yet to be determined.