Friday April 28th

Games are on.


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HAL RIDLEY

For those of us that knew Hal, you know he loved Senior Softball and Fishing. He was good at both of them. Hal played for many years at Winter Haven Senior Softball. He played until he was 80 and gave up the game last year. Hal was 81 when he passed away on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Please keep his wife Janette and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they go thru this difficult time. Hal's obituary can be found through J.B. Jones and Sons, Georgetown, Ontario.

Tuesday April 25th

Games are on.


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 ELECTIONS     ELECTIONS     ELECTIONS     ELECTIONS     ELECTIONS

The Board of Directors has three members on the board whose terms have expired. Two of those members would like to continue on the board and two other members would like to be on the Board of Directors. This requires an election. The election will be on Tuesday, April 25th at the ball fields. Ballots will be available for everyone that attends that day. If you want to vote by e-mail, you can send me your choices to: seven3vw@comast.net no later than Tuesday, April 25th and your vote will be counted. 

The slate of nominees is: 

Loren Fabian

Lou Guzman

Al Guzzo

Manny Rios

Thanks.

Don Witmer, Commissioner

Winter Haven Senior Softball

Friday April 21st

Games are on.


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Tuesday April 18th

Games are on. Shorts available. 


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 NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE      NOTICE

The Gator Redleg Chapter of the United States Field Artillery Association of the Florida National Guard needs our help again this year. They are hosting the GATOR REDLEG FIKE MEMORIAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT at the Diamondplex on Saturday, May 13, 2023. In past years, WHSS has provided volunteer umpires to officiate all of the games at this tournament. The money saved by not having to pay umpires can be used to support the men and women of the Florida National Guard during times of emergencies and deployment.

Let’s support our Florida National Guard by volunteering to umpire at this tournament. I will have a sign-up sheet available soon. You can umpire for a few games or all day. Refreshments and food will be provided.

Thanks.

 

Don Witmer, Commissioner

Winter Haven Senior Softball

 On Thursday April 13, 2023 the American League players travelled to Solivita to take on their Red, White,and Blue team. Game one we couldn’t score much. Solivita on the other hand just kept hitting, scoring sixteen runs to our five.

Game two was a bit different. The game was back and forth until the top of the seventh. The score was fourteen to our twelve. At the bottom of the seventh we were not done yet. Juan Lope hit a game walk off home run. Score fifteen to fourteen victory.

We will see the again on May 4th for another battle.

From LGG.

Friday April 14th

Games are on in Winter Haven. Shorts are available today.


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Tuesday April 11

Game time changes today. Be here at 8:30 AM. Play ball at 9:00 AM.


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Tuesday April 11th

Games are on in Winter Haven.


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 BOARD MEMBER ELECTION

All, there are three members on the Board of Directors whose two-year term expires this year. Two of the existing members are willing to continue to serve on the board and one new person has expressed their interest in being on the board. If you are interested in being on the Board of Directors, please see Don Witmer and get an application. The closing date for applications is Friday, April 21st. The election will be held on Tuesday, April 25th.

Don Witmer, Commissioner 

Friday, April 7th

NEWSFLASH!!!!  History was made on Friday, April 7th. In the 31 years of WHSS being in existence there had never been an All-Star game. Thanks to the BOD and the hard work of our commissioner, Don Witmer we had it. After having to postpone it because we could not have the fields back on March 31, and several of our Northern players having to head back, Don went to work with the managers to recruit other All-Stars to make the game happen, which it did and a very well played and close game it was. Of course, Brandi was there for the lining of the fields. 

The teams were led by the 1st and 2nd place managers. Robert Spitaleri and Wally Wallace. I'll call the teams Spit and Wally. 

Spitaleri's All-Stars

   Gary Burtner

   Jose Rivera

   Jerry DeJongh

   Tom Kniery

   Joe Letourneau

   Fred Steven's

   Mark Tutrani

   Steve Hill

   Ken Gelinas

   Bob Zelazny

   Poke Rodriguez

   Robert Spitaleri 

Wally's All_Stars

   Steve Hicks

   Ed Gazarek

   George Vanderhyde

   Gary Anderson 

   Les Jacobson

   Ron Pepin

   Don Witmer

   Denny Shaffer

   Bob Vandenberg

   Tom Capozzi

   Bill Testa

   Wally Wallace 

On to the game which started out like a major league game, as the score was all knotted at 0-0 after 2 innings. In the top of 3 Wally broke into the scoring with a lone run, but Spit answered with 4 in the bottom. Wally answered with 5 in the top of the 4th to take the lead back at 6-4. Spit answered with 1 and Wally led 6-5 after 4 innings. Wally got 2 more in the top of 5 but Spit answered with a nickel to take a 10-8 lead and never lost the lead again. 

Wally mustered 4 more runs and Spit 7 going to the open inning. Spit had the lead 17-12 and it looked gloomy for Wally, but they mounted a comeback, scoring 2 more runs when the tying run came to the plate but could not push anymore across.

Final score. Spitaleri 17, Wally 14.  

Umpires were JD Davis, Lou Guzman and Loren Fabian and it was a very well-played game with no disagreements by a group of very good senior WHSS All-Stars.

I, for one, hope this is the first of a long-standing tradition. It went very well for the initial game in spite of a couple hiccups thanks to Don's persistence to make the game happen. 

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter and see y'all Tuesday. 

Write up by Loren Fabian 

Friday April 7th

Games are on in Winter Haven. 


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Friday April 7th

Games are on. Shorts are available today. Sign in at the pavilion table between Fields A and B.


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On Thursday, April 6, 2023, the American League Players embarked on a journey to Solivita to participate in a thrilling three-team tournament. The first game was against the formidable Team Solivita. The game was a nail-biter, with both teams putting up a valiant fight. However, it wasn't until the sixth inning that Winter Haven managed to score two runs, taking the lead with a score of 9 to 7. The final score was 9 to 7, and we emerged victorious.

The second game was against Team Abuelo's from Kissimmee. We started strong, scoring four runs in the first inning. The game was neck and neck until the end of the sixth inning, with both teams tied at nine. However, we didn't let the pressure get to us. In the top of the seventh inning, we scored an impressive six runs, leaving Kissimmee with only one run in the bottom of the seventh. The final score was 15 to 10, and we secured another win.

Overall, it was an exhilarating tournament, and we are proud of our team's performance. We look forward to future tournaments and the opportunity to showcase our skills on the field.

Notable hit was a home run by Don Fee.

From LGG. 

Hey everyone, it looks like we will be back in Winter Haven at the Diamondplex tomorrow. We are still planning on having the All-Star game. Some people had to go north so we will replace those players as necessary. The All-Star game will be on Field B. Team Purple will be in the first base dugout and Team Gold will be in the third base dugout.  If you have been selected by your manager to be on the All-Star team, you do not need to sign in. You need to go directly to Field B. Everyone else will need to sign in at the Pavilion Table between Field A and Field B. Everyone needs to be at the ballpark no later than 9:00 AM. All Games will begin at 9:30 AM. 

See you in the morning. If anything changes between now and then, I will post again. Please keep checking the website. 

Thanks.

Don Witmer, Commissioner

Tuesday April 4th

Games are on in Poinciana. 


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