I Hope Everyone Gets a Double Blessing

A double dipper today, the last day of January, 1/31/17, we are blessed to be able to play ball in some nice weather. I am going to look at the game through old testament, bible scripture. (Tigers, Hamilton Vs. A’s, Matta).

In game 1,  I’ll start by quoting Psalms 112: 1 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

The A’s started the game with a wealthy 1^st inning, scoring 4 runs and taking an early 4-3 lead. Goose, Stier, Shirer, Quinones, Essenmacher and Book swung blessed bats, to knock in the runs. In the 3^rd inning, we added to our lead when Matta, Essenmacher, Rivera, Book and Carpenter drank from the river of delights. Psalms 36: 8  They feast on the abundance of your house,  and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

The A’s would not surrender the lead, hitting well and playing solid defense. After 3 innings it was A’s: 9- Tigers 5. That theme continued until the last inning. With the score 16-6, the Tigers bats came alive in the bottom of the 7^th. Denny, Ford,  Jacobson, M. Gonzalez, Gazarek, Farinas, Scarbrough and DeRidder all had hits to help rally their team. Isaiah:58:  ⁸ Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,  and your healing shall spring up speedily; the Tigers healed quickly and scored 6 runs. It just was not enough to overcome the deficit. A’s win 16-12.

In game 2, the Tigers started out by extending their tent, Isaiah 52: 2. Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; they took an early 4-2 lead. Hicks, Ford, Hamilton Gonzalez and Gazarek all added to the scoring, by getting hits. In the bottom of the 3^rd the A’s tied up the game by scoring 6 runs. Goose, Shirer, TQ, Matta, Essenmacher and Carpenter all had showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34: ²⁶ And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.

With the game tied after 3 innings, 9-9, the Tigers outscored the A’s in the last 4 innings of play, by a 5-1 margin. They won the game 14-10. In this case their plans were fulfilled. I hope that God blesses all of us, by fulfilling all our plans off of the field. Psalms 20: 4 May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans!

Leading Hitters, Game 1, A’s:

Goose: 3/4.

Shirer: 2/4, Double and triple.

TQ: 3/4.

Essenmacher: 3/4.

Rivera: 3/ 4.

Leading Hitters, Game 1, Tigers:

Hicks: 3/4.

DeRidder:3/ 4 with a double.

Denny: 2/3.

Leading Hitters, Game 2, A’s.

Goose: 3/ 4.

Shirer: 2/4 with a HR.

Matta: 3/4.

Essenmacher: 3/4.

Rivera: 2/ 3.

Book: 2/3.

Carpenter: 2/ 3.

Leading Hitters, Game 2, Tigers:

Hicks: 3/4.

Ford: 3/ 4. Even the one out was a tough one.

Hamilton: 4/ 4. Double.

Gonzalez: 4/ 4. Double and HR.

Gazarek: 3/ 4. Double.

Denny: 2/ 3.

Write up by Nick Matta

Friday, January 27th

Close game between Strait's Tigers and Powell's Braves on Field A.

Both teams scored 5 runs in the first inning. The Braves scored 4 runs in the third inning to tie the game 10 to 10. In the fifth inning the Braves scored 3 runs to take the lead. The Tigers regained the lead in the top of the seventh inning by scoring 5 runs. The Braves had one more chance to win the game but were unable to score in the last inning. Final score: Tigers 16--Braves 13.

Leading hitters for the Tigers:

Steven Hill 3-3 one walk, BJ Kalister 4-4 two doubles, Joe LeTourneau 4-4,

Walt Leggett 4-4 two doubles

Leading hitters for the Braves:

Juan Castillo 3-4, Gary Burtner 4-4, Fred Dampier 4-4 one double, Don Lemay 2-3

Robert Spitaleri 3-4, Ray Levesque 3-3, one double

Submitted by Larry Powell

Friday, January 27th
A cool and cloudy day on Field "B"
This was a relatively high scoring game with a final score Giants 17, Flyers 16.
The Giants had two five run inning scores.
The Flyers had a seven run inning and a four run inning score.
Leading Hitters: Flyers:  Andrews 5-6
                                         Laffoon 4-5
                                         Schapler 5-5
                             Giants:  Crest 5-5
                                          Thompson 4-4, BB
                                           Pepin 4-5
The winning run was scored in the bottom of the ninth inning on four straight hits.


Thanks to Larry Book for umpiring the game.

Submitted By Marshall Bloom, Giants Manager

The  game today featured the National league leader Nationals vs The Yankees.  Black managed the visitors and  Simon managed the home team Yankees.  As in their previous matchup when the Nationals won by a single run, this game was also very close.  The Yankees prevailed this time by one run and the final score was 18-19.  With the score  tied at 18-18 after eight innings it came down to the ninth frame.  The Nationals scored three runs in the top of the  inning with hits by Ing and Hampton and doubles by Learn   and Hawbaker.  The Yankees staged a bottom of the ninth rally scoring four times to secure the win.  This was an exciting game by two well matched squads.  Leading batters for the Nationals:  Schaffer 2/4, Rutan 3/4 HR, Lopez 3/5, Ing 4/5 3B, Learn 3/5 2B, Coffman 3/5, Hawbaker 2/5 2B, Hampton 4/4  BB,  Mohan 4/4 BB.  Leading batters for the Yankees:  Simon 4/5 3B, Accetta 3/5, Grabb  4/5 3B, Hartley 2/4 SF, Mutch 3/5 3B, Fryzowicz 3/5, Dean Schappler 4/5 2B, 3B, Marino 4/4, .  Dudley pitched the first part of the game for the Yankees and Gisele Seguin pitched the second the second half of the contest. WP was Gisele Seguin.  Great game and good effort by all.  Note:  Thanks to Mike Elmer for umpiring.  Both managers did not intentionally walk an opposing player

REMINDER     REMINDER     REMINDER     REMINDER


Games on Field A will begin no later than 9:00 AM. As soon as the Polk State College Girls arrive at the fields, you will finish the inning that you are in unless the Home Team is ahead and it is their turn to bat. Then, the game will be over. A complete game is considered 5 innings.


