St. Pete Times 5/18/05

HONORED ON TWO STAGES

  Doyle Mann, player-manager and founder of the Devil Rays Wheelchair Softball team, has two special honors awaiting him. The Tampa resident, whose team was profiled May 1, in the Times (www.sptimes.com/wheel), has been tapped by the major-league Rays to throw out the first pitch at an upcoming homestand. In addition, he has been chosen to play in a national wheelchair softball all-star game as part of the MLB festivities in Detroit several days before the July 12 All-Star Game.

  Mann was allowed to take one other player from his team to join him and has picked second baseman Tracy Wilkerson of Tampa. The two turned a triple play in their inaugural wheelchair softball tournament May 7-8 en route to a second-place finish behind the Cubs (sponsored by the Chicago Cubs). They beat the Columbus Pioneers 21-14 for the No. 2 spot.