Ron Santo is best known as a Cubs Shortstop but he played anywhere in the infield. He had more hits than games played in (2254 vs 2243) his 15 yr career. He finished his career with the White Sox.
Polk Senior Games
Polk Senior Games
This year's slow-pitch competition of the Polk Senior Games was held this past weekend in Lakeland. The
Gold Medal was won by the Lakeland Blues. The following Winter Haven players
participated: Jim Laffoon, Don Witmer, Gerry DeRitter, Joe D'Herin, Russ King,
Sam Lopez, Tom Wise, Poke, Tim Gallagher, Herbie "O", and Larry Powell.
Others played on other teams but unfortunately I do not have their names or the
results. Congratulations to all those that participated in the games, especially
to the winners.
Also note that it might be wise to bring both your Grey and Blue jerseys on Friday for the championship games. Home teams will depend on a coin flip. The barbeque will begin after the games and having seen some of you eat, the spare shirt might come in handy. See you there.
Today's Games
ServiceMaster Field
Rangers vs Rays
I am going
to look at marketing advertisements to describe today’s game. I took a look at some
of the top tag lines, mottos and jingles of all time and applied them to the
Rays vs. Rangers action.
Where’s the
beef? Don Held owns this one, as he
showed us the beef, by hitting a grand slam in the 9th inning for
the Rays.
Friends don’t
let friends drive drunk. Don Ing, for
obvious reasons.
Pop, pop,
fizz fizz, O what a relief it is, having Ron Butler in the outfield for the
Rangers. Ron ran down three fly balls that were sure base hits and turned them
into outs. He worked faster than Speedy Alka Seltzer to bring defensive relief.
You may be in
good hands with Allstate, but you are in better hands with Don Erb. Don shut down
the left side of the infield, ranging far into the hole at short to grab three
line drives.
Just do it! This
applies to Juan Toro, because Juan just does it in the field and at bat, when
you need him to do so.
American
Express say’s, don’t leave home without it. Pat Lopiccolo must be a firm
believer in this motto, he refused to leave home (plate) after smashing a ball
down to Ranger’s third baseman, Steve Hill, in today’s action. Actually, Pat
tripped after hitting the ball and never made it to first. Contrary to popular rumor,
Ranger’s manager, Nick Matta, did not hold Pat down after he fell.
What happens
in Vegas, stays in Vegas. This applies to Don Ing, not for his play on the
field, but for his actions at the American Legion after the game. What happens
at the Legion, stays at the Legion.
The quicker
picker upper may belong to Bounty, when it comes to paper towels. However, on
the field and in the stands today, it belonged to Boomer Josh Wells and his cheering
section. Josh’s family picked us up the whole game with their shouts of
encouragement; Josh did his part from the mound, pitching with skill.
Have a coke
and a smile. Go 3 for 3 and smile, Herb O.
Ford says, Quality
is job 1; Ed Gazarek must feel the same way after going 3 / 4 today.
The US Navy
say’s it’s not a job, it’s an adventure. Lance Patten had his own adventure
today. Lance sailed around the world, or
at least around the ball field, playing 8 different positions today and making some good plays.
Prudential says, get a piece of the Rock, Erb say's, get all the ball, Don went 3 / 4 today.
Nothing runs
like a Deere, unless it’s Sam Cuscovitch running the bases for his inside the
park HR today.
Don't get mad, get Glad, Ron Butler was glad that he went 3 / 4 today.
Like a rock,
Chevy trucks. Like a rock, Les Jacobson, 3/ 4 .
When
it absolutely, positively has to be there, overnight. I'll take this
one, because my wife works for Fed Ex. I'll be there with a hit, when
you need it, Nick Matta, 3 / 4.
Box
Score:
Leave
the driving to us, Greyhound. Another one for Ing, because I have
threatened him with a bus ticket home, so often this season. Just
kidding Don, it don't mean a thing, unless we have that Ing, 2 / 3.
The
Breakfast of Champions, who gets this moniker will be determined on Friday.
Rays: 1-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-7
Rangers: 0-0-5-5-0-1-0-5 --
Final Score:
Rays 9 - Rangers 16
WP: Wells
Leading
hitters for the Rays:
Gazarek: 3 /
4.
Held: 2 / 4
with a HR.
Cuscovich: 2
/ 3 with a HR.
Herb O: 3 /
3.
Leading
hitters for the Rangers:
Toro: 3 / 4
with a double.
Erb: 3 /
4 with two doubles.
Jacobson: 3
/ 4.
Butler: 3 /
4.
Matta: 3 /
4.
