A Great Start for the New Season

Gatorland Field

It starts all over again.  Two National League teams squared off in the Winter Haven Senior Softball League.  The Cubs with manager Don LaMay played the Braves with Larry Powell at the helm.  

M. Gonzalez led off the game with a single, Gene Baker followed with a liner up the middle.  Waddell then drove home the first run of the game.  The Cubs led off their half of the inning with a Peterson single followed by Taylor's liner single.  Two fielder choices brought in two runs as the Cubs took the lead 2 to 1.  No scoring took place in the second inning, but in the 3rd the Braves scored on base hits from Burrell, Whitter and Gonzalez to tie the game.  

In the last of the 4th the Cubs rallied for 5 on hits from LaMay, Peterson, Stepp, McLellan, and a bases loaded double by power hitter Mahon.  In the 5th both teams scored a run, but the Braves put on the hitting shoes with Gonzalez (again), Baker, Penny Pelletier, Waddell, and Lautenschlager for 3 runs.  After holding the Cubs without a run in the bottom of the 6th the score was Cubs 8 Braves 6.  

The never give up Braves added another 3 runs in the 7th to take the lead.  Not to be outdone the Cubs rallied for 4 runs in their half of the inning on hits by Taylor, McLellan, an error

and a bases loaded triple by Dick Mahon.  The Braves tallied a run in the 8th and 9th innings but the Cubs scored 3 in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead for good.  

Final Score Cubs 15 and Braves 11.  Good game for all with many good fielding plays in the infield.

Submitted by

Don LaMay

Servicemaster Field

The Rays squared off against the Rangers on Field C.  At times, it looked like an Ali vs. Frazier classic. At times, it looked like a Gable and Lombard classic. At times, it looked like a Jerry Lewis comedy.

The lead flip flopped several times throughout the game. The Rays came out of the corner hot, like Smoking Joe, himself.  After several first inning upper cuts by Witmer, Held, Brock, Leversque, Oesterreich and Goodhue, the Rays had the (Ali) Rangers on the ropes early. They led 4-0 after the top of the 1^st.  Way too early to call this fight. In the bottom of the first, LoPiccolo retired the first two batters in the Rangers lineup, a theme that he and relief pitcher, Jackson, were able to skillfully repeat throughout the game. But then the bruised and sore Les Jacobson came up to bat with two outs. Les is known as one of the best hitters in the league for a reason; he never quits and knows how to start a rally. “One might say he floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.”  Les started a rally with two out in the first, with a single.  Toro followed with a double; Drouilard drove in both runners with a timely hit. Erb singled, then Bobby Z drove in Drouilard with a single to left.  However Bobby had Larson in his heart, but lead in his feet, he was thrown out at 2^nd on a good relay throw by Don Witmer, to end the inning.

After 1 inning of play, the score stood 4-3, we already had lots of drama and spectacular plays. More drama and star fielding was to follow.  When I say star fielding, I mean Hollywood came to town! Smith, Gazarek, Witmer and Reagen, were like Gable, while their gloves played the role of Lombard. They put on a show! Terry Smith made a spectacular catch when he charged a sinking liner, off the bat of Coffman. Ed Gazarek ran way back and snagged a hard hit liner, hit to deep center, robbing Pat Drouilard of a HR. Bob Reagen caught two well hit balls in left field. Don Witmer ran down pop ups and caught screaming liners at short. These plays kept the game very close.

The Rangers had a few good defensive plays of their own. Don Erb and Jim Laffoon showed off the cannons they have as arms, throwing fast runners out at first, while deep in the hole at SS and short field. Les Jacobson had a gold glove play catching and later at first base. Chris Constantine played strong defense at 3^rd base. Don Ing teamed up with Jim Laffoon to turn a nice DP.

We had a few Jerry Lewis comedy moments with runners falling down, runners being thrown out while trying for an extra base and fielders making errors, It looked like Lewis staring in the Disorderly Orderly. In the end, the good plays far outnumbered the bad ones.

As coach of the Rangers, I actually thought the Rays outplayed the Rangers. However, the Rangers middle lineup of Jacobson, Toro, Drouillard, Erb, Zelazny , Laffoon and Butler was pretty formidable.  With the Tigers leading 12-11 in the bottom of the 8^th, that lineup came up to bat. Big time players, get big time hits, in big time situations. Jacobson and Toro hit back to back triples, then Drouilard drove in Toro with the game winning RBI, when he doubled to left.

In the 9th inning the Rays made a run at winning the game. The Rays had runners on 1^st and 3^rd when the last out was recorded.

Final Score: Rays 11- Rangers 12

Star players, Rays:

Held: 3 / 4  with a triple.

Brock: 3 / 4 .

Herb O: 2 / 3.

Ota: 2 / 3.

Star players, Rangers:

Jacobson: 4 / 4 with a triple.

Toro: 2/ 4 with a triple and a double.

Drouilard: 3 / 4 with a double and game winning hit.

Bobby Z: 3 /4.

Laffoon: 3/ 3.

S. Hill: 3 /3.

Josh Wells: 2 /3.

WP: Josh Wells.

 
Novel submitted by 
Nick Matta 

Gessler Clinic Field

Today's national league contest had the Giants, managed by Marshall Bloom vs the Marlins managed by Jeff Simon.  The visiting Giants, scored 4 runs in the first inning getting their first four batters on base.  The home team Marlins responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame.  

In the third inning the Giants scored 4 more and the Marlins had a five spot. The score was tied after three innings.  The highlight of that inning was a three run homer by Raul Torres for the Marlins.  The game remained close and after eight complete innings the score was tied at 13 apiece.  

In the top of the ninth, Bloom's bombers scored three times and the Marlins went three and out.  This was a well played game and was largely a defensive contest.  The winning pitcher was Dennis Holder.  

The final score was 16-13.  

Top Hitters for the Giants  
Don Scarborough 4 for 4 
Ed Guspyt 3 for 4
Jerry Remington 3 for 4

Top Hitters for the Marlins 
Simon 3 for 3
Frank Miller 3 for 3
Duff Hill 3 for 3

Submitted by
Jeff Simon 

Gold's Gym Field

It finally was game day.  After all it was a wonderful day for a new season. The only thing missing was a 'chicken dinner'.  But that will come.
The Tigers roared to a 4 run 1st inning, while the Angels put up 2 and a prayer.  By the end of the 4th, the Tigers took a 9 to 5 lead.  The Angels responded with 6 runs in the 6th to tie it at 11 each.  

In the 7th the Angels again put up 4 big runs taking a 15 to 11 lead. But then the Tigers again roared and put up 3 runs to make the score 14 to 15 Angels.  

In the 9th JD Davis tamed the Tigers and some good defense gave the Angels the win.
Both teams had great defense.  Jose Rivera and Scott Seguin made brilliant catches in the field.

Top Hitters

Angels:                                
J.Rivera               4 for 4                        
Freddy Gonzalez 3 for 4 (2dbls)
J DeRidder          3 for  3
R Pepin               3 for 3 (hr)
G Denny             (hr)


Tigers: 
A Andrews        3 for 4
T Hamilton        4 for  4

Submitted by
Freddy Gonzalez