Games canceled at winter haven. Raining hard. 8:30.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Still raining at the ball park. 8:10

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Tuesday April 28

Light rain at the ball park. 7:38.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Rain forecasted for Winter Haven @ 9:00. We may not play ball. I will be here until it rains. Use your judgement before you drive to the fields. Update in 30 minutes.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Safe-Out

I thought this trick only worked in Little League ... guess I was wrong.

The Hit's Just Keep On Coming.  

There were a whole lot of hits on the softball field in Tuesday’s action, the American League game. So, with that in mind, I am matching up television, 2015, hit shows, with Tuesday’s teams. I tried to work in as many top television shows from 2015 as possible, I am sure you will recognize most of them.

Visitors, Game of Thrones team: Witmer, Dampier, Doerbaum, Matta, M. Gonzalez, D’Herin, Vandenberg, Butler, Andrews and Crowell.

Home, Big Bang Theory: Coffman, Hamilton, Laffoon, Jacobs, Giordano, Shirer, F. Gonzalez, Farinas, Davis and Hill.

 

The Game Of Thrones team started out in the dungeon. They only had two, less than mighty, hits in the first inning, by Doerbaum and Matta, that were infield singles. As a team, we started out hitting more like jesters, than kings. Oh well, those infield hits look good in the book, but they were nothing that was going to win the queen’s heart. The Big Bang Theory started the bottom half of the inning with a little bang. A leadoff single by Coffman and a single by Hamilton placed runners at first and third. Laffoon then added a sacrifice fly, but the rest of the team could not geek out another hit. After one inning the score was Game Of Thrones: 0- Big Bang Theory: 1.

 

In the 2nd inning, the Game Of Thrones team took on the persona of “Marvel’s Agents of

S.H.I.E.L. D.” They hit like superheroes, scoring 5 runs off of seven hits. D’Herin, Vandenberg, Butler, Crowell, Witmer, Dampier and Doerbaum delivered the goods by using their special powers of hitting. The Big Bang boys were spending too much time rendering theories, instead of applying softball physics. They simply did not hit the ball well. After two innings, the score was Game Of Thrones: 5- Big Bang Theory: 2.

 

The Game Of Thrones team took a commercial break in the 3rd inning, not scoring a run. The Big Bang Theory had a little chemistry going and scored two runs in their half of the 3rd. After three innings of play the score was Game Of Thrones: 5- Big Bang Theory: 4. In the 4^th inning, the Game Of Thrones cast, murdered the ball. Call the “NCIS” team, (New Orleans), to investigate. “Boom- boom- boom- boom. I'm gonna shoot you right down, right offa your feet.” We scored five runs off of hits by Andrews, Witmer, Dampier, Doerbaum, Matta and M. Gonzalez. The Big Bang Theory knew that they needed a rally, so they came to bat and hit like “Vikings”, (The History Channel's scripted drama chronicling the adventures of Viking warrior, Ragnar Lothbrok). The Big Bangers scored 6 runs, to tie the game. Those Big Bang/ Vikings, raided and pillaged, getting nine hits, all this while only recording one out in the inning. Shirer, F. Gonzalez, Farinas, Davis, Hill, Hamilton, Laffoon and Jacobs were the Norsemen who clubbed their way to a tie. After four innings the score was Game Of Thrones: 10 - Big Bang Theory: 10.

 

The game had a new leader in the 5^th inning. The Big Bang Theory outscored The Game Of Thrones team, 1-3 runs, to take the lead, 11-13. In the 6^th inning, the Game Of Thrones team scored their third, five run, inning, in the game. It was like watching reruns on TV, you saw it all before. Witmer walked to start the rally, Dampier,singled; Doerbaum, singled; Matta, tripled; M. Gonzalez, doubled, D’Herin, walked; then Vandenberg and Butler finished out the scoring by adding base hits. It was as easy as shooting ducks on a pond, with Uncle Si, in “Duck Dynasty”. However, it still was not enough to gain an advantage, when the inning went in the books. The Big Bang Theory recaptured the lead by scoring four runs, in the bottom of the inning. They were not going to be on anybody’s “BlackList”. These guys were elusive escape artists who produced a labyrinth of hits. Coffman started their inning with a single, Hamilton, tripled; Laffoon, singled; Jacobs, doubled and Giordano cashed him in with a single, to finish the scoring that inning. This was like a television ratings war, after six hard innings of play the score was Game Of Thrones: 16- Big Bang Theory: 17.

