Friday Jan 29th.

No games today. Fields under water. See you Tuesday.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Tuesday, January 26th - Field D
Loren Fabian's Braves and Russ King's Tigers played 2 really good games with the lead changing hands several times in both games. The Tigers won both games  16-12 and 21-14 with strong late inning scoring.
Submitted by Loren Fabian

A Day At The Races

Two thoroughbreds lined up to race at the DiamondPlex. Both races/games would come down to the wire.

Visitors, Secretariat: Ford, Stier, Wiltshire, Doerbaum, Matta, Seguin, Alumbugh, DeRidder, Gazarek, Burns, Thirey and Pinnick.

Home, Seattle Slew: Gonzalez, Witmer, Toro, Jacobson, Quinones, Brock, Pepin, Zelazny, Deemie, Benson, Ogden, Vanderhyde and Constantine.

Just for the record, Secretariat won the Triple Crown, in 1973, while Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown, in 1977. In all, there have been 11 Triple Crown winners. The softball combatants listed above played two close games. How close were they?  As close as two coats of paint. These teams were eyeball to eyeball. The games were as close as the hair on a flea’s eyebrow. Each team won by a nose.

You really need to examine the stats to see just how close these teams played each other. In game one, of a seven inning contest, the Visitors had 21 hits, in 37 at bats, they scored 10 runs and lost by a run. The Home team had 17 hits, in 34 at bats, they scored 11 runs to win the game. Their key inning was the 6^th inning, Witmer, Toro, Jacobson, Quinones and Brock all scored, Zelazny and Deemie also had key hits that inning. Final Score: Secretariat: 10 - Seattle Slew: 11. The Visitors came close, but close only counts in horseshoes.

WP: Vanderhyde.

Leading Hitters For The Visitors:

Ford: 3/4.

Doerbaum: 2/2 with a HR and two walks.

Seguin : 2/3 with a double.

Alumbaugh: 1/2 with a triple and a walk.

Gazarek: 3/3.

Thirey: 3/3.

Leading Hitters For The Home Team:

Toro: 2/3.

Quinones: 3/3 with a HR, Double and a Triple.

Brock: 2/3 with a HR and double.

Pepin: 2/3.

Zelazny: 2/3.

Vanderhyde: 1/ 2.

Constantine: 1/2.

In game two, the two horses raced neck and neck, yet again. The game came down to a photo finish, in the 7^th and last inning. The score was tied 15-15, with two outs, when Gerry DeRidder, who was patient at the plate, earned a walk. Eddie Gazarek, who swung a hot bat all day, singled pinch runner, Jeff Stier, to 3^rd. With the game on the line and two outs in the books, Nick Burns got the key hit and drove in the game winner. Team Seattle Slew had 22 hits, in 40 ABs. Team Secretariat had 27 hits, in 45 ABs. Final Score: Seattle Slew: 15- Secretariat: 16. Close, but no cigar, for the Visitors.

WP: Doerbaum.

Leading Hitters For The Visitors:

Witmer: 4/4.

Jacobson:3/ 4, with two doubles.

Quinones: 2/3 with a HR and a walk.

Benson 2/ 3.

Vanderhyde: 2/3 with a double.

Leading Hitters For The Home Team:

Ford: 4/4 with a double.

Wiltshire: 3/4.

Doerbaum: 2/3 with a HR and a walk.

Gazarek: 3/4 with a triple.

Burns: 4/4.

Write Up By Nick Matta

In the first game of a doubleheader today on Field B, Elmer Black's Softball Team defeated Jeff Simon's Team by a score of 20 to 4. It was a 7 inning game and Black's Team had 17 runs after the fourth inning. Many balls hit by both teams sailed over the short fence for ground rule doubles. Oesterreich went 2/4 with a double, Spitaleri 3/4 with a double, Mahon 3/4, Lopez 2/3 & BB, Ing 2/2 & BB, Rutan 2/3, Ridley 3/3 2B, Hawbaker 2/3 two 2B, and Barnes 2/2. Rudy Lapointe made a couple great plays behind the plate. For Simon's team, Accetta 2/3, Vandenburg 3/3 two 2B, Hill 3/3, and Lopiccolo 2/2. Several batters only had two at bats. The game was stalled for a while on a lengthy discussion on how many intentional walks can be given to a team in a single game.

