As a 10-year old growing up in West Hartford, Scott Phelps would walk to Sterling Field and watch men's fast-pitch softball games.

"It was the first place that I could go by myself," Phelps said. "It was probably five or six blocks up the road. ... It was a big deal back in the '60s, particularly when I was a kid. It was the game for men versus slow pitch or golf."

Never did Phelps imagine that one day he'd join some of those same players in the Connecticut Amateur Softball Association's Hall of Fame.

Phelps, a 62-year-old Old Lyme resident, will be recognized for his accomplishments and contributions to the sport during the Hall of Fame awards dinner on Oct. 1 in Milford. He'll be one of eight fast pitch inductees.

"It's a surprise when it happens," Phelps said. "It's great news certainly. I'm very happy about it. The ironic thing is that I started going up to field to watch guys play at 10 years old and I ended up being coached by one of the guys who was the catcher in that league and ended up winning a state tournament in 1980 with one of the pitchers who was still pitching."

His roots are planted deeply in the state. He grew up in West Hartford, graduated from Conard High School, earned his undergraduate degree from Eastern Connecticut State University and attended graduate school at UConn. He's lived in Old Lyme since 1978.

He has led a busy and productive life, raising four children with his wife, Daria. They have five great grandchildren. He retired after a 33-year career at the former Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau. Four years later, he returned to the work force. He's serving as president of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau.

"I'm having a good time," Phelps said. "A lot of good things are happening. It keeps me young."

The Phelps family always has been active in sports.

Daria used to go down to the field and hit Scott ground balls.

"She would try to get the ball past me," Phelps said. "I was always willing to get in front of the ball, so it was hard to hit the ball by me. I didn't care if it went off my nose or wherever, as long as I knocked it down. At third base, if you knocked the ball down, you'd have a pretty good chance of throwing a guy out."

His brother, Buddy, who lives nearby in Old Lyme, already has been inducted in the Hall of Fame, capping off a 40-year playing career. Buddy once tied New York Yankee great Mickey Mantle in a softball home run hitting exhibition in 1972.

The two Phelps brothers were teammates and shared the infield, as Scott played third base and Bud shortstop. They formed quite a dynamic defensive duo.

"It's very cool thing," Phelps said of joining his brother in the Hall of Fame. "I'm very happy about that. He's few years older than me. He always let me play with the older kids growing up."

Phelps started playing softball in 1972 as a 17-year-old, joining the Spigot Cafe team. He was on multiple teams in the West Hartford Fast Pitch League, including Cypress Arms Restaurant that captured three straight state championships from 1978-80. He spent many Memorial Day weekends in Groton competing in the Jim French Fast Pitch Tournament, which fielded teams from around New England, at Washington Park.

His career stretched all the way to 1986, leaving when his third child was born.

Men's fast pitch softball glory days are long over. Slow pitch has taken over.

"It's sad for all us that played to know that men really aren't playing it anymore," Phelps said. "It was an enjoyable sport."

He still stays in touch with many of his former softball teammates. He plans to talk about all the special relationships that he formed during his 10 minutes of time allowed for his speech on the Hall of Fame induction night.

"All the guys going in are going to bring a gang of friends and family," Phelps said. "It should be a good night. I'm looking forward to it."

g.keefe@theday.com