SCHEDULE CHANGES - 2/28/2019          SCHEDULE CHANGES - 2/28/2019 

WE WILL BE PLAYING SOFTBALL AT THE DIAMOND PLEX TOMORROW AND NEXT WEEK. THE RUSS/MATT GIRLS SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE WEEK OF MARCH 11 THRU THE 15TH. THERE WILL BE NO GAMES THE WEEK OF MARCH 11 THRU MARCH 15TH. THE CITY CONFIRMED THE RUSS/MATT  SCHEDULE AFTER THE PIZZA PARTY ON FRIDAY. HERE IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN:

WE HAVE PLAYED 13 GAMES SO FAR. WE HAVE TWO MORE GAMES TO COMPLETE THE THIRD ROUND OF THE SEASON (15 GAMES). NOT SURE AT THIS TIME IF WE WILL BEGIN A FOURTH ROUND. THE SCHEDULE THAT YOU HAVE SHOWS 15 GAMES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT SCHEDULE EXCEPT THE DATES WILL CHANGE. THE GAMES SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 15TH WILL NOW BE PLAYED ON MARCH 1. THE GAME SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 19TH WILL BE PLAYED ON MARCH 5TH. THERE WILL BE GAMES PLAYED ON MARCH 8TH, AND MARCH 19TH. THE END OF SEASON PARTY IS STILL ON MARCH 19TH.

SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE MADE OTHER PLANS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE. IF YOU CANNOT BE AT THE GAMES BASED ON THE NEW SCHEDULE, WE WILL ADDRESS THAT ISSUE EACH DAY. WE MAY HAVE TO USE MARCH 8TH AND MARCH 19TH TO MAKE UP SCHEDULED GAMES OR A RAINOUT GAME. 

WE WILL PLAY SOFTBALL EVERY DAY THAT WE CAN.

AS I TOLD EVERYONE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, BE FLEXIBLE. WE DO NOT CONTROL WHEN THE CITY OF WINTER HAVEN SCHEDULES TOURNAMENTS. 

THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.   

Tuesday, February 26th

Post 8 vs Cobras

The game started off slow for King’s Post 8 team. Top of the 1^st inning no runs scored. In the bottom of the 1^st the Cobras jumped out in front scouring 3 runs. The 2^nd inning turned out to be a trade-off with both teams scouring 1 run each. Post 8 bats warmed up in the top of the 3^rd inning scoring 4 runs led off by Russ Kings double. The Cobras struck back in the bottom of the 3^rd scouring 5 runs. Score:  Post 8, 5 Cobras, 9. In the 4^th & 5^th innings post 8 added 6 runs while the Cobras added 2 runs. Bottom of the 5^th score tied 11 to 11. The score stayed tied for 6^th & 7^th innings. In the 8^th & 9^th innings King’s Post 8 team came alive scoring a total of 9 runs. Capozzi’s Cobras only were able to add 3 runs in the bottom of the 9^th losing the game 20 to 14 Post 8’s favor.

Winning pitcher for Post 8, Steve Pinnick

Leading hitters:

Steve Pinnick 5/5

Russ King 5/5

George Knox 4/5

Sam Lopez 4/5 with a triple

Jim Hunter 4/5

Cathy MacDonald 4/5

Bobby Reagen 3/5 with a double & HR

Defensive player for the Post, Cathy MacDonald

Cobras leading hitters:

Fred Dampier 5/5

Gerry Deridder 4/4

Jim Laffoon 3/5

Tom Capozzi 3/5

Bill Bowley 3/4

Write up by Tom Capozzi

Tuesday Feb 26, 2019

Today’s game had the Duke’s playing the Braves on Field E.  The Duke’s looked like the real Duke (John Wayne) and played like the real Brave (Hank Aaron).  In the first inning Ray Roy singled Steve Hill doubled and Bob Zelazny homered for a 3 run lead.  Brave’s Dick Newton and Norm Learn both had base hits and Joe Peski knocked them in with a liner to left center.  3 to 2 Duke’s.  Duke’s added another run in the second, Brave’s came back with another duce in the last half of the inning to tie the game. 

In the third after one out Roy, Bob Skidmore singled and Hill doubled and Big Duke Zealzny hit his second home of the game and a 4 run lead.  Pitching took over the next 3 innings with Willie Morton for the Duke’s and Pat Lopiccolo on the mound. The Duke added 4 runs while the Brave’s posted 3.  In the seventh the Duke’s put on the big show with adding 5 runs to take a 17 to 7 lead.  The final seal was put on the game with the Duke’s crossing the plate 6 times.  Final score was Duke’s 23 Brave’s 7.

