Ok gang. Here we go for the 2019 league season. I'm going to write up one of the National League games of the last day we played one week before Christmas but first, everyone please try to show up Friday and for the rest of the pre-league games as early as possible so the team's can be paired as close as possible to play with the team that you were drafted on.

The game was Fabian's Flyers vs Capozzi and the Flyers came out swinging with a nickel in 3 of the first 4 innings to take a 16-0 lead then Capozzi 4 in the 4th and 5th but Fabes got 5 in the 6th and 7th. It was decided to only play 7 innings and the Caps got 6 in the 7th to make the final 26-15. 

Capozzi hitters.   Roy 4-4 w/HR. Spitileri 2-4. Reagan 2-4 /HR. Titan 33. Morton 2-4. Stan M 3-4. Castillega 24. Merritt 33. 

Fabian hitters. Hite 3-5. Fred G. 3-5. King 3-4. Zelazny 5-5 3HR w/3B. Lopez 5-5. Hartley 5-5 HR. Ridley 3-5. Fabian 4-5. Hill 3-5. Andrews 2-4. 

See you all Friday and please show early. 

Write up by L. Fabian. 

NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAMS

The draft is over and six competitive National League Teams have been selected. It looks like this years teams are loaded with good players. The season will start on Tuesday, January 8th and will end in March. The schedule will be published after the Board meeting this Friday. Below are the teams.

TEAM # 1 LOREN FABIAN - MANAGER Benson, Tom Boswell, Ralph Dudley, Eugene Fabian, Loren Fryzowicz,Travis Gilpin, Ken Grabb, Larry Hite, Bob Levesque, Ray Spitaleri,Robert Vorher, Wayne Webb, Mike Wells, Larry

TEAM # 2 LARRY STRAIT - MANAGER Andrews, Gerald Kriger, Leo LaMay, Don Learn, Norman Letournean, Joe LoPiccolo,Patrick McLellan, Bill Michasky,Stanley Newton, Richard Oesterreich,Herb Peskie, Joe Strait, Larry Torok, Don

TEAM # 3 TOM CAPOZZI - MANAGER Accetta Patrick Bowley, Bill Capozzi,Tom Castilleja,Bobby Chrest, Larry Dampier, Fred DeRidder, Jerry Kallister, B J Laffoon, Jim Minder, Jack Spegel, Ed Thompson, Ron Weber, Ken

TEAM # 4 STEVE HILL - MANAGER Gelinas, Ken Hartley, Dave Hill, Stevan Mears, Justin Merritt, Johnny Morton, Willie Remington,Jerry Roy, Ray Skidmore,Bobby Voyta, Ralph Witter, Jerome Wolfe, Bill Zelazny, Bob

TEAM # 5 LARRY POWELL - MANAGER Ayer, Bill Boito, John Gibson, John Gonzales,Freddy Goreth, Gary Hawbaker, Don Ridley, Hal Rutan, William Scarbrough, Don Scheirer, Brad Shearer, Wayne Vandenberg,Bob Wheeler,Michael Zakrowski, Art

TEAM # 6 RUSS KING - MANAGER Baker, Lee Black, Elmer` Hill, Duff King, Russ Knox, George Lopez, Sam MacDonald,Cathy McPartlan,Jimmy O'Callaghan,Mike Pinnick, Steve Reagen, Bobby Rodriguez, Poke Seguin, Gisele Walton, Dan

NOTICE    NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE

All games in Winter Haven have been canceled for Friday, December 21. The City of Winter Haven is closing the ball fields today due to the extreme weather and the forecast for tomorrow predicts the same weather.

There will be no games on Christmas Day.

See you on Friday, December 28th.

Have a Merry Christmas.

Don Witmer, Commissioner

Leagues Are Starting Tuesday, January 8th.