DOUBLEHEADERS ARE ON FOR TUESDAY, JAN. 26th




The American League will continue their double header makeup games tomorrow for the rainout on Friday, Jan 15th. Games will be 7 innings. The home team listed for tomorrow will be the home team for the first game and will wear their Silver shirts. There is no need to change shirts for the second game. The visiting team in the first game will be the home team for the second game.


The National League will begin their double header makeup games tomorrow for the rainout on Friday, Jan 8th. Games will be 7 innings. The home team listed for tomorrow will be the home team for the first game and will wear their Silver shirts. There is no need to change shirts for the second game. The visiting team in the first game will be the home team for the second game.


Standings have been updated on the website. See you at the ball park tomorrow.


Don Witmer, Commissioner

Field A  Jan 22, 2016                    

Cold and windy day at WHSS site on Diamond Plex field A.  Jeff Simon’s team being the visitors led off with Simon, followed by Accetta, Reagan, Butler, Travis, Hill (the Duff kind), Vandenburg, Bloom, O’Callahan, Bowley, Altemose, Lopiccolo, and Merritt.  LaMay’s (the Cubs) team took the field and batted in this order, Andrews, Thompson, Laffoon, Guspyt, Miller, Taylor, Leggett, G. Baker, Jones, Waddell, Welton, Moots, and L. Baker.

Simon led off the 1^st with a liner to center, Accetta followed with with a triple, than doubles from Reagan, Butler and Travis netted the visitors 4 runs in the first. The Cubs had singles from Laffoon and Guspyt but failed to score. In the second Simons team went down in order.  Cubs had hits from Leggett, Jones and Waddell that tallied a run for the home guys.  Base hits from Lopiccolo, Simon, Accetta, Reagen, Butler and Vandenburg drove in the 5^th run of the inning.  Cubs came back with two walks and singles off the bats of Laffoon, Miller, and Taylor to net 4 runs in the inning.  After 3 the score was Simon 9 Cubs 5.  Both team came up with zero’s in the 4^th. Merritt, Simon and Accetta singles for a run in the 5^th.  Cubs closed the gap on a double from Andrews, a walk a single from Guspyt and an error too tally 2 for the inning.  Simon’s team put 4 more runs up in the 6^th while the Cubs netted 2.  Both teams had 2 runs in the books in the 7^th.  After 7 the score was Simon 16 Cubs 11. 

The visitors put the game away in the 8^th with 5 runs.  The Cubs rallied for 6 in the bottom of the inning to close the gap to 21 to 17 than both teams failed to score in the 9^th.    Final Score Simon 21 Cubs 17.

Leading hitters for Simon team:  Simon 4 for 5, Accetta 5 for 5, Reagan, 4 for 5, Butler 3 for 4 w/walk, Vandenburg 3 for 5.

Leaders for Cubs:  Laffoon 3 for 4 w/walk, Guspyt 4 for 4 w/walk, Jones 5 for 5, and Welton 3 for 5. 

Submitted by Don LaMay

Today's game featured a highly competitive back and forth game between Hamilton's (Detroit) Tigers and Gonzalez's (Not so heavenly) Angels, both entering with 2-1 records.  With 9 lead changes the outcome was not determined until the last inning.  The Tigers roared first with 5 in the first without an out. The Angels answered with one in the 1st and 2nd and took their first lead with 5 in the 3rd capped off by a 3 run blast by TORO that truly scraped the clouds. The Tigers answered with 5 in the 5th featuring a Bomb off the bat of McKinnon.  The Angels came right back with 5 of their own in the bottom of the 5th closed out by TORO's second big fly of the game. Refusing to be outdone the Tigers answered with 4 in the 6th, only to see the Angels respond with another 5 in their half to take a 19-15 lead.  However the Tigers immediately put up another 5 to regain the lead at 20-19.  The Angels pushed across 2 to re-take a 1 run lead briefly because  the Tigers put up 2 more in the 8th.  In the bottom of the 8th the Angels rallied for big 5 spot to take the lead at 26-22 going into the 9th.  Although loading the bases in the 9th the Tigers did not score.  Both managers had the wheels turning with 3 intentional walks to McKinnon, Gonzalez and Toro, but each was foiled by clutch hits from Held, Witmer and Jacobson.  The strong wind made play challenging but there were numerous outstanding plays.   Hitting stars:  Guzzo. 4-5; McKinnon. 4-4; Held 3-5, Regis 4-5; Weiland 4-6; Reponen 4-6;           Gonzalez 3-4;   Toro 3-4;  Quinones 4-4; Ogden 4-4;  Constantine 3-4;   Vanderhyde 3-4.