Their will only be National League games played tomorrow. Some teams will be missing key players because of the ISSA tournament that starts tomorrow. There should be several American League players available to take the place of the key players that will be missing. If American League players that show up are not used, they can/will umpire the National League games.


All parking will be in the Polk State College Parking Lot. No parking will be allowed in the dirt driveway on the west side of the fields. This parking is for Umpires,Tournament personnel and the Polk State College Girls. Read the sign at the entrance to the driveway.


The National League game scheduled for Field D will probably be played on Field E. I will know more about the available fields in the morning.


See you in the morning.


Don Witmer, Commissioner

A battle between two good teams took place with lots of hitting (66 in all),errors, and bickering
between The Flyers and the Nationals. Flyers isn't that a hockey team? We the nationals should
be the hockey team for two reasons . One we played like a hockey team !!!, two we have six Canadians on our team. As a matter of fact we have one player from a small town by a river in Nova Scotia, and the story that I was told is one day he was playing hockey and got a breakaway and he skated and skated and finally ended up at the ball park where play. Go figure EH.
The game: The Nationals lead every inning except the ninth the most important one. The Flyers (flew) get that with 9 runs in the 8th. and added 6 more in the 9th. The best the Nats could do was 0 in the 8th. and 2 in the ninth. Final score Flyers 26, Nats 22 To the Flyers, good show, you deserve to win.
FLYERS
Boswell   4/5 2 D
Hapeman  5/5, D, T HR.
Laffoon    4/5 int. BB
Andrews and LaPointe both homered , good game Doug
Don Schapeler  4/5
Nationals
Shaffer   3/5 hr.
Guspyt    3/5 T
Rutan      4/5 hr.
King         3/5 hr.
Ing            5/5
Learn        4/5
Notes: Once again Black was a healthy scratch, but this time the vote was only 8 to 3, encouraging.
OK Nats, pack your bags as starting Friday we will be going on a 5 game road trip.
Dress code blue shirts, and we will be staying at the first base dugout hotel (only 2 stars)
Your meal money is in the mail, spend it wisely
Submitted by Elmer Black

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Visitors: Simon's Yankees       Home:  Straits Tigers     Field E 

On a cool, very windy Tuesday, Simon's Yankees made it look like a runaway with 11 runs through the first 5 innings.  Straits Tigers got 3 in the first, then goose eggs through the 5th.  Then, "Sadie bar the door", the Tigers got 8 runs through the 9th to tie the score at 11 all.  On to the 10th. tension was high as the Yankees got 1 run in the 10th.  A hush fell over the crowd ( all 3 of us) as the Tigers came up to bat.  Hill started the inning on second, Aufiero hit a a single, then with 2 outs and 2 on Joe LaTourneau hit a double through the box, bringing Hill and Aufield home to win the game 13 to12. Good fun game all around.

Simons Yankees        Straits Tigers

Fryzowicz 4-4            Remmington 4-4

Seguin 3-3                  Merritt 4-4

Jacobs 3-5                   Aufiero 3-5

Simon 3-4                   Kallister 3-5

Accerta 3-4                 Parker 3-4

DePalma 3-4               Newton 3-4

                                    Baker 3-5

Write up by Larry Strait

Music Melody, 1/24.

It’s been a little while since I looked at the games through a music genre, the double header today seemed to be a good time to venture down that path. I will explain, “What’s Going On”, or to be more accurate what went on, in today’s action between the Angels (Gonzalez) and A’s (Matta) by referring to the music of the 70’s. See if you recognize the songs and can guess the artist. Both teams took the field with a theme of “Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head”, or so it seemed, as both teams have lost some tough games heading into Tuesday’s play. The Angels and A’s were “Riders On The Storm”.

In Game 1, The scoring started out tight, after 1 inning it was 3-4, A’s lead. Both teams had “More Than A Feeling”, that they could win the game. It proved to be true because the scoring stayed close, as the game went on. The Angels took the lead in the top of the 5^th, 8-6. They must have had the Michael Jackson theme playing in their heads, “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”. Morty, Reponen, JD, Shipley and Witmer all contributed to the 3 run rally. In the bottom of the inning, the A’s answered back, with “Changes”. Carpenter, Burns, Goose, Essenmacher and a HR hitting Shirer changed the score and propelled the A’s back into the lead, 8-11. Both teams were quiet in the 6^th, as they were “Comfortably Numb”. In the top of the 7^{th ,} (last inning), the Angels  sang “I Will Survive”, as they mounted a rush. They scored 2 runs, with two outs, but the survival story ended there.  The A’s were able to get the last out and win the game, 10-11. “Dream On”.

In game 2, the A’s were the visitors and they started the game with “Fire And Rain”, scoring 5 runs. Stier, Shirer, Matta, Essenmacher, Alumbaugh, Burns, Book and the 5^th run champion, Pep, all hit to the Zeppelin theme of “Rock and Roll”. (Pep came up 3 times in the game and drove in the 5^th run). Pep was “Hot Stuff”. He was not the only one swinging a hot bat, F. Gonzalez was 2/2 early in the game, both HR’s, for the Angels. He was one of the “Sultan’s Of Swing”.  By the 5^th inning the A’s had a 15-5 lead. That is when the Angels started their climb on the “Stairway To Heaven”. They scored 8 runs Ship, Brock, Guzman, Wiltshire, Witmer, Thiry, Gonzalez, Reponen, McCollough,and Morty all came up big for the wing team. They played some “Old Time Rock And Roll”. After 5 innings the score was 15-13, in favor of the A’s. In the top of the 6^th the A’s answered back scoring 4 runs, Coffman, Carpenter, Reagen, Shirer, Matta and Essenmacher hit like the Pittsburgh Pirates of the 70’s, “We Are Family”. The A’s added 3 runs in the 7^th to make the score, 22-13. The Angels added 3 in the bottom of the 7^th, then Book came in to pitch relief and closed down the rally. A’s win 22-16. For them it was “Joy To The World”.

