Season Championships

Thus another Season comes to a close,  a somewhat shortened season but fun nonetheless.  Many thanks to all who participated and especially Lee Baker for getting the equipment ready for us every game day.  Also thanks to Ron Salyer and the Lake Wales Legends Barbeque Support Staff for some fine pulled pork to help us celebrate the end of our season. Of course, Don Keller gets an honorable mention for serving as our umpire.  I don't think Don missed a game all season.

Remember that next Tuesday we start playing in Lakeland.  Be there by 9am if you want to play. We will play the next 3 Tuesdays in Lakeland, returning to our home turf on March 25.

Also note that the 2015 Registration Form is now available both at the ball park when you sign in and online.  Linky

Cubs VS Braves

Cubs Vs Braves for the Winter Haven Senior Softball National League Championship.  Both teams ended up tied for first after the final double header last Tuesday.  The Cubs started the season going 7 and 0 and the Braves got off to a slow start.  The Braves did not give up under the leadership of Larry Powell.  Midway thru the season the Braves took both ends of a double header from the Cubs and the race was on.  So today is the day, weather perfect, lots of fans to watch the game and attend the GREAT feast after the game. 

Cubs win the coin toss officiated by Commissioner Bob Zelazny.  Braves lead off hitter Abney lines a single to center next hitter drives a sharp ground ball to shortstop Lopez he tosses to Thompson at 2nd base and the flip to Taylor at first for two.  Gonzalez and Baker single and Lautenschlager drives a long liner to right field and Cubs Stepp makes a good catch for the out.  Peterson leads off the Cubs with a liner to 2nd for another outstand play in the field.  Taylor, Thompson singles followed by a McLellan double Lopez drives in the 3rd run of the inning.  Braves get a walk to Schapeler and a base hit from McPartlin but both runner are stranded.  Cubs go 1 2 3 in the second.  Braves go 1 2 3 in the 3rd.  Sound like a boring game but let me tell you the defense by both teams was the best I've seen all season.  Cubs manage another run in the third with a line drive double by Big Stan Michalski, Yarletts singles him to third and Peterson brings him home with a base hit.  4 to 0 after three.  Manager Powell draws a walk leading of the 4th, followed by a double from Abney another walk followed by base hits from Gonzalez, Baker, Lautenschlager and Shaffer tally 5 for the Visitors.  Cubs come back with 2 in the bottom of the inning with a single from Thompson, a double from McLellan and base hits from Lopez and Sessick.  Both teams go scoreless in the 5th.  Score after five is Cubs 6 Braves 5. 

After one out in the sixth Macko lines a double and Lyons drive him home with a base hit.  Bottom of the sixth a K for LaMay followed with a Home Run from Peterson a single for Taylor and a double from Thompson.  Cubs tally four for the inning.  No let up at all as the Braves come back with 4 in the top of the 7th.  Abney singles to start the inning, as does Waddell and Gonzalez then after a fly out Lautenschlager, Schapeler and Podbielski brings in the 4th run of the inning.  Score after 7 is tied a 10 runs each.  How is that for a Championship game?  Top of the 8th Braves are held with a run scoring.  Cub top of the batting order with Peterson leads off with his second homer of the game.  Taylor singles and Thompson walks than another single by McLellan.  Lozez triples before the final two out of the inning.  Cubs Lead by 4 runs.  Braves came back in the 9th inning to score 2.

The final was Cubs 14 Braves 12.  

Let me tell you gentlemen and fans of Winter Haven Softball this was one of the best ballgame I've played in.  Good hitting in the clutch, Great fielding on both teams and the pitching wasn't all that bad either.  Thanks to all the players for great sportsmenship.  Thanks to the Winter Haven Senior Softball League for the GREAT meal and drinks.  Well done for All.

Hitters for Cubs

Peterson 3 for 4 w/2 HR

Taylor 3 for 4

Thompson3 for 3 with dbl and walk

McLellan 4 for 4 2 dbls

Lopez 3 for 3 w/walk

Yarletts 3 for 3

Hitters for Braves Abney 3 for 4

Lautenschlager 2 for 3

Gonzalez 3 for 3

Schapeler 2 for 2 with 2 walks.

Submitted by Don LaMay

Giants vs Marlins

Today's game contesting third place between the Giants and the Marlins had the Marlins coached by Jeff Simon and the Giants on automatic pilot.  This is probably the reason for the score. 

The game was started with a zero posted by the Marlins. The Giants scored 5 runs on singles by Elmer Black, Dave Ragonese and Don Scarborough with Ed Guspyt homering. Jerry Remington singled and was driven in by Chuck Cottles single. That pretty much was how the game progressed. 