Brave’s did excel in one part of the game.  Joe LeTourneau made a great running catch and a great throw from right center to get a speedy runner out at 3^rd base. Bill McLellan made a fine throw to catcher Jerry Andrew’s to cut down another speedy runner at home plate.  Bill also caught a line drive that drove him from the infield dirt to the outfield grass.

It in fact was a good game, with good sportsmenship and friendship also.

Hitters for Duke’s:  Roy 5 for 5 w/3b, Sidmore 4 for 5, Hill 5 for 5 w/HR and 2 dbls, Zelazny 4 for 5 w/2 HR, Gelinas 4 for 5.

Braves:  Lopiccolo 3 for 3.

Don LaMay

Lights, Camera, Action

The Oscars were handed out this past weekend and WHSS, AL division, held our own Academy Awards party on 2/26.

MGM: Rad, Keller, Netzel, Schultzhier, Manny, Ramos, Rivera, Brock, Miller, Guttenberger, Gonzalez, Matta, Grove and Coffman.

Universal: Hicks, Denny, Shirer, Schierer, Quinones, JD, Stier, Jacobson, Newman, Essenmacher, Navarres, Constantine, Guzman and Ferrande.

These two teams put out a few blockbusters; not in terms of films, but in terms of runs. Over 50 runs were scored in game action.

The MGM Lion roared in the 1^st inning, scoring 5 runs. Rad, Keller, Netzel, Schultzhier, Rivera and Brock provided the action. In the 3^rd inning the MGM group kept the cinematographer busy rolling highlight films. Keller, Netzel and Schultzhier hit back, to back, to back, triples. Ramos and Brock pitched in with a couple singles. “Here's looking at you, kid”; Casablanca, 1942. After 3 innings the MGM: 11- Universal: 6.

The MGM crew attacked the game like a hungry shark. It was as if the Universal guys needed a bigger boat (“You’re going to need a bigger boat," Jaws, 1975). After 6 and ½ innings the score was MGM: 23- Universal: 11.

The Universal team hit like a tornado in the bottom of the 6^th. They started playing like they weren’t in Kansas anymore, but had arrived in Oz. They were a horse of a different color. They hit the ball somewhere over the rainbow. They threw everything at us except flying monkeys. The Universal crew scored multiple runs, 13 batters came up in the inning. Newman, Essenmacher, Constantine, Ferrande, Hicks, Denny, Shier, Scheirer, TQ  and JD all had hits. “There’s no place like home; Wizard Of Oz, 1939. It was certainly true for team Universal, 9 runners crossed home. After 6 innings of play the score was MGM: 23-Universal: 20.

In the 7^th inning the MGM team answered with a few visual effects of our own. “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get”; Forrest Gump, 1994. We had 5 more runs hidden in our box of chocolates. Manny, Ramos, Brock, Miller, Guttenberger and Matta delivered the sweet stuff. After 7 innings the score was MGM: 28- Universal: 21.

Over the next two innings, to close out the game, each team was able to add one run each. It was MGM that was left with “The stuff that dreams are made of.”; The Maltese Falcon, 1941. We won the game by a score of 29-22.

MGM Oscars For Best Hitters

Rad: 4/5.

Keller: 5/5 with a triple and a  double.

Netzel: 3/5 with a triple.

Schultzheir: 3/5 with a triple.

Manny: 3/5.

Ramos: 3/5 with a triple.

Rivera: 3/5.

Brock: 3/5 with a double.

Guttenberger: 2/4 with a double and a HR.

Miller: 3/4.

Matta: 3/4 with a double.

Coffman: 3/4.

Universal Oscars For Best Hitters

Hicks: 3/5.

Shirer: 3/5.

Schierer: 5/5 with a HR and three doubles.

TQ: 3/5.

JD: 5/5.

Newman: 4/4.

Essenmacher: 4/4 with a double.

Navarres: 2/3 with a SF.

Written by Nick Matta

Friday, February 22nd

Team Davis Big Come Back Shocks Team Matta.  For the first 7 innings Team Matta was leading 15 to 6. A few highlights, 1st inning Tony Q, Guzman, Matta big hit scoring 2 runs, 2nd inning Ramos hit one of his 2 doubles, Essenmacher doubles and then the hits kept coming Guzzo, Netzel, Hicks, Tony Q and the big man Guzman scoring 5 runs. 3 more in the 3rd inning led with a Miller double, team Matta scores 1 run in the 5th, and 2 runs in the 6 and 2 runs in the 7th inning team Matta failed to score in the 8th and 9th inning. Top hitters for Team Matta. Ramos 4/5 with 2 doubles, Netzel with 2 doubles, Tony Q 3/5.

