Joe Hissy

Our teammate and friend Joe Hissy passed away last Tuesday. I understand that services were held Saturday in Maryland. A memorial page will be developed for Joe in the near future. Please keep Joe and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Friday, 28 June

Three evenly matched teams took to Service Master Field this morning and played some great and some not so great softball. When the dust settled Team Coffman emerged as the victors with two superheros coming to the front and showing their stuff. More about them later.

Team Gonzalez consisted of Freddie, Bob Zelazny, Frank Jacobs, Brent Alumbaugh,Larry Powell, Eddie Diaz, Richie Marino, Larry Wells, Richiie Moots, Claude Hearn, and Gene Baker. Hard to believe, this impressive line up failed to score in the first three innings. Manager Coffman's lineup read like Murderers row with Kirk leading off followed by Raul Torres, Roger Edwards, Jimmy Laffoon, Reg Finnegan, Steve Hill, Mike Wiltshire, John Merritt, Eddie Sullivan, Lee Baker, and Bobby Reagan. With that lineup it was not surprising that they managed to post runs in all but two innings. After three they had posted five runs. The home team was lead by Donnie Witmer and assisted by the bats of Jose Rivera, Don Scarborough, Chuck Duff, Juan Toro, Larry Grabb, Nick Matta, Tommy Wise, Jeff Simon, John Fulton, and Dick Sessnick to take a significant lead after three innings.

The last four innings were only slightly better for Team Gonzalez. Three runs were scored in both the fourth and sixth innings with Brent Alumbaughs home run in the sixth the only extra base hit of the day. In the end Team Gonzalez managed six runs and finished at the bottom.

The same four innings were far different for Team Coffman as they scored 13 runs during that period. Added to the five they scored earlier, their total of 18 were enough to carry the day. Their success came of clutch hitting and fielding by Eddie Sullivan and an awesome display of power as Bobby Reagan got two round trippers.

Team Witmer kept it close all day and actually had the lead going into the final inning. What was impressive in the 13 runs they scored there were only two extra base hits, a double by Juan Toro and a triple by Larry Grabb. After Team Coffman scored six in the middle of the seventh to take the lead, it looked like Donnie had his team ready to play. Unfortunately they went three and out on three infield ground outs.

Winning Pitcher Reg Finnegan

UPDATE

I managed to get by Lakeland General this morning to see George.  I was surprised to see him sitting up.  His wife was there and apparently the nurses have even had him up and walking about a bit.  So that's a bit of good news.  He was making lame jokes about the 'plastic' food so you know he's feeling better.

I understand that Sammy is recovering well from his knee surgery so that too is good news.

Meanwhile Nick's managed to reschedule his treatments so he can play once in a while.  He played yesterday for the first time in weeks.

Russ also reports that's he's back to about 90% and he's played the last couple of days, even managing a team for us.

Good news all around.  Keep it up guys!

Roy C. Sullivan Sets World Record

On this day in 1977 Roy C. Sullivan (probably Eddie's cousin) set the world record for .... wait for it ...  getting struck by lightning. Ole Roy was struck a total of 7 times a record that stands to this day.

ServiceMaster Field

The game on the ServiceMaster field today was another nail biter and the home team must have certainly felt struck by lightning even if only in metaphor.

The Visitors, managed by Chuck Duff, put up 5 scoreless innings to a mere 4 goose-eggs for the Home squad led by Larry Powell.

The measure of how low scoring the game was is told by the fact that the game lasted 10 innings and we were done playing all 10 before 11am.  

The Visitors highlight reel included triples by Chuck Duff and Jimmy Lafoon while the Home boys can recall a three run, inside the park homer by Don Witmer and a Freddy Gonzales triple.

The Home Team led the entire game until the Visitors tied it up at 12 runs each by scoring 6 runs in the 8th inning. The tie was then broken in the top of the ninth when Chuck Duff's visitors posted 2 more runs. The Home boys posted a matching 2 runs but then some nifty defense shut them down leaving the game knotted at 14.

