John Wayne's Birthday

I guess for our generation John Wayne is as iconic as anyone, standing right there alongside Ronald Reagan and Charlton Heston as symbols of our nationalistic pride.

Anyway we had enough players show up after the holiday weekend to field 4 teams.  I think we were all looking to shed a few pounds of over-indulging on the barbecue and tater salad.

On Servicemaster field we had an American League battle with the visitors made up of Kurt Coffman, Ron Butler, Frank Jacobs, Regis Finnegan, Brent Alumbaugh, Larry Grabb, Jim Laffoon (Mgr), Nick Matta, Richie Marino and Brad Brennaman playing against Freddy Gonzalez, Dean Shapler, Don Witmer, Don Scarbrough, Steve Hill, Chris Constantine (Mgr), Sam Lopez, Tom Wise, George Radlein, Bob Reagan, and Herb Oesterreich.

The visitors started out hitting pretty well and after 3 innings held a 7-2 lead but then their bats went silent and they went down scoreless in the next three innings.  Meanwhile the home squad started out slow but by the end of the sixth they had managed to tie things up.  Their scoring was highlited by a Bob Reagan homer in the 5th.

In the seventh the Visiting Team added one run to break the tie.  The Home Boys then added two in the seventh to go ahead on a Tom Wise 2 run inside the park home run shot.  

Then the Visitors tied the game again scoring one in the eighth and since the Home Squad went down run-less, leaving a runner stranded at third, the score was knotted up at 9 runs apiece going into the final frame.

The Visitors then put up their 4th zero of the day leaving the outcome to the Hammer Holder.  Chris Constantine led off the Home half of the ninth with a single followed by a Sam Lopez single, and a fly out.  With one out and runners at first and second, George Radlein stepped up to hit the game winning single, scoring Chris to end the game.  

Great, well played game guys!

Final Score Jim Laffoon's Visiting Team 9 runs on 24 hits and Chris Constantine's Home Squad 10 runs on 21 hits.

Big Hitters on the day

Kurt Coffman 3 for 4 walk
Ron Butler 3 for 5
Regis Finnegan 3 for 5
Brent Alumbaugh 1 for 2 2 walks, sac fly
Dean Shapler 3 for 4
Sam Lopez 3 for 4
George Radlein 3 for 4
 

Memorial Day Friday

Gold's Gym Field

Team Gonzalez, (Hitting): Gonzalez, S. Hill, Butler, Finnegen, Brennaman, Chamlee, Marino, Matta, Osterreid, Moots, Sesnick and G. Baker.

Vs.

Team Lopez, (Sitting): Mundy, Alumbaugh, Bess, Jacobs, Zelazny, Lopez, Holder, Sullivan, Reagan, Borowicz and Mills.

Vs.

Team Rivera, (Fielding): Coffman, Witmer, Scarbrough, Edwards, Rivera, D. Hill, Wells, Byrd, Thompson, Simon and L. Baker.

Players arrived at the ball fields today to find standing water on 3 of the 4 fields. Strange, because it did not rain in to many surrounding areas on Thursday, or Friday morning, but apparently the ball fields saw a storm. There was so much water on Gator Land Field; I thought we were really at Gator Land. I am not certain, but I think there was a 14 foot gator hiding in the water, at the mound. My suggestion was to send Regis out, to check and see if a reptile were present. If one were there, my money would be on Finnegen, no gator is as tough as that ole Irishman.

The one dry field was the Gold’s Gym Field, so we gathered there to play ball. It was either that, or put away the Mikens and get out the Zebco rods and reels. The Gold’s Gym slogan, listed on the dugout sign reads, “change your body, change your life.” Well, judging by the way teams were hitting. The slogan should have read, “change your bats, change your swing.” Something needed to change; runs were hard to come by. Team Gonzalez only scored 6 runs the whole game, that’s a good inning, most days. Perhaps it was not the hitting that sank Freddy’s ship; perhaps it was the base running. Three runners were thrown out trying for an extra base, for team Freddy, one at 2^nd base and two at the plate. Credit the players on team Rivera for making the right throws and credit the catcher, Lee Baker, for making the plays at the plate.