Write up by Les Jacobson

Elmer Black's team pulled out a 19-13 Victory on Field C today, over Russ King's Squad. King's team held a 12 to 10 lead in the 5th inning, but pitcher Hal Ridley held them to one run over the last 4 innings.Elmer's Team came up with 9 more runs to seal the victory. King's team was hitting the long ball but Black's boys came up with 29 singles and one Triple. Leading hitters for Black were, Oesterreid 3/5, Spitaleri 4/5, Mahon 4/5, Rutan 2/4, Lopez 2/3 & 2bb, Ing 3/5, Mohan 3/4, Hawbaker 2/4, Kriger 2/3 & Triple, Ayer 2/3 & bb. For Russ King's squad, Hill 3/4 & Triple, Dampier 2/3 & HR, McLellan 2/4. King 3/4, Letournes 3/4 & HR, Zakrowski 2/4 , Ducham 2/4 and Stepp 2/3. Not one drop of rain which was amazing.


Write up by Bill Ayer

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

In 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis recorded his hit song, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”. The song was written by Dave Williams and James Hall, in Okeechobee Florida. Way up north of Okeechobee, in Winter Haven, 2016, we recorded our own version of the song, titled, "Whole Lotta Hittin’ Goin' On".
Visitors, Matta’s Bomb Squad: Ford, Stier, Wiltshire, Doerbaum, Matta, Seguin, Burns, Alumbaugh, Gazarek, DeRidder and Thirey.
Home, JD’s Hitmen: Rad, Rivera, Keller, Shirer, JD, Giordano, T. Smith, Denny, Crowell, Coffman and Cappozzi.
The two teams played even through the first 3 innings, as the score stood tied, 7-7.  Over the next four innings of play the Bomb Squad “took the bull by the horns”,  just like the lyrics to the song state. We scored 5-5-5-5, in innings 4-7, to take a commanding lead, 27-9. Instead of singing the lyrics, “shake baby shake”, it was “score baby score”.
Even though there was plenty of hitting, there were also strong defensive plays turned in by "Andy Van Slyke", Shirer, Giordano and Ford.
The Hitmen fought back in the 8th and 9th innings, romping around the bases and doing a little scoring of their own, 9 runners crossed the plate. The Bomb Squad had built too much of a lead for the Hitmen to overcome. The Final Score was Bomb Squad 27- Hitmen 18. "Round those bases baby, whole lotta scorin' goin' on."

WP: Doerbaum
Leading Hitters for the Bomb Squad:

Ford: 4/5.
Stier: 4/5 with a double.
Wiltshire: 4/5 with a triple.
Doerbaum: 4/5 with a HR., The Bengal Tiger hit a shot over the fence.
Matta: 4/5 with two triples.
Seguin: 4/5 with a HR, a line drive over the fence.
Alumbaugh: 4/5 with a double.
DeRidder: 4/5 with a double. (Just missed hitting one out).
Thirey: 3/5 with a double.
Gazarek: 3/5.

Leading Hitters For The Hitmen:
Keller: 6/6.
JD: 3/5 and a SF.
Smith: 4/6,
Denny: 4/5 with a double.
Cappozzi: 4/5.


Write up by Nick Matta

From: Loren Fabian mgr. of Natl. League Braves. 

Before I do the write up for the game this morning - - which we beat the rain - - that is all our Braves beat. Our team won our first game quite handily when we had almost our full team there and the other team was missing 3, 2 of which were "franchise players".  Since then we have lost 2 games by wide margins mainly because we have 4 players dealing with health issues 2 of which are "franchise players". We only had 10 today and got scored on quite frequently and only scored 3 runs of our own. Know what?  We still had fun and no one got upset. Health and family come before WHSS as much as I love playing in this league. 

