Sunday, April 28, 2019

NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE

Game times will change this Tuesday, April 30th. Please be at the ballpark no later than 8:30 AM. Games will begin as soon as possible after 9:00 AM. If you are going to be late, call me at 863.860.5381 and I will sign you in.

Thanks.

Don Witmer, Commissioner

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Friday, April 26, 2019

Friday April 26

Games are on. Rain predicted for 12:00.

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Friday, April 19, 2019

Friday April 19th

Another screwy Friday weather pattern. Rain predicted for 11:00 AM. Strong winds right now. Fields are playable. Take a chance and lets play ball.

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Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Comedy is in the eye of the beholder, WHSS, AL write up, 4/16
The Guzmobile
There have been many famous teams throughout the history of entertainment. The Marx Brothers, Blues Brothers, Martin and Lewis, Crosby and Hope, the 3 Amigos (Martin, Chase and Short), Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy and the Three Stooges (nyuck, nyuck), just to name a few.  We had a fun time as always playing softball at WHSS, on 4/16, in the AL. I will introduce to you a new entertainment team, The Guz Brothers.
Guz Brothers, Visitors: Guzrivera, Guzrad, Lou Guzman, Guzmatta, Guzshirer, Guzshultz, Gusferrade, Gu(z)tenburger, Guzjacobson, Guzpep, Guzzo and Jose Guzman.
The Marx Brothers, Home: Hicks, Hamilton, Netzel, Vaccaro, Keller, JD, Witmer, D’Herin, Stevens, Cobb and Alwin.
The Guz Brothers played like they were on a mission from God. We jumped off to a 12-1 lead. We were riding the Guzmobile to a gig on victory lane; with spectacular defense and pitching along with solid hitting. Instead of crusin’, we went guzin’. It wasn’t until the 5th inning the Marx Brothers made their mark, scoring 6 runs and tightening up the score. “Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read”. (Groucho Marx). The softball version of the Marx brothers read the hitting manual in the 5th inning. Stevens, Cobb, Alwin, Hicks, Netzel, Vacarro and Keller all contributed to a big inning. Trouble is a dog must have eaten the team’s book on hitting after the inning ended. The score after 5 full innings; Guz Brothers 12- Marx Brothers 7.
In the 6th, 7th and 8th innings the Guz Brothers turned into the Bruise Brothers and put some hurt on the ball. Jake: “How often does the train go by?”  Elwood: “So often that you won't even notice it.” The Guz brothers were making a lot of noise. Pep, Guzzo, Rivera, Rad, L. Guzman, Matta, Shirer all reached base in the 6th, good for 4 runs. Ferrande, Guttenburger, Pep, Guzzo, J. Guzman (triple), Rivera, Rad and L. Guman all swung a happy bat in the 7th, good for 5 runs. Matta, Shirer, Ferrande, Guttenberger, Jacobson, Pep and Guzzo helped the team to another 5 runs, in the 8th. “ We've got to speed things up in this hotel. Chef, if a guest orders a three-minute egg, give it to him in two minutes. If he orders a two-minute egg, give it to him in one minute. If he orders a one-minute egg, give him a chicken and let him work it out for himself.” (Groucho, in A Night in Casablanca). After 8 innings, with the score 26-8, we needed to speed up the ending to the game and the Marx brothers got to bat again, while the Guz Brothers stayed on the field, without hitting, (Flip Flop Rule).
Groucho: "That's in every contract, that's what you call a sanity clause." Chico: "You can't a fool a me there ain't no Santa Claus". (A Night at the Opera). There was no Santa Claus for the Marx Brothers team, no bag full of gifts or in this case runs. They went down quietly in the 9th. Final Score: Guz Brothers 26- Marx Brothers 8.
“Sure we shadowed him. Tuesday we sit outside his house all day, but he no home. Wednesday we went to the ball game, he fool us and no show up. Thrusday he go to the ball game, but we fool him and we no show up. Friday it was a double header, nobody show up, so we stay home and listened to it on the radio.” Chico, in Duck Soup.
 Hope to see you all on Friday at the ballpark.
Guz Brothers’ Bruisers:
Rivera: 4/5
Rad: 3/5 with two doubles.
L. Guzman: 4/5 with two doubles.

