The Umpire’s Call: The Dreaded Illegal Pitch

As taught at USA Softball and Florida Half Century umpire clinics, one of the most helpful tools for judging pitch height is the six-foot-tall pitching screen.

A pitch’s height is determined at its highest point, which it normally reaches during the first half of its flight toward home plate. The plate umpire is in the best position to focus on that arc because, unlike the batter and catcher, the umpire is not trying to hit or catch the ball.

If the pitch rises above the top bar of the six-foot screen but does not reach twice the screen’s height, it is not an illegal pitch based on height.

Ultimately, that judgment belongs to the plate umpire—and only the plate umpire.

Respect the call, respect the game.

🥎 09.22.26 A Three-Way Tie in the 5th and a Fantastic Finish!

It was a beautiful day at the park as we welcomed a few newcomers and returning snowbirds. Fourteen players were divided among three teams—and they gave us one terrific ballgame!

Final Score:

Big Tom’s Diner — Team DeLoach: 13
CPW Service — Team Hill: 13
Cypress Plumbing — Team Ouding: 9

Team DeLoach wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Nestor opened the first inning with a double and came home with help from Doyle’s base hit. In the second, DeLong, DeLoach and Jamie—otherwise known as “the new guy”—kept the offense moving, while Terri, the new guy’s wife, joined the fun with a base hit of her own.

Jamie and Terri look like they’ll be great additions to the league. Welcome to Winter Haven Senior Softball!

Nestor, Hudson and Williamson helped keep the bats going in the third, with Doyle and JR also adding base hits. DeLoach, Jamie and Terri were back in the middle of the action again in the fourth. At that point, the scorekeeper apparently became a little restless and forgot to record exactly who delivered all the hits—but we know they didn’t circle those bases without a little help from their friends!

Meanwhile, Team Hill came out swinging. JD singled in the first before Pablo launched a long home run. Woodsby also scored following a base hit and a sacrifice fly from Renaldo, giving Team Hill three early runs.

After being held scoreless in the second and third innings, Team Hill’s bats came roaring back in the fourth. Hill and Rusty singled, JD doubled, and Woodsby and Renaldo added base hits before Testa cleared the bases with a grand slam home run. Six runs crossed the plate, and just like that, Team Hill had nine.

Team Ouding scored twice in the first behind base hits from Gutenberg and Gilbert and a double from Sully. Like Team Hill, they were held scoreless in the second and third as the defense took over.

Then came the bottom of the fourth.

Rounds, Gutenberg, Gilbert, Sully, Jorge, Col. Z and Ramon all delivered hits as Team Ouding erupted for seven runs.

Suddenly, the scoreboard read:

9–9–9!

Now we had ourselves a ballgame!

All three teams were shut out in the fifth inning as defense took center stage. Team Ouding would not score again, but their seven-run rally had certainly made things interesting.

In the sixth, the middle and bottom of Team DeLoach’s lineup came through. Pedro, Boito, Jamie and Tichner collected hits, helping four more runs cross the plate and pushing Team DeLoach to 13.

Team Hill answered. Hill drew a walk, Rusty singled, and JD blasted a three-run home run, pulling his team within one run heading into the seventh.

After Team DeLoach was held scoreless in the top half, Team Hill had one final opportunity. Tutrani singled and was replaced by a courtesy runner. The next batter hit into a fielder’s choice, but some smart baserunning allowed Rusty to make it all the way to third.

Leslie then launched a ball into left field. It was caught, but Rusty tagged and raced home with the tying run!

The defense made sure another run could not be found, bringing an exciting game to an end:

Team DeLoach 13 — Team Hill 13 — Team Ouding 9

Beautiful weather, new faces, returning snowbirds, home runs, a grand slam, a 9–9–9 tie and a dramatic final inning—this game had a little bit of everything!

Welcome again to Jamie and Terri. We’re glad to have you with us!

See you on the field!

Update on Rob

The surgery went well and they have him sitting up in chair. He will be in for 4 or 5 days. He is requesting not to have visitors until tomorrow.

Tuesday games

Games are on. Richie reports fields are dry.

Robert Spitaleri Update

Good News for the Winter Haven Senior Softball Family

We are happy to share a positive update on Robert Spitillri.

Loren Fabian informed me that Robert entered surgery at 8:20 this morning. At 11:54 AM, Robert's wife, Linda, sent word that he was out of surgery and doing well.

Thank you to everyone who has kept Robert in your thoughts and prayers. Let's continue to send our support and best wishes as he focuses on healing and recovery.

Get well soon, Robert. We're all pulling for you!

Robert remains in Lakeland regional hospital waiting surgery. It is scheduled for Monday. He appreciates all your prayers, but has asked for no visitors until the operation.

**Message From The Commissioner.**

We are excited to welcome back the 1st Street Diner as a sponsor for the 2027 season. 

The 1st Street Diner is a great little spot that offers big portions at a good price. The attentive waitresses provided exceptional service and helpful recommendations to first-time visitors. Regulars and newcomers praise the Diner's classic American fare, from eggs and toast to omelets, and its welcoming atmosphere.

They offer daily breakfast and lunch specials. Open from 7 am to 2:30 pm seven days a week. 

1st Diner

106 Avenue I SE 

Winter Haven, FL 33880-3648

Phone: 863-875-7057

https://instagram.com/1ststreetdiner?igshid=vg50o0n0xw2j  

🥎 09.18.26 OFF THE GLOVE AND INTO THE WIN COLUMN!

Friday’s game was a defensive battle from beginning to end—but nobody was prepared for the finish!

Final Score:

American Legion Post 8 (Home/Fielding) — 10
Art’s Carts (Middle/Sitting) — 9
1st Diner (Visitors/Hitting) — 4

American Legion Post 8 wasted no time getting on the board, putting up five runs in the first inning. Gil, Ramon, Delong, Tutrani and Hudson all delivered base hits, while Bales drove in a pair with a double. Marino added another solid hit to keep the inning rolling.

Post 8 brought its gloves, too, holding 1st Diner to just four runs for the entire game. Thompson and Ayers scored in the third inning behind base hits from Tickmen and Jorge. Hamilton and Testa added two more in the fourth with singles of their own, followed by hits from Ouding and Reagan. But that was all 1st Diner could manufacture against a stingy Post 8 defense.

Art’s Carts had no intention of quietly sitting this one out. They scored twice in the first inning after Pablo singled, Sully doubled, and JD, Rabideau and Hill followed with base hits.

Rabideau and Hill kept their bats hot, with both players doubling in the fourth. A solid hit from Vandenberg helped bring home two more runs and kept Art’s Carts within striking distance.

Then came the sixth inning—and suddenly Art’s Carts was in the driver’s seat.

With the top of the lineup coming to bat, Ernesto, Pablo, Sully, JD and Deloach all crossed the plate. Five runs later, Art’s Carts had erased the deficit and taken a 9–8 lead.

Post 8 came to bat in the final inning needing at least one run to stay alive. Boilto started things off with a base hit but was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice. The next batter went down, leaving Art’s Carts just one out away from the win.

But Post 8 wasn’t finished.

Doyle singled.

Gil singled.

Then Woodsby stepped to the plate with two runners on and two outs.

He sent a towering ball deep toward center field. For a moment, it looked like Art’s Carts had the final out—and the victory—within its grasp.

The ball came down, hit the top of the glove…and sailed into center field!

Doyle scored.

Gil scored.

Ballgame!

American Legion Post 8 pulled off a dramatic, two-out, walk-off victory, 10–9.

Art’s Carts nearly drove away with the win, but Post 8 stole the keys at the very last second! Now that’s how you finish a softball game.