🥎 09.29.26 | Two Fields, Four Teams, and “The Girl” Wants Overtime Pay

 Field 1: 1st Diner Holds Off Ingram Financial, 20–18

Four teams, two fields, and two games at once. That’s twice the work for “the girl,” whose pay remains exactly the same: zero. At least the Little League field gave her a good game to write about.

Ingram Financial, managed by Ouding, came out swinging, with its first five batters crossing the plate. Hill’s 1st Diner team nearly matched them, scoring four in the bottom of the first. Ingram added one run in the second, while 1st Diner brought home four more.

Then 1st Diner’s defense stepped up, holding Ingram Financial scoreless from the third through the fifth. The home team managed one more run in the fourth, but Ingram’s bats woke up later and brought five runs across to keep the game close. At the top of the seventh, the score was 11–9.

1st Diner wasn’t finished. Ernesto led off with a triple and scored on Hill’s sacrifice fly. Sensebaugh doubled, Turchetta blasted a home run to right, and Castilleja, Ayers, Gilbert, and Bioto kept the hits coming. Five runs crossed the plate.

Late in the game, 1st Diner led 20–15, but Ingram Financial made one last push. Amy, whose bat was hot all day at 4-for-5, singled. Zelazny singled, Constantine reached base, and three runs came home. 1st Diner held on for the 20–18 win.

That’s Field 1 in the books. “The girl” will now turn to Field 2, just as soon as her unpaid lunch break is approved.

Field 2: Kincaid Electrical Wins a Slugfest, 23–21

Over on Field 2, Kincaid Electrical’s Team Davis and Ingraham Financial’s Team DeLoach combined for 44 runs.

Team Davis opened with five runs in the first, and Team DeLoach answered with two. Both teams went scoreless in the second. Davis added two in the third, but DeLoach responded with five. In the fourth, Davis was held scoreless while DeLoach added one.

By the top of the fifth, Team DeLoach led 11–10. Both teams scored three runs in the fifth, and neither showed much interest in letting the other pull away.

Team Davis brought home five runs in the seventh, with Team DeLoach answering with two. Davis added four more in the eighth; DeLoach scored two. Davis tacked on another run in the ninth, leaving DeLoach one last chance. They brought three runs across, but the comeback fell just short. Team Davis won 23–21.

And then there’s JD’s hit. Rumor has it he launched a ball into another hemisphere. I can’t confirm where it landed, but people were still talking about it after the game. If someone finds it, please return it to Field 2.

Tuesday games

Games are on. Please sign in or call by 08:30

##### Attention all Members #####

We will continue to play at

Reuben Williams Sports Complex
711 Ave O NE
Winter Haven, FL 33881

Across from Diamondplex

Thank you for your support.  

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### Umpires Needed. ###

See the Commissioner at the desk to sign up.

**Message From The Commissioner.**

We are excited to welcome Kian's Dental back for the 2027 season. 

Kian’s Dental Studio

575 Ave K SE 

Winter Haven, FL 

863-875-4395

https://kiansdentalstudio.com/

Serving Winter Haven, Auburndale, Haines City, Lake Wales, Bartow, and Lakeland, Florida areas.

Choosing a dentist is an important decision.  Our philosophy is to provide treatment for the whole person, with a special focus on how your teeth and gums relate to your overall health.  Your smile is your greatest asset, and it reveals a great deal about your overall health.

We value our patient relationships and make it our top priority to deliver gentle, compassionate dental care you deserve.  From the moment you walk in, you will be welcomed by a caring staff in a personalized and comfortable setting to make you feel at ease.  Our goal is to help you restore and maintain a healthy and beautiful smile throughout your lifetime.

Our office provides comprehensive restorative and aesthetic dentistry, as well as general dentistry.  We believe that patients should have sufficient information to make educated decisions about their oral health and treatment options.  You will find all of this important information on our website, including directions to our office, service descriptions, and patient education resources.

Should you ever need any additional information about our practice, we can answer your questions through telephone inquiry or email.  We are looking forward to meeting you.  

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🥎 09.25.26 The Seventh Inning That Wouldn’t End

The weather gave us just about everything we could ask for: overcast skies, low humidity, and a comfortable day on the field. A little less wind would have been nice, but we weren’t about to complain. We saved that for the seventh inning.

Defense struggled throughout the game. At times, it seemed like nobody had brought a glove. But there were a few bright spots: Ernesto made a fantastic fall-down catch worthy of an ESPN highlight reel, and Jorge snagged three balls at third—although one of those catches might have been made with his eyes closed. Then “the girl” got a lucky bounce on a shot up the middle and fired a rocket to first. Great plays, just few and far between.