 

The Game Of Throne team was tired of being in “Hell’s Kitchen”, they whipped up a five course meal masterpiece that would even impress Chief Ramsay; scoring five runs in the 7^th inning; to take over the lead for good. Andrew, Crowell, Witmer, Dampier, Doerbaum, Matta and M. Gonzalez were the master chiefs. After their four run outburst, in the sixth inning, the Big Bang Theory was now on life support. Due to the pitching of Dave Doerbaum, the Big Bang Theory cast was now making a guest appearance on “Grey’s Anatomy”. Their bats were sick. They scored 2-0-0 in the 7^th, 8^th and 9th. That low run production left them in “Jeopardy”.  The Game Of Throne teams added one more run in the 8^th and five runs in the 9^th. “I’ll take winning teams for $500, Alex.” “Which team had five, five run innings, to run away with the game?” “Who is Game Of Thrones.” Final Score: Game Of Thrones: 27- Big Bang Theory: 19.

 

Television Emmy winners for The Game Of Thrones team:

Witmer: 4/5, with a walk and a triple.

Dampier: 5/6.

Doerbaum: 6/6.

Matta: 5/6, with a triple.

M. Gonzalez: 4/6, with a double.

D’Herin: 4/5 and a walk.

Vanderberg: 5/5, with a walk and a triple.

Butler: 4/6, with a triple.

Andrews: 3/5

Crowell: 3/5, with a double.

WP: Doerbaum.

Big Bang Emmy’s:

Coffman: 3/5.

Hamilton: 5/5, with two triples.

F. Gonzalez: 5/5, with a triple.

Davis: 4/4, with a double.

Tuesday April 21, 2015

Games are on. Two fields.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

ToC Bound

HEY GUYS!!!

The  2015 Mustangs won their 65s AAA division with the minimum games, playing just three on Saturday and a mere one on Sunday to win the SSUSA Spring Nationals at the Winter Haven DiamondPlex.  Congratulations Guys.  This tournament qualifies them for next February's Tournament of Champions.  For us geezers that's the World Series!  We finished second in this year's ToC.  We'll win it in 2016!

Front Row left to right
Jose Rivera,  Regis Finnegan, Don Held, Ron Salyer, Gary DeFalco, Don Bobish, Chuck Duff

Back Row left to Right
Don Witmer, Ron Butler, Eric Johnson, Bill Gafney, Bob Zelazny, Matt Matson,Don Atkins, Don Erb

submitted by Ron Butler

Friday April 17.

Games are on. Be here @ 8:30. Play at 9:00.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Gimme Shelter

The Rolling Stones are coming to Orlando, on tour, June 12th, at the Citrus Bowl. They will also be playing at Comerica Park, in Detroit, July 8th. I was able to score tickets to the Orlando event. Joe D’Herin was given birthday tickets, by his son, to the Detroit concert. I always enjoy it when I get to hear a rock’n roll legend perform. At Winter Haven, we had two teams that played a legendary game today; we had five lead changes and the game was tied twice, in nine innings. In honor of the Rolling Stones concert, today’s write up will center on the iconic band.

Team Steel Wheels, (1989, RS, album),Visitors: Rivera, Gazarek, Dampier, Hamilton, Shirer, Coffman, Witmer, D’Herin, Butler, Oesterreich, Vandenberg, Constantine and Wells.

Team Grrr, (2012, RS, album), Home: Essenmacher, Laffoon, Doerbaum, Toro, Parker, Gonzalez, Matta, Davis, Hill, Zelazny, Andrews, Reagan and Cappozzi.

Team Steel Wheels started out “Under My Thumb”, as the lyrics state, “down to me, the change has come, she is under my thumb.” The Visitors were down, through the first 3 innings, then change came. The very first inning was a good one for Team Grrr, they started off like “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, we gave it the gas! Scoring four runs off of hits by Essenmacher, Laffoon, Doerbaum, Parker and a sacrifice fly by Matta. After 3 innings the score was Steel Wheels: 3 - Grrr: 7. In the 4th inning, the Steel Wheel squad started to Rock and Roll. They scored four runs that inning. As they rounded the bases you could almost hear them sing, “I know, it’s only rock and roll, but I like it.” One thing is for sure; Shirer, Coffman, Witmer, D’Herin and Butler rocked the ball that inning and rolled around the bases. The Steel Wheels had tied the game, temporarily, at 7 up, in the top of the 4th. The Grrr team came back in the bottom of the 4th and took a 1 run lead. Doerbaum shouted out “grrr”, and hit a gorilla shot over the left field fence, to swing his team back in front. After 4 innings the score was Steel Wheels: 7-Grrr: 8.