Game 1, Angels:

Shipley: 4/4, 2 doubles.

Brock: 3/3, double.

Thiry: 2/3.

JD: 2/3.

Game 1, A’s:

Goose: 3/3.

Essenmacher: 3/3, with a double.

Shirer: 3/3, Double and HR.

Matta: 2/3 and a Sac.

Alumbaugh: 3/3.

Burns: 2/2.

Game 2: Angels:

Shipley:3/ 4, 2 doubles.

Witmer: 4/4, double.

Gonzalez: 4/4 2 HRs and a double.

McCollough: 3/4. 

Game 2, A’s:

Stier: 3/4.

Shirer: 4/4, 2 doubles

Matta: 4/4.

Essenmacher: 3/4.

Alumbaugh: 3/4.

Burns: 3/ 4 triple.

Book: 4/4.

Pep: 4/ 4, double.

Outstanding defensive plays by Witmer, Stier, Shirer, Carpenter, Coffman, Alumbaugh and Goose.

Write Up by Nick Matta

Tuesday January 24, 2017

Field A

The Giants and the Braves played a game on Field A today on a nice bright and sunny day.  The Giants coming off a tough lost to the Nationals and the Braves looking for their first win of the season.  The Giants managed by Marshall Bloom batted in this order:  Herbie O, Thompson, Mohan, McLellan, Hite, Bess, Kreger, LoPicollo, McDonald, Andrews, Bloom, Vandenberg and Baker.  Powell’s Braves took the field but batted like this: Castillo, Ayer, Burtner, Dampier, Spitaleri, D. Hill, Minder, Levesque, Navarro, Goreth, LaMay, Powell and McManus. 

Guys we need to do a lot better score keeping.  With players first names only on the score sheet does not work.  Also when a batter gets a hit it should be marked on the sheet at a single, double, triple or HR. 

Enough said.  Giants scores two in the first and Braves came back with five in the bottom of the inning.  End of one inning 5 to 2 for the home team.  Braves added 2 more in the second and both teams posted zero’s in the 3^rd.  Giants got back into the games with 4 in the 4^th while giving up only 1 to the Braves.  Bats came alive in the 5^th with the Giants pushing across 5 runs to tie the game at 11 all. In the bottom of the inning the Braves also added 5 to take the lead again.  Giants tallied 4 runs in the next three innings while holding the Braves to two.  The final score was Braves 22 Giants 17.  There was some great hitting but the score sheet did not record everything but Gene Baker was 4 for 4 as was Spitaleri.  Several good fielding plays were made, but the standout play was made by Ray Levesque on a hard drive off the bat of Ron Thompson for an unassisted out at first.

Written by Don LaMay

Friday, January 20th
The teams were ready for action and the men wanted to 'play ball' and so it was. During the first 4 innings the slugging began and at the end of the 4th Angels 11 Yanks 13. By the 7th Angels took the lead at 17 to 16 but the Yanks roared back in the 8th with 5  and added two more in the 9th totaling 23. The Angels could only produce 2 with 2 out and and two on base Juan Toro made a diving catch to end the game.  If only he had not caught it who knows if the Angels would get inspired and who knows what might have happen.  Great game guys.  Mike Elmer was hurt and had to leave the game. 
Hitters Yanks: Constantine 3/5  Douerbaum 5/5  Held 4/5  Zelazny 4/5 Pokey 3/4
Hitters Angels: Shipley 4/5 Witmer 3/5 Guzman 5/5 (cycle) Brock 4/5 Busch 3/5 Reponen 3/4
Gonzalez 3/4


Write Up by Freddy Gonzalez

Friday, Jan 20th

Tell Your Sister To Wear Her Lipstick

KFC (Davis)-A’s (Matta)

Wow, not certain where to start to even try and explain this game and do it justice. I guess I’ll start at the ending, a 21-21 tie. We played 10 innings in dramatic fashion. The game went back and forth. Both teams were as tenacious as a junk yard dog.

The KFC team had the A’s in the fryer in the 9^th. We were down 3 runs. The A’s rallied and fell just short of winning it in the 9^th inning, we did however tie it, 17-17. Then the KFC team tried to ice the game in the 10th. JD started as a runner at 2^nd base, as the league mandates. After a hit, he moved to 3^rd. There was a fly out to center field and Dave Shier unleashed a frozen rope throw to the plate to cut down JD, who tagged up. Now with two outs the KFC team refused to turn out the lights. They knocked in 4 runs to give them a solid lead, 21-17.

For the 2^nd time in two innings, once in the 9^th and now in the 10^th, the A’s fought back and scored 4 runs with the game on the line.  Clutch hitting in the last frame from, Book, Gazarek, Carpenter and Coffman. With the winning run at 3^rd base, the A’s chance to win came to an abrupt close as the last out was recorded. The score would stay at 21-21. What so they say, “a tie is like kissing your sister”?

A’s:

Goose 5/5, (12/12, in his last 12 At Bats).

Hicks: 3/5.

Shirer: 3/5.

Matta 3/5, with a triple.

Stier: 3/5, with a double.

Alumbaugh 3/5, (welcome back from Georgia).

TQ: 3/5, with a double.

Gazarek: 3/5, with a triple.

Book: 4/5, with two, yes two, triples.

Coffman: 4/5, driving in some big runs.

 

KFC:

Keller: 5/5 with a double, nice to have Don back.

Nilo: 3/5, with a triple.

Luis A: 3/5.

T. Smith: 3/5, nice to have Terry back playing ball.

Pep: 3/5, with a triple, (saved his best for the 10^th inning).

Benson: 4/5.

Vandenberg: 4/5.

Outstanding defensive plays by Reagen, Goose, Shirer, Keller and Benson.

