Jan 29th Tuesday

Cobras vs Warriors -  It was a crisp cold day at the start of the game.  The sun was out and heating up the infield. It was a great day to play ball. Larry Chrest, Fred Dampier, Jim Laffoon, Ken Webber and Gerry Deridder led off the charge for the Cobras scoring 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning. The Warriors retaliated with Freddy Gonzales, Jimmy Vining, Don Scarbrough, Bill Rutan, Don Hawbaker, John Boito and Art to score 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. The heat of the sun caused ball players to start peeling off layers of clothes making the second inning  a repeat  of hits with both teams scoring 5 runs  each.  Score  10 to 10. However it was a cold day for outfielders as the sun was a factor for both teams defense. The Cobras capitalized on the sun factor and scored 5 runs in the 3rd, 4 in the 4th and 3 in the 5th. The sun blinded the Warriors in the 3rd and 4th innings but were able to stroke 5 runs in the 5th, score Cobras 22 Warriors 15. In the 7th inning the Cobras scored 5 more runs hitting a total of 27. The Warriors remained scoreless after the 5th inning causing a flip flop in the 9th. Final score  cobras 27 warriors 15.

Winning pitchers split  BJ Kalister & Ron Thompson

Leading hitters for the Cobras:

Jim Laffoon 4/4 with 2 doubles

Ken Weber 4/4 with a double

Gerry Deridder 3/4 with a double , triple & home run

Larry Chrest 3/4 with  a home run

Ed Segal 3/4 with a home run

Ron Thompson 2/3

Bob Castilleja 2/3

Bill Bowley 2/3

Pat Accetta 2/3

Nick Burns 3/3 with a double

Leading hitters for the Warriors:

Bill Rutan 4/4

Freddy Gonzales 3/4 2 doubles and a triple

Jimmy Vining 2/4 with a home run

Don Scarbrough 2/4 with a double

Don Hawbaker 3/4

Mike Wheeler 2/4 with a double

Write up by Tom Capozzi

Tuesday, January 29th

The Flyers got off to a slow start not scoring in the 1st, while the Dukes came out firing posting 5 runs on six straight hits without recording an out. After one Dukes 5-0.

The Flyers stayed cold while the Dukes posted 4 more runs in the 2nd started by the first of Alf Gibbons 4 hits. 9-0 Dukes after two.

After a quite 3rd the Flyers got on the board scoring one after a double by Ralph Boswell and a single by Ray Levesque in the 4th. The Dukes put up another 5 spot in the bottom half of the inning, their big hits provided by Willie Morton and Jerry Witter. 14-1 Dukes after four.

The 5th saw the Flyers get untracked, scoring 5 runs, on a double by Travis Fryzowicz and a triple by Tom Benson, cutting the Dukes lead to 14-6. The Dukes answered with 3, on big hits Bob Skidmore and Willie Morton. Score 17-6 Dukes after five.

The Flyers stayed hot scoring 4 the top of the 6th on a hit by Larry Grabb and a double by Wayne Vorher after a walk by Boswell. A fine double play turned in by Bob Hite held the Dukes scoreless. Score 17- 10 after six.

Both teams cooled off a little, the Dukes adding two in the 7th, after 2 outs on hits by Ray Roy, Bob Skidmore's 4th hit and a double by Steve Hill. Dukes 19-10.

The Flyers plated one after Boswell's 3 bagger and a sac fl . The Duke were held scoreless primarily by a great over the shoulder catch by Wayne Vorher off a drive by Willie Morton, that looked like it was going to be a 2 run homer. Score 19-11 Dukes going to the 9th.

The Flyer's Larry Grabb started the 9th with hits his 4th, hits by Vorher and Ken Gilpin plated one, hits by Gene Dudley and Bess added two more as the bottom of the order came through. With two on and two outs, leadoff hitter Larry Wells launched a drive to center field that Dave Hartley got a great jump on to run it down, ending the game.  Dukes 19-14 Final.

Hitting stars > Flyers, Larry Grabb 4-4, Wayne Vorher 3-3, Ralph Boswell and Ray Levesque. Dukes, Alf Gibbons and Bob Skidmore 4-4, Ray Roy , Steve Hill and Willie Morton 3-4

Defensive stars, Flyers,Bob Hite and Wayne Vorher

Duke, Ken Gelinas at 1st base and Dave Hartley in centerfield, whom both had great games filling in for missing players.