    This was great to me showing the comraderie of all of us out there. A member of another team approached me after our second huge loss in a row and suggested I talk to the board about getting some players from other teams who have more than enough. I thanked him very much for his suggestion and quickly said we have a very quality team when we get everyone here and that would not be necessary. When I told him the players we were missing the last two games he understood and agreed. - - we will be competitive.  

    Now for the ball game. Larry Powell's visiting team jumped to a 10-0 lead after 3 innings and ended up 21-1 after 5 1/2 innings.  The Braves did score 2 more in the bottom of the 6th but decided it was not going to get any better because of the lack of parity and decided to stop the bleeding at 21-3. Game over.       We will have at least 12 team members on Tuesday. 

Visitors best hitters. (Almost all of them)

Fulton.              3-3

Marino.             3-3

Remington.       3-3

Lautenschlager. 3-3

Hite.                  3-3

Torok.                2-3

Augie.                2-3

Borelli.               2-3

Powell.              2-3

Turpin.               2-3

For home team Braves - pool player Jeri Blair was 2-2, Poke was 2-3, Wilcox was 2-3. Otherwise they had only 4 other hits. 

In conclusion, I want to commend Powell's team for an outstanding offensive barrage and thank all the BRAVES for hanging in there and not getting upset. WE DID HAVE FUN with all our fellow players. See y'all Tuesday. 

Friday Jan 22

Games are still on. Radar shows rain @ 11:00 AM. No batting practice after 9:00. Start your games as soon as you can.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Friday Jan 22

Games are on. Rain due in around 11:00. Update @_8:00.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Margaret "Peg" Connolly, wife of Dan Connolly, passed away peacefully at her home in Tower Lakes on January 16, 2016. Dan was a longtime member of Winter Haven Senior Softball, a former manager in our league and former player on the Post 8 Legion Team. A memorial will be held in her honor on Sunday, January 24th at the Tower Lakes Club House at 1:00 PM.  Funeral Mass will be held on January 31st at 8:00 AM at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Please keep Dan and his family in your thoughts and prayers in this difficult time in their lives.

Tuesday, January 19th


Jeff Simon's Team was Visitors and Larry Powell's Team was the Home Team.

Simon's Team started the game by scoring three runs in the first on a home run by Reagan. They didn't score again until the fourth inning.

Powell's Team scored in every inning except the first and seventh innings.

The score was 26-12 in favor Powell's Team after 8 innings.

In the top of the ninth, Simon's Team scored nine runs in a row before ending the inning with three outs. Final score was Powell's Team 26 --Simon's 21.

Leading Hitters for Simon's Team:

Accetta 4-5 one double

Reagon 4-5 one home run

Duff 3-5 one double, one triple

Navarro 3-5

Leading Hitters for Powell's Team:

Jerry Remington 3-4 one double

Bob Hite 3-4 one double

Augie 4-4 

Fern Borrelli 4-4 one home run

Larry Powell 4-4 one double

Submitted by Larry Powell

January 19, 2016

Freddie’s Angels took on the JD Pride Tuesday in an American League double header due to the rains last week. The Angels came out firing on all cylinders in the top of the first , of the first game, scoring five runs on seven hits. The pride tried to even the score in the bottom of the first, but fell short, scoring only two runs. This scenario was repeated for the next three innings, the Angels scoring five runs the next two innings, then a four run fourth, while JD Pride scored only three more runs, leaving the score 19-5. Only two more runs were scored in the next three innings, leaving the final score, 19-7. The Angels dominated the hitting game throughout the contest with a home run by Ogden and triples by Deemie and Benson. The only extra base hits by JD Pride were Busch and Shirer doubles.

The nightcap started out a bit better for the JD Pride. After two innings they were ahead 2-0. In the third the Angels gained some ground, with manager Freddie Gonzalez leading the charge with an inside the park home run after Jack Benson doubled. The Pride came back with four runs of their own, which could’ve been five except for a great three man relay throwing Greg Denny out at home after he gapped one into right center field for a triple. It was close, but he was out. The Angels came back in their half of the fourth with five runs, again with their leader, Freddie Gonzalez hitting his second home run. The Pride got two in the fifth, then the Angels had another five run inning.  So after five innings it was 15-9, the Angels in the lead. The sixth inning saw JD Pride closing the gap with their version of the five run inning. The Angels came back in the second half of the inning with two runs.  JD Pride had to score three runs to tie, but could only muster one, so the final score was Angels 17  -  JD Pride 15.

