No Shamrocks Today (Tuesday 3/19 games)

Field E

Braves VS Cubs 

Today's game today played on Field E at the Diamond Plex softball field had the Braves playing the Cubs for the chance to play the Giants for the National League Championship Game of the Winter Haven Senior Softball League.  

The Braves leadoff hitter, Peterson, started the game with a double, singles by Hill and Frank Miller were followed by base hit from Lautenschlager.  After a 6-4-3 double play Manager Moots batted in the 4th run of the inning.The Cubs started with a single from Kline, doubles from Mundy and Wolfe and a base hit from DePalma and the inning ended with another 6-4-3 double play this time from the Braves infield.  Both teams were scoreless in the second frame.
Walt Leggett just off the DL for eye surgery held the Braves scoreless for the next 3 innings.  Good fielding by the Cubs infielder Ray DePalma and Bill Wolfe turning more double plays.  

The Cubs tallied 4 runs in the 3rd  and 5runs in the 4th
innings.  Score after four was Cubs 12 Braves 4.

Sullivan led off the fifth for the Brave's with a lined single to center, Peterson and Hill followed with base hits also.  Lautenschlager, Ravo, Marinacci, and Moots had base knockers and the Braves tallied 4 runs.   After the Cubs scored a run in the bottom of the inning, the Braves rallied for 5 runs in the 6th to tie the score at 13 runs each. The Cubs came back with 4 of their own in the last of the 6th.

After holding the Braves scoreless in the 7 the Cubbies gave up 5 in the 8th.   In the meantime the Cubs scored 4 in the 7th and 3 in the 8th for a total of 24 runs for the day.  The Braves ran out of steam in the top of the 9th and the final score was Cubs 24 Braves 18.

The game was marked by excellent infield play, as to this writers memory at least 8 double plays were turned today by both teams.  

On the hitting side Bill Wolfe put on the hitting display for the Cubs today totaling 18 bases with a double, 4 triples and a home run. 

Braves Hitters
Peterson, Hill, Milller, Lautenschlager all going 4 for 5
Ravo and Marinacci both with 3 for 5

Cubs
Kline, DePalma  4 for 6 
Mundy and Barnes  5 for 6
DePalma 4 for 6
  

Submitted by 

Don LaMay

 Field D

The Pirates forfeited a game to the Giants so we played a game trading players.

The Giants plated one run in the first, and four in the second.

The Pirates scored five in the top of three to tie the score on singles by G Baker and Ducham, Stepp tripled, Ragonese reached on a error, Lyons singled, Smith singled, Ayer singled. 

The Giants went on to score five- three-zero-one -four to put the game away.

Hitters for the Giants

Bloom 3-5

B. Miller 4-5

Mahon 3-5 with a triple

Thompson 5-5 hit for circuit

Black 4-5

Hitters for the Pirates

G Baker 3-3

Ducham 2-4

Stepp 2-4

Ayer 2-4

Field C

The last game of the regular season saw the Rays, Tigers and Red Sox playing out the schedule while both the Sox and Tigers had a chance to take the lead for 3^rd place in the American League.   

The final score was Tigers 16, Rays 14 and Red Sox 5.  This gives the Tigers a 2 point lead for 3^rd place.

Leading Hitters

Tigers

Sammy Lopez 3 for 4, 2B

Byrd 3 for 3, 2B

Rays

Don Scarbrough 3 for 4,2B

Frank Jacobs 3 for 4, 2B

Red Sox

Bob Zelazny 3 for 3,3B

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Submitted by

Bob Hite

Field B

Aretha Franklin sang it, the Angels and Rangers feel it: R-E-S-P-E-C-T.  That was the atmosphere that surrounded today’s game, on Field B, between the two teams tied at the top of the American League standings.  Ranger’s manager, Nick Matta, was throwing complimentary bouquets at the rival Angels team.” I think they are loaded with players who can smash the ball, especially the long ball.”  Angel’s acting manager, Les Jacobson, returned the compliments, saying that he felt the Rangers had a deep lineup. He called out a wry compliment from the dugout, “Nick, when does the bottom of your lineup come up to bat?”

In between the kind words, respect and good humor, a game was played between the two teams. The Angels started out by taking the lead, outscoring the Rangers 4-1, in the first inning. Greg Denny, Juan Toro, Les Jacobson and Russ King all scored for the halos in the first frame.

The game stayed a low scoring affair for three innings and then the flood gates opened up. The Rangers scored 5 runs in the 4^th, 5^th, 6^th and 7^th innings. Everyone in the Rangers lineup swung a hot bat in those four innings. I think we were excited to have teammate, Don Ing back from Canada. Don made the long trip down from Ontario to play in the games this week and to visit friends.  As they say in the TV show, “Duck Dynasty”, we were happy, happy, happy to see him. The Angels were able to answer back with 5 runs in their half of the 4^th inning and again in the 7^th, they scored 5 runs. The score after 7 innings was Rangers 23- Angels 14.

Both teams saw the goose in the 8th inning.  In the 9^th inning the Rangers added 4 runs and the Angels answered with 2.

Final score: Rangers 27- Angels 16.

The Rangers won this game; to place them in 1^st. However, the championship is on the table Friday, as the Rangers and Angels face off one last time.  Both teams will take the field with the same respect for one another and try to end the season with a win.

Leading Hitters:

Rangers

Sam Cuscovitch, 5 / 5 with a double.

Nick Matta, 5 / 5 with a double.

Fred Dampier, 5 / 5.

Jim Goodhue, 4 / 5.

Joe D’ Herin, 3 / 4 with a sac.

Regis Finnegen, 3 / 5 with two doubles.

Jack Benson, 3 / 5 with a triple.

Angels

Juan Toro, 4 / 5 with two doubles and a HR.

Greg Denny,  3 / 5.

Les Jacobson, 3 / 5 with a double.

Russ King, 3 / 5 with a triple.

Submitted by

Nick Matta