Team Davis was in trouble the first 7innings but never gave up on each other. Defense was good. Team Davis kept plucking away and making the big plays. Brock pitched a good game. Team Davis got hot scoring 7 runs in the 7th inning with the good hitting from the bottom of the order Pete Guttenberg, Manning, Navarres singles and Shirer double and the big guy Hurn hit scoring 3 and then more hits by Brad and Brock, J.D and Newman a total of 7runs. Team Davis added 3 more runs in the 9th big hits by Constantine and Manning and Hurn, Great comeback Team Davis. Top Hitters for Team Davis, Shirer 3/5 with 2 doubles, Brad 3/4 with a triple, Brock 3/5 with a double also winning pitcher J.D 3/4 2 doubles Newman 3/4 good game Newman and Manning 2/4 with a double.

Final Score Team Davis 16 – Team Matta 15
Write up by JD Davis

SCHEDULE CHANGES     SCHEDULE CHANGES     SCHEDULE CHANGES

WE WILL BE PLAYING SOFTBALL AT THE DIAMOND PLEX FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. THE RUSS/MATT GIRLS SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE WEEK OF MARCH 11 THRU THE 15TH. THERE WILL BE NO GAMES THE WEEK OF MARCH 11 THRU MARCH 15TH. THE CITY CONFIRMED THE RUSS/MATT  SCHEDULE AFTER THE PIZZA PARTY ON FRIDAY. HERE IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN:

WE HAVE PLAYED 12 GAMES SO FAR. WE HAVE THREE MORE GAMES TO COMPLETE THE THIRD ROUND OF THE SEASON (15 GAMES). NOT SURE AT THIS TIME IF WE WILL BEGIN A FOURTH ROUND. THE SCHEDULE THAT YOU HAVE SHOWS 15 GAMES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT SCHEDULE EXCEPT THE DATES WILL CHANGE. THE GAMES SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 12TH WILL NOW BE PLAYED ON FEBRUARY 26TH. THE GAMES SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 15TH WILL NOW BE PLAYED ON MARCH 1. THE GAME SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 19TH WILL BE PLAYED ON MARCH 5TH. THERE WILL BE GAMES PLAYED ON MARCH 8TH, AND MARCH 19TH. THE END OF SEASON PARTY IS STILL ON MARCH 19TH.

SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE MADE OTHER PLANS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE. IF YOU CANNOT BE AT THE GAMES BASED ON THE NEW SCHEDULE, WE WILL ADDRESS THAT ISSUE EACH DAY. WE MAY HAVE TO USE MARCH 8TH AND MARCH 19TH TO MAKE UP SCHEDULED GAMES OR A RAINOUT GAME. 

WE WILL PLAY SOFTBALL EVERY DAY THAT WE CAN.

AS I TOLD EVERYONE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, BE FLEXIBLE. WE DO NOT CONTROL WHEN THE CITY OF WINTER HAVEN SCHEDULES TOURNAMENTS. 

THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.   

Feb. 22 Friday

Warriors vs Cobras

In the top of the first inning the Warriors stepped up to the plate swinging away with 7 hits scoring 5 runs & no outs. Likewise, the Cobras answered in the bottom of the first with the same 5 runs & no outs with the first 7 batters. Score : 5 to 5. By the 3^rd inning both teams advanced their score to a 9 to 9 tie. In the 4^th, 5^th, & 6^th innings the Cobras slowly pulled  ahead bringing the score to 16 to 14, advantage - Cobras. The 7^th & 8^th innings were very fruitful for the Cobras with them scouring 5 & 5 consecutive runs for lunch. On the other hand, the Warriors did not get to eat any fruit in the 7^th & 8^th innings and were back to eating two goose eggs for breakfast. Score: 26 to 14. In the top of the 9^th the, Warriors only scored 1 run ending the game, Warriors 15 Cobras 26.

Wining pitchers: B J Kallister & Ron Thompson

Cobras leading hitters:

Jim Laffoon 5/5

Dean Schapeler 5/5

Fred Dampier 4/5 with HR

Bill Bowley 3/4

Tom Capozzi, Gerry Deridder, Ed Segel, Bobby Castilleja, Pat Accetta, Ron Thompson & BJ Kallister all went 3/5

Warriors leading hitters:

Bob Vandenberg 5/5

Art Zakrowski 4/5

Don Scarbrough 4/5

John Boito 4/5

Fred Gonzales 3/5

Jim Vining 3/5

Bill Rutan 3/5

Write up by Tom Capozzi

Friday, February 22nd

Flyers vs Dukes

The first place Flyers came out fast, scoring 4 runs on hits by Larry Wells, Ralph Boswell, Mark Gallagher, Ray Levesque, Travis Fryzowicz, Tom Benson and a Larry Grabb doubl . The Dukes answered with a Ray Roy leadoff home run and hits by Bob Skidmore, Steve Hill, Bob Zelazny, Justin Mears, Willie Morton and Dave Hartley to score five runs. Dukes 5-4 after one.

