Winter Haven Senior Softball

Tuesday, March 6th
Field B featured Elmer Black's Nationals vs Steve Hill's OJs . The Nats came charging out of the starting gate , scoring 5 runs in the first  . Key hit provided by , a single from Ken Gilpin and a double by Pat Accetta . The OJ's  posted just one in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly , and were held in check by the first of two double plays started by the Nats shortstop Bill McLellan . 5-1 after one Nats .

The Nats stayed hot scoring 2 more in the top of the second , as their bottom 4 hitters all had hits , to extend their to 7-1 lead . The OJ's  middle order of , Jim Laffoon , Sam Lopez , Ken Weber and Tom Capozzi , as they would do all game , came up big producing  3 runs to cut the Nats lead to 7-4 .

The OJ's continued to chip away at the Nats lead , with 1 in the 3rd and 2 in the 4th to tie the game at seven .

The Nats pushed one run in to retake the lead 8-7 on an RBI single by Bess in the top of the 6th . The OJ's Sam Lopez's RBI single retied the game at 8 after six .  

While the OJ's defense and Jerry Witters pitching held the Nats in check , the  OJ's exploded  with 5 in the 7th to take the lead for the first time in the game 13-8 , on doubles by Ken Weber , Ed Spegel and pool player Bill Wells .

After the Nats pushed one run in on Dean Schapeler's hit , to make it 13-9 , the OJ's put up 4 runs to push their lead to 17-9 . Key hits were a ringing double by Ken Weber and a 3 run homer provided by Ed Spegel .

The Nats did not score in the 9th . Final score 17-9 OJ's .

Stars

Offense ,Nats  , Dean Schapeler , Ken Gilpin , Don Hawbaker and Vassural Bess 3 for 4. 

OJ's , Jim Laffoon and Sam Lopez 4 for 4 , Tom Capozzi 3 for 3 , Ken Weber and Larry Chrest 3 for 4 .

Defense  , Nats , Herb Oesterreich ,Don Hawbaker and Bill McLellan .

OJ's , Juan Castillo , Jerry Witter , Giesel Seguin and JIm the gun Lafoon .

Submitted by Steve Hill