The leading hitters for the Angels were:

                Gonzalez  4-7 with two home runs and a double

                Brock  4-7

                Toro  7-8

                Jacobson  6-8

                Zelazny  4-6

                Pepin 5-6

The leading hitters for JD Pride were:

                Rivera  4-7

                Shirer 5-7 with a double

                Giordano  4-7

                T. Smith  5-7

                Denny  4-7

Submitted by Greg Denny

Field A - Cubs and Tigers Jan 19, 2016

Last time the Tigers played the Cubs in a big game was in 1945 when the Tigers won the World Series.  Today in the Winter Haven Senior Softball League the Cubs were the visitors managed by Don LaMay and batted in this order:  Guspyt, Andrews, Laffoon, Thompson, Shaffer, Miller, Taylor, Kline, G. Baker, Jones, Leggett, Welton, Moots and L. Baker.  The Tigers took the field with S. Hill, Dampier, Stepp, McLellan, Levesque, Kallister, King, Letournes, Zakrowski, DePalma, Strait, Gibson and Jack McNiven. 

The Cubs Laffoon started a rally after 2 outs with a double, Thompson, Shaffer, Miller and Taylor follow with singles and put 3 run in the books.  Hill started the last of the inning with a double, Dampier hammered one over the fence for a ground rule double.  (Field A fences are 220 foot so it’s a ground rule double) Than after 2 outs another double off the bat of Levesque.  Kallister singled, King walked, Letournes reached base and Zakrowski batted in the 5^th run of the inning.

In the 2^nd the second half of the batting order led by G. Baker with a single up the middle, Jones singled and Leggett followed with a 3 bagger down the right field corner.  Moots singled as did L Baker and Guspyt, Andrews and Laffoon knocking in the 5^th run of the inning.  Tigers were held scoreless and at the end of two the score was Cubs 8 Tigers 5.

In the 3^rd Cubs managed 2 runs and the Tigers closed up the gap by scoring 3 runs.  Cubs Leggett started the 4^th with a bat rap, Moots and Guspyt singles followed with doubles from Andrews and Laffoon and a single from Thompson carded 5 runs for the Cubs.  Tigers came back again with 3 runs on singles from King, Zakrowski and Strait for the third run of the inning.

The fourth had both teams playing D.  Cub went down 1 2 3 on good fielding plays.  DePalma shined with a running over the shoulder catch down the right field foul line.  Catch of the day.  After 2 hits Tigers went down on a sparkling 6 4 3 double play to end the inning.

Cubs added 2 in the top of the 6^th and the Tigers came back to tie the game at 17 all.  Six singles off the bats of McLellan, Levesque, Kallister, King, Letournes, Zakrowski, a walk and another single from Jack McNiven tied the score.

Cubs came back with 5 runs of their own in the 7^th and the slugging Tigers scored 4 more.  Cubs added 2 runs in the 8 and 3 in the top of the 9^th and the Tigers started the 9^th with 3 straight hits but the rally fell short and the game ended with the final score Cubs 27 Tigers 23.

Leading hitters for Cubs: Andrews 4 for 5, Laffoon 5 for 5, Thompson 5 for 5, Shaffer 5 for 5 and Miller 4 for 5.

Leading hitters for Tigers: Hill 3 for 5 with 3 Dbls, Dampier 4 for 5 2 Dbls, McLellan 4 for 5, Levesque 4 for 5 2 Dbls. Kin 3 for 3 w/walk.

Good game guys.

Write Up by Don Lamay 

Tuesday Jan 19th.
Black's visiting team started out with back to back 5 run innings and never looked back against Fabian's home team Braves. The Braves did pull within 4 after 3 innings but the visitors kept posting big innings including 5 in the 6th and 6 in the 9th. Final score was 27-13.
Leading hitters for Black were Spitaler 6-6, Mahon 5-5, Lopez 3-5, Ridley 3-5, Ing 2-2 and 3BB, LaPointe 3-5, Leo 4-5 and Ayer 3-4.
Leading hitters for Fabian were G. Sequin 3-5, Poke 3-4, The Boz 5-5, Carpenter 3-5 and Aufier 3-4 with a HR.
     The game ran very smooth.  Thank you lady and gentlemen.