The other teams had hitting problems too, apparently their bats were on a Memorial weekend, holiday break. The winning team only scored 10 runs, the 2^nd place team, otherwise known as the other losing team, only scored 9 runs. Team Rivera also suffered a few base running errors. One runner was thrown out at 1^st base, by outfielder Brent Alumbaugh, after hitting what should have been a single.  Another runner was gunned down at 2^nd base, by left fielder, Frank Jacobs, while trying to stretch a single into a double. Maybe Sammy Lopez, JD Davis and Nick Matta will hold a running clinic before the start of next season. Our motto, “we have plenty of gas in the tank; we just don’t have the tread on the tires.”

The game did have a classic finish. As we went into the 7^th inning the score was Team Gonzalez: 6, Team Lopez: 7 and Team Rivera: 8. Close enough that each team could feel the breath of the team behind them, on their neck, yuck. Team Gonzalez managed to place runners on the corners, in the top of the 7^th.  But that was “all she wrote”, they could not buy another hit and finished with a meager 6 runs.  As a side bar, the saying, “that is all she wrote” is attributed as a saying from WWII, it had to do with the proverbial "Dear John" letters that many servicemen received from sweethearts back home, ending their relationships. "And that's all she wrote" meant it's over - and that's all she wrote me!

Team Lopez came up and had a little bit to shout about, they scored two runs in the middle of the 7^th inning. Dennis Borowicz started out the inning by smashing the green apple down the left field line, for a triple. He then scored on Ray Mills' single, to tie the game, against team Rivera, 8-8.  Mills was then erased on a double play. With two outs, Brent Alumbaugh doubled and then scored the go ahead run on a hit by Bess. The next batter hit a fly out and team Lopez took the field with a one run lead.

Score: Hitting team: 6, Sitting team: 9, Fielding team: 8.

Team Rivera came to bat in the bottom of the 7^th, needing two runs to win the game. Kirk Coffman started the inning with a sharply hit single, to left. He was then forced out at 2^nd base, when Don Witmer hit a ground ball to the second baseman, Bess.  Donny Scarbrough then grabbed a base hit, to put runners at 1^st and second, with one out. Clutch hitter, Roger Edwards, strolled to the plate, Roger had already grabbed base hits with his last two at bats. This time he drew a walk, to load the bases. It was all up to Jose Rivera, team manager, to make the difference. Flash back to Tuesday’s action, Jose won that game with a 2 run, inside the park HR. In this game, Rivera already had a HR, triple and a single. In other words, he came to bat hotter than a holiday burger on a smoky grill. Jose lined the ball into left field, for a single, that scored Witmer and Scarbrough, to win the game. Jose Rivera knows how to take a round bat and hit a round ball, squarely. Happy Memorial Day!

Final Score: Team Gonzalez: 6 - Team Lopez: 9 – Team Rivera: 10

Leading Hitters:

Hitting team:

Doug Chamlee: 3 / 3.

Sitting team:

Brent Alumbaugh, 3 / 4, with a double.

Bess: 3 / 4.

Fielding team:

Kirk Coffman, 3 / 4.

Donny Scarbrough, 3 / 4.

Roger Edwards, 3 / 3 with a sac.

Jose Rivera, 4 / 4 with a triple, HR and game winning hit.

684 and 2/3 Triple Plays

Gator Land Field

 (Hitting): Coffman, Witmer, Laffoon, Zelazny, Scarbrough, Borowicz, Marino, Wells, Sullivan, D. Hill, Leggett and G.Baker

Vs.

(Sitting): B. Miller, Bess, King, Jacobs, Matta, Butler, Brennaman, Reagan,  Moots, Simon, L. Baker, and Osterreid.

Vs.

(Fielding): McPharlan, Lopez, Mundy, Bowley, Wise, Schapler, Rivera, Hill, Alumbaugh, Mills, Radlein and Ota.