Now let’s start the scoring story at the end, because the seventh inning apparently decided to become the whole game.

The visiting team Duke’s, coached by Ouding, entered the seventh with 12 runs. Wally’s EZ-Roofing home team also had 12, while Hill’s Family Fence middle team had 7.

With one out, Ouding singled and Nester doubled. The next batter flied out to center, leaving Duke’s one out away from the dugout. Instead, Shiere doubled, Rad singled, Ramon singled, BJ singled, and Boito doubled. Seven runs later, Duke’s had 19. That seemed like a comfortable cushion.

Family Fence set out to test exactly how comfortable. They made two outs fairly early, but the third proved much harder to find. Errors piled up, runners kept crossing the plate, and the inning went on long enough that the wind may have changed direction.

I’d tell you who did what, but Family Fence’s scorekeeper went missing in action right when things got interesting. Not a mark in the seventh inning. We know ten runs scored, bringing Family Fence to 17—just two shy of Duke’s. If anyone finds the scorekeeper, please ask him what happened.

EZ-Roofing finally got its last at-bat after waiting FOREVER. They couldn’t add another run, bringing a wild finish—and the seventh inning, at long last—to a close.

Final: Duke’s 19, Family Fence 17, EZ-Roofing 12.

The Umpire’s Call: Use of the First Base Safety Base

• Batters running to first base must use the outer orange safety base. If they are attempting to advance to second, they may use the inner base.
• A fielder covering first base must yield to the advancing runner.
• If the fielder fails to yield, the umpire may call obstruction and award the runner second base.

Respect the call, respect the game.

Friday Games

Games are on. See you at the park. Please call or sign in by 08:30.

09.24.26 Update on Robert Spitelari

An update from Loren: He visited Robert Spitelari at the hospital this morning and crossed paths with Bob Zelanzny, who was arriving as Loren left.

Robert’s surgery was successful, and he was in good spirits. His doctors expect him to be discharged today or tomorrow. Wishing Robert a smooth recovery! 🥎

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. 

🥎The Umpire's Call: To Veer or Not to Veer

The same rule explained here regarding 2nd base applies to 3rd base. The runner advancing to 2nd or 3rd base on a ground ball that does not leave the infield MUST veer off when approaching the base—and not just a step to either side. VEER OFF!

If he/she does not veer off, they are out. If it impedes the possibility of a double play, the runner closest to home is also out.

If a batted ball leaves the infield, a runner advancing cannot veer off and must go directly to the base. The runner can be tagged out if they lose contact with the base.

Friday Games

Games are on. See you at the park.

Welcome Back American Legion Post #8

300 Avenue M NW

863-293-7029

Website: americanlegionpost8.org

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome back the American Legion Post #8 for continuing their sponsorship for the upcoming 2027 season. The American Legion family has been a steadfast supporter of Winter Haven Senior Softball for many years, and we are truly grateful for the ongoing support from our military community.

I would also like to give special recognition to Mike O’Callaghan for his dedicated efforts in fostering this partnership. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. Thank you for being an integral part of our team!

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🥎 09.15.26 The Umpire's Call with Umpire Loren Fabian

The infield fly is to be called by an umpire ONLY. Not by anyone on the offensive or defensive teams. If anyone except an umpire calls it out, it is subject to change. The batter shall be called out if he hits a fly ball in fair territory considered by the umpire to be caught by an infielder with REASONABLE effort.

🥎 09.15.26 Estates Had the Hits; Stewart Auto Had the Fight

Tinsley Family’s bats picked a tough day to take a break. Hill’s team scored three runs: two in the second on hits by Testa and Rebideau, and one in the seventh when Williamson, Rounds and Rusty got things moving. Across the field, Wally’s Estates at Carpenters was having a very different day.

Estates sent nearly everyone to first base in the opening inning. Lynch, Rad, Doyle, Woodsby, Jorge, Delong and Gonzales all reached safely, and five runs came home. Stewart Auto Repair answered with a three-up, three-down second inning—but Estates apparently considered that a brief intermission. King led off the third with a hit, and Rad, Doyle, Woodsby, Jorge, Delong and Gonzales joined the parade for five more runs. Vandenberg, Ayers, Gilbert and Thomason helped tack on four in the fourth.

That’s when Deloach’s Stewart Auto defense found the brakes, holding Estates to just two runs the rest of the way. Stewart Auto had some offense of its own. Gutenburger and Sully scored in the first, Constantine came home in the third, and the fourth brought hits from Amy and Sensabaugh, a double by Gil, and a run driven in by Deloach. JR later crossed the plate after hits from Sully and Reagan.

