The Annual Lakeland –Winter Haven game that almost wasn’t, was. A hearty thank you goes out from the players to Russ King, Don Witmer and board members from both sides, who worked to make the game a reality.
Winter Haven, AL Team, Visitors: Wiltshire, Drouilard, Stiers, Seguin, Toro, Denny, Pepin, Farinas, D’Herin, Jacobs and Vanderhyde.
Lakeland, Home Team: Ottman, Stankiewicz, Cobb, Timbes, Wise, Matta, Davis, Arbic, Poke, Cacioppo and Grim.
This was a game of keeping up with the Joneses, even though no one named Jones played for either team. It was a game where neighbors from two different cities faced off to see who could win the day. Many of the guys playing on opposing teams in this game are teammates on other teams, so it’s a very friendly competition.
The Winter Haven team started things off by scoring a single run in the first inning. The Lakeland team doubled their output. After one inning the score was Winter Haven: 1-Lakeland: 2.
Winter Haven team had deuces wild over the next three innings; they put up two runs in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings. These pairings accounted for the runs: Pepin and D’Herin, Stiers and Seguin, D’Herin and Jacobs. Four of those runs came off homeruns by Seguin and Jacobs, with runners on base. The Lakeland team could only answer back with three runs over those same innings. Ottman, Stankiewicz and Poke crossed the plate. The big hit for Lakeland came from John Caccioppo, who had a triple to knock in Poke. After four innings the game was close, Winter Haven: 7- Lakeland: 5.
Both teams got busy in the 5th inning, scoring four runs each. Wiltshire, Stiers, Seguin and Toro all scored for the Visitors. Toro had a HR in the inning. Ottman, Stankiewicz, Cobb and Timbes counted in the tally for the Lakeland team. After 5 innings the score was Winter Haven: 11- Lakeland: 9.
Over the second half of the game Winter Haven opened up a substantial lead. They scored nine runs over the next three innings. Lakeland only managed to score two runs until the 8th. Lakeland tried to make it a game in the eighth inning when they scored four times to draw within reach. After eight innings the score was Winter Haven: 20- Lakeland: 15.
Over the previous eight innings of play, the Winter Haven team made several outstanding defensive plays to help preserve their lead. A dropped ball, instead of a running catch in the gap, would have changed the score considerably. Give credit to Mike Wiltshire, Scot Seguin and Juan Toro for their outstanding defensive efforts.
If the Winter Haven team stayed scoreless in the ninth inning, they would have to hope that their five run lead would last. No worries, the Visitors took care of business and knocked six runs across the dish. Farinas, D’Herin, Jacobs, Vanderhyde, Wiltshire and Drouilard all scored. The Winter Haven team all but sewed up the game with that outburst. All that was left was for the Visitors to play defense and keep Lakeland from going on a terror. Lakeland did string together a mini rally in the bottom of the 9th. The first 6 batters all had hits, four batters scored. The next three batters were then retired in order, to finish the competition. Final Score: Winter Haven: 26- Lakeland: 19.
Winter Haven Leading Hitters:
Wiltshire: 4/5, 3 triples and a SF.
Stiers: 3/6, with a HR and a double.
Seguin: 5/6 with a double and a HR.
Toro: 3/6 with a HR.
Pepin: 3/5.
Farinas: 3/5.
D’Herin: 4/5.
Jacobs: 4/4, with a HR and a walk.
Vanderhyde: 3/4 and a walk.
Leading Hitters For Lakeland:
Ottman: 5/5 and a walk.
Stankiewicz: 2/4 and two walks.
Cobb: 3 / 4 and two walks.
Timbes: 3/5 and a walk.
Wise: 4/ 5 with a walk and a double.
Cacioppo: 3/5 with a triple.
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