Giants 28

Marlins11

Top Hitters for the Marlins

Marino 3-5

Torres 3-4 HR  3B

Hill 4-4

Smith 3-4

Andrews 3-4

Top Hitters for the Giants

Black 6-6

Scarborough 6-6

Guspyt 5-6 HR

Remington 5-6

Burns 4-6

Ducham 5-5 3B

Submitted By Ed Kline

Angels vs. Rangers

 A few weeks ago, I was raking leaves in my yard when a car stopped by and a man in his 80’s asked me for directions.  During our discussion, the kindly older gent noticed that I was wearing a sports jersey.  He went on to mention that he had once scored 3 TDs, versus Lakeland, in a high school football game.  He quickly added, “that took place decades ago.”  I responded, “that was a great accomplishment”, I added, “hold on to those memories, I plan on hanging on to my fond memories as long as I can.”  Those were some of his glory days.

Isn’t that the way it goes, the older you get the more precious the memories become.  You tend to cherish accomplishments a little more, with each passing year.  In this 2014 Winter Haven Senior Softball season, the Rangers team members added a championship memory, to treasure for years to come.

For certain, February’s championship game, on ServiceMaster field, at the Winter Haven Diamond Plex, between the Angels and the Rangers was anti climatic.  The once mighty archangels, who early in the year seemed like they could slay an army, were now reduced to mere mortals.  Several members of their team suffered injuries and a few others had conflicts, which prevented them from playing in the championship game.  Such is life in the world of senior softball.  By league rules, the Angels had to forfeit the game and thus handed the Rangers the championship, on a silver halo.

A pick-up game between the two teams was played, instead of a championship game; it ended in a 15-15 tie after nine innings.  A celebration cook-out was underway in the pavilion area nearby.  When both teams heard the word tie, they immediately thought, let’s tie on the feed bag and forget about playing extra innings.  Seniors are quick to make such decisions when food, fellowship and beverages are involved.

So, what cherished memories will the Ranger's players stash away in the dugouts of their hearts?  This Rangers team can look back on an entire season worth of successful play that lead to a 13-3 record, that’s a .813 winning percentage. The leading hitters for the team, Jimmy Laffoon, (.666), Don Erb, (.648), Bob Zelazny, (.641) and Juan Toro, (.622) can revel in their accomplishments. While other team members can take pleasure in knowing that winning was indeed a team effort.  I am proud of what the whole team accomplished; Ron Butler, Kirk Coffman, Chris Constantine, Pat Drouilard, Don Erb, Steve Hill, Don Ing, Les Jacobson, Jimmy Laffoon, Lance Patten, Juan Toro, Josh Wells, Bob Zelazny and myself, Nick Matta, played some good ball.  We share the memory of having a group of individuals come together, to play as a team. We enjoyed playing together; jokes and laughter was a staple for this Rangers team.  Everyone on the team contributed in some way, with a big hit, catch, or use of speed while running the bases, more than once throughout the season.  As team manager, I like the fact that players refused to quit on a game, we came from behind to win several games.  

Bruce Springsteen sang about memories in his famous song, “Glory Days”.

“I had a friend who was a big baseball player

 back in high school

 He could throw that speedball by you

 Make you look like a fool boy

 Saw him the other night at this roadside bar

 I was walking in, he was walking out

 We went back inside, sat down, had a few drinks

 but all he kept talking about was

Glory days, well they'll pass you by

 Glory days, in the wink of a young girl's eye

 Glory days, glory days.”

I am grateful that we, as Winter Haven Senior Softball players, can experience new “Glory Days” with each passing season. The memories don’t just pass us by, they stay with us.

submitted by Nick Matta

 

Rays vs Tigers

The season finale proved to be a hitters ball game for the two teams vying for third place. The Rays and the Tigers battled it out on Field D with a final score of Rays 22 and Tigers 17. The Rays only had 10 players while the Tigers had  11. There was plenty of batting going on with leadoff batter for the Rays, Eddie Gazarek,  getting to the plate 7 times. There were four in the park home runs, two for each team and numerous triples for each team. The Rays left 15 players on base and the Tigers left 12 players on base. Everyone got several good hits off the good pitching of Pat Lopicolo and Steve Pennick.

Leading hitters for the Rays were Rick Brock and Terry Smith, 5/6, Eddie Gazarek 5/7, Jimmy Goodhue, Herb 'O', Ray Levesque and Pat Lopicolo 4/6. Rick Brock and Terry Smith had in the park home runs. 

Leading hitters for the Tigers were Brian Busch, John Carpenter and Russ King, 4/5. Al Andrews, Poke Rodriguez and Steve Pennick were 3/5. Freddie Dampier and John Carpenter had in the park home runs.

After the game, barbeque was enjoyed by all of the players and guests. Barbeque was provided by Ron Salyer with help form Chuck Duff, Regis Finnegan and Larry Grabb. 

Submitted by Don Witmer