Write up by Nick Matta

Friday, Jan 20th
The game on Field B had Powell's Braves vs Simon's Yankees.  The sun was a real factor on the batters for the first four innings.  When the batter indicated he was unable to see the ball a non pitch was ruled .  Bob Hite then showed up and volunteered to umpire the plate for the remainder of the contest.  This was OK by both managers.  Thank you Bob.  Both managers agreed to a fifth outfielder to maximize playing time for all participants.  The contest was close all the way with neither team ever taking more than a four run lead.  With the home team Yankees leading by only one run after eight innings, it was indeed a close, exciting game.  The visitors, Powell's Braves, put up four runs in the top of the ninth and took a three run lead.  As is so often in a close, hard fought contest, it came down to the bottom of the ninth frame.  Simon's Yankees sent eight hitters to the plate and managed seven hits to score four times and win a really close ballgame.  Travis Fryzowicz recorded the winning hit.  The winning pitcher was Eugene Dudley. Great job.  The top hitters for Powell's squad;  Wheeler 3/5, Burtner 3/4 BB, Dampier 2/3 BB, D. Hill 3/5, Ayer 4/5, Waddell 4/5,  Powell 3/4  and top hitters for Simon's team:  Grabb 4/5 2B, Jacobs 3/5, Mutch 5/5 2doubles, Schapeler 3/5 3B, Simon 3/4 BB,  Marino 3/5, Fryzowicz 3/5, Zakrowski 2/4, DePalma 3/4 2B.  Final  score was 20-17 with the Yankees over the Braves.  Of special note:  Both teams played hard and exhibited sportsmanship and cooperation making for an excellent softball game.

Friday Jan 20th.
On the short field and on the short clock, Black's Nationals defeated Bloom's Giants 21 to 13
in 6 1/2 innings.
Only one ball cleared the fence and that came off the bat of Bill King.
Each team scored 5 runs in the 1st inning and after 3, the score was Nats 15, Giants 10
 Giants hitting
Herbie O     2/3 HR.
Thompson   2/3
Mahon         2/3
Hite              3/3 D
Denny           2/3 D
Bess             2/3
Bloom           2/3
Nationals hitting
Roy               4/4
Rutan             3/4 D
Lopez            3/4 D
Ing                 4/4 D
Ridley             3/4 D
Learn             2/3
Hawbaker      2/3
Mohan           2/2 BB
Ducham          2/3
PS: Black was a healthy scratch on an 11 to 0 vote by his team mates.
Submitted by Elmer Black

Friday, January 20th.

Wow!!!!  What a game between Strait's Tigers and Fabian's Flyers. Tigers jumped out with 5 and Flyers answered with their own 5. That set the stage for a high scoring game.  It was tied 20-20 after 6 innings and Strait's boys led 28-21 with the Flyers coming up in the bottom of the 9th. Guess what? They tied it up with a barrage of hits and had a chance to win it with the bases loaded and 2 outs. Fabian grounded out to 2nd. 

10th inning started with Strait on 2nd and got to 3rd and scored on a sac fly but the runner on first was called out on an appeal for leaving too early and the run deemed not scored. So the score remained tied and the Flyers had the bases loaded with 2 out when Jim Laffoon stepped to the plate and smacked a single up the middle for a run and Doug Hapeman scored from 2nd in case they needed 2. Final Score was Fabian's Flyers 29 and Strait's Tigers 28.

Ed Kline was the winning pitcher after coming in from the bullpen, gave up 5 in the 8th but shut them down in the 9th and 10th.

It is nice to include as many players names in the write ups as possible. However, this cannot be done without accurate books. Managers need to make an effort to have the score sheets as complete as possible.  The Flyers had HRs by Andrews, Hapeman, Schapeler and triples by Boswell and Laffoon.

Write up by Loren Fabian  

Tuesday, Jan 17th
On Field A today the short field won as only 5 doubles by each team cleared the fence.
Final score: nationals 21, tigers 10
Strait's tigers:
Letourneau  3/4 double
Leggett  3/4
Aufiero  2/4 2 doubles


Black's Nationals
Shaffer 4/4 double
Rutan 3/4
Lopez 3/4
Ridley 4/4  Yes Hal you went 4/4 !!1
Ing   3/4 2 doubles
Learn  4/4
Hampton 3/4 double
honorable mention king 2/4 triple
Less than honorable mention, Elmer Black 0/4. were are looking to trade him.
Nationals be ready to start game on Friday @9;00 AM, as we have to be off the field @ 10:15 AM.
Submitted by Elmer Black

FIELD A REMINDER     FIELD A REMINDER     FIELD A REMINDER


All Friday games on Field A are going to begin at 9:00 AM with a ONE HOUR -15 MINUTE TIME LIMIT. Field A has to be cleared of WHSS players no later than 10:30 AM. Field A is being used by the Polk State College girls softball team on Friday mornings. This will affect Elmer Black's Nationals and Marshall Bloom's Giants tomorrow.


Also, the City has begun receiving tournament schedules from other organizations that will be using the Diamondplex to host their tournaments in January, February and March. Once these schedules have been finalized, usually one week before their tournament, we may not be able to use any or all of the fields at the Diamondplex. As soon as I am notified by the City, I will let everyone know. Be flexible.


Don Witmer, Commissioner

Tuesday, January 17th

Hamilton's team  scored 13 runs the first 4 innings and held on to win the game 16-12. Don Torok had in inside the park homer in the 6th inning to provide a cushion for the Tigers.  Numerous great plays made by both teams.

Tigers

Hicks  3/4

Hamilton 2/3

Ford  3/4

Jacobson 3/4

Farinas 3/4

DeRidder  3/3

D'Herin   2/3

Torok  2/3  HR

KFC

Rad 2/4

Villalba 3/4

Vega  3/4

Keller 3/4

JD 2/3

Abreu 2/3

Pepin 2/3

Morton  2/3

Vallecillo   2/3

Game 2

Game started out tied 5-5 after 5 innings.  Each team scored 1 run in the 6th inning and the score was tied 6-6 after 7.  International rule was in effect for the 8th inning which meant the last out of the previous inning went to second base to start the 8th inning. The next batter grounded out with no advance from the runner on second.  Next batter singled moving the runner to third with one out. Next hitter lined a one hop shot to Wiltshire who threw to Hamilton at second who completed the double play with the throw to first.  No runs scored.  The Tigers came to bat with the previous out runner at second and scored the winning run on on timely hit from Stevie Hicks.  Super game with too many to mention good plays.  Great game to have participated in.