The Cold Snap Game

Visitors, Team Ice: Hicks, Hamilton, McKinnon, Held, Farinas, Essenmacher, Wieland, Guzzo, Fox, Reponen and Wells.

Home, Team Chill: Ford, Stier, Wiltshire, Doerbaum, Matta, Seguin, Alumbaugh, DeRidder, Gazarek, Burns, Thirey and Pinnick.

These two cool customers took the field, or was it the ice rink, or maybe the frozen tundra, to play two hard fought games. It was so cold on Tuesday that many of the Canadian players thought they were playing back up north of the border, the Artic border. It was so cold the politicians had their hands in their own pockets. It was so cold the cows were wearing gloves on their utters. It was so cold a group of chickens walked into KFC and asked to be fried. It was so cold Richard Simmons was actually wearing pants.

In game one, Team Chill came up with a thrill. They sent shivers down the spines of Team Ice when they came from behind, in the bottom of the 7^th inning, to win the game.  Down three runs, Team Chill scored 4 runs off of hits by Stier, Doerbaum, Seguin, Alumbaugh and DeRidder. It was Jerry D’s hit that won the game and sent the ice squad into hypothermia. Final Score: Team Ice: 16- Team Chill: 17.

Leading Hitters For Team Ice:

Hamilton: 4/5.

McKinnon: 3/5.

Held: 4/5 with a double.

Farinas: 4/5 with two triples.

Essenmacher: 3/5.

Wieland: 3/ 4 with a double.

Leading Hitters For Team Chill:

Stier: 2/3 with a walk and a SF.

Wiltshire: 3/ 4 with a HR.

Matta: 3/ 4 with a double.

Seguin: 2/3 and a walk.

Alumbaugh: 4/4.

Burns: 1/ 2 and a walk.

Game two of the Winterfest mirrored game one, it was a frosty battle. In the end, Team Ice hit the snowball, I mean softball, the best. They took another 3 run lead into the last inning. However, Team Ice was   now the home team, they owned the last at bat, if needed. It was not needed, as they played good defense and put a cold front on Team Chills bats. Team Chill did manage a small rally, in the top of the 7^th inning, we scored a run and advanced a runner to 3^rd. However we hit 3 frozen ropes that were caught for outs, team chill was in for the big freeze. Final Score: Team Chill: 11- Team Ice: 13.

Leading Hitters For Team Chill:

Ford: 2/3 and a walk.

Stier: 3/ 4 with a double.

Wiltshire: 1/ 2 and two walks.

Doerbaum: 3/ 4 with a double.

Matta: 1/2 with a triple, walk and SF.

Seguin: 2/4 with two triples.

Burns: 2/3.

Leading Hitters For Team Ice:

Hicks: 3/3 and a walk.

Wieland: 2/3

Guzzo: 2/3.

Fox: 2/3 with two doubles.

A Cold Winter

The Indians asked their Chief in autumn if the winter was going to be cold, or not. Not really knowing an answer, the chief replies that the winter was going to be cold and that the members of the village were to collect wood to be prepared.

Being a good leader, he then put in a phone call to the National Weather Service and asked, "Is this winter going to be cold?"

The man on the phone responded, "This winter is going to be quite cold indeed."

So the Chief went back to speed up his people to collect even more wood to be prepared. A week later he called the National Weather Service again, "Is it going to be a very cold winter?"

"Yes", the man replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter."

So the Chief goes back to his people and orders them to go and find every scrap of wood they can find. Two weeks later he calls the National Weather Service again: "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"

"Absolutely," the man replies, "the Indians are collecting wood like crazy!"

(submitted by Nick Matta)

GAMES ARE ON FOR TUESDAY, JAN. 19th


The American League will begin their double header makeup games tomorrow for the rainout on Friday, Jan 8th. Games will be 7 innings. The home team listed for tomorrow will be the home team for the first game and will wear their Silver shirts. There is no need to change shirts for the second game. The visiting team in the first game will be the home team for the second game.


The temperature at game time should be around 47 degrees and warming up to around 53 degrees by the end of the games. Dress warm.


The National League will begin their double header makeup games next week.


See you at the ball park tomorrow.