Winning pitcher Willie Morton 

Submitted by Steve Hill

Tuesday January 29, 2019  Field D

The two teams matched up today on field E and were managed by Russ King and Larry Strait.  King’s home team took the field with Steve Pinnick, Dan Watson, George Knox, Frank Jacobs, Bob Reagan, Gisele Sequin, King, Sam Lopez, Duff Hill, Mike O’Callahan, Elmer Black, Cathy McDonald, Jim McPartlan and Lee Baker.  Strait’s Braves grabbed their bats and hit in this order:  Dick Newton, Leo Kriger, Don Torok, Bill McLellan, Joe Peskie, Herb Oesterreich, Joe LeTourneau, Norm Learn, Pat Lopiccolo, Jerry Andrews, Don LaMay, Strait and Gary Burtner.

First inning looked like this game was going to a slugfest today while the Braves pushed across 3 runs and Post 8 maxed out with 5 runs.  Zero’s were then on the scoreboard for both teams in the second and third innings.  Braves bats came alive in the fourth as Torok line one up the middle, McLellan drove one down the left field line for triple, then Peskie, Herb O, Learn, Michalski had base raps and Andrews singled in the 5^th run of the inning.  Post 8 added a run in the bottom of the inning to make the score 8 to 6 Braves after four innings.  Braves added 3 in the next two innings while Post 8 added 3  in their half of the inning.  Score now 11 to 10 Braves.  Post 8 allowed 1 run in the 7^th and then King and Lopez singled and Duff Hill drove one down the left field corner for a triple, and O’Callahan and Black had hits and McPartlan drove in the 5^th run of the inning.  Score now 15 to 12 for Post 8.        

Newton walked to lead off the 8^th, then singles from Kriger, Torok, McLellan loaded the bases.  Herb O. drove one down the right field line to clear the bases. Then LeTourneau drove a deep fly to left center to score the fifth run of the inning. Post 8 answered with base hits from Pinnick, Watson, Jacobs, Reagan, Sequin, and King to take a 19 to 17 lead after 8 innings.  Braves managed one run in the ninth to make the final Score Post 8  19 and Braves 18.  Great game from both teams.

Post 8 hitters:  Pinnick 3 for 4, Jacobs 4 for4, Sequin, Reagan, King, and Lopez all 3 for 4, Knox 2 for 4, and Black 2 for 3.

Brave hitters: Torok 4 for 4 2B, McLellan 4 for 4 3B, Herb O. 4 for 4 2B, Peskie, Michalski, and Andrews all 3 for 4, Newton, Learn and LaMay all 2 for 4.

Congrats to Elmer Black and Joe D’Herin on their election to the Polk County Senior Softball Hall of Fame.                                                                

Submitted by Don LaMay for Russ King                            

HALL OF FAME TICKETS     HALL OF FAME TICKETS     HALL OF FAME TICKETS

Ticket sales for the Polk County Senior Softball Hall of Fame banquet have begun in Winter Haven and Lakeland. The cost of the tickets are still $20.00 each. The banquet will be in Winter Haven this year at the Lake Ashton Health and Fitness center. Ron Thompson, Bob Zelazny and Don Witmer are selling tickets in Winter Haven. Russ King and Jack McNiven are selling tickets in Lakeland. This years inductees are Joe D'Herin and Elmer Black from Winter Haven and Ron Lloyd and Jack McNiven from Lakeland.

Lets everyone come out and support this years inductees. Please buy your tickets as soon as you can.

Thanks.

Don Witmer, Commissioner
Winter Haven Senior Softball

Friday, January 25th

The Dukes posted 3 in the top of the 1st on singles by Dale Johnson, Bob Skidmore, Bob Zelazny and Justin Mears. Post 8 put up 5 in the bottom of the inning on 6 straight singles by Steve Pinnick, Bob Reagan, Poke Rodriguez, Duff Hill, George Knox and Russ King's 1st of 4 hits. Post 8 leading 5-3 after one.

After a quite 2nd the Dukes took the lead 8-5 with 5 in the 3rd. Big hits were a two run homer by Steve Hill and a two run double by Bob Zelazny.

