How To Be A Superhero.

The WHSS, AL game, between JD’s KFC and Matta’s A’s, on 1/30, will take a DC Comics spin. The DC superheroes include Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, the Flash and a few other champions of justice. This gives me a chance to emulate Superman co-creators; Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, along with Batman co-creators; Bob Kane and Bill Finger. Siegel/Schuster created Superman, in 1933, while living in Cleveland, as High School students. Kane and Finger came together in NYC to work on Batman, in 1939.

Visitors; Team Batman: Hicks, Pep, Shirer, Matta, Crowell, Zelazny, Aufiero, Gazarek, Vanderhyde and Deemie.

Home; Team Superman: Rad, Burns, Quinones, Davis, Abreu, Denny, Butler, Essenmacher, Reagen, Ogden, Coffman and Wells.

Team Batman came out in the first inning wearing Batman pajamas. We quickly put up a zero. Team Superman came out with their tights on, problem was they were a little too tight. They scored a single run in the first inning and left the bases loaded, when the last batter that inning grounded out to end the threat.

In the 2^nd inning the Caped Crusaders came out of the bat cave dugout in the bat mobile. We raced around the bases, scoring 3 runs. Crowell, Gazarek, Vanderhyde, Deemie and Hicks answered the bat signal.

Team Superman soared, filling their capes with wind. They answered back with 3 runs in the bottom of the 2^nd. Butler, Essenmacher, Reagen and Ogden went in the phone booth as Clark Kent and came out wearing a big red S across their chest. They all reached base before Lois Lane could even record an out in the books. It was then that Bat Pitcher, George Vanderhyde, reached into his utility belt and pitched a DP ball, that helped to still the Men of Steel. Wells and Rad followed up with hypersonic hits. However, the next batter never got off the planet Krypton, the inning self-destructed when he flew out. At the end of 2 innings the score was Team Batman: 3-Team Superman: 4.

In the next 7 innings, Vanderhyde pitched like a superhero and the Gotham defense played like they were defending the field with impenetrable bat armor. Vanderhyde threw the kryptonite ball, rendering the Superman team helpless. George pitched 7 consecutive scoreless innings. The outfield had their bat radar working. Aufiero made the front page of both the Daily Planet and the Gotham Gazette, for making two great catches in left field. Winged freaks, Pep and Hicks, spread their bat wings and tracked down two fly balls that were sure hits. Shier, Matta, Crowell and Deemie were the dynamic infield, turning 3 double plays in the game. While Bob Zelazny, at 2^nd base, was the crime fighter extraordinaire, catching two sizzling line drives. Team Superman had a great defensive play when Tony Quinones used his arm of steel to cut down a runner at the plate.

Team Batman did the job on offense too, you figure batman would know his way around bats. I am not talking about the winged vermin type of bats, but the Dudley, Adidas and Mikken type of bats. The Dark Knight offensive highlights included an inside the park HR and double by Matta. A triple by Crowell, a double by Gazarek and a double by Vanderhyde. Some of the runners needed a turbo boost to make it around the bases. With Team Batman holding a commanding lead, Commissioner Gordon called for a flip flop in the 9^th inning. The Final score was Team Batman: 18 - Team Superman: 4. Thanks To Brian Busch for umpiring.

For a few innings we can all be superheroes on the field of play. More importantly we can be superheroes off the field, where it really counts! We can achieve great things when we do good works; feeding the hungry, donating clothes and helping others. Keep in mind this quote from The Dark Knight Rises:

“A hero can be anyone, even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a little boy’s shoulder to let him know that the world hadn’t ended.”

Bruce Wayne’s Finest, Leading Hitters For Team Batman:

Hicks: 4/5.

Shirer: 3/5.

Crowell: 3/5 with a triple.

Zelazny: 3/5.

Gazarek: 3/5 with a double.

Vanderhyde: 3/4 with a double.

Deemie: 3/4.

Steel Bats, For Team Superman:

Abreu: 2/3.

Butler: 2/3.

Denny: 2/3.

Written by Nick Matta.

Two teams met on Field D today as the visiting O J’s managed by Steve Hill and the home team with Larry Strait at the helm.  It’s early in the season but first place is at stake and both teams hyped up after playing to an 11 all tie in the first game of the season.  Chrest led off for the O J’s followed by Castillo, S. Hill, D. Schapeler, Laffoon, Lopez, Weber, Capozzi, Spegel, Seguin, and Witter.  Marino led the team on the field in left field, Newton at 1^st, Burtner SS, Hite IF, Boito 3^rd, LeTourneau OF, Kriger IF, Fryzowicz OF, Peske OF, Andrews C, Thompson P, LaMay C, and Strait at second.  Scorekeeper for the O J’, kept a neat score sheet but failed to post wether each batter had a hit, walk, error, SF, etc.  So, we will tell the story as reaching base. 

Inning one, first 3 hitters reach base, an infield out next 3 reached base and Capozzi batted in the fifth run of the inning.  Home team, after one out Newton doubled, Hite, Boito, and singled and LeTourneau singled home the first run for the Braves.  In the 2^nd Seguin walked and Chrest homered to deep left.  Bottom of the inning Travis and Andrews had base raps and LaMay singles in the 2^nd run of the game for the Braves.  End of 2 O J’s 7 Braves 2. 

The 3^rd inning had the O J’s posted a zero.  Marino led off the bottom of the inning with a single, followed with hit from Newton, Burtner, and Hite.  After two outs 3 more hit from Kriger, Fryzowicz and Peske drove in the run to tie the game at 7 all.

O J’s add a run in the 4^th inning. Brave 0.  5^th inning has 3 for the O J’s and 2 for the Braves.  The 6^th had the O J’s add 5 and the Braves 3.  In the 7^th the O J’s were held scoreless.  Braves pushed across 4 runs to tie the game a 16 each.   OH! No! not again.  The 8^th had the O J’s took the lead again scoring 4 runs with 6 batter reaching base.  Braves add 3 in the bottom of the inning on a single from LaMay and double from Strait then singles from Marino and Burtner bringing in the 3^rd run. 

Now the top of the ninth Braves pitcher Thompson ties a record by getting 3 outs on 3 pitches and 3 good fielding plays.  Bottom of the inning base hits from LeTourneau and Kriger to start the inning. A very unusual double play followed that left the home team with a runner on 2^nd and 2 outs.  Peske comes to bat and lines a single to left center to tie the game at 20 all.  Ok game called because of darkness.  Oh is only 11:45 AM.  Lets play 10. 

O J’s start the inning with 3 runners reaching base.  After one out Lopez reaches base, then the second out.  Capozzi and Spegel reach and Gisele Seguin bats in the 5^th run of the inning.  Andrews, Thompson, and LaMay start the inning with hits. After and infield out, Marino and Newton single and Burtner drive a run in on a fielder’s choice, then Hite singles in the 4^th run of the inning.  Now with the tying run on base Boito at the plate he hit a line drive to Sam Lopez who was playing middle infield behind second base for the final out of the game.  Final Score was  O J’s 25 and Braves 24. 

On base time for the O J’s were Crest, Castillo, Hill, Schapeler, Laffoon, Weber all 4 for 6, Capozzi 6 for 6.  Lopez, Seguin and Witter all 3 for 6.

Leading hitters for Braves were Newton 5 for 6, Marino, Hite, 4 for 6, LeTourneau, Kriger, LaMay 4 for 5, Boito 3 for 6, Travis, Peske, Thompson 3 for 5.

Great catch also by Gary Burtner in foul territory by the fence from his shortstop spot. 

Submitted Don LaMay

Today's game was between the Nationals and the Warriors.

It was a close game with both teams scoring in almost every inning. The Warriors took the lead in the first inning 3-2. The teams tied up in the sixth inning at 10-10. The Warriors broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring 5 runs. The top of the ninth the Warriors had the lead 18-11. The Nationals made a big comeback by scoring 3 runs but not enough to win the game. Final score was Warriors 18--Nationals 14.

Leading hitters for the Nationals :

Denny Shaffer 2-4, one double

B J Kallister 2-4 

Don Hawbaker 2-4

Ken Gilpin 2-4

Leading hitters for the Warriors:

Bill Ayer 4-4

Larry Grabb 4-4,one double

Fred Dampier 4-4, two home runs

Bill Rutan 3-3, one double

Winning pitcher was Larry Powell

Submitted by Larry Powell

KFC Lunch Buffet

She warned us that she was a bad picture taker.  This one has the thumb in the shot, the second attempt was too jiggly to share.  Oh Well, Lunch was great as always.  The best fried chicken anywhere.  Thanks George!

Friday, January 26th

Two winless teams battled it out so one, Powell's Warriors could crawl out of the cellar with a 14-9 win against Fabian's Flyers. The Warriors were up 10-1 after 4 innings as most everything they hit seemed to have eyes for base hits and the Flyers could not get the RBI hits with runners in scoring position until Marianne Zukic drove 2 in, in the bottom of the fifth and the Flyers added 3 more in the 6th and 7th. Warriors got 4 more in the 7th and were up 14-6 with the Flyers trying to mount a comeback in their last at bat led by Bruce Britton who was 3-3 with a BB in the game. They did manage 3 more for the final of 14-9 which I think was the lowest scoring game of the day as I heard lots of final scores in the 20s and 30s. The Warriors probably would have scored more if not for 2 inning ending DPs in the infield by the Flyers. See y'all Tuesday. 

Write up by Loren Fabian

Tuesday, January 23rd

The game between the Warriors and the OJ's was played on field A . After two were out , the OJ's put up 4 in the bottom of the 1st inning on key hits by Sam Lopez and Jim Laffoon to take a 4-0 lead , after one . The OJ's added two more in the 2nd , on Jerry Witters first of his 3 hits and a sac fly by Ed Spegel to extend their lead to 6-0 .

The Warriors scored two in the top of the 3rd on big hits by Gene Baker and Larry Powell . The OJ's answered with 3 in the bottom on the inning , end of 3 , OJ's 9-2 .

The top of the 4th featured a pair of doubles by Larry Grabb and Fred Dampier as the Warriors added two more runs to make it a 9-4 game . The OJ's added one the bottom half . 10 - 4 , after four .

The Warriors push in another run in the top of the 5th , before the  the OJ's tacked on 4 in  the the bottom of the 5th , on a pair of doubles by Larry Chrest and Don Schapeler . 14 - 5 after five .

The 6th got crazy as the the Warrior posted 3 runs on  three straight hits by Grabb , Dampier and Bill Rutan to close the game to 14 - 8 . Not to be out done the OJ's posted a 5 spot  , as the bottom of the order put up 4 straight hits of their own to make it 19-8 .

The last three inning were pretty quite , the Warriors added one in the 8th to finish the scoring at 19 - 9 , OJ's . Final .

Welcome to our Hawaiian softball tournament player Gisele Seguin , who played a stellar first base for her game for the OJ's  today . You could have taken the rest of the team with you to Hawaii .

Stars , 

Offense - Warriors , Larry Grabb , Fred Dampier , Bill Rutan , Jack Minder , 3 - 4 , and Larry Powell 2 - 3

OJ's , Don Schapeler and Sam Lopez 4 - 4 , Jerry Witter 3 - 3 , Al Andrews , and Juan Castillo 3 - 4 , 

Defense - Warriors  , Larry Grabb , Fred Dampier and Robert Spitaleri 

OJ's , Larry Chrest , Gisele Seguin & Jim Laffoon .

Submitted by Steve Hill

Friday, January 26th

The game between OJ's vs Nat's was played on Field C . The OJ's open the scoring with a lone run in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Jim Laffoon to take a 1-0 lead after one .

The Nat's tie the score in the top of the 2nd off the bat of pool player Don Torok . The OJ's answer with 5 runs in the bottom of the 2nd  on 6 hits and never looked back . 

The Nat's offense could not get on track today , while the OJ's scored in every inning . Final score OJ's 20 Nat's 1 .

Stars , 

Offense - Nat's , Don Torok 2-3 , Herb O and  BJ Kallister, 2-4 

OJ's- Steve Hill , Jim Laffoon , Don Schapler and Tom Capozzi 4-5 , Arvil Waddell  , Jerry Witter and Al Andrews , 3-4 

Defense - Nat's  , Herb O and Don Torok , OJ's , Gisele Seguin , Sam Lopez and Jim Laffoon . Winning pitcher Jerry Witter had his second outing in the last four games that he allowed only one run scored .

**On a sad note **  The OJ's said goodbye to team mate Al Andrews who played his last game in Winter Haven today . Al has sold his house and will be returning to Maine . He says he hopes to be back playing with us again someday . Al we hope you will , we will miss you .

Submitted by Steve Hill

Friday January 26, 2018  Field E

Larry Strait’s visiting Braves came today to play the home town Post 8 team managed by Russ King.  Marino, Newton, Burtner, Hite, Boito, LeTourneau, Altemose, Krieger, Fryzowicz, Peske, Andrews, Thompson, LaMay and Strait came ready to play today.  Tom, LaPointe, Levesque, Jette, D. Hill, King, O’Callahan, Ridley, Bowley, L. Baker, Vandenberg took the field.  Note here – Post 8 was missing 4 players today due to a tournament the area this weekend. 

Post 8 had their ace pitcher Hal Ridley on the mound today but the Braves came with the bats flying today.  Six batters up and 5 runs across the plate. After one 5 to zip for the visitors.  Second inning saw more of the same with LaMay and Strait lining base hits to the outfield driving in the 4^th and 5^th runs of the inning.  Bottom of the inning Jette started with a triple deep right field and scored on an infield out for the first run for the home team.  Next two inning the Brave kept up lining ball to every corner of the field.  Kings team pushed another run across in bottom of the 4^th.  Signs of tiring in the next two innings for the Braves as the were held to 4 runs in 5^th and 6^th.  Vandenberg started the bottom of the 6^th with a liner to center, Tom and LaPointe followed with hits, then D. Hill and King drove in the 4^th and 5^th runs of the inning.  Score now 28 to 7.  After a flip flop the final score ended up Braves 32 Post 8 9.  Winning pitcher Thompson.

Tom, Rudy, Jette, D.Hill, King all had 2 for 4 and Ridley 4 for 4 and Vandenberg was 2 for 3 for Post 8.

Newton 3 for 5, Burtner, Bioto, Krieger, and Fryowitz all 4 for 4.  Marino was 3 for 5, Peske, J. Andrews, and LaMay were all 3 for 4. Hite, LeTourneau, Altemose, and Strait all 2 for 4. 

Write up by Don LaMay

Friday, January 26th

There Should Be A Law Against Such Crimes.

Due to a tournament in the area, the WHSS, AL, games were rearranged in a pick-up player fashion. The game was billed as the Outlaws vs. The Wild Bunch. It turned out to be the Bulldozers vs. the Wild Flowers, judging by the score. There is no way to build the drama for this game. I doubt that famed writer, Tom Clancy, who wrote The Hunt For Red October, and other great novels, could build drama for this game. Maybe if Jack Ryan and Captain Marco Ramius were in the line-ups, Clancy could have done the job.

The Outlaws: Hicks, Thiry, Shirer, Quinones, JD, Matta, Denny, Busch, Cobb, Aufiero, Coffman, Morty and Wells.

The Wild Bunch: Rivera, Guttenburg, Alumbaugh, Scarbrough, Carpenter, Zelazny, Guzzo, DeRidder, L. Debrock, Crowell, T. Debrock and Pinnick.

The Wild Bunch took the early lead, 1-0 on an Alumbaugh, HR. That was the only highlight and the only lead the Wild Bunch would experience. Although I should mention that Steve Pinnick doubled and scored in the 3^rd inning. Those were the only runs the Home team scored. If this were a Colombo TV show, the famed sleuth would have solved the case by the 4^th inning when the score was 14-2.

As the game progressed things got a good deal worse for the Home team. The only other high point in the game came when Dave Shirer, who played for the Visitors, brought out his beach chair. Dave placed it outside of the 3^rd base dugout, so he could coach and wave runners around the bases. Dave was like a Beach Boy, he could have sung, I Get Around; “Round, Round, get around, we get around”. As the Visitors raced around the diamond, scoring runs. Help Me Rhonda, would have been an appropriate song for the Home team. After Dave folded up his chair and the game ended, the final score was 26-2.

Thanks to Scott Seguin for umpiring the game.

Outlaws who refused to be cuffed:

Hicks: 3/5

Thiry: 3/4

Quinones: 4/4 with a double.

JD: 3/4.

Matta: 4/4.

Denny: 2/3 and a SF.

Busch: 3/ 4 with a triple.

Cobb: 3/ 4.

Aufiero: 3/4.

Morty: 3/ 4 with a double.

Wild Things who hit for the Wild Bunch:

Scarbrough: 2/3.

Pinnick 2/2 with a double and a walk.

Written by Nick Matta.