Don Witmer, Commissioner 

Rainout - Games Canceled

Fields to wet to play. More rain coming. Have a great weekend. See you Tuesday.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Tuesday, January 12th.


Opening game between Gonzalez (amigos) vs D'Herin (Motown) was an excellent
game.   Before I get into  the highlites of the game I would like to
compliment both teams on the good sportsmanship displayed during this
game.  There were 2 plays that were corrected reflecting the proper call
being made and I commend the actions that were made.  I hope this will
continue thru out the season.  The motown team used four well placed 5 run
innings to account for the 20 runs they scored.  The amigos made the game
close in the later innings only to fall short by 5 runs.  Final score was
20-15.  Highlites were as follows:

Amigos
Gonzalez  3-5
Witmer 2-5
Toro  2-5
Jacobson 3-5
Quinones 3-5  2(HR's)
Brock   2-5
Pepin 2-5
Zelazny 3-5

Motown
Hicks 3-5
Hamilton 3-4
McKinnon 3-4
Held  3-3
Farinas 3-4
Essenmacher 2-3
Guzzo  2-3
Wells  2-3
Weiland 2-3


Write up by Joe D'Herin

Opening day 2016      Tuesday Jan 12   Field D

Opening day today finally got going after raining out last Friday.  The two teams that matched up today were Elmer Black team as the home team and Don LaMay being the visitors.  LaMay’s team lined up like this.  Andrews, Thompson, Guspyt, Laffoon, Taylor, Shaffer, Miller, Kline, G. Baker, Leggett, Welton, Moots, and L. Baker.  Black team batted in this order: Oesterreid, Spitaleri, Mahon, Lopez, Mohan, Ing, Ridley, Hawbaker, Rutan, Barnes, LaPointe, Kriger and Ayer. 

Visitors Andrews led off with a sharp liner single, Thompson also had a base rap follower by a double from Laffoon and another single from Schaffer brought in the 4th run for the first half of the inning.  Herb O. singled to start for the home team, followed by base hits from Spitaleri and Mahon.  After a Miller to Laffoon to Taylor double play Bernie Mohan line a base hit driving in two runs. The hit fest was on 4 to 2 for the Visitors.  G. Baker started the second with a base rap to center, a walk to Welton and Moot’s single drove in two runs for the visitors.  Singles from Ridley and Hawbaker followed by a triple from Rutan and than base hits from Barnes, a walk and Herb O’s base hit produced 4 runs for the home team.  The inning ended on another double play same as the first.  Score tied after two.  Six singles and a double off the bat of Laffoon tallied 5 runs for the visitors in the 3^rd.  Home team was held scoreless in the last of the inning.

Visitors manage 1 run in the fourth while the home team rallied for 4 to close the gap to two runs.  Fifth had the visitors with 4 runs and the home team tallied one run.  Sixth had only one run for the home team.  7^th inning had 2 for LaMay’s team and 4 for Black’s team.  After 7 the score was 18 to 16 for the visitors.  

Eighth inning saw the visitors come out hitting and scored 4 runs to get a 6 run lead but the home team came back with 6 big runs to tie the game a 22 all.  Top of the 9th the visitors started with 3 straight singles from Shaffer, Miller and Kline than a sac fly off the bat of G. Baker producing a go ahead run and the home team pulled off a great double play to end the rally.  Home team produced singles from Lopez, Mohan, Ing, Ridley to tie the game.  Rutan than walked in the winning run.

Visitors Leading Hitters:  Andrews 4 for 5, Thompson 4 for 5, Miller 4 for 5 w/dbl

Home Leading Hitters:  Herb. O 5 for 5, Mahon 4 for 5, Ridley 4 for 5

Submitted by Don LaMay

The Battle in The Barnyard 

 

We had a great game and a great meal at the Diamond Plex on Tuesday.  Special thanks to KFC for the lunch. To honor our host, both teams that played on Field E will be named after KFC chicken recipes, for the purpose of today’s game review.

The Visiting team, Original Recipe: Rad, Rivera, Jacobs, Busch, Shirer, Davis, Denny, M. Gonzalez, Crowell, Coffman, Cappozzi and Parpart.

The Home team, Extra Crispy: Ford, Stier, Wiltshire, Doerbaum, Alumbaugh, Matta, Gazarek, DeRidder, Burns, Parker, Pinnick and Thirey.