Summer has come to Winter Haven and the senior softball players are well aware of it. To quote Dennis Borowicz, ‘If you are not playing on the field, you were like a cow in the pasture, looking for a shade tree.” The 3 teams that played, on Tuesday, did their best to find the shade; most of the innings were played quickly. Players were on and off the field so fast, it looked more like a track meet, than a softball game. Runs were as scarce as hen’s teeth. Several players only batted twice, before the game was over. How fast was the game?  A Richie Marino story lasted longer than most innings. However, when Rich finished one story, he would just start another one, regardless of the inning.  Wayne Mundy once kissed his best girl, Eleanor, longer than those innings lasted. Of Course, that was back in the day when they were dating and listening to the Platters song, “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”, on Eleanor’s back porch. (The year was 1959, for you music trivia buffs). The game ended quickly enough for Bobby Z to make his 11:30 tee time and shoot his usual 84. (Ahem, that’s with quit a few mulligans and 4 foot gimmes.)

Defense ruled the game, in Tuesday's action. Just ask players who were robbed by (Hitting Team player), Duff Hill.  Playing a stellar 2^nd base, Duff sent a few batters back to the dugout not knowing whether to cry, or wind their watch. (I know, I was one of the players shaking my head, after he caught my liner). in all, Duff caught 3 screaming line drives and handled a few hot grounders, in game action. Billy Miller brought the leather, for the Sitting Team.  Billy handled several ground balls at his short field position. He also caught a smoking line drive and almost turned that catch into a triple play. With the bases loaded, Dean Schapler hit a frozen rope, up the middle. Billy was there to grab the hot shot and step on 2^nd  base, for a quick DP. Bill then threw to 3^rd base and almost got Tommy Wise out, for the rare TP. Tommy was a little too fast though; he made it back to the bag in time to get a safe call.  

Here is a little triple play trivia for you to enjoy, according to the Society for American Baseball Research, there have been 684 triple plays in Major League Baseball, from 1876 to April 4, 2011.  In 1973, Baltimore Orioles third baseman, Brooks Robinson, started two 5–4–3 triple plays: one on July 7 against the Oakland Athletics' Gene Tenace, and one on Sept. 20 against the Tigers' Frank Howard. In both cases, Bobby Grich was the second baseman. Playing against the Boston Red Sox on July 17, 1990, the Minnesota Twins became the first (and to date, the only) team in baseball history to turn two triple plays, in the same game. Both triple plays were 5-4-3 plays (Gary Gaetti - Al Newman - Kent Hrbek). Jody Reed was the first out in the fourth inning play and the final out (batting) in the eighth inning play. Despite their defensive heroics, the Twins lost the game 1–0. (Wikipedia).

Back to WHSS action, we welcomed back two players from injury today. Ron Butler had collided with Chuck Duff, a few weeks back, while playing the outfield in Lakeland. Ron was feeling good enough to see some action.  Ron turned in a nice performance in the field and at the dish, he smacked two hits.  We all hope for Chuck’s return, soon.  Don Witmer also returned from knee surgery, to play on Tuesday. To quote Jeff Simon, “Donny picked up right where he left off”, making nice plays in the field. Good to have you guys back!

As for the score and the end result of the game, the Home team captured the win. They managed one big inning, scoring 5 runs, in the fifth inning, which helped them carry the day.  Brent Alumbaugh had the big hit that inning. Brent lined a shot into the left field corner, for an opposite field HR, to help his team.

Final Score:  Hitting team: 9 ---Sitting team: 7---Fielding team: 10.

Leading Hitters:

Hitting team:

Don Witmer, 3/3 with a double.

Sitting team :

Bill Miller, 3/ 4.

Russ King, 3 / 4 with a double.

Fielding team:

Jose Rivera, 3 /3 with a HR, this turned out to be the game winning hit.

Steve Hill, 3 / 3.

WP: Mills.

