The Annual Lakeland vs Winter Haven Games

While the weather was a bit chilly, it did not seem to keep the crowds away as they braved the temperatures in record numbers to see their favorite players. This year's event included a first ever skills competition before the games. The hitting competition was won by Reg Finnegan. The throwing competition was won by John Carpenter. In the running event the under 70 winner was Jose Rivera, while Raul Torres took it for the over 70 group. Pitching awards went to Arvil Waddell for the over 70 and there was a tie for the under 70 group between Miguel Gonzalez and Rick Brock. Congratulations to all the winners. We hope to see a bigger field next year in a couple of the events.

There were four games played between the leagues. A couple of the games were nail biters while the other two were out and out routs. The first was the game between teams composed of players over seventy years of age. Unfortunately, the score sheets were not turned in so it is impossible to recap it properly. Needless to say, the Lakeland team came loaded for bear and seemed to score at will. I cannot remember a more awesome display of clutch hitting. From top to bottom, they had their a game. If I am not mistaken they scored the max runs in seven innings. The lone highlight for the Winter Haven team was a triple by Richie Marino. Final score, Lakeland "too many to count" and Winter Haven "considerably less". Congratulations to the Lakeland team.

The next game to finish was the game between Al Andrews Winter Haven team (Torres, Andrews, Wiltshire, Cuscovitch, Scarbrough, M.Gonzalez, Smith, Busch, Pepein, Denny, and McLellan) and the Lakeland team of Pierce, Remington, King, McClellan, Klinkers, Wise, Pokey, Sharp, Wheelock, Bernie, and Vince.

Lakeland scored two in the first but lost the inning as Cuscovitch and Scarbrough hit triples to score three. They fell farther behind in each of the next four innings. They scored one run in the second and third innings but then were shut out in the next two. Meanwhile, Al's team scored five runs in the second, third, and fourth innings and four in the fifth. Extra base hits by Busch,Smith, Pepin, and Denny were the engine that drove the run production. In the sixth, Lakeland scored four with Klinkers triple the big hit. Al's team answered with two to hold on to the lead. Lakeland scored two more in the eighth, but lost ground as Winter Haven scored five off extra base hits by Gonzalez and Smith. Unable to score more than two runs in the eighth and down 29 to 10, the flip flop rule was invoked and they continued to bat. Unfortunately, they failed to score again. Final score Winter Haven 29, Lakeland 12.

Key performances

Russ King        3 for 4

Doug McClellan    3 for 4

Bernie Sterns      3 for 4

Sam Cuscovitch    5 for 5 with a triple

Don Scarbrough    5 for 5 with two triples

Migel Gonzalez      5 for 5 with a double and winning pitcher

Terry Smith            4 for 5 hitting for the cycle
Greg Denny            5 for 5 with a double        

Ron Pepin                 4 for 5 with a double

Bill McLellan            3 for 4 with a double

Game three saw Lakeland fall behind early and they never caught up. The team of Simmons, Bird, Chairo, Arbic, Hopper, Hartley, Thompson, Grabb, Kerr, Potonik, and Carpenter had numerous runners on base in the first three innings,  but were unable to score. The Winter Haven group did not fare much better as they only scored four runs during the same period. Larry Powell's double being the only extra base hit. In the fourth,Thompson hit a home run that scored two for Lakeland while Hite's and Reagan's doubles resulted in Winter Haven getting two of their own.

The fifth inning saw Lakeland get one back as John  Carpenter hit a triple and scored. Winter Haven went three and out. In the sixth, Dave Hartley reached base and scored for Lakeland, but they fell farther behind as Frank Jacobs hit a triple to help his team score four. The seventh saw Lakeland start strong with 4 of their first five batters reaching base and scoring. Three quick outs and the rally was over. Winter Haven managed to get their five runs rather quickly, as Hector M's triple cleared the bases. Down by seven, Lakeland brought it again as four of the first six batters reached base and scored. By holding Winter Haven to one run, they managed to close the gap to 12 to 16 and obviously within reach. Unfortunately they were unable to cross home plate in the ninth so the game ended with the score Winter Haven 16 and Lakeland 12.

Key Performances

j Simmons    4 for 5

D. Arbic        4 for 4

D Thompson    4 for 5

J Carpenter      3 for 4 with a triple

Steve Hill        3 for 4

Arvil Waddell    Winning Pitcher

Hector Marinacci    2 for 3 with a triple

Ron Thompson     4 for 4

Game 4 featured the dream teams.  Two teams anyone would like to sponsor in a tournament.  You would expect these two teams to put up a few runs, get shut out in very few innings and play some excellent defense. They didn't disappoint. If these two teams met 10 times, it would probably end with 5 wins each.

Lakeland posted 3 in the first on a huge Don Held shot over the right field fence but Winter Haven outscored them with 5 on a Juan Toro homer the hard way and some key hits.  Then Lakeland posted 5 in the second to only two for Winter Haven to take the lead at 8-7.

Winter Haven then shut out Lakeland in the 3rd and 4th with some excellent defense while posting a 5 run third capped by one in the 4th to go ahead 8-13. 

Lakeland plated 1 in the 5th and 5 in the 6th but then let Winter Haven put up 5 in the 6th to keep the gap to 4 runs at 14-18 after 6.

Winter Haven went ahead by 6 runs in the 7th inning but Lakeland used the catch-up rule in the 8th to lock up the score at 20-20 going into the ninth.

Lakeland then managed a 9 run rally to seemingly secure the win but Winter Haven wasn't done yet.  Nick Burns led off the inning with a single, then a series of doubles by Gazarek Brock, Giordano, Wolfe, and D'Herin brought Winter Haven within reach.  With DeRidder on third and D'Herin on second and one out, Ron Butler laced a single up the middle scoring them both to bring Winter Haven within one.  Now it's the team Captain's turn at the plate.  Freddy Gonzales rapped out a running double to move the winning run to third. With runners at second and third, Lakeland intentionally walked Larry Wells to load the bases, set-up the double-play and get the spectators on their feet. Then the guy of the hour, Nick Burns, who started the rally came up for the second time in the inning.  Nick had been hot all day going 3 for 4 up to that point and he didn't let the pressure get to him.  He swatted out a clean single to score Butler from third and Gonzalez from second for the game winner.  

Final Score Lakeland 29 to Winter Haven 30.

Winning Pitcher - Larry Wells (with 9th inning support by Rick Brock)

Key Hitters Included:

Winter Haven

Rivera      4 for 5

Gazarek   3 for 5 2-2b

Brock       4 for 5 2-2b, 2-3b

Giordano  3 for 5 2b

Wolfe        3 for 5 2b, 3b

DeRidder  4 for 5

D'Herin     4 for 4 bb, 2-2b,HR

Gonzalez  4 for 5 2b HR

Wells         3 for 5 2b

Burns        4 for 5

Lakeland

Cobb         4 for 5  SAC, 2-2b, 3b

DeFalco    4 for 6 2-2b

Finnegan   5 for 6

Held          3 for 5 bb, HR

Lewis        4 for 6

Matson      3 for 3 2-bb, 2b

Shaffer      4 for 5 2b

Hill             5 for 5