Both teams played more like game roosters, than like chickens. The way the players performed gave both managers plenty of good things to crow about. The game was dubbed "The Battle In The Barnyard". Both teams wanted to come out and establish themselves. Both teams played hard trying to rule the roost.  After the first inning the score was 2-2.

In the 2^nd inning, the Extra Crispy team added some special herbs and spices to their bats. We scored 5 runs, when seven hitters all reached base in a row.  Gazarek, DeRidder, Burns, Parker, Pinnick , Thirey and Ford were responsible for the big inning. These birds of a feather all hit together. After two innings the score was 7-3.

The Original Recipe squad did not stand around with egg on their face. These old guys came out and played like spring chickens, they answered with a 5 run third inning. Rivera, Jacobs, Busch, Shirer, Davis and Denny clawed and pecked their way around the bases, with 6 straight hits.

The Home team kept their cool, they did not run around the field saying “the sky is falling”, like Chicken Little, instead they answered back with 5 runs in the bottom of the 3^rd. The pecking order: Stier, Wiltshire, Doerbaum, Alumbaugh, Matta, Gazarek and DeRidder, all reached base without making an out. The score after 3 innings: Original Recipe: 8- Extra Crispy: 12.

Both teams had an empty nest in the 4^th inning. Both teams scored 3 runs, in the 5^th inning. Neither team could feather the nest with many runs in the 6^th and 7^th innings. In the 8^th inning the Extra Crispy team flew the coop, scoring 5 runs, we took a commanding lead. After 8 innings the score was Original Recipe: 14-Extra Crispy: 21. However, we all know you should not count your chickens before they are hatched. We still had to play the 9^th inning to determine a game winner.

The Visitors could only manage some chicken scratch, they scored 3 runs in the inning and the game ended. Dinner was served and Original Recipe was on the menu.

Final Score: Original Recipe: 17- Extra Crispy: 21.

Great fielding plays were turned in by Ford and Matta.

WP: Pinnick

Leading Hitters for the Visitors:

Rivera: 3/5, with a double.

Jacobs: 4/5, with three doubles.

Busch: 3/ 5 with a double.

Shirer: 3/5.

Davis 3/4.

Denny: 3/4.

Crowell: 3/4.

Leading Hitters for the Home Team:

Stier: 3/5 with a double.

Doerbaum: 1/2 with a double and two walks.

Matta: 3/ 4 with a double.

Gazarek: 4/4 with a triple.

DeRidder: 4/4 with a double.

Burns: 3/4.

Thirey: 3/ 4 with a triple.

Guys, here is a reminder to treat your ladies well. The rooster may rule the roost, but the hen rules the rooster.

Write up by Nick Matta

FIRST GAME RECAP ON THE 2016 SEASON


On field A- the visitors, managed by Fabian, jumped out to an early lead over the home team, managed by Simon.  After 3 innings    the visitors led 12-5.  Simon's team fought back and after 8 innings Fabian's team led by only 3 runs, 19-16.  In the final frame the visitors sealed the victory with a big 8 run onslaught.  The home team failed to score in the bottom of the ninth.  The final tally was 27 to 16 favor of Fabian's squad.  Wilcox was the WP.  For Fabian's team the leading hitters were:  Rodriguez 5-6, Boswell 5-6, Hartley 5-6 with 3 2B, Aufiero 3-4 2BB, McPartlan 3-5Wilcox 4-5, and Fabian 3-5.  The leading hitters for the home team were:  Simon 4-5, D. Hill 4-5, Grabb 3-5, Fryzowitz 3-5, Bloom 3-5, Navarro 3-5, Bowley 3-5, O'Callaghan 3-5.   The game was close until the final inning of play and everyone had the opportunity to enjoy the KFC after the opening day game.


Write up submitted by Jeff Simon

KFC LUNCH / MAKEUP GAMES


The KFC lunch that was scheduled for Friday, Jan 8th has been changed to Tuesday, Jan. 12th due to the rainout on Friday. The Friday league game will be made up the next time you are scheduled to play the same team. The make up game will be two seven inning games. If you have any questions, see me or a board member.


Don Witmer, Commissioner

Friday Jan 8, 2016

Games are canceled. Fields are under water and it is still raining. Managers will be notified.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID