The weather is changing in Winter Haven

Well, we are finally back to playing softball again after two games were rained out. The weather in Winter Haven this morning was delightful. The ballplayers were frisky and ready to go.

The new Commissioner and BoD members were announced today (effective 10/15) with Bob Zelazny taking the helm from Don Witmer. Welcome aboard Bob and thank-you Don for 4 great years. Keep your eye on this space for the complete election results.

Bob and Don change watch

Forty Seven ball players showed up and and we had 4 teams. Games were played on Field B and Field C.

Players on field B found themselves with ideal playing conditions and two evenly matched teams, at least on paper. Expectations were high for a very competitive game. Unfortunately it was not to be. 

The game started with both teams managing only one run apiece from the top of the line up. It was a different story the following inning with Josh Wells starting a five run rally resulting in Wells, Downs, Sessnink, Merritt, and Bloom crossing the plate. 

Team Thompson was shut out in the second after two great catches by Marshal Bloom in the outfield. After sending nine batters to the plate in the second, Team Wells was shut down in the third and opened the door for Team Thompson, who managed to put up four runs after the first two batters had made outs. 

The fourth inning fortunes turned for team Thompson. Team Wells scored four runs highlighted by a triple by Tommy Wise. Jimmy McPartlin was the lone base runner for Team Thompson in the bottom of the inning. 

The fifth and sixth inning were interesting in that both teams managed three runs apiece Team Wells scored zero in the fifth and three in the sixth while Team Thomson did just the opposite scoring three in their half of the fifth and then being shut out in the sixth. 

The seventh inning saw Josh start another rally for his team and score two runs bringing their total to fifteen. It looked like Team Thompson was going to make a game of it as the middle of the line up managed to score four runs and get close. But alas all good things must come to an end. 

Team Wells must have had a team meeting between innings because they came out swinging and scored eleven runs in the last two innings with almost everyone hitting the ball hard. His motivational speech must have carried over to the defense as gloves that previously were suspect managed to hold onto everything and Team Thompson was unable to close the vast disparity in runs scored.

Final score Team Wells 26 and Team Thompson 14. 

Key players in the game included:

 

Tommy Wise... six for six with a triple

Steve Hill.........four for five and a solid thrid base

Bob Hite.........four for four with a triple 

Bob Zelazny....four for four with three doubles

Les Jacobson..six for six with no homers.

We want to welcome back Les "the big slambino" Jacobson and Floyd Welton who played with us today and Duff Hill who joined us today as a regular.

Big Les Jacobson (nice color-coordinated sunglasses Les!)

AND  Thanks to Chuck Duff for umpiring the game on B Field.  It's nice to have an umpire that knows the rules and hustles out to get a better view of the plays.  Thanks Chuck.

Chuck & Dick watch a Bobby Z drive

Big Russ is recovering nicely

On Field C, Jose Rivera started the game with an "in the park" home run but that was all Team Radlein could get across the plate that inning. In the bottom of the first inning, Jimmy Laffoon hit a gaper for a triple and was brought home by a hit from Frank Jacobs.

The game was a pitching duel between George Radlein and Nick Matta until the 8th inning. With the score tied at six all, team Matta had a big inning started by Jimmy Laffoon. Frank Miller got the last hit for the maximum of 5 runs for that inning.

The top on the ninth inning looked promising for Team Radlein when  newcomer Rick Woodard led off with a long ball over Freddie Gonzalez's head. Unfortunately, Rick didn't know about Freddie's speed and Jimmy's arm and got thrown out at third base. A great play from Freddie and Jimmy.

On Field C, we had two new ball players today. Please welcome to Rick Woodard and Jim Hamil to Winter Haven Senior Softball. Frank Miller is back with us again and can still hit the ball.

Leading Hitters of Field C were Eddie Kline, Frank Miller, Johnny Byrd and Richard Moots. They were all 3 for 4.

A big thanks to Joe D'Herin for umpiring on Field C. He did a great job.

Welcome Back Joe!