Carlos May's Birthday

So... Ok you ask, who's Carlos May?  Carlos was a famous White Sox and Angels player from the 60's and 70's who is, at least as far as I know, the only player to have his birthday on the back of his shirt. His uniform number was 17 of course.
 
Despite the great weather, we had our smallest group of the summer with 34 players reporting in. I believe we would have reached four teams if not for all those players on injured reserve. But what the heck, we divided up into three teams, assigned three new managers to run them, and played one heck of a three team game. Team Reagan hit first and scored two runs when Freddie Gonzalez started things off with a double.Team Toro and Team Lopez both went four and out. Advantage Team Reagan. The second inning saw Team Reagan go three and out then took the field and with some rather questionable fielding allowed Team Toro to take the lead as Chamlee,Wise and Radlein all scored. In the bottom of the inning, Team Lopez again failed to score.

The power drain of Team Reagan continued through the next four innings as they managed to score only four runs during that span. Call it bad hitting, poor base running, or outstanding fielding by Team Lopez but runs were few and far between. Team Toro on the other hand put up five runs in the third to build a comfortable lead, Maybe they thought an insurmountable lead, and started to coast a little early. By doing so they failed to score in the fourth and fifth innings. So after losing the lead to Team Lopez who managed to score at least two runs in the third,fourth, and fifth innings: Manager Toro had a team meeting with the result being five runs in their part of the sixth. Having regained the lead and then losing it, Team Lopez put on an awesome display of hitting as Larry Grabb hit a homer and Jeff Simon and Jimmy Laffoon both hit triples as they quickly scored  five runs.

Going into the final inning, the score was Team Reagan 5, Team Toro 13, and Team Lopez 12. Team Reagan started out with five straight hits. Unfortunately poor base running shut the rally down and they were only able to score three runs. With the top of their line up coming the bat, Team Toro took advantage and scored the first two runners. They managed to put three more base runners on but a smooth double play snuffed out the rally. They still held a three run lead over  Team Lopez and showed great confidence as they took the field. Obviously Manager Lopez knew what he was doing as the middle of the line up started off the inning and were pretty impressive. The first three batters each got on and scored (Hill,Byrd, and Thompson) Sammy Lopez then got on and was moved to third on Jimmie McPartlan's hit. With two outs and Sam on third Dennis Borowicz drilled the game winner through the infield. Final score Team Lopez 16, Team Toro 15, and Team Reagan 8.

Outstanding players included:

Wayne Mundy    3 for 4

Larry Grabb    4 for 4 with a homer

Jimmy Laffoon    3 for 4 with a double

Johnny Byrd    4 for 4

Jeff Simon     3 for 4

Nick Matta    winning pitcher 

Chris Constantine    4 for 4

Doug Chamlee    4 for 4 with a double

Tommy Wise    4 for 4

Lincoln Shot!

Yep, and I don't mean that Ron's car has finally given up the ghost.  Booth shot and mortally wounded President Lincoln at Ford's Theater on this day in 1865.  On the other hand ...

What a beautiful day to play softball (is there a bad day?) The National Leaguers played on Gessler Field and had quite a game. The game started with Larry Chrest hitting a double and putting up the first run of the game. Team Mundy responded with four runs while sending ten batters to the plate. Claude Hearn's home run was the catalyst for the outburst.  Both teams scored the same number of runs respectfully in the second. The score being 8 to 1 it looked like it was going to be a blow out.

I guess you should never count your chickens too early as  Team Mundy scored nine runs in the next three innings with  the top of the order scoring all the runs. In the meantime Duff Hill managed the lone run for Team Moots. Team Mundy scored four runs over the next three innings off clutch hitting and a big triple by Wayne Mundy  Team Moots managed to keep the game tied by scoring five runs during the same period, aided by a triple by Ron Thompson.

