Winter Haven Senior Softball

Two well matched teams of mostly National Leaguers (the old timers) played a game on the old Fred White field.  The visiting team managed by Simon with Marino, Butler, Harlan, Thompson, Mohan, Ayala, Zakrowski, McPartlan, Ducham, Witter, Walton and Yarletts.  Marino led off with a long drive to left center but was out on a good running catch.  Simon lined one up the middle and Butler hit one in the hole with Simon being forced out at second and Butler safe at first.  Harlan singled to right, Thompson drove one to right also scoring a run.  Mohan looped one over third base driving in the second run of the game.  Ayala lined one to third for the final out of the inning.

The home team managed by Bloom with Burns, Crowe, D. Hill, Moots, F. Miller, Podbielski, Lopiccolo, Merritt, Bess, L. Baker, Gibson and Holder.  Burns led off with a line drive to right field for a double, Crowe singled to left and Hill drove in Burns for the only run of the inning. 

The visitors came out swinging with the second half of the lineup.  Zakrowski singled as did McPartlan after a force out at second singles by Witter, Walton, Yarletts, Marino and Simon drove in the 5^th run of the inning.  Home team now batting.  Singles by Merritt, Bloom,  Bess reached on an infield error with a run scoring and Gibson smashed a liner to left to drive in the final run of the inning.

Score after 2 was Visitors 7 Home team 3.  Butler led off with a double to deep left center field and Harlan singled in Butler and Thompson’s single drove in Harlan.  After two good fielding plays set down the next two batters Zakrowski singled and McPartlan  walked.  Ducham hit one to left center fielder who made a good catch for the final out of the inning.  Home team came alive in the 3^rd scoring 5 to make the score 9 to 5 in favor of the Visitors.  Burns started the inning with a double, Crowe singled, Hill singled, Miller doubled, and Podbielski as did Merritt and Bloom drive in the fifth and final run of the inning.

No scoring in the 4^th inning.  In the 5^th Visitors tallied 5 and Homers scored one.  In the 6^th two runs were scored for the home team.  After the visitors scored two in the 7^th Blooms team scored 5 to tie the game at 16 each.

Both pitchers knuckled down in the 8^th inning without any runs scoring.  Marino led off the 9^th with a single, Simon also singled.  After two outs Thompson lined one to right and Mohan drove one to left to score the second run of the inning and the final run of the game as the home team came up empty in the last half of the inning.

Final score Visitors 18  Home team 16.

Leading Hitters for Visitors:  Marino  3 for 5, Simon 6 for 6, Harlan 3 for 5, Thompson 4 for 4 with walk. And Zakrowski 4 for 4

Home team:  Burns 5 for 5 and the Cycle with 2 triples. Hill 4 for 4, Miller 3 for 4 and Merritt 3 for 4.                                    Submitted by Don LaMay