Tigers

Hicks 3/4  game winning hit

Hamilton  2/3

M. Gonzales 3/3

D'Herin 2/3

Denny 2/3

KFC

Rad 2/3

Villalbo 2/4

Keller  2/3

Abreu 2/3

Vandenberg  3/3

Write up by Joe D'Herin

A Tale Of Two Comebacks

Two strong games between the Yankees (Toro) and the A’s (Matta). In Game 1, the A's took a 13-4 lead into the 7^th (last inning). The Yankees mounted a charge in the top of the 7^th by scoring 7 runs. It was not enough and the A’s tallied a 13-11 win. Jeff Stier had an outstanding game in the field at SS, robbing the Yankees of several hits. TQ (Tony Quinones) had a HR for the A’s.

Game two was a hitter’s delight. Both teams colored in the scorecard. Just like in game 1, the A’s took a big lead into the last inning 21-14. Just like in game 1, the Yankees staged a big comeback in the last inning.  This time they did not fall short. They had timely hits by all the batters they sent to the plate, winning the game 22-21. Nick Burns and Bobby Reagen, each had a HR for the A’s. Dave Doerbaum had a Grand Slam, in the 7^th, for the Yankees.

A’s leading hitters on the day:

Goose: 6/7 with a double.

Stier: 5/7 with two triples.

Shirer: 6/7 with 3 doubles.

Deemie: 4/7 with two triples.

Matta 5/5 with a double and two sacs.

TQ: 4/7 with a HR.

Brock 6/7 with a double.

Burns: 4/7 with a double, triple, HR.

Reagen: 4/6 with a triple and a HR.

 

Yankees leading hitters for the day:

Constantine 6/8  with a double and triple.

Vanderhyde: 6/7 with a triple and a double.

Doerbaum: 5/7 with a double and a HR.

Held: 5/6  with two doubles.

Ojeda: 6/7  with a double and a triple.

Jimenez: 5/7  with a double.

Rivera: 5/7: with two triples.

Toro: 6/7.

Pinnick: 4/6.

Write up by Nick Matta

Fabian Flyers must have been saving up scoring runs.

Today they scored 5 runs each in the First-Fourth innings.

They finished scoring 29 runs and didn't bat in the ninth inning.

Powell's Braves could score only 15 runs in nine innings.

Eddie Kline was the winning pitcher.

Braves hitters were: Mike Wheeler 3-4, Gary Burtner 3-4, Fred Dampier 3-4,

Don Lamay 2-3.

Flyers hitters were: Al Andrews 5-5, Jimmy Laffoon 5-5, one triple, one home run,

Schapeler 4-5, two doubles, Ralph Boswell 4-5 one double

Submitted by Larry Powell

Simon's  Yankees vs Bloom's Giants-  The story of this game was that the starting pitcher for Simon's home team was away and the pitching by committee yielded 15 BB compared to the fine pitching of Pat LoPiccolo for the visiting team, Bloom's Giants.  The Yankees tried to make a game of it near the end with a 10 run outburst  highlighted by a Larry Grabb grand slam but they fell short.  The final score was 29-18 with Bloom's team coming out on top.  The WP was LoPiccolo .  McClellan had a HR for the visitors .  Larry Grabb and Frank Jacobs had HR's back to back in the eighth frame.  Dave Hartley added a round tripper in the ninth inning.  Top hitters for Simon's squad were:  Simon 6/6, Grabb 3/5, Jacobs 2/4, Hartley 5/5, Marino 5/5, Accetta 3/5, DePalma 3/5, Dudley 2/5, and pool player Ducham 3/5.  Top hitters for Bloom:  Herbie 4/6, Ron Thompson 3/3, McLellan 5/5, Hite 3/4, Bess 1/1 4BB, LoPiccolo 3/4 , Gene Baker 4/4 and Bloom 4/5.


Write up by Jeff Simon

Field  A on Fri, Jan. 13,  Fabian's Flyers vs Simon's Yankees was shortened and only six and a half innings were completed.  Both managers were notified that the Polk State College girls softball team would need the field by 10:30 AM and we had to adhere to the  time.  With the short outfield fence a number of players hit ground rule doubles.  For the Flyers Boswell hit two over the fence and Doug Hapeman hit one over the fence.  Mutch and Hartley  each hit one out for the home team Yankees.  Bill Mutch was the winning pitcher.  The final score was 18-13.   Outstanding on defense was Laffoon for the visitors  with a flawless performance at SS.  Dean Schapler and Larry Grabb made great catches in the outfield for the home squad.     note: even with a shortened game all payers had at least 3 at bats and many players had 4 at bats.
Submitted by Jeff Simon

Friday the 13th, lucky or unlucky

For Black's Nationals - Lucky
For Powell's Braves - Unlucky
A game well played on field B with no sun between two seasoned coaches.
After 3 innings score was Nats 8, Braves 3.
After 6 innings score was Nats 17, Braves 9.
Final score Nats 25, Braves 9.
Braves were held scoreless the last 3 innings on good defense and really good pitching by Hal Ridley, and this time I really mean it Hal !!!
Brave's hitting:
McManus 2/3
7 other players went 2/4, including 2 triples and 3 doubles.
National's hitting:
Ray Roy 5/5 HR
Guspyt 4/5
Rutan 4/5 Triple and double
Ing 4/5 Triple and 2 doubles
Ridley 4/5
Fine defensive play on a pop foul by Reg Barnes. 
Game was closer than the score indicated.
Thanks Fred Duchan for filling in for an old injured Nats coach.
Submitted by Elmer Black  

Friday, January 13th.
There was a slight drizzle but it was "play ball".  Freddy's Angels vs JD's KFC.  The game looked like it was going to be a good defensive game.
Dave Doerbaum for JD took the mound and by the 3rd inning it was 7 to7. The "D" was on for both teams.  Things started changing as the JD's put up 5 in the 4th by the fifth it was 12/8 JD's.  The Angels finally put on their wings better yet bats and exploded for 17 runs in the 6,7+8th and held the JD's to 5. The end result was Angels 26 and JD's 17.  What seemed to be a defensive game turned into an offensive assault.