The WHSS season is getting close to starting. The Draft will be held next week. There will be six teams in the National League with a minimum of 13 players on each team. There will be a pool this year to help the National League. The American League could not muster enough committed young guys to have four teams so the American League will go with a Flex schedule. Everyone who shows up to play in the American League will be put on a team.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) will sponsor the luncheon on the first game of the season. KFC has been an outstanding sponsor for many years and I would like to remind everyone to support KFC and all of our sponsors. A list of our sponsors and their websites are on this blog. When you visit one of our sponsors and buy their product, make sure that you tell them you are from Winter Haven Senior Softball.

Thanks.

Don Witmer, Commissioner

Tuesday December 11

Games are on. Sun is up. Wind is blowing. Earmuff Day.

Sent from my iPhone

A message from Elmer Black

Congratulations WHSS Players, wives and friends. We have completed a
most successful Angel Tree for some of the less fortunate students at
Elbert Elementary School, 50 in all. I want to personally thank each
and every one for your donations and gift giving. I am overwhelmed
that we can put a smile on these kids' faces come Christmas morning.
Thank you all very much.

Regards,

Elmer Black

December 7, 2018    Field D

Hite at the helm for the Visitors.  Hill, Hawbaker Hite, Skidmore, Strait, Boswell, Joanna, Mears, LaMay, Lopiccolo, and Bowley batted in that order.  Fabian Flyers took the field with Hartley, Capozzi, Spitaleri, O’Callahan, Herb O., Fabian, Thompson, Dana, Witter, McPartlin, and Merritt.

First inning visitors pushed across a run while home team scored 3.  Second inning home guys added 2 more.  Third inning visitors woke up and scored 4 while home team added one.  It’s a ballgame again. Fourth inning had Hite’s guys adding 2 runs, Fabian rallied his team with LET’S SCORE SOME RUNS. So, they maxed out with 5 runs.  At this point score was Visitors 7 and Home team 11.  Then Fabian told his players if we win this game, I’m buying at the 711.  That rallied the visitors who score 5 in the next inning while limiting the home team one run to tie the game at 12 each.

Hite’s team managed 7 runs in the last four innings while holding the home team to 2 runs.  Final score was Visitors 19 Home 15. 

Leading hitters for Visitors Hill:  5 for 6, Hawbaker 4 for 6, Hite 6 for 6, Skidmore5 for 6, Boswell 3 for 5, Mears (new guy) 3 for 5 w/HR.

Home team hitters: Hartley 3 for 5, Capozzi 3 for 5, O’Callahan, 4 for 5, Herb O. 3 for 5, Fabian 3 for 5, Thompson 3 for 5, Dana 4 for 5.

Every player had at least one hit.

Write up by Don LaMay

Tuesday December 4th

Games are on. Two fields available. We may have to play three team games.

Sent from my iPhone

It’s a Hit! Angel Tree! Again!!

The men (and ladies) of Winter Haven Senior Softball have stepped up and provided gifts for 50 kids.  Kids who might have had nothing under their trees on Christmas morning. The kids are all students at Lake Elbert Elementary School in Winter Haven. Guys you need to give yourselves a pat on the back.  Great Job!!  While you at it please give Elmer Black a round of applause for of his time and effort to make 50 smiles appear on Christmas morning.  As Elmer told me, “It’s about the kids.”  He is absolutely right.  But, wait!! You just played Santa, how about doing it again.    How about signing up for Santa Calling this Thursday.  Please, we need your help again.  Just a couple of hours, I promise you'll be back year after year.

November 30, 2018

Field D  Two team game.  King and Fabian managers.

Fabian’s visiting team lined up like this: Spitaleri, S. Hill, Rutan, Pope, Levesque, Grabb, Thompson, Minder, Zakrowski, Fabian and LaMay.  King’s team took the field with Skidmore, Knox, Herb O., Straight, Boito, Castilleja, JoAnna, Witter, Bowley and Leggett. In the first inning after Spitaleri hit a long fly for an out, Hill and Rutan both hit doubles then Levesque singled them both home. Skidmore led off for the home team with a single, after an out King, Herb, Straight, Castilleja and JoAnna had base hits to tally 3 runs for the King’s Court.  Not much going in the second with both teams posting big O’s.

