Winter Haven Senior Softball

National League Game field D     Dec 30. 2015

Spring training in December.  More players showing up and the teams are set.  The teams were made up today from the rosters.  Not all players have arrived but league management put most of the players with the teams they will be playing with during league play starting in January.  The visiting team lined up by Manager Don LaMay looked like this:  Fulton, Shaffer, Thompson, Taylor, Stepp, King, B. Mohan, Leggett, McPartlin and Michalski.  Home team had two league managers, Elmer Black and Larry Powell and their team in this order: Altemose, Straight, Crowe, Burns, Powell, Ayer, Ayala, Spitaler, Black and Smith. 

Leading off for the visitors was Fulton with a walk, Shaffer followed with a line drive to the fence in right center for an inside the park HR.  Next batter was out on a great play Black to Ayer.  Taylor and Stepp had base hits and after an infield out Mohan, Leggett and McPartlin had hits and the visitors ended the inning with 4 runs.  Altemose leading off for the home team with a single followed with a double off the bat of Straight.  Burns hit a deep fly to right center for an out and Powell drove in two runs for the home guys.  After one H. 4 – V. 2.

The second started with a single by Fulton, Shaffer tripled, Thompson singled, Taylor walked, King singled Mohan walked and Leggett had a long sac fly to left center for the forth and final run of the second.  Spitaler led off with a triple with blazing speed, Blacked walked but was out on a double play King to Thompson to Taylor.  Altemose walked and Straight and Crowe followed with hit to tally 2 for the inning. 

The visitors build up a good lead by recording 4 runs in the 4^th inning.  Score after four H. 14 – V. 5.

The homers scored 3 in the 6^th and 3 in the 8^th and would need a big rally in the ninth to win the game.

Each team had 10 player with the batting team lending a player to the other team.  Some fancy plays were made by Taylor, King and Thompson subbing at midfield for the other team.  Ayer and Taylor both made fine plays at 1^st base. 

A lot of good hitting by both teams but highlighting the hitters was Shaffer who homered in the first inning, tripled in the second, doubled in the third and singled in the 4^th. 

Final score was Visitors (Cubs) was 20 and Home team 11.

Other outstanding hitters were:

Altemose 3 for 5 w/W, Straight 4 for 6, Crowe 4 for 5, and Powell 4 for 5.

Fulton 3 for 6, Shaffer 5 for 6 cycle and 2 HR, Taylor 3 for 5, King 4 for 6, Mohan 4 for 5 w/W, Leggett 3 for 5 and Michalski 4 for 6. 

Write up by Don Lamay