Winter Haven Senior Softball

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