Ing: 2 / 3.
Submitted by
Nick Matta
Gessler Clinic Field
Angels vs Tigers
The Gessler Clinic field
played host to a season ending double header between the Angels and
Tigers. While neither game meant much in
the standings, you wouldn’t have known it be watching both teams play hard for
14 innings. The Angels using a 5 run 6th
inning, featuring 7 singles took the first game 11-8. The highlight of the
inning surely was when Regis Finnegan pinch ran for Freddy Gonzales.
Top Performers:
Tigers:
Bill Wolfe 2 for 3
Jack Benson 2 for 3
Al Andrews 2 for 3
John Carpenter 2 for 2
Angels:
Ron Pepin 3 for 4
Joe D’Herin 4 for 4
Gerry DeRidder 3 for 4
Regis Finnegan 2 for 2,
BB, Pitch runner
Greg Denny 2 for 3
George Vanderhyde 2 for 3
Keith Linton 1 for 2, BB
The second game started
jumping out to a 9-0 lead before the Angels answered with 5 in the 4th. But, the Tigers responded with 4 more runs
over the next 2 innings to hold the Angels at bay. Still the Angels kept coming cutting the lead
to 13-10 in the 6th. The
Tigers responded by pounding out 6 hits, including a triple from Dave Hartley,
and a rare error from the Angels to post a 5 spot in the bottom of the 6th.
The game ended on a double play, the Tigers winning 18-10.
Top Performers:
Angels:
Regis Finnegan 1 for 2,
2B, BB, Pitch runner for FG.
Greg Denny 2 for 3
JD Davis 3 for 3, 2B
George Vanderhyde 2 for
3, 2 3B
Keith Linton 1 for 2, BB
Tigers:
John Carpenter 3 for 3,
2B
Charlie Giordano 2 for 3,
2B
Jack Benson 2 for 3, 2B
Bob Hite 2 for 3
Poke Rodriguez 2 for 3
Dave Hartley 3 for 3, HR
3B
Russ King 3 for 3
Gold's Gym Field
Braves vs Cubs
Beautiful day too play 2. Braves and Cubs tied with 11 victories
each played a double header today. Braves batting in the first with
Abney reaching on an error. Than Waddell and Gene Baker single and
Gonzalez doubles. Lautenschlager triples and Shaffer drive in the 5th
of many 5 run innings. Cubs know the 5 spot also. Peterson leads off
with a homer, Taylor reaches on an error and McLellan triples him home.
Stepp reaches and Lopez singles, Sessick also gets aboard and Mohan
drives in the 5th run for the Cubs. Schapeler starts the second with a
single, Podbielski, Witter follow with base hits. After and infield out
Macko, Lyons and Powell single, a walk to Abney and Waddell drive in
another 5 runs.
DePalma and Barnes start the 2nd with
singles but the next 3 batter go down in order. Braves must be getting
tired running the bases as they only score 4 in the 3rd. Baker and
Gonzalez single and Lautenschlager homers. Next two batters go out but
base hits from Podbielski, Witter, Bennet and Macko score the 4th run of
the inning. Peterson starts the 3rd for the Cubs with a single, Taylor
and Thompson do the same and McLellan clears the bases with a triple.
Stepp singles McLelllan home and Lopez drive a hard single to left
center scoring McLellan. After 3 Braves 14 Cubs 10.
Braves will not let up. Doubles by Lyons and Powell get them
rolling again. Abney, Waddell, and Gonzalez follow with base hits and
scored for another 5 run inning.
Cubs keep this slug fest up with
Michalski's base hit, a walk to the walking man Lee Baker, followed with
base hits from LaMay, Peterson, Taylor, and Thompson for 4 runs across
the plate before the 3rd out of the inning. Sessick now on the mound
for the Cubs. After the first two batters single for the Braves the
next 3 go down in order. Fifth inning for the Cubs, Stepp, Lopez,
Mohan single to start the inning and Ray DePalma clears the bases with a
long drive double to left field. Barnes drive DePalma home with a
liner to right center. After 5 it Braves 19 Cubs 18.
Braves tally two
more runs in the 6th. Cubs are stuck on the 4 spot as Baker leads off
with a walk, single by LaMay and Taylor, Thompson's double
and singles by Stepp and Lopez. Braves arrive back at their usual 5
runs in the top of the 7th. What a way to win a ball game. Gonzalez,
Lautenschlager, Denny Shaffer, all hit homers to the deepest parts of
the outfield, some might still be rolling if they did not hit the
fence. Schapler drove another to the fence but the legs ain't what
they use to be, as he landed on third with a triple. Podbielski drove
Schapler home for the 5th and final run for the Braves. Cubs batting
in the 7th got singles from Barnes and Big Stan but could not drive them
home.