Leading batters for the Angels: Dave Shipley & Mike Wiltshire both 4/5, Luis Guzman & Rick Brock 3/5  & every one else had at least 2 hits. Good team effort.
Leading batters for JD's:  Chuck Duff  3/4  Luis Abreu 3/5

GOD's best.  freddy g

Larry Strait's Tigers faced off against Marshall Bloom's Giants today on Field D. After winning their first game, the Tigers could not handle the hard hitting bats of the Giants. The final score was 25 for the Giants and 23 for the Tigers. Ray Aufiero was back for his first game. Welcome back Ray. 

Never Give UP ON A Play, Or A Score!

The Tigers and the A’s had a close game on 1/13.  The game seemed to be over early, as the Tigers hit well and the A’s fell behind. The difference in the early going was the timely hits for the Tigers and the missed plays in the field and at bat, the Athletics suffered through. The A’s had their chances, but two DP’s, one in the 1^st, and one in the 6^th, killed two bases loaded rallies.  By the 8^th inning the Tigers had a commanding lead, 18-6. Game over, right? Wrongo!

The A’s showed a never quit attitude and came out fighting in the 8^th, we scored 10 runs to make it an 18-16 game, with one inning to go. Both teams knew that the 9^th would decide the outcome of the game. The Tigers added a run in the 9^th, when Angel Farinas singled, with two outs, and Gerry DeRidder knocked him in ,with a gap shot double, to center field. The A’s came up in the 9^th, down 3 runs.

Sometimes you can point to one play that makes a huge difference in the outcome of a game. That happened for the Tigers, defensively, in the 9^th. With one out and a runner at 2^nd, Tommy Hamilton fielded a ball, deep in the hole, at short, for the Tigers, He fired a strike to first base to rob Kurt Essenmacher of a hit. That play had a huge influence in the game. Instead of two runners on base and one out, it was now two out and one runner on base. The threat was not over though, as the Tigers managed to score latter in the inning. Matta and Demee reached base. Demee drove in our 17 run. Then, with runners on first and third and two outs, the last batter of the day flew out to right, to end the threat. Looking back at the 9^th the brilliant play by Hamilton certainly made a difference. Good game everyone.

Final Score: Tigers: 19 - A’s: 17.

Tigers Leading Hitters:

Hicks: 4/5.

Hamilton: 3/5.

Jacobson: 3/5.

Gazarek: 3/5.

Scarbrough: 3/5

Torak: 3/5.

 

A’s Leading Hitters:

Goose: 4/5.

Stier: 3/5.

Shirer: 5/5, 4 doubles, (that is 9 doubles, in his last 10 ABs).

Matta: 4/5.

Demee: 3/5.

Barn burner on field B – Tuesday, Jan. 10th
After two so-so, no-no games, the National League was chomping at the bit to start the season and it showed.
Simon's Yankees and Black's Nationals flew out of the gates accounting for 5 runs in each of the first 3 innings. The Nationals continued with 14 more in the next 3 innings as the Yankees cooled off. After 6 innings the score was Nationals 29, Yankees 15. Game over right!!!
Wrong. With the Yankees down by 9 runs in the top of the 9th, scored 10 runs to take a one run lead. The Nats came back with 2 in the bottom to win 33-32.
Hitters, there were many, 13 doubles for the Nats, 12 doubles for the Yankees.
Yankees:
Grabb 5/6
Jacobs 5/6
Dean Schapeler 5/6
Marino 5/6
G Seguin 5/5
Nationals:
Guspyt 5/6
Ridley 5/6
King 6/6
Barnes 5/6
Black 5/6
Many other players on both teams went 4/6.
Winning pitcher Hal Ridley, quite a game you pitched Hal !!!
Losing pitcher, take a pick from the four!
Write Up by Elmer Black

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

The first game between Gonzales Angels and Hamilton's Tigers was a relatively low scoring game with the  Tigers scoring 10 runs in the first 3 innings while Miguel Gonzales shut out the Angels innings 2 thru 5 resulting in a 14-8 Tigers victory.  There were several nice defensive plays by both teams. Big hit was a bases loaded triple by Don Torok  and Les Jacobson had 4 RBI's.

Tigers

Hicks  3-3

Hamilton 2-3

Stier 2-2

Jacobson 2-3

Gazarek 2-2

Gonzales 2-3

Guzzo 2-3

DeRidder 2-3

Angels

Shipley 2-3

Witmer 2-3

Wiltshire 2-3

Guzman 2-3

Busch 2-3

Brock 2-3

Thiry 2-3

Wise 2-3

Reponen 2-3

Game 2 the bats heated up for both teams with the Angels posting 5 runs in 3 innings and the Tigers 5 and 4 runs in 4 of the innings. The game went back and forth with the Tigers shutting out the Angels the last 2 innings holding on for a 23-16 win.  Lots of hitting with a monster home run from Dave Shipley in the 5 inning. Big hit for Tigers was a bases loaded triple by Angel Farinas in the 6 inning.