The Visitors again posted 2 in the top of the 10th and then shut down the Home team's tenth, getting 3 outs and facing only 4 batters to end the game 16-14 with victory going to the Visitors. All that with time left over to catch the last couple of innings of the Gessler Clinic field game.

Key Hitters included.

• Chuck Duff 4 for 6 double, triple
• Jimmy Lafoon 5 for 5 walk, triple
• Steve Hill 4 for 5 double
• Larry Powell 4 for 5 

National League Game

After filling out the American League team rosters, we were able to field two very competitive teams made up of  14 National Leaguers and 8 American Leaguers. The visiting team was comprised of Wayne Mundy, Dean Schapler, Larry Chrest, Richie Moots,  Walt Leggett, Eddie Sullivan, John Merritt, Bill Bowley, and John Gibson and their manager Nick Matta. In the home dugout were Vassier Bess, Bobby Reagan, Bob Zelazny, Bernie Mohan, Duff Hill, Reggie Barnes, Dick Sessnick, Roy Nichols, John Fulton, Lee Baker, and their manager Russ King. 

The game started out with Nick's team tallying four runs on four errors and a double by Larry Chrest. The top of the line up for Team King failed to have a runner reach second base and found themselves chasing four runs after the first. 

In the second inning, Dean Schapler's double was the big hit for the visitors as they scored two. The home team did manage one in their half of the inning to fall farther behind. 

The third inning saw a reversal of fortunes as team King outscored Team Matta five to nil off Bernie Mohan's double.

In the fourth, the bottom of the line up ignited a five run rally for Nick's team that help reestablish their lead, as Team King was unable to score despite batting six players. 

The sixth inning saw both teams score two runs apiece as there were nine singles recorded. The seventh and eighth innings were quiet as no runs were scored by either team. With the score 13 to 10 it looked like it was going to be anyone's game with the top of the line up coming up for both teams. 

Team Matta did not disappoint as Larry Chrest's home run brought the first three runs across in. After getting an out, Team Matta got six singles and scored three more runs. Without any quit in them, Russ rallied his team and gave them a pep talk for the ages. As a result they managed six quick runs off nine singles and were not done yet. The only thing standing between them and victory at that point was a very determined third baseman named Nick Matta.

He snared two successive hard hit balls forcing the runners from second and ending the game with the go ahead runs on the bases. 

Final score was Team Matta 19, Team King 16.

We want to thank Ron Thompson who came and umpired our game today.

Dean Schapler    4 for 5 with a double

Larry Chrest        3 for 4 with a double and homer

Walt Leggett        3 for 4 and the winning pitcher

Vassier Bess        4 for 4

John Fulton            3 for 4

Lee Baker            2 for 3 with 2 base on balls

   

Android APP

I know I've mentioned the Winter Haven Senior Softball Application for Android devices before but I just wanted to mention you that the Senior Softball app is available now in the Google Play Store just search for Senior Softball under apps and then click and download it to your Android device.  It works on Android phones and tablets or any computer running an Android operating system.  The app is still available on our web page but now it's an official Goggle App!  AND it's still free, of course. 

How about them APPles, sportsfan? Sorry guys for now it's just an Android app.  If you know someone with Apple skills maybe we can talk them into doing an app for IPads, etc? 

First Day of Summer

The summer solstice, Beer Friday.

Friday 6/21/13 was a clear hot day . We had 32 players and fielded 3 eleven man teams.

Hitting team ; Reagan. Jacobs, Zalazny, Lafoon, D.Hill,Marino, Simon. Merritt, Wells, Baker

Vs

Sitting team : Butler, Wise, Gonzales, Chrest, Fulton, Chamlee, Diaz, Byrd,King,Sessnic,Sullivan

Vs

Fielding team : Coffman, S.Hill,Dampier, Wiltshire, Herbie "O", Powell,Bess,Mohon, Moots, Barnes, Bowley.

The game got off to a slow start,the score was only 1-2-0, until the sit team took charge in the 2nd.Diaz started their half of the inning off with the first of his 4 singles on the day.  That was followed by hits from Byrd, King, and Sullivan.  Butler's 3 bagger cleared the bases on the way to posting a 5 spot. The home team got into the act plating 3, powered  by Powell's home run. After two ,score 1-5-3.