After a scoreless 2nd, the Flyer's took the lead 6-5 in the 3rd on Boswell's two run homer following Loren Fabian's first of his three hits on the day. Roy's 3 bagger and a Hill double tied the score at six.

With one out Grabb's single and Benson double plated one for the Flyers retaking the lead 7-6. The Dukes hit their stride in the bottom of the 5th scoring five runs on 7 straight hits to take a 11 -7 lead, after five.

The 5th and 6th inning were scoreless. In the 7th, hits by Grabb and Benson plated one for the Flyers, while hits by Alf Gibbons, Jerry Witter and Jerry Remington added one for the Dukes. 12-8 after seven.

The Dukes defense held the Flyers scoreless in the 8th & 9th innings, while the Dukes added 5 more in the bottom of 8th Final score 17-8 Dukes.

Offense stars >Flyers, Tom Benson 3-3, Ralph and Mark Gallagher 3-4

                      > Dukes, Bob Skidmore and Willie Morton 4-4, Bob Zelzany, Dave Hartley and Ken Gelinas 3-4 

Defense stars >Flyers, Travis Fryzowicz 

                        >Dukes, Alf Gibbons and Ken Gelinas

Winning pitcher > Willie Morton

Write up by Steve Hill 

Friday February 22, 2019

Russ King’s Post 8 team took on Larry Strait’s Braves on Field C today.  Post 8 had Steve Pinnick, Bob Reagan, Sam Lopez, George Knox, Ted Anderson, Dan Walton, Russ King, Elmer Black, Poke, Mike O’Callahan, Kathy McDonald, Jim McPartlin, and Lee Baker.  The Brave’s had Dick Newton, Norm Learn, Bill McLellan, Joe Peski, Leo Kreiger, Larry Strait, Herb O., Pat Lopiccolo, Jerry Andrews, Stan Michalski, Don LaMay and Joe LeTourneau.

Post 8's first two hitters flied out to the outfield, then Sam Lopez singles, Knox doubles, Anderson triples, then Walton reaches first and King doubles, accounting for 4 runs in the inning.  Braves Learn has a base hit.  Second inning both teams post 0’s.  Third inning Pinnick and Reagan had base hits, Lopez drives a double to right center, Knox, Anderson, and Walton single and King hits a SAC for the 5^th run of the inning.  Braves post their 3^rd straight 0.  In the 4^th inning Braves post their first run of the game on Singles from LeTourneau, Newton, McLellan.  After four innings Post 8 had 9 and the Braves 1.  Both teams posted 0’s in the 5^th.  The 6^th had singles from Knox, Anderson and King for a run.  Bottom of the frame had Herb O. base hit, after a fielder’s choice, singles off the bats of Andrews, Michalski, LaMay, and LeTourneau drove in the third run of the inning.  Post 8 scored 3 and Braves 1 in the 7^th.  Post 8 now at 13 runs to 5 for the Braves.

Braves add 1 run in the 8^th.  Post 8 adds a run in the top of the 9^th.  Braves have LeTourneau lead off with a single, (Post 8 has been struggling in the later innings) (Oh No not again) Newton singles then an out and singles off the bats of McLellan, Peski, Burtner, and Strait drives in the 4^th run of the inning.  To quote Buggs Bunny “That’s all Folks”  Post 8 wins the game 14 to 10.

Leading hitters for Post 8: Knox, Anderson and O’Callahan all 3 for 4.  Every other player had hits.

Brave’s hitters: Kreiger and Herb O., both 3 for 4., Michalski 2 for 3. And the rest of the team had hits. 

Winning Pitcher Pinnick.

History:  In the past few weeks we have been going over the batting averages of the YEAR 2006 at WHSS.  Here are the averages of all the rest of the players still playing now.

Fred Dampier        .776
Elmer Black           .710
Denny Shaffer      .695
Bill Ayer                 .668
Don Witmer          .636  
Fred Gonzalez      .588
Herb O.                  .557
Ted Taylor             .487
Art Zakrowski       .476
Larry Powell          .375  played 7 games batted 24 times 1HR
Jim Mc Partlan      .345
Marshall Bloom    .338
Joe D’Herin            .250  played 2 games batted 4 times as pool player.
Write up by Don Lamay