Winter Haven Senior Softball

Friday, June 30th - Solivita Softball
We had 12 ballplayers from the American League go to Solivita this morning to continue our double header games with our friends from Solivita. The lineup went like this.  Dave Shipley, Dave Shirer, Dave Doerbaum, Rad Pcholinski, Tony Quinones, Don Witmer, Larry Book, Freddy Gonzalez, Nick Matta, Juan Toro, Randy Crowell and a new player at WHSS Pete Gutenberger           .
WHSS was visitors the first game and scored no runs in the first inning. Solivita's bats came out hot in the bottom of the first inning and they scored five runs. Don Witmer led off the top of the second inning with a single and scored on a nice hit by Freddie Gonzalez. Nick Matta drove in Freddie with a single and WHSS was on the scoreboard. Larry Book found his groove on the pitchers mound and held Solivita scoreless for the next three innings. WHSS bats were not silent though. In the third inning, Dave Shipley had a triple and Dave Doerbaum hit a blast for a two run homer. In the fourth inning, WHSS scored four runs on hits by Book, Gonzalez, Matta, Toro, Crowell and Gutenberger. In the fifth inning, our bats stayed hot with hits by Shirer, Rad, Quinones, Witmer and another blast by Doerbaum for five runs. After 6 innings, WHSS had the lead 13- 8 going into the open inning and what an open inning it was. We batted eleven batters and scored six runs to take a 19- 8 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning. Great pitching by Larry Book and great defense by WHSS held Solivita scoreless in the bottom of the seventh inning.
In the second game, we were home team and Nick Matta was on the mound for WHSS. The 10 minute break in the 95 degree heat was good Solivita's bats. They scored four runs in the first inning and five more in the third inning to take a take a 9-5 lead after three innings. WHSS changed pitchers in the top of the fourth inning and Dave Doerbaum had his pitching game on. Dave silenced the Solivita bats for four straight innings and WHSS had a five run inning in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead and the final score was 10-9.
A great big thanks to Solivita for treating WHSS to a nice lunch after the games. Hot Dogs, chips and refreshments were served under the pavilion. We are looking forward to the next games being held in Winter Haven on Friday, July 28th.
Write up by Don Witmer