The hitting team posted  2 in the top of the 3rd, but sitting  team added 5 more to really put the game away. End of three 3-12-3. Sit team tallied 2 more in the 4th, bring the score to 3-14-3.

The 5th inning was everyone's best offensive inning. Hit team set the tempo, plating 4, getting key hits from Zalazny, Lafoon, and Sullivan. But sit team answered with 4 of their own. Not to be outdone field team posted a 5 spot, led by,Mohon,Moots and Bowley to grab on to the silver at that point. End of five 7-18-8

As sit team scored 2 in the 6th and field team managing only 1 the game was over, as no one could score in the 7th.I think the heat finally caught up to the sit team. 



Final score 7-20-8

Offense stars : 

Hit team ; Zalazny 3-4, Lafoon 3-4, Simon 3-4

                      
Sit team ; Gonzales 5-5, Diaz  4-4, King 4-4, Byrd 3-4, Sullivan 3-4

Field team ; Mohon 2-3, Moots 2-3, Barnes 2-3

George Radlein Update

During a brief  'Wayne' delay in today's Lakeland game, we learned that George has been through the wringer and needs your kind thoughts and prayers more than ever.  

The MDs thought they were cutting him open for a small tumor and ended up removing his pancreas, spleen and gall bladder.  George will likely be in surgical intensive care for several days and then will remain in Lakeland General for some time.  George asked that you not call him but he does like visitors.  However, when you go to see George he may not be able to see you as he needs his rest.  Also 5-7 am or pm is shift change for the nurses and LGH requests that you avoid those times.

George, Get Well Soon, Russ and Wayne need someone around that'll actually listen to them.

What do Andres Gallaraga, Lou Brock, & Sandy Alomar have in common?

They share today June 18th as their birthday.  Not to mention that each was a major league baseball star . Also note that today is the anniversary of the death of Edward Carl Gaedel  American baseball player, midget (3 foot, 7 inches tall), he was a pinch hitter for the St. Louis Browns. He was walked on his only time at bat (1951). 

Servicemaster Field

Hot, hot, hot that's what summer softball is for us Winter Haven Senior Softball players.  Not to mention hot again but this was one hot game with the outcome  not decided until the bottom of the 9th.

The Visitors coached by Ken Ota included  Kurt Coffman, Ron Butler, Frank Jacobs, Jimmy Lafoon, Bob Zelazny, Mike Wiltshire, Steve Hill, Richie marino, and Larry Wells.

The Home Squad Managed by Denny Holder had Freddy Gonzalez, Larry Grabb, Don Witmer, Chuck Duff, Fred Dampier, Tom Wise, Eddie Diaz, Larry Powell and Bob Reagan.

The Visitors started off with a pair but gave up 5 on defense.  In the second they managed 3 to tie things up and held the Home boys to a goose-egg. The Visitors plated one in the third on a homer by Mike Wiltshire to take the lead but then went scoreless in the 4th while allowing the Home team another 5 run inning in the 4th highlighted by a Fred Gonzalez homer and a Chuck Duff double.

After 5 the Home team was leading with the score 11-13.

The Visitors took the lead again in the 6th with a 3 run rally but then gave up 2 runs and the lead in the bottom of the inning. It was looking like a back and forth affair with neither team able to close things out. 

In the 7th the visitors plated 4 and the homers only 3 to leave things knotted at 18.  

In the 8th, the home team won the inning on a triple by Duff (his second of the day) and a homer by Grabb.  Going into the 9th the score was 20-21 in favor of the Home squad.

The Visitors plated 4 in the ninth and then loaded the bases with only one out, looking to put the game on ice ... ice would have been nice.  But that's where inning ended as the Home squad came up with the defense to stifle the scoring.  The Visitors left the bases loaded for the second time in the game.

Then it was the Home boys turn needing 3 runs to tie and 4 to win.They managed two runs with nobody out but then a double play and a looping fly ball ended the game with the Visitors victorious.

