FRIDAY MARCH 25th


No games in Winter Haven. Fields under water. See you Tuesday.

THURSDAY MARCH 24th


Make sure that you check the website in the morning before you come to the ball park. It rained pretty hard late this evening and the fields may not have time to dry. I will try to post the field conditions no later than 7:00 AM.


Hope to see you tomorrow.


Don Witmer

Friday Mar. 18. What a fantastic day. 

First, Russ King's team of 13 squared off against Elmer Black's team of 12. The first inning was filled with much scoring by both teams. King's Kruisers played pretty darn good defense after that and held Black's Bashers to 6 runs till the last inning when they put up 4 more. Meantime the Kruisers put up a total of 25. Final score - -   25-10. Fun game.

       Then came the fantastic barbecue catered by Winter Haven's own Hog Heaven. They served a great meal of pulled pork, baked beans, cole slaw and the league supplied pop and beer. It was very well attended by players and wives. Thank Bob Hite and wife also for the cookies for desert. 

        Then at 3:00-6:00 Loren Fabian hosted a small pop, pizza and beer party for members and spouses of the team he managed and all but 3 members attended. Also invited were 3 members from Carefree Country Club who played on other teams. They were Mike and Carol Stepp, Fred and Katie Ducham and Rad and Dianne P. (I can't spell their last name). The party then turned into a retirement celebration for Gene Morey who is hanging up his spikes after 22 years in WHSS. Congratulations Gene. SEE Y'ALL TUESDAY!!!!!!

Submitted by L. Fabian.

FRIDAY MARCH 18th

Today featured the annual awards and thank yous presented by our fearless commish for all the deserving volunteers that make our league possible!  A well deserved thanks to the Board members and field and equipment volunteers.  The American league friendly consisted of a 3 team game with Pinnick, Guzzo, and Jacobson displaying their shrewd moves and strategies.  Jacobson's 11 flew out of the gate with 6 straight hits for 5 early runs and tacked on 3 more, in the 2d.  Pinnick's crew came back strong and after 3 tied it at 8 with Guzzo's troops playing catchup with 4.  Jacobson's 11 continued to hit and with 4 in the 5th and 3 in the 6th put up an insurmountable 15, since Guzzo(managing debut) and Pinnick had their squads focused on the more important pork barbecue that awaited. Final Jacobson 15 Pinnick 10 Guzzo 7.  Vanderhyde gets the win with a save from Brock.  Leading hitters:  Jacobson;   Gonzalez 4-4 3b;  Alumbaugh 2-2 SacF BB; Keller 3-4; Jacobson 4-4; Denny 3-4;  Reagan 3-4 2b (super RCF  defense).   Pinnick:  Stier 2-3; Matta 2-3; DeRidder 2-3; Burns 2-3;Coffman 3-3; Poke 2-3; Pinnick 2-3.  Guzzo:  Hicks 2-2; Reponen 2-3.  Also noted- flawless umpiring by Hamilton and Quinones, and great cookies from the Hites.

Field D  Friday March 18^th

Two teams matched up today for a game on field D with Powell managing the visitors and Don LaMay guiding the Home team.  Powells Rays team with Burtner, Marino, Remington, Lautenschlager, Hite, Tork, D. Hill, Bess, Aufiero, Ayer, Miller, Witter and Powell.  LaMays Cubs team took the field with Andrews, Thompson, Kline, Taylor, Hartley, Simon, Jones, Bloom, Welton, McPartlan, Moots and Baker – LaMay combo.  (Each of us played every other inning and batted every other at bat.)

Burtner leads off the a liner up the middle, Remington singles him to third and Bob Hite drive in the first run of the game with a single to right center.  Andrews leads off for the Cubs with a double to right center, Thompson’s base hit to right send Andrews home.  After an out Taylor hit to rights, than Simon singles, Jones triples down the right field corner and Bloom bring in the 5^th run of the inning. After one Cubs 5 Rays 1.  In the 2^nd singles from Bess, Ayer and Miller brings in another run for the Rays. (Miller a Cub for the regular season was sent on loan to the Rays in a One Million Dollar deal).  Cubs Welton start the second with the first of his 3 hits today, Moots singles as does Andrews.  Thompson drives one deep to right center to clear the bases.  Kline and Taylor single and Hartley drive a triple to right to drive in the 4^th and 5^th runs of the inning. 

Powell start his team off in the third with a single, Burtner add another single and Remington doubles, Lautenschlager, Hite, Torok, and Bess all with base raps send six runners across the plate.  Nice inning guys. Cubs come back with another 5 run of their own.  After 3 score Cubs 15 Rays 8.  Game settles down for a few innings with Rays scoring 1 in the 4^th, 2 in the 5^th and 3 in the 6^th.  Cubs score 2 in the 4^th and posted zeros in the 5^th and 6^th.  Tied a 17 all after the 6^th the Cubs held the Rays scoreless in the 7^th and Jones leads off with a single, Bloom singles, Welton and Moots singles for the 4^th time in this game,  and the Cubs put 3 run on the scoreboard.  Powell team rallied for a run in the top of the 8 and the game was called after 8 with the final score Cubs 20 Rays 18.  Then we all headed over the feast of Pulled Pork and Bake Beans in drinks.  Great game and even greater food and friendship.  Thanks all for a great game.   

Every one hit well today and exceptional fielding plays from Andrews in the 3^rd and 6^th.  Bloom on a long drive over his head in the 5^th.  Bob Hite on a running shoe string catch in the second. 

Written by Don LaMay

TUESDAY, MARCH 15th
First I want to commend Don W. and the rest of the crew for a smooth and very timely transition from league to choosing up sides and playing a ball game. It went really well. On field C, Powell's team led 13-6 after 4 1/2 innings but Fabian's team tied it with 7 in the bottom of the inning. Then it was 23-16 going to the bottom of the 9th. Fabian's team batted 11 men in the inning to come up 2 runs short at 23-21. Powell leading hitters. Burtner        3-5
                                              Burtman.     4-4

                                              Hite.            3-5

                                              Remington  4-5

                                              Torok.          4-5

Fabian leading hitters.     Bess.                  3-5

                                       Poke.                  4-5

                                      Carpenter.            3-5

                                      Hartley.                 4-5

                                      Aufiero.                 5-5. w/2 hr and about 8 RBI

                                      Laffoon.                3-5

                                      Altamose.             4-5

                                      Kline.                     2-3 and 2 bb.

Write up by Loren Fabian 

Some Pictures

These are mostly from the season-end barbecue and beer party and maybe a few others.