Friday September 30th

I hope everyone survived the storm. There will not be any games on Friday. Fields are closed for storm cleanup. Hopefully we will get to play on Tuesday. 


Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

 NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE      NOTICE     NOTICE

No games tomorrow. The Diamondplex is closed starting tomorrow until further notice. They are not sure about Friday. It will depend on how much damage occurs at the ballpark from the hurricane. I will keep you informed as I find out what is happening. 

Stay Safe.

Don Witmer, Commissioner  

Friday, September 23rd

A very well played National League 9 inning game today with teams led by Don Ouding and Robert Spitaleri.   It was very close the entire game, tied at 5-5 after 2 innings, tied again 7-7 after 4 innings and 8-8 after 5 innings and still 8-8 after 7 innings. The Spitaleri team took a 1 lead in the top of the 8th, but the Ouding team put up a nickel in the bottom to take back the lead at 14-9 and Robert's team could only muster 2 in the top of the 9th for a 14-11 final. 

Winning pitcher was Ron Thompson with Bob Vandenberg picking up a save by working the last 2 innings. Ron and Bob were on the same team Tuesday as well and did the same thing. 

I will award 3 gold glove awards, 2 going to the pitchers Ron and Bob who both made fantastic plays not normally made by pitchers (and yes, they were behind the screen when the ball was hit). The 3rd goes to Tom Capozzi who had an outstanding game playing up the middle for Robert's team. A couple of dramatic double plays and a leaping catch of a line drive off the bat of Steve Hill. 

Ouding hitters

   Skidmore 3-4

   Reagan 3-4

   DeRidder 2-4

   Hill 3-4

   Mathew 2-4

   Dampier 3-4

   Castilleja 2-4

   Muniz 3-4

   Fabian 3-3

Spitaleri hitters 

   O'Callaghan 4-4

   Hudson 3-4

   Learn 4-4

   Poke 2-3

   Wells 2-3. 

See y'all Tuesday as long as Ian lets us. Let's all think and hope very hard that Ian takes another path. Remember, there will be a Quilt of Valor award ceremony after the game for 8 veterans at the Legion, 4 of which play in WHSS. 

HOPING FOR THE BEST!!

Write up by Loren Fabian

AND NOW FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE

Team Wally 11 and Team Davis 10
The Commish had to pick some of the National League All-Stars to play in the American League I would like to thank these ball players Jose Rivera good outfielder, B.J Kallister good pitching, Chris Lynch, Tim Gallagher, Ken Meyer, Jim Vining and Bill Testa and Charlie Giordano good defensive game Chris Constantine good all-round game and none other than Freddy Gonzales who played the Hot Corner great defensive plays outstanding .The game was a low scoring 8 to 6 going into the bottom of the 8th with B.J and team Davis winning but Team Wally had a barrage of hits scoring the only 5 run inning in the game led by Rad, Eddie Hurn, clutch hitter Dave Shirer the Michiganders Hamilton and Guzzo and clutch hitting Chris Lynch. Team Davis could not stop them. In the top of the ninth Team Davis who fell short by one run with and outstanding defensive plays by Rad and Freddy Gonzalez. Good pitching Wally. Top hitters team Wally, Rad 3/4. With 2 doubles and Al Guzzo 3/4. Top hitters for team Davis Ron Pepin 3/4 and the power hitting of Dana Ferrande good all-round game,4/5 with 3 doubles, Gregg 3/5 with a double and a triple a rocket arm and J.D 4/5 with a double. I also would like to thank Joe D'Herin for umpiring and welcome back to the ball field's Jose Rivera, Tom Hamilton, Ronnie Ramon good game fellas.

Write-up by JD Davis.

Friday September 23rd

Games are on. 


Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

Tuesday, September 20th

It was a very nice day for a 9 inning ballgame. Not terribly hot and a slight breeze. There were 12 players on each team led by Don Ouding and Steve Hill. Ouding jumped to a 7-1 lead after 3 innings. The Hill team then started mounting a comeback at 12-6 after 5 innings but put up goose eggs for the last 4 innings while Ouding team kept scoring for a final of 17-6. I will state that whenever the Hill team seemed to be looking at a rally inning there would be a double play. I believe that happened 4 times. Herb Muniz had a great game at 2nd base making several excellent plays and nearly came up with a diving stop, rolling, throwing and nearly getting the runner at first. We welcomed Martin Spellman back who had 6 rbi's including an inside park 3 run homer. Great to see you again Martin. 

