Final Scores:
Richards Coffee — coached by DeLoach (Hitting/Visiting): 10
Red Hoagland Hyundai — coached by Hill (Sitting/Middle): 18
Ridge Energy — coached by Wally (Home/Fielding): 5
Some coaches have a game plan. Some have a hot streak. And then there's Hill, who apparently has found the secret formula for winning games!
After coaching his team to a whopping 30 runs on Tuesday, Hill returned Friday with a different group of players and walked away with another victory. Oh, and he went 3-for-3 at the plate himself!
We're not saying that cortisone shot in his shoulder has magical powers, but the timing is certainly suspicious. 🤔😂 Maybe the league needs to investigate this new coaching strategy!
First Inning: Hill's Crew Comes Out Swinging!
Team DeLoach got things started when Davis doubled, Doyle singled, Gilbert singled, and Cruz singled, bringing home two runs. A promising start for Richards Coffee!
But Team Hill wasn't about to let the visitors have all the fun. Carlos singled, Nestor singled, Hill doubled, Sully tripled, Ramon singled, and Jamie got aboard. Ernesto, Sensebaugh, and Rabieau added singles as Red Hoagland Hyundai piled up five runs.
Meanwhile, Team Wally retired the first two batters before loading the bases and leaving every runner stranded. That's a tough way to start the day! Ridge Energy had the traffic but couldn't get anybody home.
The Hill Express Picks Up Speed!
Team DeLoach struggled to get anything going over the next couple of innings. Bales and Clos managed singles, but neither inning produced a run. The bats were quiet, and the scoreboard wasn't getting any friendlier.
Hill's team, on the other hand, seemed to have discovered a secret supply of rocket fuel.
Shaffer tripled, Fleming singled, and Gelesky singled to bring home two more runs. Turchetta followed with a double, and Gonzales singled to drive in another.
Then came another offensive explosion! Hill collected his second double, Sully singled, and Ramon, Jamie, and Ernesto followed with singles. Amy got aboard, and Rabieau added another hit as five more runs crossed the plate.
At this point, Team Hill's bats were absolutely blasting!
As for Team DeLoach's defense? Let's just say it appeared to have taken an unscheduled coffee break. ☕😂
Team Wally was still searching for an offensive spark. Terri managed a base hit but was left stranded at first. Ridge Energy was having one of those days when getting runners on base and getting them home seemed to be two entirely different sports.
DeLoach Tries to Fight Back
Richards Coffee finally showed some life in the fourth. Davis doubled, Doyle singled, Gilbert doubled, and DeLong and BJ followed with singles. Three runs came home, giving Team DeLoach something to cheer about!
But Hill's team had an answer.
Shaffer singled, Gelesky collected his second hit, and Carlos sent one sailing out of the end zone for a home run! Three more runs scored, pushing Red Hoagland Hyundai's advantage even further.
Carlos clearly hadn't received the memo about keeping the ball in the park!
Team Wally finally found a little offense of its own. Lynch ripped a nice double, and Raymondo brought him home with a single for Ridge Energy's second run of the game.
Unfortunately, the scoreboard was still being rather unkind to Wally's crew.
Ridge Energy Keeps Scrapping
It was a tough day for Team Wally, but the team kept battling. After a scoreless inning, Dampier doubled and Castilleja singled to bring home another run.
In the seventh, Testa, Williamson, and Lynch opened with singles, bringing in two more runs before Ridge Energy's day came to an end.
The effort was there, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome. Ridge Energy finished with five runs.
DeLoach Makes One Last Push
Team DeLoach's bats went quiet again for a stretch, despite singles from Bales and Clos and Ayers getting aboard. All three runners were left stranded.
Hill added his third double, and Sully singled, but Richards Coffee managed to limit that stretch to just one run.
Then came one final rally from DeLoach's crew!
BJ singled, DeLoach singled, Bales singled, Marino singled, and Ayers singled. Five consecutive hits produced five runs and gave Richards Coffee a much-needed offensive burst.
It was a spirited comeback attempt, but the deficit was simply too large. Team DeLoach finished with 10 runs, eight short of Hill's winning total.
And thanks to the league's flip-flop rule in the seventh, there was no need for Team Hill to take another turn at bat. Red Hoagland Hyundai had secured the victory!
Final Thoughts: Somebody Check That Shoulder! 😂
Congratulations to Hill and Red Hoagland Hyundai on another win!
Hill's team scored 30 on Tuesday, returned with a different lineup Friday, and still came away victorious. Hill himself went 3-for-3, including three doubles, while his team kept finding ways to put runs on the board.
We're beginning to suspect that cortisone shot came with a few bonus features. Maybe improved range of motion, better hitting, and an uncanny ability to coach a winning team? 😂
Of course, we're only kidding. The real credit goes to the players who kept swinging, running, and making things happen.
Congratulations to all three teams for another day of Winter Haven Senior Softball!
🥎 See you on the field!