So going into the last inning  the score was tied. Team Mundy managed four runs off triples by Bill Miller and Dick Sessick to build a substantial lead. Things looked promising as Team Moots got their first runner on. Unfortunately it was then three and out. Final score: Team Mundy 18 and Team Moots 14. Winning pitcher was Ray Mills

Top performers include:

Duff Hill    5 for 6

Claude Hearn    5 for 6 with a home run

Frankie Accevedo    5 for 6

Ron Thompson    4 for 5 with a triple

Dean Schapler    3 for 4

Larry Chrest    5 for 5 with 2 doubles

Wayne Mundy    4 for 4 with a triple

Bill Miller    4 for 5 with a triple

Vassier Bess    4 for 5

The American League match up was called the KC (Kansas City) Connection. Opposing managers were Freddie Gonzalez and Kirk Coffman. As a spectator, the outlook for a good game was in doubt from the onset when the score was  10 to 2 after the second inning. Team Coffman managed one run in each of the first two innings while Team Gonzalez put up five in the bottom of the same innings. In the third Team Coffman scored six runs and were looking pretty awesome until they were bit by the poor base running bug (that bug bit them in three other innings with the same devastating effect).Team Gonzalez appeared to be unstoppable as they but up five more in the bottom of the third.

The next three innings looked like Team Coffman might make a game of it by outscoring Team Gonzalez seven to three. Again, poor base running took Team Coffman out early in each of those innings. Only trailing by three runs and the top of the line up coming to the plate, it looked like there was a light at the end of the tunnel and victory was near at hand. Alas, three and out resulted in an early exit as Team Gonzalez cemented the victory without having to bat in the ninth.

Outstanding performers include:

Kirk Coffman    4 for 5 with a double

Russ King        4 for 5. with a double

Dennis Sylvester    3 for 4

Herbie O    3 for 4

Freddie Gonzalez    3 for 5 with two doubles

Juan Toro    3 for 4 with two doubles

Chris Constantine    3 for 4

Jeff Simon    3 for 4

Larry Powell    3 for 4

Nick Matta    winning pitcher

Mother's Day Friday

As Yogi would say "It's like deja vu all over again' ... some days are like that especially on the softball diamond.

 

The Short Porch

With Winter Haven Fitness Day taking most of the complex we were limited to fields A and E. The National League contingent was assigned to Field A where the outfield fences measured a mere 210 feet. You can imagine the gleam in the eyes of some of the hitters as they could see ball after ball clearing the fence and them doing the Jacobson trot around the base path. Well, we burst their bubble by instituting a few new rules for the game. The first was ground rule doubles for balls over the fence, second was that the extra fielder could play anywhere since we were playing with ten fielders, and thirdly (and totally by accident) we implemented the flip flop rule incorrectly. The last one was okay as everyone was pretty much spent what with providing coaches, umpires, runners for other folks, and then a fielder to the opposing team. Having said all that the game and sportsmanship was great and everyone had a good time.

The game started with Team Marino (yes he was one of today's managers) getting off to an early two run lead on solid hitting by Thompson and Marino. Team Mundy responded scoring 5 runs as the first five batters scored. Duff Hill planted his first of two over the fence.

You can't say it better than that Eddie

Team Marino did not bat an eye as they responded in kind as Lee Baker led of the inning and was the first of the five runs that crossed the plate. Team Mundy's only score came off Duff Hill's second fence beater as he drove Josh Wells across the plate.

The third saw no runs scored by either team. For Team Marino this was the case in the fourth and fifth innings as well. In the meantime, Team Mundy scored four in the fourth and 5 in the fifth to build a substantial lead.

The sixth and seventh innings saw Team Marino score an additional two runs in each inning. Unfortunately, Team Mundy scored five in each of their turns at bat.

You Gotta Score to Win, Guys

With Team Marino unable to score in the top of the eighth and the score being 11 to 27. We allowed Team Marino to take another bite of the apple. The first two batters got on base and scored. Then the team Mundy defense reached down and shut them down.