Matta: 5/5 with a triple.
Shirer: 4/5.
Ferrande: 3/5.
Guttenberger: 3/5.
Pepin: 4/5.
Guzzo: 5/5.
Marx Brothers Who Made Their Mark:
Netzel: 4/4 with a double.
Stevens: 3/4.
Written By: Nick Matta
Who Is On First (partial)
Bud Abbott: I say Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know’s on third.
Lou Costello: Are you the manager?
Bud Abbott: Yes.
Lou Costello: You gonna be the coach too?
Bud Abbott: Yes.
Lou Costello: And you don’t know the fellows’ names?
Bud Abbott: Well I should.
Lou Costello: Well then who’s on first?
Bud Abbott: Yes.
Lou Costello: I mean the fellow’s name.
Bud Abbott: Who.
Lou Costello: The guy on first.
Bud Abbott: Who.
Lou Costello: The first baseman.
Bud Abbott: Who.
Lou Costello: The guy playing…
Bud Abbott: Who is on first!
Lou Costello: I’m asking YOU who’s on first.
Bud Abbott: That’s the man’s name.
Lou Costello: That’s who’s name?
Bud Abbott: Yes.
Lou Costello: Well go ahead and tell me.
Bud Abbott: That’s it.
Lou Costello: That’s who?
Bud Abbott: Yes.
PAUSE
Lou Costello: Look, you gotta first baseman?
Bud Abbott: Certainly.
Lou Costello: Who’s playing first?
Bud Abbott: That’s right.
Lou Costello: When you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money?
Bud Abbott: Every dollar of it.
Lou Costello: All I’m trying to find out is the fellow’s name on first base.
Bud Abbott: Who.
Lou Costello: The guy that gets…
Bud Abbott: That’s it.
Lou Costello: Who gets the money…
Bud Abbott: He does, every dollar. Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it.
Lou Costello: Who’s wife?
Bud Abbott: Yes.
PAUSE
Bud Abbott: What’s wrong with that?
Lou Costello: Look, all I wanna know is when you sign up the first baseman, how does he sign his name?
Bud Abbott: Who.
Lou Costello: The guy.
Bud Abbott: Who.
Lou Costello: How does he sign…
Bud Abbott: That’s how he signs it.
Lou Costello: Who?
Bud Abbott: Yes.
PAUSE
Lou Costello: All I’m trying to find out is what’s the guy’s name on first base.
Bud Abbott: No. What is on second base.
Lou Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.
Bud Abbott: Who’s on first.
Lou Costello: One base at a time!
Bud Abbott: Well, don’t change the players around.
Lou Costello: I’m not changing nobody!
Bud Abbott: Take it easy, buddy.
Lou Costello: I’m only asking you, who’s the guy on first base?
Bud Abbott: That’s right.
Lou Costello: Ok.
Bud Abbott: All right.
PAUSE
Lou Costello: What’s the guy’s name on first base?
Bud Abbott: No. What is on second.
Lou Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.
Bud Abbott: Who’s on first.
Lou Costello: I don’t know.
Bud Abbott: He’s on third, we’re not talking about him.
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Friday, April 12, 2019

I Need A Vacation From My Vacation.

Beautiful weather for softball today, 4/12. Many guys are heading back up north this month. It gives me pause to reflect on summer and summer vaca’s that are right around the corner. I know it’s an odd topic. It is ironic that many of the guys playing ball today are on permanent vacation. Still, who doesn’t like to take a trip, go to a baseball game, stick their toes in the ocean, visit the mountains, go camping and enjoy family time. It’s all part of the summer vacation ritual.  I’ll be your tour guide for today’s AL game, at WHSS.

Visitors, Vacation Warriors: Hicks, Rad, Netzel, Guzman, Jacobson, Ferrande, Knox, Essenmacher, Pepin and Guzzo.

Home, Team Journey: Rivera, Hamilton, Vaccaro, Hurn, Matta, Grove, D’Herin, Witmer, Guttenberger and Vanderhyde.