Post 8 trimmed the Dukes lead to 8-6 with one in the 4th.

Neither team scored again until the 7th, when the Dukes posted another 5 runs, taking a 13-6 lead.  Post 8 roared right by with 4 runs, the key hit provided on a bases loaded single by Gisele Seguin, on her way to a 4-4 day. Score 13-10 Dukes after 7.

The 8th saw the Dukes extend their lead to 16-10 when the bottom of their order came through on hits by Ken Gelinas, Rudy Lapointe and John Merritt’s 2nd hit of the day. Post 8 added one in the bottom of the inning 16 -11 going to the 9th

The 9th saw the Dukes come out firing after one out with 6 straight singles and loading the bases after scoring 3. Post 8 ended the Dukes scoring at 19, on a fine double play started by mid fielder Gisele Seguin, her 3rd of the day. Post 8 was not going away as George Knox, Duff Hill, Sam Lopez, Bob Regan and Elmer Black had singles around a big triple in the gap by Russ King, scoring 5 runs. With two outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, the tying run was at the plate. The comeback was ended on a nice play by 2nd baseman Jerry Remington. Final score 19-16 Dukes.

Hitting stars > Dukes, Bob Zelazny 5-5, Justin Mears, Dave Hartley 3-4 and Ken Gelinas 2-3 

                    > Post 8 , Gisele Seguin and Russ King 4-4 , Steve Pinnick , George Knox and Duff Hill 3-4

Defensive star of the game > Gisele Seguin who had an outstanding game. Great job G.

Winning pitcher > Jerry Witter

Submitted by Steve Hill for Russ King

Friday, January 25th
Team Matta 21 team Davis 15. It was a cold day for Florida, but team Matta's bats were hot and so was Nick. It was 11 to 11 going into the top of the 6 inning. The hot bottom order of team Matta were up Greg Denny, Witmer, Matta and Gaston hitting for 4 singles in a row scoring 1 run and then a 3 run triple by Keller sparked a 5 run inning. Team Davis could just answer back with 3 runs in the cold bottom of the 6 and 1 more in the 8th and team Davis's bats got colder in the 9th with team Matta bats got hotter scoring 5 more runs in the top of the 8th inning. New player Grant Swary's double and Gaston's double sparking a 5 run rally and good pitching by Rick Brock . Leading hitters for Team Davis Tony Q. 3/4 with a triple Jeff Stier 3/4 with a double Brad Scheirer 3/4 with a double J.D. Davis 3/4. Leading hitters for team Matta Clint Gaston 4/4 with a double, Nick Matta 4/4, Rick Brock 3/5 Wayne Epperson 3/5 Lou Guzman 3/5 Don Keller 3/5 with a triple Steve Hicks 4/4 1 sac good game Hicks and Team Matta.
Write up by JD Davis

Flyers vs Cobras The Flyers came out Friday January 25thswinging in the 1st inning scoring 5 runs, followed by 1 run in the 2nd and 0 in the 3rd.The Cobras put up 2 runs in the 2nd and 3 runs in the 3rd. Score: Flyers 6 Cobras 5. The Flyers stayed hot scoring 4 runs in the 4th and 4 runs in the 6th. At the end of 7 innings the score was Flyers 14 Cobras 7. In the 8th inning both teams scored 3 runs each. Both teams were scoreless in the 9th, ending the game with a win for Fabian’s Flyers scoring a total of 17 runs and a loss for Capozzi’s Cobras scoring 10 runs.

Winning pitcher Larry Wells

Leading hitters -Flyers:

Ray Levesque 4/4 with 2 double and a home run Larry Grab 4/4 with a triple and a home run Travis Fryzowicz 4/4 Tom Benson 3/4 with a triple and 2 home runs Wayne Vorher 3/4 with a double

Leading hitter Cobras: Jack Minder 4/4

Larry Chrest 3/4 with double Jerry Deridder 3/4 with a double, triple and a home run Bill Bowley 2/2 and a walk Write up by Tom Capozzi

Friday January 25, 2019   Field B 

Todays game played on Field B was the Warriors as the home team and the Braves being the visitors.  Manager Larry Powell was missing today following surgery yesterday.  We pray that you recover quickly and return soon.  Freddy Gonzales took the helm for the Warriors and put these players on the field: Jimmy V, Don Scarbrough, Bill Rutan, Ed L., John Boito, Don Hawbaker, Mike Wheeler, Art Zakrowski, Bill Ayer, and John Gibson.  Braves Manager Larry Strait had Gary Burtner leading off with Dick Newton, Don Torok, Bill McLellan, Joe Peski, Herb O., Joe LeTourneau, Stan Michalski, Pat Lopiccolo, Jerry Andrews, Don LaMay and Strait following.