LaMay led off the third with a single, then after an out Hill drove the ball to the fence but on good relays was out at the plate.  Then singles from the next 5 hitters then Minder drove in the 5^th run of the inning.  Bottom of the inning King singles and Herb triples him home.  After 3 Visitors 7 Home 4.

In the fourth the Kings added another run.  The fifth had both teams swinging the bats.  Fabian’s team posted 5 runs and the King's men posted 6.  The rest of the game the hitters took over with the visitors posting 8 in the top of the inning to take a commanding lead.  The Kings men started the bottom of the inning with Bowley and Leggett base hits but the inning with 3 runs scored. Final score was Visitors 28 and Home 21.

Good hitting by everyone.  Top hitters for Visitors: Hill 4 for 6 HR, Rutan 5 for 6, Grabb 5 for 6, and LaMay 5 for 5.

Home team hitters: Skidmore 4 for 6 HR, Knox 3 for 6, King and Herb O. both 5 for 6.

Guys SANTA IS CALLING.  Sign up for this on Tuesday.  See other info on the WEB Page.  You will have a great time and help your softball league.

Don LaMay

SANTA CALLING

Every year WHSS provides ball players to help staff the SANTA CALLING sponsored by the City of Winter Haven. SANTA CALLING involves calling young children in the Winter Haven area and pretending to be Santa Claus. The interaction with these young children is priceless. Your help can make a great difference in a child's holiday experience by participating in this rewarding event.

SANTA CALLING will be on Thursday, December 6th at the City Hall in Winter Haven from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Light refreshments and a prize drawing for the participants will be held at the end of the evening. The sign up sheet has been available since last Friday, November 23rd at the sign in desk at the ball park. Please sign up and make a great difference in a child's holiday experience.

We only have five people signed up at this time. Please get with Don Witmer on Friday and sign up for this worthy event.

Thanks.

Don Witmer, Commissioner  

CHRISTMAS ANGEL TREE

Elmer Black would like to have all of the gifts for the Angel Tree children brought to the ball park on Friday. He will then be able to get them to the school early next week.

Thanks

Tuesday November 27

Games are on. It's cold and windy. An ear muff day. Let's play ball.

Sent from my iPhone

Friday, November 13th.

Today's is considered Black Friday for the shoppers of the world. Well there ain't no Black Friday in Winter Haven when you get to play ball on a beautiful day where the sun is shining bright and the temperatures were in the seventies.

Forty seven ball players showed up to play ball today. There was one American League game and one National League game.  Both games were close contests with a five run difference in the American League and a one run difference in the National League.

WHSS had seven new players sign up this week. It is time for our yearly influx of snowbirds who have been putting up with the snow and cold weather up north to come to Florida. Please come to the ball park when you get here as soon as you can so we can get the numbers together for the 2018-2019 season.

Thanks.

Don Witmer,
Commissioner

Tuesday, November 20th

Sixty Two ball players showed up to play ball today. We had two National League teams and One American League team. Below is the write up for one of the National League team games. 

Heck of a National League game on field D between Strait's Sluggers and Fave's Flyers. Strait took. 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but Fabe put up a nickel in the bottom and never looked back. Final was 17-14 and the Sluggers put up their own nickel in the 7th to pull within striking distance. Newcomer Jim Hunter had a great day in center field, making all catches and plays, 2 of the catches being hard on the run of bloopers wanting to drop in. He also was 3-5 at the plate. John Gibson also had a great behind the plate, snagging one foul tip and another put out at the plate on a throw from Robert Spitalari from the outfield grass. 

Strait hitters.   Walton 3-6. Spitalari 5-6. Capozzi 3-6. Thompson 2-4. Wells 4-4. Gibson 3-5. 