Tigers

Hicks 4-5

Hamilton3-4

Stier 3-4

Jacobson 4-5  6)RBI'S

Ford 4-4

Gazarek 4-4

Farinas 2-4

Guzzo 3-4

DeRidder 2-4

Denny 2-4

Torok 2-3

Angels

Shipley 2-3  HR

Guzman 3-3

Thiry 2-3

McCollough 2-3

Matta 2-2

Gonzales 2-2

Write Up by Joe D'Herin

January 06, 2017

A cloudy,but warm day played by three teams.
Yankees, Tigers & Giants in that order.
The game was played in six innings.
Final Scores: Giants    17
                      Tigers    16
                      Yankees 15
Giants:  B. Hite 3-4 (hr)
             R. Thompson 3-4
             D. Mahon 4-4
             B. Vandenburg 3-3
Tigers: J. Letourneau 4-4
            J. Remington 4-4
            D. Newton 3-4
            W. Leggett 3-4
             B. J. 3-4
Yankees: F. Jacobs 4-4 (hr)
               L. Grabb 4-5
               B. Mitch 4-4
               D. Schapler 3-4

Submitted By M. Bloom
Giants Manager

Toro's Yankees met JD's KFC team on field B for a double header. The games proved very exciting and were close up to the end.

 

The first game saw an extremely close game until the fourth inning when the Yankees pulled away after the bottom of the line up rattled off six straight singles followed by Dave Doerbaum's bases clearing home run over the left center field fence. Holding on to a three run lead going into the ninth inning things looked pretty good for the Yanks especially with the Chickens leading off with their last two batters coming to the plate. Seventeen batters and twelve runs later the Yanks finally got the Chicks out. The yanks still had some fight in them as they managed to score twice in the bottom of the seventh. Final score KFC 21 and the Yankees 15. Key performances from the Yanks were Randy Crowell, Rey Jimenez, and Josh Wells that went three for three, while Dave Doerbaum went three for four with a home run.. Key performers for KFC were Dave Shirer, Nilo Vega, JD, and Jose III who all went four for four during the game. Defensively Nilo and Jose Vidal were outstanding. JD was the winning pitcher

 

In the second game, The Yankees won the first three innings building a four run lead over KFC. The Chicks closed to within three in the fourth and it looked like this one might go down to the last out.This was truly a seesaw battle as the Yankees scored two more in the fifth and then in the sixth the  Chicks doubled the run production of the Yanks. The Yankees then went three and out in the ninth and feared the worse after watching JDs team score twelve in the last inning of the first game. So trailing by a score of 12 to 8 JD brought the middle of the line up to the plate. Four batters later the game was over and the Yankees celebrated a well earned victory. Key performances for the Yankees were Don Held, George Vanderhyde, and Steve Pinnick  each going 4 for 4. Key performances for the KFC team were Dave Shirer and Nilo both going 3 for 3. Winning pitcher Josh Wells.

Write Up By Bob Zelazny

A's vs. Angels, 1/6/17.

Groucho Marx said, “Getting older is no problem. You just have to live long enough.” I say, “If you play softball long enough, you will see every type of score/hit/play/comeback, or error. In the AL game, A’s vs Angels, on Friday, Jan. 6^th, we saw a little bit of everything; missed balls, HRs, clutch hitting and a lack of hitting. For the 2^nd game in a row the A’s recorded an oddity in their scoring. In our first game, last Tuesday, we scored 21 runs in six innings, then finished the game with those same 21 runs as our final score. Meaning we did not score in the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th. We lost that game. History repeated itself, sort of, in Fridays game. We scored 22 runs through six innings. It looked like we could hit until the cows came home, problem is the cows came home in the 6th inning again. We were shut out the rest of the way. This time we managed to win the game. There were many highlights in the game, I’ll give you two of them. Dave Shipley hit a massive homerun into the palm tree in centerfield. Dave Shirer hit 5 doubles, he was a perfect 5/5. Final Score: A’s: 22-Angels: 18.

Write Up by Nick Matta

A very well played game for the first one that counted in the National league. Final score was Bloom's Giants 20 and Fabian's Flyers 18. The Giants were up 7-0 going into the 4th inning when the Flyers scored 6 to make it a nip & tuck game from there and was tied 14-14 after 7. The Giants scored 4 in the top of the 8th and the Flyers got 1 back in the bottom when Boswell stepped to the plate and drilled one to the fence in LC for a 3 run homer to tie it going to the open frame. The Giants got 2 in the top, the Flyers had the tying runs on base but couldn't get them in. 

Again, gentlemen, we must keep better books to have accurate write ups. So many blanks on the Giants other than when a run scored. We have to know if it was a hit, FC or error.   The only ones that were clear was Bess 5-5 and McLellan 4-5. The names of 3 players I did not know, I couldn't make out their names. 

Flyer's books were kept quite well. Knox 4-5, Boswell 4-5 w/HR, Don Schapeler 4-5 W/3B, Kline 3-5, O'Callahan 3-4, Fabian 3-4. Rudy LaPointe split a finger open trying for a hard line drive in left field but wrapped it up tight to return to the game. The Flyers are getting pretty banged up as Penny is already lost for the season we think but will continue to hope not. 

PLEASE. LET'S GET BETTER WITH THE BOOKS. I really enjoy doing this but want to be accurate. 

Write Up by Loren Fabian

Friday, Jan 6th

Today we had to play three teams because Field A wasn't ready for play.

It was the Fabian Flyers, Black Nationals, and Powell Braves.

It was a close game right up to the last inning. The game was stop temporary when Penny got hurt sliding into third base. Hurt her knee and had to call for ambulance.

We all hope she recovers quickly.

All three teams scored in the first inning with Braves taking the early lead with 5 runs with the other two teams scored two runs each.

In the top of the  seventh inning, the score was Flyers 7, Nationals 12, Braves 12.

The Flyers scored one more run, Nationals scored one to take the lead, Braves scored two runs to win the game.

Final score: Flyers-8, Nationals -13, Braves-14.

Special defensive plays of the day was that each Team's first baseman turned a double play, by catching a hard line drive and then tagging the runner off first base.

I don't ever remember seeing that happen in the all the games I have ever participated in.(that's a lot!)

Leading hitters were: Jim Laffoon 3-4, Dean Schapeler 4-4, Bill Bowley 2-3, Jerry Witter 3-4.

Ray Roy 3-4, Don Ing 2-3, Mohan 2-3,

Juan Castillo 3-4, Fred Dampier 3-4, Jack Minder 2-3, Arvel Waddell 2-3, Larry Powell 2-3.