Field B is the sun field for hitters, and today was a bright sunny cool morning. Burtner lead off with a base hit than the next 3 hitters recorded outs.  Freddy G led off with a double and scored on a base rap from Scarbrough.  After on Warriors 1 Braves 0.  Both teams scored a run in the 2^nd inning.  The sun was a big factor early in the game.  LaMay led off the 3^rd with a single but was wiped out on a fielder’s choice, Newton and Torok had base hits with Torok getting an RBI, then McLellan drove one to deep left for a home run.   Warriors recorded 1 run in the bottom of the inning.  In the 4^th the Braves went down 1,2,3.  Warriors came back with 3 runs in the 4th and 5^th innings while the Braves tallied 2 in the 5^th.  After 5 Warriors 9 Braves 7. 

Sun must have gone behind a cloud as the Braves posted 5 runs on hit from Torok McLellan, walk to Herb O., then hits from LeTourneau, Lopiccolo, Andrews and LaMay driving in the 5^th run of the inning. Both teams added a run in the 7^th.  Braves added another 5 a spot in the top of the 8^th to take a lead of 18 to 10.  That was the final score Braves 18 Warriors 10.

Winning Pitcher Pat Lopiccolo

Leading hitters for the Braves:  Burtner 3 for 4 W, Newton 3 for 5, Lopiccolo and LaMay both 4 for 4.  The rest of the team was 2 for 4.

Leading hitters for Warriors: Gonzales 3 for 5 dbl, Jimmy V and Scarbrough both 3 for 5 and Hawbaker 3 for 4. 

Submitted by Don LaMay

GATOR REDLEG FIKE MEMORIAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

The United States Field Artillery Association in support of the Florida National Guard is hosting a Benefit Softball Tournament at the Diamondplex on Saturday, February 23th in the memory of First Sergeant Kenny A. Fike. They need volunteer umpires for the games and have asked for our help.  The games will begin at 10:00 AM and are supposed to be over no later than 8:00 PM. You do not have to be there the entire time. If you would like to do a game or two and go home that is okay. If anyone would like to volunteer to be an umpire please sign up at the sign in table starting next Tuesday.

Don't forget that Saturday, February 23rd is the date of the Polk Senior Games in Lakeland. 

Thanks.

Don Witmer

Tuesday January 22^nd

Dukes vs Cobras – field A

The Dukes blasted off in the top of the 1^st inning.  It started with Ray Roy, Bob Skidmore, Steve Hill, Bob Zelazny, Justin Mears & Dave Hartley rounding the bases and coming home with 3 ground rule doubles (over the fence) scoring 5 runs. Not so fast; responded the Cobras; scoring 5 runs with singles and 2 ground rule doubles (over the fence). The 2^nd inning was quiet with no runs scored. In the 3^rd inning the Dukes were able to add 1 run by hitting 2 more G.R.D’S. At this point the name of the game was ground rule doubles with the Cobras hitting 3 more G.R.D’S. Score: Dukes 6 Cobras 9. The Dukes added 1 run in the 4^th.The Cobras waited until the 5^th inning and scored 3 more G.R.D’S adding 4 runs, score: Dukes 7 Cobras 13. It was a seesaw battle until the 8^th inning when Steve Hill’s Dukes posted 6 runs adding another G.R.D to their score sheet, score: 17 to 17. In the bottom of the 8^th Capozzi’s Cobras’ rebounded with 4 runs when Jack Minder hit the only “in the park” double and gave the Cobras the lead. Score: Dukes 17 Cobras 21. In the top of the 9^th The Dukes could only eek out 1 run, leaving the bases loaded to end the game, Score: Dukes 18 Cobras 21.