Fabian hitters.   Herb 4-5 w/HR. Roy 4-5. Titan 2-5. Morton 4-5. Hawbaker 4-5. Fabian 4-5. Hunter 3-5. 

WP. Lopiccolo. 

 

Write up by Loren Fabian

SANTA CALLING IS HERE AGAIN

Every year WHSS provides ball players to help staff the SANTA CALLING sponsored by the City of Winter Haven. SANTA CALLING involves calling young children in the Winter Haven area and pretending to be Santa Claus. The interaction with these young children is priceless. Your help can make a great difference in a child's holiday experience by participating in this rewarding event.

SANTA CALLING will be on Thursday, December 6th at the City Hall in Winter Haven from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Light refreshments and a prize drawing for the participants will be held at the end of the evening. There will be a sign up sheet available on Friday, November 23rd at the sign in desk at the ball park. Please sign up and make a great difference in a child's holiday experience.

Thanks.

Don Witmer, Commissioner  

CHRISTMAS ANGEL TREE

A Note from Elmer Black, Chairman of the Christmas Angle Tree Program:

Last year was our first Angel Tree for Lake Elbert Elementary School and we were able to please 42 kids, many more did not receive a gift. This year I will be asking the School for 50 names and if we have money for extra we will try to fill the void. The School has many students that can use our help. 

The Angel Tree is going strong but we still need help from our ball players in order to meet our goal of 50 gifts. Please see Elmer Black as soon as possible and select a child from the Angel Tree. If you are not in Winter Haven yet and want to sponsor a child from the Angel Tree, give Elmer a call, he will sponsor a child for you and you can pay him back when you get here. The cost is $20.00 and Elmer will buy and wrap your gift.  Elmer's number is 863.204.9668 or 450.825.2005.

Regards Elmer Black

BLACK FRIDAY GAMES

We will be playing ball on the Friday after Thanksgiving for those of you that don't want to go shopping.

Friday, November 16th

Solivita Softball was a success this Friday as 13 players from WHSS traveled to Solivita to play a double header against a great bunch of guys from Solivita. The first game looked like it was going to be a rout for WHSS. WHSS scored thirteen runs in the first three innings while holding Solivita to zero runs. In the fourth inning, WHSS was held to zero runs and Solivita roared back into the ballgame with 10 runs scored and making this a close ball game. Solivita scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a one run lead. WHSS had the top of their lineup coming up and Tommy Hamilton led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single up the middle. Eddie Hurn, who was hitting the ball hard all day, followed Tommy's single with a walk-off two run homer and WHSS won the game with a final score of 20 to 19.

In the second game, WHSS's bats were still hot. They started the game with 5 runs in the first inning, four runs in the second inning and scored 23 runs in seven innings. This was to much for the Solivita guys who could only manage to score 11 runs in the second game.

The friendly competition with Solivita started last year and we have continued to have fun with the great folks from Solivita this year. They come to WHSS one month and we travel to Solivita the next month. We are looking forward to doing this next year and for years to come. If anyone is wondering, Solivita has won more games in this friendly competition than WHSS has but we plan on catching up with them in the future.

Players for WHSS were: Steve Hicks, Tommy Hamilton, Eddie Hurn, Dave Doerbaum, Mike Vacarro, Luis Guzman, Tony Quinones, Dave Shirer, Jeff Stier, JD Davis, Al Guzzo, Ron Pepin and Don Witmer. Home runs were hit by Tommy Hamilton, Eddie Hurn, Dave Doerbaum and Luis Guzman (2). Mike Vacarro was injured in the first game but continued to bat in both games. Lets hope Mike gets better soon.

Write up by Don Witmer

NOTICE    NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE

WINTER TIME HOURS ARE HERE. THE CHANGES WILL BE EFFECTIVE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH. SIGN IN AT THE BALLPARK NO LATER THAN 9:00 AM AND GAMES WILL BEGIN AS SOON AS THE TEAMS ARE SELECTED. IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE LATE, YOU CAN CALL DON WITMER AT 863.860.5381 AND HE WILL SIGN YOU IN.

We all hate three team games. It is important to know how many players are going to be at the ballpark in order to determine the number of teams. If you are late, the number of players who are on time may indicate a need to have a three team game when it is not necessary. Please be courteous to your fellow ballplayers and be there on time.

Thanks.

Don Witmer, Commissioner

Tuesday October 9

Fields are playable. Games are on if it doesn't rain anymore.

Sent from my iPhone

Friday September 28

Games are on.

Sent from my iPhone

Tuesday, September 25th

We managed to field 4 teams for the first time in a while when 38 players showed up to play ball today. The American League had to borrow a player from the National League to field 9 players on each team. The Commish played catcher and umpired for both teams. It was a great game with the lead changing just about every inning. Finally, at the top of the 9th inning, the home team was leading 16-15. The visitors, headed by Bob Zelazny, decided they had enough and plated 8 runs to take an big lead going into the bottom of the ninth. The home team, headed by JD Davis, was not going to be outdone. The put their hitting shoes on and scored 7 runs with two outs. With the scored tied at 23 all, and the winning run at second base,  Ralph Boswell hit a line drive in the gap in left field to drive in the winning run. Thanks to Robert Spitaleri for playing with the American League.

Write up by Don Witmer

Friday, September 21,2018

WHSS managed to field 13 players to go to Solivita and continue our friendly competition with a great bunch of guys and ball players from Solivita. As usual, Solivita had their hitting game going as they scored 12 runs in the first game of a doubleheader while WHSS could only muster 4 runs. Dark skies were moving in and the second game was in question. 

After the first inning was completed, the second game was called due to rain with Solivita ahead 4-3.

Players going to Solivita this time were: Jeff Stiers, Mike Vacarro, Luiz Guzman, Jeff Rabideau, JD Davis, Bruce McGowan, Dave Shirer, Juan Toro, Freddie Gonzalez, Steve Hicks, Ron Pepin, Pete Gutenberger, Randy Crowell

Fredddie Gonzalez pulled a hamstring early in the first game and Don Witmer took his place to keep from taking an out for him.

Write up by Loren Fabian and Don Witmer 

Registration Price Increase Coming

Folks in just 1 short week the registration will increase by 25%, from
$40 to $50. So beat the deadline everyone. FYI, if you get your
check in the mail (postmarked) by Oct 1, I will count that as beating
the deadline.

Bob Hite
bhite1955@gmail.com
443-745-1090

Friday September 14

Games are on

Sent from my iPhone

Tuesday September 11

Games are on.

Sent from my iPhone

Hi guys and ladies,

For the next 3 weeks the registration fee for the 2019 season is just
$40. On October 1st the fee will go up to $50, a 25% increase. So,
mail your registration to Bob Hite as soon as possible.

If you are worried that you might not play this year, don't be
concerned. If you contact Bob Hite before the draft (early December)
he will refund your registration fee in full.

Friday September 7

Games are on.

Sent from my iPhone

Tuesday September 4

Games are on.

Sent from my iPhone

CHRISTMAS ANGEL TREE

A Note from Elmer Black, Chairman of the Christmas Angle Tree Program:

Hello WHSS Snowbirds, I know, I know, it is still Summer, but before you know it will be time to renew your

2018-2019 membership. Why not include an extra twenty dollars or whatever you wish, so that we can purchase

a Christmas gift for our Angel Tree, that will please a kid at Christmas time, who without our small donation will

not be receiving a gift from Santa Clause.

Last year was our first Angel Tree for Lake Elbert Elementary School and we were able to please 42 kids, many more did not

receive a gift. This year I will be asking the School for 50 names and if we have money for extra we will try to fill

the void. The School has many students that can use our help. Thanking you in advance. 

Regards Elmer Black