Key performances include:

Ray Mills        winning pitcher

Duff Hill        4 for 5 with two ground rule doubles

Wayne Mundy    6 for 6 with a double and triple

Bob Zelazny        6 for 6

Herbie "O"        4 for 5

Claude Hearn    4 for 4

Jim McPartlan    4 for 5

Richie Moots        4 for 6

Ron Thompson     5 for 6.

Richie Marino        5 for 6

Vassuri Bess        5 for 6

Larry Chrest          4 for 6

 

GatorLand Field

Visiting Team: Coffman, Gonzalez, Hamilton, Toro, Laffoon, Constantine, Hill, Diaz, Davis, Powell and King.

VS.

Home Team: Grabb, Brennaman, Edwards, Jacobs, Lopez, Butler, Scarbrough, Radlein, Matta and Simon.

I want to say that the Home Team smoked the Visitors, like they would a good cigar. I want to say,we beat em like a drum.  I want to say, we had em all the way. I want to say, they didn’t give us a game. I want to say, Frank Jacobs won the game with a HR, to Right Field.  I want to say, the good guys won.
 

If I said those things and did not recant the embellishments, two things would happen. Preacher and visiting team player, Freddy Gonzalez, would be on me, like heat on a Florida summers day. He would make me repent for lying.  Editor, Ron Butler, would make me rewrite my copy to represent the facts with a little more clarity.

So here’s the honest truth, or close to it. The two teams, loaded with star players, (allow me this embellishment), exchanged leads back and forth, until the Home team won in the ninth inning.  Here is the simple truth, it was a good game.

Our Fan

Starting Pitchers, George Radlein, (Home) and JD Davis, (Visitors) pitched using a paint brush. They both painted on the black line that surrounds the white plate. Still the hitters on both teams found the holes in the field. In fact, George found the hole in right center twice, hitting back to back triples, by slashing line drives in the gap.  At the end of six innings the score was 13-13. 

Larry Powell came in to pitch, for the Visitors, in the 6^th inning, he kept the game close. Both teams continued to battle, adding a few runs into the ninth inning. When the Home team came up to bat, in the bottom of the ninth, the Visitors held a one run lead, 19-18.

The Home team started the 9th inning with a fly out; it looked like the Visitors just might have themselves a W. Until the next batter, Larry Grabb, came up and started a rally with a double.  Brennaman then tied the game quickly, with a single.  Next batter, Edwards, advanced Brennaman to third, with a single to left.  With the winning run at 3^rd base and only one out, power hitter, Frank Jacobs, stood at the plate.  All the Home team needed was a long fly ball and the game was over. This is what I call Money in the Bank with Frank at the plate. Frank did lift a fly ball, only it was a short one, which fell in for a hit, between the 2^nd baseman and the RC fielder. Game over.   

Final Score: Visitors 19- Home Team 20.  

Even at the risk of reprisal, I’ll go back to what I said earlier, the good guys won.

WP: Radlein

LP: Powell

Leading Hitters:

Visitors:

Kirk Coffman, 4/5.

Freddy Gonzalez, 4/ 5.

Juan Toro 5/5, with two doubles.

Larry Powell, 4/5.

Home Team:

Rodger Edwards, 6/6, with two doubles.

Frank Jacobs, 5/6, with two triples and a game winning hit!

The New Rules Debut

Finally, after two rain-outs last week, we got to play with the new rules changes in effect.  AND I'm proud to say that I earned the first strike from driving a ball into the pitching screen. See, there is justice in the world.  Then I hit a two strike single.  

OK, so I got pretty positive feedback from most of the players on the rules changes, thank-you for that, guys, but we need to play under any given rule for a while before we decide if it works or not.  Sometimes the scenario you envisioned when you change a rule never happens or there's some other unforeseen circumstance or repercussion that appears after we've played for awhile.  Let's see how these changes play out.  Suggestions for the Rules Committee are always welcome.

American League

On field C, the American League had a back and forth contest featuring several lead changes before the game was settled in the ninth inning. The  Visitor's strong lineup started things off with a 5 run first inning only to be tied up by the Home squad in the bottom of the first.  Unfortunately, the Visitors took a zero in the second while giving up a run and the lead.