Ouding hitters

   Boito 2-5

   Spitaleri  4-5

   Spellman 4-5

   Zelazny 4-5

   Vining 4-4

   Vandenberg 2-4

   Muniz 4-4

   Ouding 3-4

   Thompson 2-4

Hill hitters

   Skidmore 3-4

   Hill 2-4

   Capozzi 3-4

   Castilleja 2-4. 

   Hudson 2-3

See y'all Friday 

Write up by Loren Fabian

Tuesday September 20th

Games are on 


Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

Tuesday, September 13th

First time this season there were enough players for 4 teams. The commish took about 7 or 8 national league players along with himself over to field C to form an American League game which I don't know the outcome of but heard it was a very close, well-played game. 

The National League game never was close as a Bob Zelazny led team jumped out to an 11-2 lead after 3 innings and the Steve Hill led team could only muster 6 runs for the game. It was very hot, so the game was shortened to 7 innings. It also had the most infield hits I have ever witnessed in a game. It seemed like nearly every inning there was a SWINGING bunt that no one had a chance to field. Final was 16-5.

Hitters for Zelazny team

   Boito  5-5

   Laffoon 3-5

   Boswell 4-4

   Zelazny 2-4

   Learn 2-3

   Meyer 2-3

   Castilleja 2-3

Hitters for Hill team

   Hill 2-2

   Vandenberg 2-3

   DeRidder 2-3

   Marino 3-3

   Shearer 2-2

   Fabian 2-2

See y'all Friday and have a great day!!! 

Write-up by Loren Fabian 

 RECAP FOR THE WEEK OF 9/13 - 9/16

On Tuesday, we had enough players to have four teams. The American League had two teams with some players from the National League joining in the fun. JD Davis provided the write-up below.

Team Lou and Team Wally squared off in a close game that pitted a bunch of old guys against most of the young guys from the American League. The scored stayed close the entire game and was tied 7-7

 after the seventh inning. Team Lou scored 1 run in the top of the eighth and ninth innings to win 9-7. I would like to thank the National League players for participating in today's game. Chris Constantine, Steve Hicks, Kipp, Chris Lynch, Tommy Kniery, Bill Testa, Freddie Gonzalez, Ron Pepin, Charlie Giordano and Don Witmer. We had good defensive plays by none other than Charlie Giordano who also was three for five with a double. Good pitching by Wally Wallace and Mark Tutrani. Mark was the winning pitcher and went four for four as the top hitter for Team Lou. The other hitters were: Manny 4/5, 3 doubles, Lou 4/6. Top hitters for Team Wally: Hicks 4/5, Rusty 4/5 a double and a triple and welcome back Lenny 3/4. Good job last minute putting the teams together commissioner and Lou, good game fellas.

See new post for write-up about the National League.

Today, Friday, September 16th, we had 37 players show up to play ball. There was a small weather change today with the temperature at game time of 82 degrees with a northeast wind. The fan in the dugout was still helping the players keep cool. We played seven innings and the game stayed close for five innings. The score was 8-7-7 after five innings. In the sixth inning, Wally's Team 1 score five runs and the other two teams scored none. In the seventh inning, Wally's Team 1 was held scoreless, so the other two teams still had a chance to catch him. Steve Hill's Team 2 came out hitting the ball but could only manage to score three runs. It was up to Team 3, managed by Mark Tutrani, to try and catch Wally's Team 1. They couldn't manage to score any runs and the final score was 13-10-7. Thanks to Loren Fabian and JD Davis for umpiring the game.

I want to remind everyone that it is time to turn in your registration and fees for next year. The fees are still $40.00. The Board will be making decisions at the October 11th meeting on team requirements for both leagues and we need to order shirts for next year. The colors will be different than last year, and we will get new hats this year. Also, if you can get a sponsor, your league fees are waived. Sponsorship is still $250.00 and needs to be turned in by the first of November.

  

 

Friday September 16th

Games are on. Don't forget to bring your application and money for next season. We need to know how many players we are going to have.


Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

Tuesday September 13th

Games are on. Board meeting after the games. 


Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

Friday September 9th

No Games today. Fields are to wet. I have two gloves that were left at the ballpark on Tuesday. I will bring them with me next Tuesday. Have a great weekend. Board meeting next Tuesday.


Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

Tuesday September 6th

Games are on.


Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

 RECAP FOR THE WEEK OF 8/29 TO 9/2

Tuesday, August 29th

National League

The evening rains in Polk County have been hard on the softball fields in Winter Haven but the field maintenance guys are doing a great job this week getting the fields ready to play. No one thought we would be playing ball on Tuesday after the torrential rain that we had Sunday and Monday nights. However, we got lucky and got to play ball on Tuesday. We had 29 people show up so the Commish opted to play so we could have a three-team game with 10 players on each team. Chris Constantine, Don Witmer and Don Ouding managed the teams today. Ouding's team jumped out in front in the first inning scoring 5 runs. Witmer's team took the lead in the second inning after scoring 3 runs in the first and second innings, 6-5. Ouding's team took the lead in the third inning and kept the lead until Constantine's team tied the score in the 5th inning, 15-15. Ouding's team took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring two runs, 17-15. In the seventh inning, Constantine's team scored two runs to tie the game at 17-17. Witmer's team made and valiant effort to catch up in the middle of the seventh inning but came up one run short, 17-16. Now, at the bottom of the seventh inning with the scored tied at 17-17, Ouding's team needed one run to win the game. The leadoff batter got a hit but the second batter struck out. The third batter hit a single moving the leadoff batter to third base. With one out and runners at first and third base, the defense needed a double play to make the game a tied ballgame. The batter opted to get a fast pinch runner to stay out of the double play and it was successful. The pinch runner was able to get safely to first base to stay out of the double play and the runner from third base scored. Final Score: Ouding's Team 18, Constantine's Team 17, Witmer's Team 16. 

Hitter's for Ouding's Team were: Jimmy Laffoon, Bob Zelazny and Bob Vandenberg 4/4. Bill Testa, Steve Hill, Mike O'Callaghan and Charlie Giordano 3/4.

Hitters for Constantine's Team were: Bobby Reagan and Bob Hudson 4/5 with each of them hitting a Home Run, Ken Meyer 3/4, Freddie Gonzalez 3/5, and Kirk Coffman 2/3 with two walks.

Hitters for Witmer's Team were: Tom Capozzi 5/5, Don Witmer 4/5, Steve Hicks 3/4 with one walk, Richard Marino and Norm Learn3/5.

Write up by Don Witmer

American League guys played Solivita today in Solivita. They Split. Here's the story by Lou Guzman.

On Tuesday, August 30, 2022 the American League team traveled to Solavita for a two game challenge.

Solavita Red team came out hitting scoring 5 in the first and 3 in the second and third innings. We did not score until the third inning. Solavita kept hitting and we never were able to catch up. Final score of game one was Winter Haven 10, Solavita 18.

Game two however was a different story. After a slow start we found our hitting shoes. We kept attacking and played great defense. Final score was Solavita 15 and Winter Haven 25.

We will schedule another game next month.

Notable hits:

Johnny Ojeda 5/6

Mike Vaccaro 5/7, 2-HRs

Dave Doerbaum 5/7, 2-HRs

Don Fee 6/7 HR

Lou Guzman 3/7

Manny Rios 3/7, HR

Radley Pcholinski 4/7

Dana Ferrande 3/5

Rawlinson Santaella 3/6

Dave Shirer 5/6

Rusty Skipper 5/6

Juan Lopez 4/4, 2-HRs

BJ Kallister 2/5

From LGG

Friday, September 2, 2022 

National League

Thirty players showed up today so we had another three-team game with ten players on each team. Managers were Steve Hill, Don Ouding and Ron Pepin. The Commish umpired the game. Hill's Team jumped out on top in the first inning scoring 5 runs. Ouding's Team took the lead in the third inning, 8-7 and never looked back. Final Score: Ouding's Team 17, Pepin's Team 13 and Hill's Team 7.

Hitters for Ouding's Team were: Pete Gutenberger, Chris Lynch and Bob Zelazny 4/5, Mike O'Callaghan, Don Ouding and Sam Harrell 3/4.

Hitter's for Pepin's Team were: Gerry DeRidder 5/5, Steve Hicks and Ron Pepin 4/5, Don Hawbaker 3/4, Rad Pcholinski 3/5 with Home Run, Herbie Muniz 3/5. 

Hitters for Hills Team: Freddie Gonzalez 3/4 and the rest of the team was 2/4.

Write up by Don Witmer

Friday September 2nd

Games are on. 


Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS