Winter Haven Senior Softball

Valentine Softball.

A close, hard fought game between KFC and the A’s took place on Field B, on 2/13. The game started out with KFC hitting well. I don’t know if cupid could have shot arrows any more accurate than how KFC placed the softball in for hits.  The A’s must have had a Valentine spirit because we were giving boxes of chocolate as gifts in the field, missing a few catchable balls. By the 7^th inning KFC held a 13-3 lead.

It was then, in the 7^th inning, the roles reversed a bit. It was KFC that gave us a Valentine’s FTD bouquet, by dropping a few balls. The A’s had turned it around and played a strong defensive game. While Doerbaum, who had come in to pitch in the 4^th inning, was doing a fantastic job limiting the KFC team offense. Meanwhile, the A’s fell in love with our bats and we started hitting. By the ninth inning the score was 9-13, in favor of KFC.

The KFC team was shut out in the 9^th, due to a strong throw by Dave Shirer from centerfield.  JD was filling in, catching for the A’s, Davis caught the throw and hustled back to the plate, to get the runner out. The A’s needed 4 runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. After a lead off single by Shirer, the next two batters flew out, deep to the outfield. Dave tagged and advanced a base, on each fly out. Matta came up and drove Shirer in. Then Vanderhyde and Zelazny both singled. That would have loaded the bases and set up a dramatic finish. But the A’s had some confusion on the bases and a runner was tagged out, ending the game. Final Score KFC 13- A’s: 10.  All a ballplayer needs is love and a few hits at the plate, to fill his/her heart with joy.

Leading hitters for KFC:

JD: 3/4.

Busch: 2/3 and a Sac.

Abreu: 4/4.

Ogden: 3/3.

Essenmacher: 2/3.

Coffman: 2/3.

Leading Hitters For The A’s:

Hicks: 4/5.

Shirer: 4/5 with a double.

Wiltshire: 3/5.

Matta: 3/5.

Vanderhyde: 3/5.

Written by Nick Matta