Final score 24-23 Visitors.

Leading Hitters:
Visitors
   Butler 5 for 7 - 3 doubles
   Lafoon 5 for 6 - walk
   Zelazny 5 for 7
   Wiltshire 5 for 7 - HR
   Wells 4 for 6

Home
  Gonzalez 5 for 7 - HR
  Grabb 5 for 7 - double, HR
  Witmer 6 for 6 - double
  Duff 5 for 6  - double, 2 triples

Submitted by Ron Butler

 

 Golds Gym Field

We were fortunate enough to field four teams today. We combined the 14 National League players and 8 players from the American League to form two very competitive teams on Golds Gym Field. Richie Moots managed the visitors team comprised of himself, Mundy, Schapler  Borowicz, Fulton, Baker, Hearn, Mohan, Byrd, Leggett, and LoPiccolo. He was opposed by the team managed by Jeff Simon. His lineup read like the 27 Yankees with himself, Chrest, King, Duff Hill, Bess, Barnes, Nichols, Sullivan, Merritt, and Sessnik.

The first inning resulted in a one all tie as the only runs scored were by the second batter for each team. The second inning was scoreless for both teams as pitching and fielding shut down the offenses.. Team Moots broke out with 5 runs in the third before sitting down with only one out and two runners on base. Team Simon got one back off a triple by Larry Chrest. In the fourth, John Byrds triple helped Team Moots score four more to build a substantial  (but not surmountable) lead. Unfortunately for Team Simon they went three and out.

The fifth inning saw the fortunes change as Team Simon out scored team Moots in the next four innings. John Fulton lead off and scored for the visitors for their only run.  Meanwhile Jeff Simon's team pushed across four on Duff Hill's home run. Team Moots scored their last in the 6th inning and were shut out the rest of the way. Jeffs team, meanwhile scored in each of the last four innings. Along the way Larry Chrest hit a home run and John Merrit nailed a triple. Unfortunately, Team Simons fell just short in their comeback as they fell 12 to 11.

Key Performances include:

Wayne Mundy    3 for 5

John Fulton        4 for 5

John Byrd            4 for 4 with a double

 Larry Chrest        3 for 5 with a double and home run

Russ King            3 for 4

Duff Hill                2 for 4 with a home run

Dick Sessnik        winning pitcher

 Submitted by Bob Zelazny

George Radlein to have surgery

According to unnamed sources (whose initials are WM) our friend and team mate George Radlein is in the hospital facing surgery for what I'm told is a smallish pancreatic cancer tumor.  While his prognosis is good and doctors think the tumor to be very local and curable, any surgery such as this is serious.  Please keep George and his family in your thoughts and prayers. And George, we expect you back on the mound sooner rather than later.  Good Luck, Good Friend.

Uh Oh

I just heard via the grapevine that we have another player down and out for a while.  Our team mate and all around nice guy, Bob Hite, has been diagnosed with a torn Achilles tendon and will likely be out of action for at least 6 or 8 weeks.  My spies also said that he might be stuck in a boot cast that long.

Let's wish Bob a speedy recovery and the hope that he'll join us again soon.



On a good note, Russ King was back on the diamond in Lakeland last week so he's doing much better after the doctors were able to avoid doing surgery.  Of course, they starved him to the tune of dropping 15 or more pounds. Most of us could afford to lose the 15lbs but that's doing it the hard way big guy!

AW RIGHT we got to play today!

After 3 straight rain outs we were finally able to play a three team ball game in June.  We had enough to field an eleven man team and two tens, playing 11 in the field.

(Hitting) Moots, S.Hill (manager), Lafoon, Jacobs, Grabb, Diaz, Butler, Chamlee, Wise, Sullivan

Vs

(Sitting)Chrest,Coffman,Toro,Miller,Marino (manager)  Witmer, Dampier, Simon, Sessink, Oesterreich, Mohan

Vs

(Fielding) Gonzales (manager), Bryd, Contanstine, Edwards, Shapler, Wells, Borowizc, D.Hill, Baker, Bess

The game started slow, as the Fielding team scored the only run of the 1st inning.

