Winter Haven Senior Softball

Tuesday, May 30th
On Field C, the National League fielded 26 players, 13 per team, to play one close ball game.

Now, on to one of the most fantastic National League games played. Back and forth the whole game between Strait's Sluggers and Fabian's Flyers. It was tied 3 times and the lead changed hands 3 times. It came down to the top of the 9th with Fabe's up 9-8 and just had to hold the Sluggers but couldn't as Hite, Pete and Freddy Gonzalez all scored to take a 2 run lead to the bottom of the  9th. CAN THEY HOLD THEM?  Nope. Schapeler scored to bring it within 1 run and with Laffoon on second they used some strategy and had Junior Ortiz pinch run for him which paid off as he was driven in for the tying run. With Fred Dampier on 2nd representing the winning run, there were 2 fly outs  but then winning pitcher Pat Lopiccolo stepped to the plate, drove one down the left field line and Dampier beat the throw to the plate by a step for the winning run. 

Final.   Fabian 13

           Strait 12

It was a fantastic game. Fans in the stands will attest to that. Natalie, Pat, Melanie and Sally. 

Junior Ortiz had a fantastic game at 2nd base making at least 1/3 or more of the put outs, assists as well as 3 double plays. Way to go Junior. They were starting to say hit it anywhere but at Junior as the opposing team says always about Jimmy Laffoon. 

On Field B, the American League fielded 22 players, which included borrowing  several players from the National League in order to have 11 players per team. One of those players was Ralph Boswell. Ralph is always hesitant to play in the American League but he showed everyone today that he can play there. In the first inning, he fielded a hot ground ball off the bat of Doug Hapeman for the first out of the inning and snagged a hot line drive off the bat of Dave Shipley for the second out of the inning. Ralph made numerous plays at first base for the rest of the game but it was the strong hitting of the visiting team that allowed them to outscore the home team by 12 runs.

Write up by Loren Fabian and Don Witmer