Leading hitters for the Dukes:

Dave Hartley 4/4 with a G.R.D and a triple

Steve Hill 4/5 with 2 G.R.DS
Bob Zelazny 3/5 with 2 G.R.DS
Ray Roy 3/5 with a G.R.D
Bob Skidmore 3/5
Ken Gelinas 3/3
Dean Shapler 2/3

Alf Gibson 2/4 with a G.R.D

Leading hitters for the Cobras:

Gerry DeRidder 3/3 3 G.R.DS and a sac
Jim Laffoon 4/4 with 2 G.R.D’s
Ed Spegal 3/4 with a G.R.D
Larry Chrest 4/5
Fred Dampier 3/5 with a G.R.D
Ken Weber 3/4 with 2 G.R.DS
Bob Castilleja 2/3 and a walk
Jack Minder 3/4 with a double

Write up by Tom Capozzi

Tuesday, January 22nd
Today's game decided who was in last place in the National League.

Post 8 started quickly by scoring 4 runs in the first inning.

Warriors tried to catch up by scoring 3 runs. They also scored 3 more runs in the second inning to take the lead 6-4.

In the ninth inning Post 8 scored one run to finished with 8 total runs.

The Warriors continued to score at least one run in every inning except in the eighth inning. Final score was Warriors 13 to 8 for Post 8. Winning pitchers for the Warriors were Bill Ayer and Mike Wheeler.

Leading hitters for Post 8 :

Steve Pinnick 3-4, Gisele Seguin 3-4, Poke Rodriguez 2-3, Russ King 3-3, Lee Baker 2-3.

Hitters for the Warriors:

Jimmy Vining 3-4, Art Zakrowski 3-4, Bill Rutan 2-3, Bob Vanderburg 2-3, one home run, John Boito 2-3, one double,Mike Wheeler 2-3 , Bill Ayer 2-3 .

Submitted by Larry Powell, Team Manager, Warriors

Tuesday, January 22

Strait's Braves vs Fabian's Flyers. The Braves jumped out to a 3 run lead in the top of 1 but Fabian answered with a nickel in the bottom. It was 4-5 after 2 as the Flyers put up their only goose egg in the bottom of 2. After that they scored 2 to 5 runs in every inning for a final score of 26-15 in favor of Fabe's Flyers. Had one minor causality to Travis in the outfield of a slightly misjudged fly ball which drew some blood from a finger which is documented by red spots on our score sheet. Way to hang in there Travis. lol. 

Strait hitters.  Herb 2-5. Newton 2-5. Torok 3-5 w/HR. Peskie 2-4 w/HR. Learn 2-4. Stan 2-4. Lopiccolo 2-4. Andrews 3-4. Strait 4-4. Gary 3-4. 

Fabian hitters. Wells 4-5. Boswell 2-4. Vanderhyde 4-4. Levesque 4-5 w/HR. Hite 3-5. Travis 3-4. Grabb 2-4. Benson 2-4. Taylor 3-4. Fabian 3-4. 

WP. Larry (Josh) Wells. 

See y'all Friday. 

Write up by Loren Fabian 

Step Right Up

“Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for

Been searching in the dark, your sweat soaking through the floor
And buried in your bones there's an ache that you can't ignore
Taking your breath, stealing your mind
And all that was real is left behind

It's everything you ever want
It's everything you ever need

This is the greatest show.” (Lyrics from the greatest showman).

The circus was in town at the Diamondplex, WHSS, AL game. We played under God’s giant sky tent complete with sunshine, blue skies mild temperatures and great performances. This was not the kind of circus with calliope music and follies. Although we did have some of that, due to the fielding with windy conditions. It was a circus ballgame, full of entertainment and wonder. A fun time was had by all. Get your popcorn and read all about it here.

Big Top: Rad, Brock, Guzman, TQ, Rabideau, Gazarek, Denny, Ferrande, Essenmacher, Ramos and Grove.

Ringmaster: Hicks, Steir, Doerbaum, Shirer, Seguin, Hamilton, Roberts, Guzzo, Gallager, Pepin and Newman.

The Greatest Show: Rivera, Keller, Netzel, Schultzhris, Matta, Sheirer, Dawson, Rios, Witmer, Gutenburger and D’Herin.

