Winter Haven Senior Softball

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