The Visitors sang “Start Me Up”, in the 5th inning, as they ran hot and produced three more runs off of hits by Rivera, Gazarek, Hamilton and Shirer. Team Steel Wheels took the lead, it was almost enough to “make a grown man cry”, if you were on the Home team.  Instead of wasting tears, Team Grrr, answered back immediately with a run; Hill, Zelazny and Andrews all added hits, to push the run across the plate. The score, Steel Wheels: 10- Grrr: 9, after five innings.

In the 6th inning the Visitors had an open door to extend their lead, but it was “painted black” (“I see a red door and I want it painted black, No colors anymore, I want them to turn black. I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes. I have to turn my head until my darkness goes”, Paint It Black, RS, 1966). The Steel Wheels team was blacked out in the 6th. That left an open door for the Grrr team to snatch back the lead. Gonzalez, Hill, Davis, Zelazny, Andrews and Reagan did just that, they added some “Brown Sugar”, that produced 4 runs, to lift their team back in front. The Grrr team then sang out, “hey, you, get off of my cloud. Don’t hang around boy because two’s a crowd”. After six innings the score was Steel Wheels: 10- Grrr: 13.

In the 7th and 8th the Steel Wheels put up a pair of three run innings. (Their three runs in the 7th, tied the game, for a 2nd time.) The Grrr team answered back resoundingly, by adding three runs in the bottom of the 7th , (off another Doerbaum homerun), and four runs in the bottom of the 8th, to go back on top. Try as they might, the Steel Wheels team could not keep the lead. “You Can’t Always get What You Want”. The score was Steel Wheels: 16- Grrr: 20.  But, in the ninth inning, team Steel Wheels found out that ”if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need”. The Visitors needed four runs to tie the game. The Steel Wheels went out and had their biggest inning, adding seven runs to their total. They were not going to be anyone’s “Beast Of Burden”. Wells, Rivera, Dampier, Hamilton, Shirer, Coffman, Witmer and Butler all reached base safely. D’Herin added a sacrifice fly to the cause. The score going into the bottom of the ninth was Steel Wheels: 23-Grrr: 20.

The Grrr team needed three runs to tie the game and four runs, to get “Satisfaction”. Well, you know how the song goes;“ I can't get no, satisfaction, I can't get no, satisfaction. 'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try. I can't get no, I can't get no.” Mick Jagger could not get any satisfaction, neither could team Grrr. We only scored one run. Team Steel Wheels won the game, 23-21. “Hey. hey hey, that’s what I say.”

It’s not all “Doom And Gloom” though, we ballplayers will take the field again, later this week, and will try for a win. Maybe then, we will get some shelter, as in “Gimme Shelter”.

Solid gold performers for the Steel Wheels:

Rivera: 4/5

Dampier 3/5, with a triple.

Hamilton: 3 / 4 with a double and a SF.

Shirer: 4/5 with a double.

Witmer: 4/5 with a triple.

D’Herin: 3/ 4 with a SF.

Butler: 3/ 4 with a triple.

Vanderberg: 2/ 3 and a walk.

WP: Wells.

Jose Rivera for a brilliant over the shoulder catch in deep center field on a Jimmy Laffoon shot.

Grrr, solid gold performers:  

Essenmacher: 5/5.

Doerbaum: 5/5 with two HRs and a double.

Gonzalez: 3/5.

Hill: 4/4.

Zelazny: 4/4 with a triple.

Andrews: 3/4.

Tuesday games.

Games are on. Be here at 8:30. Play at 9:00.

Sent frogm my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

REMINDER - REMINDER- REMINDER


Tomorrow is the beginning of the summertime start schedule. Sign in no later than 8:30 AM and games shall begin as soon as possible after the teams have been assigned.

NEW FLORIDA HALF CENTURY 74 AND OVER TEAM BEING FORMED


Pete Ostojic, Cappy and Larry Frink are forming a new 74 and Over team to play in Florida Half Century tournaments, and they are looking for players.

If you are interested, please see Pete, Cappy or Larry at the fields at Southwest Complex on Monday or Thursday mornings, or Don Witmer at the Winter Haven fields on Tuesday or Friday mornings.


You can also call Don Witmer @ 863.860.5381 and he will take you information and give it to one of the guys forming the team.


Thanks.

UPCOMING CHANGES FOR WINTER HAVEN SENIOR SOFTBALL


A board meeting was held after the games Tuesday and there are several changes that are forthcoming that everyone needs to know about. Below is the summary of the changes.

• Fees for the 2016 season that begins October 15, 2015 have been raised to $40.00. There will be a late fee of $10.00 for any application that is received after October 15, 2015.
• There will be no ball games that will end in a tie. The Board adopted the International Tie Breaker rule as used in the ISA rulebook. The new rule can be found on our website under "Rules".
• Starting time for the summer season will be changed effective Tuesday, April 14th. Sign in no later than 8:30 AM and games shall begin as soon as possible after the teams have been assigned.
• Batting practice before the games shall be limited to six (6) swings per player. If you carry 3 or 4 bats up to the plate, this does not mean that you get six swings per bat. Be reasonable.
• The Player Opinion Survey is over and we received 63 surveys. There was a lot of great comments and all of the board members will have an opportunity to read the comments. One thing for certain is that ya'll did not like the three team game format. The Board will do everything possible to make sure we do not have a three team format for next season. We will still use the three team format for the summertime due to limited number of players and the extreme temperatures. The survey will be used to help the Board make decisions for the 2016 season when we have our board meetings in October/November. A great big THANKS for all of you who returned your surveys.

As usual, if you have any questions, please talk to me or a board member.

Don Witmer, Commissioner

REMINDER - NO GAMES ON FRIDAY, APRIL 10TH


SSUSA has scheduled games for the Winter Haven DiamondPlex on Friday, April 10th. This means we will not be able to use the fields in Winter Haven tomorrow.
See you next week.
Don Witmer

Opening Day

Well, close enough to MLB's opening day anyway.  I'm glad baseball season is here.  There's finally something to watch besides basketball and hockey. (apologies to my Canadian friends.)

Anyway, two 13 man rosters squared off on Field C and I can't say it came out very even.  It looked good on paper though.  Tom Hamilton led the visitors; Rivera, Hamilton, Steir, Doerbaum, Gazarek, Pepin, Matta, D'Herin, Andrews, Gonzalez, Zelazny, Butler and Oesterreich; against JD's irregulars, Dampier, Toro, Witmer, Seguin, Giordano, Drouillard, Lafoon, Gonzalez, Essenmacher, Coffman, Davis, Reagan and Vanderberg.  See?? pretty good match up ... on paper.

Good on paper sometimes doesn't translate to run production though, just ask me, I know. I had a great team on paper this past season but it turned out to be a paper tiger.

The visitors cranked out an early lead and posted 20 runs in the first 4 innings before they backed off a bit.  Meanwhile the Home team only managed 5 runs total over the same span and 4 of those came in the 4th inning.

Dave Doerbaum's two long bombs and Jeff Steir's inside the park job made the visitor's offensive highlight reel. 

For the home squad, Fred Dampier had his wheaties (or a donut) this morning and came to play, contributing an inside the park homer and a double as part of his 5 for 6 day.  Bob Reagan also delivered an inside the park round tripper to complete their offensive showing. 

Defensively the visitor's Tom Hamilton and Jose Rivera turned in some great plays.  Juan Toro and Bob Reagan made stellar contributions for the home team defense.

Final Score Visitors 28 Home 14.

Winning Pitcher Nick Matta

Best of the Batting:

Visitors

• Rivera  5 for 5
• Steir  4 for 5 HR 3B
• Doerbaum 4 for 4 2-HR 2B, SAC
• Gazarek 4 for 5 2B
• Matta 2 for 3 2-BB
• Andrews 3 for 4
• Butler 4 for 4

Home

• Dampier 5 for 6 HR 2B
• Toro 3 for 5 2B 3B
• M. Gonzalez 3 for 4 2B
• Davis 3 for 4

submitted by Ron Butler

Les is a new GrandPa

Les Jacobson is a proud 1st time grandfather of baby boy. Certainly a happy occasion however while the baby was full term, he only weighed 4lbs and unfortunately requires surgery. Please keep Les and his family in your thoughts and prayers and especially that tiny infant.  Let's hope everything works out for them.

NO GAMES ON FRIDAY APRIL 10, 2015


SSUSA changed their minds this morning and have now scheduled games for the Winter Haven DiamondPlex on Friday, April 10th. This means we will not be able to use the fields in Winter Haven next Friday. If that changes again, I will let everyone know. Look for the information boards next Tuesday at the sign in desk and, as usual, check the website for any updates before you come to the ballpark.


Thanks.