Stewart Auto went quiet in the sixth but gave the seventh one more shot. Constantine reached base and scored on hits by JR and Sully. The rally produced two runs—enough to show they weren’t finished swinging, but not enough to catch Estates.

Final: Estates at Carpenters 16, Stewart Auto Repair 10, Tinsley Family 3.

Tuesday Games

Games are on. See you at the park.

🥎 09.12.26 The Umpire's Call with Umpire Loren Fabian

He Made It to Second… But Did He?

Welcome to the first edition of The Umpire’s Call, a new feature where we’ll take situations that come up on the field and explain the rule behind the call.

The goal? A little more understanding of the rules—and maybe a little less “discussion” with the umpire.

THE PLAY:
During a recent game, a batter used a pinch runner from home. The ball was hit into the gap, the runner took off, safely reached first…and kept right on trucking around first and made it to second.

Of course, a pinch runner from home can’t advance to second, so he was sent back to first.

But then things got interesting.

The first baseman tagged the runner and LOUDLY insisted he was OUT because he had touched second base.

THE CALL:
Not out. Back to first.

THE RULE:
Once a pinch runner from home safely reaches first base, his part of that play is over. Period.

Other action on the field involving other runners may continue, but the pinch runner cannot advance beyond first—and he cannot make an out—until after the next pitch is thrown.

So even though our enthusiastic runner rounded first and made his way to second, touching second base did not make him out. There is no such rule.

Back to first he goes.

And now we all know the call for next time—which hopefully means the first baseman can save his voice.

Know the rule. Respect the call. Play ball!

🥎 09.11.26 Ridge Energy Powers Past the Competition, 22–17–13

Well, this recap is a little late. After months of game recaps, scoresheets, triples, home runs, questionable calls and trying to make senior softball sound exciting week after week, my laptop finally said, “That's it. I'm out.”

Yep. Six months old and apparently it had already seen enough Winter Haven Senior Softball.

So after spending most of the day getting its replacement up and running, the recap department is officially back in business. And wouldn't you know it — the first recap for the new computer has plenty to write about.

FINAL SCORES

Ridge Energy — Coach Tutrani: 22
 Glory Days — Coach Hill: 17
 Somewhere Sports Bar — Coach Wally: 13

Glory Days, our Visiting/Hitting team, got off to a slow start with just one run in the first.

Somewhere Sports Bar wasted no time getting things going, putting four on the board in the first, highlighted by a Testa triple.

Then Ridge Energy came to the plate and apparently decided the team name was a challenge. They opened with five runs, including a home run blast from Nestor, and just like that, we had ourselves a ballgame.

Glory Days woke up in the second, and this time it was the bottom of the lineup doing the damage, accounting for four of the team's five runs.

Somewhere Sports stayed hot with another five-run inning, helped along by a Michl triple, while Ridge Energy answered with three more behind doubles from Rabideau and Ramon.

Then, for one brief inning, everybody remembered that defense is part of softball too.

In the third, Glory Days and Somewhere Sports were both held scoreless, while Ridge Energy managed just one run.

That defensive peace and quiet didn't last long.

Glory Days came right back in the fourth with five runs, highlighted by a LoPiccolo triple, with Gil, Hill, Doyle and Pablo among those crossing the plate.

Somewhere Sports was shut down for the second straight inning, while Ridge Energy added three more behind hits from Deloach, Nestor, Rabideau and Ramon.

And after four, this thing was still anybody's game:

Glory Days 11 | Somewhere Sports 9 | Ridge Energy 12

Then Ridge Energy found another gear.

Glory Days added one in the fifth, Somewhere Sports put up three, but Ridge Energy answered with five more as Deloach, Nestor, Griffin, Boito and Cruz all crossed the plate.

Still, Glory Days wasn't going quietly.

The top of the lineup went back to work, with Hill, Doyle, Pablo and Anderson helping close the gap and keeping the pressure on.

Somewhere Sports, meanwhile, just couldn't get the offense going again, managing only one more run over the sixth and seventh innings.

And Ridge Energy?

Apparently there was still plenty left in the battery. 

They put up another five runs in the sixth, creating a gap that even a late Glory Days push couldn't overcome.

By the time the dust settled:

Ridge Energy 22
Glory Days 17
Somewhere Sports Bar 13

With Ridge Energy sitting comfortably at 22, there was no need for the Home/Field team to bat in the final inning.

Ridge Energy started hot, survived a close battle through four innings, and then simply pulled away.

Twenty-two runs. No last at-bat needed. I'd say Ridge Energy had more than enough juice to finish this one.

Great game, guys. Ridge Energy finished with 22 runs and plenty left in the tank.

My six-month-old laptop, on the other hand, apparently needed a better sponsor.