Final Score Braves 26 Cubs 22.
Final Score Braves 26 Cubs 22.
Brave Hitters
The whole team.
Waddell 4 for 4
G. Baker 3 for 4
Gonzalez 4 for 4 with HR
Lautneswchlager 3B and 2 HR
Shaffer 2 for 4 with HR
Podbielski 4 for 4
Witter and Macko 3 for 4
Cubs Hitters
Peterson 3 for 4 with HR
Taylor 3 for 4 with dbl
Barnes 3 for 4
Lee Baker 2 walks
Game 2
Game
2 has the Cubs the visitors and Braves home team. Peterson leads off
with a single as does Taylor, McLellan triples them home and Stepp bring
McLellan in with a single. Lopez walks and Mohan brings in the 4th and
final run of the inning. LaMay on the mound for the Cubs. Gene Baker
get a line drive single for the only hit of the inning. Big Stan leads
off the 2nd with a base rap to left, LaMay singles, Peterson Homers.
Taylor walks and Thompson singles than McLellan homers for 5 more runs.
Braves Schapeler doubles after two outs and is left standing on 2nd.
Cubs come back with 3 more in the 3rd on singles by Stepp and Lopez a
walk and singles by Mohan, Depalma and Barnes. Braves held scoreless
for the 3rd inning on great defense by
the Cubs. Walking man Baker starts the 4th with a walk, LaMay singles,
Taylor, Thompson and Stepp follows with base hits and Lopez drive a
triple to clear the bases for the max 5 runs of the inning. Braves come
back with their bat in the last of the 4th with 4 run. With a runner
for G Baker on 1st Gonzalez triples Lautenschlager singles, Shaffer
walks and Schapeler in the 4th run of the inning and is left stranded on
a great play by third baseman McLellan to end the inning. Cubs score 2
in the 5th inning and 3 in the 6 inning. Braves score 1 run in the
5th. Braves went down without a run in the 6th and the flip flop rule
was put into effect. Braves came up with 2 in the 7th.
Final Score
Cubs 22 and Braves 7.
Cubs Hitters
Peterson 2 for 4 with HR
Taylor 3 for 3 with walk
Thompson 3 for 4
McLellan 3 for 5 with triple (could have been a homer but he was the 6th run of the inning)
Mohan 2 for 2 with walk
LaMay 3 for 3
Don LaMay
Gatorland Field
Giants vs Marlins
The first game of a doubleheader was a close contest. The Giants were
the visitors coached by Bloom. The home team, the Marlins were coached
by Simon. The Giants went scoreless for the first four innings with the
Marlins scoring five runs in the second frame and once in the third to
take a 6-0 lead after four innings of play.
The Giants got hot and
scored twice in the fifth inning and put up a five spot in the sixth to
take a one run lead. The Marlins scored a run in the bottom of the
sixth to tie the contest after six innings of play. The seventh frame
featured good defense by both squads with no runs scored by either
squad.
The game then went into an extra inning affair and things got
interesting. Bloom got his team revved up and they scored seven runs
on hits by Bess, Bloom, Bloch for a HR, Raganese, Soobash, Remington,
Burns for a HR, Holder and Carruthers. The home team was down but not
out and knew that a seven run deficit could be overcome. The Marlins
tied the game with their own seven run onslaught featuring hits by
Ayers, Leggett, Andrews, Miller, Simon, Chrest, Torres, Marino, Hill, Miller and Mills.
Pitcher for the Marlins was Mills, and the pitcher
for the giants was Holder.
Leading hitters for the giants were Block
3-4, Soobash 3-4, and leading hitters for the Marlins were Miller 3-4,
Ayers 3-3, and Simon 3-4.
Game 2
A perfect sunny day on the National League Schedule
The Marlins did not score in the first inning.
The Giants with six hits and a walk scored five runs.
The Marlins came back over the next two innings with five runs of their own.
They had 10 hits and two walks.
Over the next three innings, the Giants poured it on with thirteen runs.
There was a combination of hits, errors and walks.
In the fifth and sixth innings, The Marlins played five more runs on a home run, singles, walks and errors.
Marlin Hitters. Torres. 2-3 (hr)
Miller 3-3
Legget. 2-3
Altemose. 2-3
Giant Hitters. Remington. 3-3
Scarborough 2-3
Guspyt. 2-3
Burns. 2-3
The final score was Giants 19, Marlins 10.
No comments:
Post a Comment