The Vacation Warriors did not send their bats on vacation in the first inning. They called up their travel agent and ordered a trip around the bases. Hicks, Rad, Netzel and long ball Guzman (HR), had their bats unpacked and ready for action. Ferrande and Knox also added hits in the inning. Though it was the ball that Lou sent to Acapulco, that was the difference maker.

Team Journey had to hike up the mountain in the bottom of the first, down 4 runs. Hits by Hamilton, Vaccarro, Matta, Grove and a scenic blast from D’Herin tied the game, 4-4.

In the third inning the Warriors bought train tickets and rode down the tracks for 5 more runs, this after scoring a solo run in the 2nd. It gave the Vacation Warriors a healthy 10-4 lead. Key hits in the inning were conducted by Ferrande, Knox, Essenmacher,  Guzzo (Walk), Hicks, Rad and Netzel. After 3 innings the score was Vacation Warriors: 10 - Team Journey: 4.

 Here are the top 10 vacation destinations for the summer of 2019, (USA Today).

10. Punta Cana, in the DR.

9. Honolulu.

8. Anchorage.

7. Seattle.

6. Paris.

5. Dublin.

4. Vancouver.

3. Rome.

2. London.

Number 1 is Orlando, not a long road trip for most of us.

In the 4th inning the Warriors continued to add to their lead, scoring two more runs, to give them a 12-4 advantage. It looked like they were on a Carnival cruise to Victory Island. However, in the bottom of the 4th Team Journey figured we did enough sight-seeing and decided to get down to the business at hand, playing softball. We scored 8 runs to tie the game, 12-12. D’Herin, Witmer, Pete G, Rivera, Hamilton, Vaccaro, Hurn, Matta, Grove (Walk), D’Herin (Again) and Pete G (Again); exchanged their sunscreen for pine tar and hit the ball.

The game stayed close until the 8th inning, playing ball is no day at the beach. Each team played hard trying to gain an advantage. There were many good defensive plays for both teams. It was in the bottom of the 8th that Team Journey opened up a 5 run advantage, by scoring 3 runs in the inning. A fun thing to do is to take in a summer rock concert. We must have taken inspiration from the Rock group, Journey; “ Don’t Stop Belivein”. Rivera, Hamilton (Walk), Vacarro, Hurn, Matta, D’Herin, and Witmer believed in their abilities to get on base. After 8 innings the score was Vacation Warriors: 15 – Team Journey: 20.

The Visitors came up in the 9th needing transportation to carry them around the bases five times. They were only able to score a single run.   Their flight was delayed and then their passport was declined when Tommy Hamilton turned in a defensive DP to end the game, 20-16.

A little motivation from the lyrics to the Journey song, “Don’t Stop Believin”;

“Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on.”

Both teams worked hard to play the game and try to win it. With God’s blessing, as senior ballplayers, we are fortunate that we get to roll the dice, or in our case, swing the bat one more time. We only have to sing the blues for a moment because the softball season for us never ends, it goes on and on and on.

Top 10 Beaches in the USA, Trip Advisor.

10. Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia.

9. Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL.

8. St. Augustine Beach, FL.

7. Hapuna Beach, Puako, Hawaii.

6. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, FL.

5. Pensacola Beach, FL.

4. St. Pete Beach, FL.

3. Panama City Beach, Panama, FL.

2. Ka’anapali Beach, Lahaina, Hawaii.

1. Clearwater Beach, FL.

I hope everyone has a great summer playing softball and enjoying other fun activities.

Postcard memories for the Vacation Warriors:

Hicks: 5/6 with a triple.

Netzel: 4/6 with two doubles.

Guzman: 5/6 with a HR and double.

Essenmacher: 4/5.

Pep: 4/4 with a triple and a SF.

Guzzo: 3 /4 with a triple and a walk.

Victory Souvenirs For Team Journey:

Hamilton: 3/5 and a walk.

Vacarro: 5/6 with a double.

Hurn: 4/6 with a double.

Matta: 5/6.

D’Herin: 6/6 with a double.

Vandenberg: 3/5.

Written by Nick Matta
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