The Hitting team waited until there were two outs in the second before getting a hit,  then scoring 3 runs in the inning, keyed by Ed Sullivan's 1st of his 3 hits. The Sitting team answered with a 5 spot. At the end of two the score was 3-5-1.

The 3rd was quiet. However, the Sit team posted another 5 runs in the 4th. Not surprising Larry Chrest had big hits in both their 5 run innings. After four we stood at 3-10-2.

With the Sit team adding 3 more in the 5th it started to look like you could mail this one in. At the end of five the Sit team held a commanding lead at 5-13-2.

The sixth started with a bang. The Hit team down by 8, scored 8 runs led by Ed Diaz's 2 hits in the inning to tie the score temporarily at 13. The Sit team got 3 to regain the lead and field team added two. Going into the 7th,  the score was 13-16-4.

The 7th was wild. The Hit team sent up 11 batters, plating 5 to take the lead again, but left the bases loaded to end the top of the 7th. Down by 2, the Sit team's Fred Dampier ( fresh off the DL ) blasted a lead off solo home run to cut the lead to one. 1 out later Rich Sessink drove a 3 bagger to right center, putting the tying run at 3rd. The next batter Herbie O dropped a single to right to tie the game at 18.  After 2 out, Larry Chrest got his 4th hit, putting the speedy Herbie at second representing the game winner, with Kurt Cofffman due up. Kurt hit a hot grounder deep in the hole that rover Steve Hill just managed to grab and throw to 1st to get the hustling Kurt by a hair, preserving the tie. The Field team could only add 2 in the bottom of the 7th . 

Final score 18-18-6.

Hitting Stars Included:

Hit team, Chamlee  4-5, Lafoon 3-4, sac, S. Hill 3-4, walk, Sullivan 3-4

Sit team, Chrest 4-5, Marino 3-4, Dampier 2-3, Hr,walk

Field team, Bess 2-3, Borowice 2-3

 Submitted by Steve Hill

hitting stars

Ron forgot to add hitting stars

 

Hit team, Chamlee  4-5, Lafoon 3-4, sac, S. Hill 3-4, walk, Sullivan 3-4

 

Sit team, Chrest 4-5, Marino 3-4, Dampier 2-3, Hr,w

 

Field team, Bess 2-3, Borowice 2-3

 

 

6/14/13 game

After 3 straight rain outs we were finally able to play a ball game in June .

 

( Hitting ) Moots, S.Hill ( manager ), lafoon, Jacobs, Grabb, Diaz, Buttler, Chamlee, Wise, Sullivan

Vs

( Sitting ) Chrest, Coffman, Toro, Miller, Maniro ( manager ) Witmer, Dampier, Simon, Sessink, Herbie O, Mohan

Vs

( Fielding ) Gonzales ( manager ), Bryd, Contanstine, Edwards, Shapler, Wells, Borowice, D.Hill. Baker. Vassuri

 

The game started slow, as the fielding team scored the only run of the 1st inning.

 

The hitting team waited until there were two outs in the second before getting a hit,  then scoring 3 runs in the inning, keyed by Ed Sullivans 1st of his 3 hits. Sitting team answered with a 5 spot. End of two 3-5-1.

 

The 3rd was quiet. However ,set team posted another 5 runs in the 4th. Not surprising Larry Chrest had big hits in both their 5 run innings. After four 3-10-2.

 

With sit team adding 3 more in the 5th it started to look like you could mail this one in. End of five 5-13-2.

 

The sixth started with a bang. Hit team down by 8, scored 8 runs led by Ed Diaz's 2 hits in the inning to tie the score temporarily at 13. Sit team got 3 to regain the lead and field team added two. Going into the 7th, 13-16-4.