The visitors lineup looked like they couldn't be stopped with Coffman, Gonzalez, Diaz, Toro, Hill, Accevedo, Lopez, Wells, Byrd, Matta and Radlein at the plate, while the Home boys put up Grabb, Lafoon, Butler, Duff, Scarbrough, Oestereich, Brennaman, Davis, Ota, Regan and Levesque.

After six innings the score was 16-17 when the  Visitors scored 2 to go up 18-17.  Then the Home team scored one, knotting things up again at 18 all. 

In the eighth, Radlein, Coffman and Gonzalez scored but then left two stranded including Juan Toro at third.  The Home team plated Butler, Duff, Scarbrough, Herbie O, and Brennaman  thanks to a timely Ken Ota inside the park homer. (sorry Ken it goes down as a triple as the fifth run scored ahead of you)

The game ended after Larry Wells singled to lead off the visitors ninth but was forced out on a fielders choice.  Nick Matta singled  and took a runner from first with Byrd at second.  Then George Radlein who had been hitting the ball very hard lately, smashed a line drive back through the box.  JD Davis flashed some very quick leather, snagged the waist high hot shot and flipped the ball to first base to double the runner up, ending the game.  What a sudden and dramatic finish to a great game.

Vistors 21, Home 23 

Thanks to Don Witmer for umpiring the contest for us.

Leading Hitters included:
  Coffman 4 for 6 
  Gonzalez 4 for 6
  Diaz 3 for 5 HR
  Toro 5 for 5 2 DB HR
  Radlein 3 for 5 DB
  Duff 5 for 5 3B 2B
  Scarbrough 3 for 4 SAC 2B
  Oestreich  3 for 4
  Brennamn 3 for 5  HR
  Davis 3 for 5 2B
  OTA 3 for 5 2-3B

 Submitted by Ron Butler

The Ridgewood Lakes Challenge

The National League teams today were managed by two of the Ridgewood Lakes contingent, Eddie Sullivan and Jeff Simon. While we were a little slow getting started, Team Sullivan wasted no time in scoring runs and opening up a lead. Their first three batters crossed the  plate and were followed by a couple more hits. Great defense at the end stopped what appeared to be a run away train. Team Simon answered with two of their own but lost the inning. That scenario would repeat itself through the first four innings. 

Team Sullivan scored three runs in the second, four in the third, and 3 in the fourth for a total of 14 runs. Team Simon meantime were unable to match the run production in any of the first four innings as they found themselves down by five.

I don't know if Team Sullivan's bats went cold for the next three innings,  Ray Mills found his stuff on the mound, or if the defense actually took their gloves onto the field with them, but Team Sullivan was shut out over that span. In the meantime, Team Simon closed the gap to one run on clutch hitting by Gene Baker and others. At the end of seven, it was Team Sullivan 13 and Team Simon 11.

The eighth saw Team Sullivan reassert itself with the bottom of the lineup getting so me clutch hits. Sullivan, King, Hearn, and Thompson all scoring. This was the deciding inning as Team Simon was not able to answer  the challenge and failed to score.

Team Sullivan scored two more in the ninth for a total of 18 runs. Team Simon managed one in the ninth to fall six short.

Top performances included:

Ron Thompson     winning pitcher

Richard Moots        5 for 5

John Fulton             4 for 5

Claude Hearn          4 for 5

Jeff Simon            3 for 4

Bob Zelazny        4 for 5 with a triple

Doug Chamlee    4 for 5

Reggie Barnes     3 for 4

Duff Hill                4 for 4

Submitted by Bob Zelazny

Difficult times

Our good friend and team mate, Tom Wise and his wife Deborah are currently experiencing the loss of a loved one.  Their daughter passed away this weekend after battling some health issues.  Please keep Tom and Deborah and their family in your hearts and prayers as they navigate these troubled waters. 

Sorry guys, the fields are unplayable.  See you Tuesday.