Submitted by Larry Powell

Friday, Jan 6th

Fridays game between the Yankees and Tigers went down to the last inning resulting in a 21-18 victory for the Yankees.  The good game was a hitting clinic with 33 hits for the winners and 32 for the Tigers.  A number of excellent defensive plays on both sides and good sportsmanship on both sides.

Yankees

Rivera  4-5

Constantine 3-5

Held  4-5

Doerbaum  4-4  HR

J.D.   3-4

Crowell   3-4

Vanderhyde  3-4

Tigers

Hicks  3-5

J. Rodriguez  3-4

Jacobson 3-4

Gazarek 4-4

M. Gonzalez  3-4

Scarbrough 4-4

Denny  3-4


Write Up by Joe D'Herin

It is with sadness that we report that Kim Lopez, wife of Winter Haven Senior Softball member Sam Lopez, passed away on Thursday.

Services for Kim will be held this Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 2 p.m., at Calvary Church located at 3800 Recker Highway  in Winter Haven.

Anyone wishing to send flowers can send them to the church at the address above.

Please keep Sam and his family in your thoughts and prayers!

UPDATE ON PENNY PELLETIER


Penny is out of the hospital and is at home. She has a bone fracture and will be seeing an orthopedic doctor next week. Hopefully, the doctor will have some magic trick that will allow her to continue playing ball with us in Winter Haven this season. Please keep Penny and Pat in your thoughts and prayers this week.


Don Witmer

It is with great sadness that I am having to let everyone know that Sam Lopez's wife passed away suddenly today. Please keep Sam in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. I do not have any details at this time. As soon as I know something, I will let everyone know.

Tuesday, Jan 3rd

Not a lot to report in the National league today as we had to play 3 team games because field A was not available. Final score was Simon 18, Fabian 10 and Powell 9. All 3 teams had full rosters for opening day. That included G Seguin on Simon's team and Penny Pelletier on Fabe's team. Welcome ladies with your hubby's cheering you on in the stands. 

See y'all Friday and we'll play for real. 

Write up by L. Fabian. 

Never Underestimate the Power of A Good Meal.

A strong start to the season with a hard fought, close game between Matta’s Athletics, (Visitors) and JD’s KFC team (Home). Both teams gave a great effort and played with good sportsmanship. Thanks to Joe D’Herin and Les Jacobson for umpiring. The Home team trailed most of the game, although they kept things close. JD’s squad they must have been inspired by the KFC meal delivery that came as the game drew to a close. Team KFC scored two runs in the bottom of the 9^th to tie and then win the game. (Special thanks to George Tinsley for the tasty Kentucky Fried Chicken meal. Thanks to the Hite family who supplied delicious cookies.) Three big HR’s in the game; JD, Tony Quinones and Dave Shirer. Goose, Al Guzzo, had the defensive gem of the game, an over the shoulder grab from 2^nd base, in short right field. Final Score: A’s:21-KFC: 22.

Write up by Nick Matta

 

The Yankees and the Angels squared off in the season opener with Freddie Gonzalez's Angels having their way with Juan Toro's Yankees. It looked like it was going to be a horse race for the first two innings as neither team managed to score. The third inning saw the Angels score at will with Ship's triple the big hit. So at the end of three the score was 5-0.

 

Both teams score once in the fourth and in the fifth the Yankees were able to win the inning by scoring four runs to the Angels three. All the Yankee runs came from six successive singles from the bottom of the line up. From then on it was just trying to hold on for the Yankees. The Angels scored five runs in each of the next two innings and could have scored more except for the five run rule.The eighth inning was a wash with three runs scored by each team.

 

Thanks to the Flip Flop rule, the Yankees had an opportunity to catch up. Trailing 22-9, the Yanks managed to put up seven hard fought runs. It was Dave Doerbaums three run home run that excited the crowd. Final score was Angels 22, Yankees 16..

 

While Dave had the only ball hit that left the park, Dave Shipley had the hottest bat with a triple, single, and two doubles. Tommy Hamilton pitched a great game for the Angles and backed by Mike Wiltshire's glove and Dave Shipley's bat seemed to coast to victory.Other key performances were Dan Reponen 4 for 4 and Michael Elmer 4 for 4.

Write Up by Bob Zelazny

MONDAY, JAN. 2, 2017 - HAPPY NEW YEAR


LEAGUE PLAY STARTS TOMORROW


The 2017 season league play begins tomorrow with 10 teams playing ball. Team #11, Manager Tommy Hamilton has a Bye. Listed below are some reminders to make sure the opening games go smoothly:

• The team listed last on the schedule is the home team and will wear their Silver shirt and sit in the Third base dugout. The visiting team will wear there Blue shirt and sit in the First base dugout. If you are in doubt about which shirt to wear, bring both of them to the ball park. New shirts will be provided to all players this year.
• Wear your Winter Haven Senior Softball hat from last year. If you did not play last year, you will be given a new hat. If you played last year and do not have a WHSS hat, they will be available for purchase this year. WHSS shirts and hats are required for league play.
• Be at the ball park no later than 9:00 AM. Your manager needs to know how many players he has so he can request a pool player if one is available.
• Go to your field that is shown on the schedule. It is not necessary to sign in during the league play. If there is a schedule change, it will be posted on a board at the Commissioners table located next to the men's restroom and will be posted on the website if we know ahead of time of the schedule change.
• There is a schedule change for the National League tomorrow. The City of Winter Haven is still working on rebuilding Field A for the Polk State College girls softball team. They anticipate those improvements will be completed before the end of the week. There will be three team games on Field C and Field E. Team #2 will play on Field C and Team #1 will play on Field E. These games will not count in the standings and will be made up later on in the season.
• Kentucky Fried Chicken, one of our great sponsors,  is providing lunch tomorrow. The Board of Directors are providing Cookies and Refreshments.

There will be a league meeting before the games begin at the Commissioner's table. There will be other items discussed at that meeting. Be there at 9:30.


Thanks.


Don Witmer, Commissioner