The Big Top team came out in the first and played big time, scoring five runs. They were like Jumbo the Elephant, large and in charge. (Jumbo, an African elephant, was brought to the US, by PT Barnum. The placoderm stood 12 feet high. African elephants were taller than the Asian variety.) Big Top hitters were aided a little by some bad juggling, on defense. A few balls that were normally outs, became hits, when they were dropped. Rad, Brock, Guzman, TQ, Rabideau, Gazarek and Ferrande were the big-time players for the hitting team. The Ringmasters then came out and took center stage, scoring 4 runs. Hicks, Stier, Doerbaum, Seguin and Hamilton walked the high wire act to success. The Greatest Show was more of a dog and pony show, in the first inning. We scored 3 runs off of hits by Keller, Netzel, Matta, Shierer, Dawson and Rios. After 1 inning the score was Big Top: 5, Ringmaster: 4 and Greatest Show: 3.

In the 4^th  inning, The Greatest Show put on a performance with their bats and ended their vanishing act, we scored 5 runs to take the lead. Keller and Netzel singled, Shierer doubled and Dawson homered (his 2^nd of the game, the first one came just an inning before). After 4 innings the score was Big Top: 7, Ringmaster: 8 and Greatest Show: 10.

The Greatest Show continued to play amazing ball in the next two innings; scoring five runs in the 5^th and five runs in the 6^th. It was as if we were shot out of a cannon.  We had the other teams jumping through hoops, circus style. The score after 6 innings was Big Top: 9, Ringmaster: 10 and Greatest Show: 20. That did not last.

The Big Top was built to amaze and team Big Top did just that, in the 7^th inning. They scored 11 runs to go from worst, to a tie for first. Fifteen players batted in their open inning. Rad and Brock both had two hits in the inning. Others reaching base were Guzman, Quinones, Rabideau, Gazarek, Farrende, Essenmacher, Ramos and Grove. This team jumped through the flaming hoop and gave quite a performance. It was now all up to the Greatest Show to pull the game out of the fire. We came up to bat in the bottom of the 7^th needing one run to win. Two outs were recorded quickly and it looked like the fun was going to be taken out of the fun house for the Greatest Show. Schultzhris and Matta then reached base to give the Greatest Show one last shot at making it through the maze. However, the Big Top team, playing defense, broke through the house of mirrors and recorded the last out. Final Score: Big Top: 20, Ringmaster: 14 and Greatest Show: 20.

Circus facts and trivia: The word Circus dates from Roman times when arenas such as the Circus Maximus staged chariot races, gladiatorial contests and mock battles. The first circus was started in England, by Philip Astley, in 1795. He was a cavalry officer who set up the first amphitheater for the purpose of presenting horse-riding tricks. A standard circus ring remains 42-feet in diameter, the size originally established by Astley.  Americas best known circus was Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey. They ran from 1871 to 2017. They were head quartered in Sarasota, Florida for almost 90 years. Jumbo, became known as large, in the USA dictionaries after the introduction of Jumbo the Elephant. Leotards are named after the first star of the flying trapeze, Jules Leotard. PT Barnum served two terms as a republican in the legislature for the state of Connecticut. He spoke before the legislature concerning the 13^th Amendment, which abolished slavery. "A human soul, 'that God has created and Christ died for,' is not to be trifled with.” (PT Barnum).

Top Performers Of The Day

Big Top

Rad 3/5 with a double.

Brock: 4/5 with two doubles.

Guzman: 3/5 with a double.

Rabideau 4/4.

Gazarek: 4/4 with a double.

Ferrande: 3/ 4.

Essenmacher 3/ 4 with a double.

Ramos: 3/ 4 with a triple and a double.

Ringmasters

Hicks: 3/ 4.

Doerbaum: 3/4.

Seguin: 3/ 4 with a double.

Hamilton: 4/4 with a double.

Roberts: 3/4.

Greatest Show

Rivera: defensive play of the game with an outstanding diving catch, in left field, it started a DP.

Keller: 3/ 4.

Netzel: 3/4 with a double and a HR.

Schultzhris: 3/ 5.

Matta: 3/5.

Shierer: 4/5 with a HR and a double.

Dawson: 3/ 4 with two HRs.

Rios: 3/ 4 with a HR.

Witmer: 3/ 4.

Guttenburger: 3/ 4 with a double.

D’Herin: 3/4.

See you at WHSS on Friday, the show must go on.

Written by Nick Matta