 

The 7th was wild. Hit team sent up 11 batters, plating 5 to take the lead again, but left the bases loaded to end the top of the 7th. Down by 2, sit teams Fred Dampier ( fresh off the DL ) blasted a lead off solo home run to cut it to one.1 out later Rich Sessink drove a 3 bagger to right center, putting the tying run at 3rd. The next batter Herbie O drop a single to right to tie the game at 18.  After 2 out Larry Chrest got his 4th hit, putting the speedy Herbie at second representing the game winner, with Kurt Cofffman due up. Kurt hit a bullet deep in the hole that rover S.Hill just managed to grab and throw to 1st to get Kurt by a hair, persevering the tie.Field team could only add 2 in the bottom of the 7th . Final score 18-18-6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Game On

Richie reports that we have playable fields this morning for the first time in two weeks.  See you there.

Get your Candidates In!!!

The BoD is soliciting Board of Directors Candidates to finalize the election ballot.  If you or a friend are willing to make the 2 year commitment to serving on the Board please let a board member know before the June 28th cut-off.  

The Board would like to publish the ballot no later than July 1st.  This year we are electing two board members to serve for two years.  This election will fill the spots created by two board member's terms completing in 2013.

Thanks for your help.

Members should also be on the look-out for new sponsors.  The BoD expects to kick-off the Sponsorship Drive next month with new incentives for those members bringing in a sponsorship.  Get ahead of the curve and recruit those sponsors now! 

Ron 

Rained Out Again (Tuesday)

For the third softball day in a row our games are cancelled due to swamp like conditions on the fields.  We'll try again Friday just don't hold your breath, 'tis the rainy season.

The BoD meeting will go on as planned at 7:30am this morning. 

No Games This Morning (Friday)

We would have to be the Winter Haven Senior Water Polo Club to get any play time today.  Bobby Z checked out the fields already this morning.  Andrea left our fields looking like rice paddies.

See you Tuesday ... if it doesn't rain.

Notes

Just few notes about our web page features that you may not know.

1. If you have an 'Android Smartphone' or 'Android Tablet' you can get the WHSS App for free just click on the link under the Commish's picture on the right side of the page.  It's not available for Apple products, and it doesn't appear in the Android Play Store yet but hey it's free.

2. If you want to follow our posts and updates to the web page by Email, you can do that yourself.  Just scroll all the way to the bottom of the web page and you'll find a place to enter your email address.  Once you do that you'll get an email every time the page is updated.

3. If you want to get a text message on your cell phone when the page is updated you'll need to send me your phone number and I'll add that to the list that gets notified.  So for example, if we're rained out you can get a notify right to your cell phone. Just send me your phone number by email or give it to me at the ball park.

4. If you have softball related stuff for sale, just send me the details in an email and we can add it to Bob's List. Be sure to include the price, your contact information, and a picture of the item.

No Games This Morning

The Commish reports that the fields are underwater and not playable this morning so today's games are cancelled.  

See you Friday ... weather permitting.

Russ King

Friends,

Our good friend, teammate and the Lakeland Commish, Russ King is back in the hospital with what appears to be complications from prior surgeries.  Please keep Russ in your thoughts and prayers and wish him a speedy recovery.  Russ, we miss your bat in the lineup and glove in the field.  Get Well Soon big guy!

Ron

Last Day of Softball in May

On this breezy Friday morning, 29 people showed up to play ball. We divided the players up into three teams and had a wonderful morning of good weather, good softball and good defense. The Final Score after seven innings was 7-4-5. There was so many good defensive plays in the infield and outfield it would take a book to write about all of them. The offense was shaky on all teams with a lot of zero's on the score board. Every now and then it looked like one team was going to break out but the defense was able to shut them down. No one got hurt and we all will be ready to play again on Tuesday.

Leading Hitters for the Hit Team were Ron Thompson 3/3 with a sac and a walk. Frank Jacobs was 3/4 and Jose Rivera was 3/5.

Leading Hitters for the Sit Team were Larry Crest 3/3 and Brad Brenneman 2/3.

Leading Hitters for the Field Team were Roger Edwards 2/3, Sammy Lopez 2/3 and Larry Powell 2/3. Chris Constantine was 2/4.

Wayne Mundy called in and was not able to play due to a leg injury. Lets hope Wayne gets better and comes back next week.