Tuesday, February 5th

King vs Fabian. Kings jumped out strong plating 3 in the top of 1st. But Fabe's came back with 3 in the bottom on a 2 run homer by Boswell , a triple by Vanderhyde and sac fly by Levesque after 4 innings it was 8-5 in favor of Fabe's Flyers (soon to be the ridge runners)  the Kings put up 5 goose eggs after that as the Flyers played pretty flawless defense as witnessed by a left center sunfield catch made by Travis F almost sitting on his butt. Larry Wells also pitched a fine game as usual. The Flyers went on to score 4 runs in the 6th and 8th for a final of 16-5. Cathy McDonald also stayed with a sun fly ball in left field and made a fine grab. 

King hitters.    Burns 2-3. O'Callahan 2-3. King 2-3. Poke 2-3. Lopez 2-3. McFarland 2-3. 

Fabe's hitters.  Wells 3-4. Boswell 4-4 w/HR. Vanderhyde 3-4 w/2triples. Hite 3-3. Travis 2-3. Grabb 2-4. Benson 2-4. Bess 2-3. 

See y'all next Tuesday. 

Write up by Loren Fabian 

Friday, February 1st
Team Davis came out hitting, scoring 6 runs total the first 2 innings and 5 runs in the 3,4,5,innings. The hits were pouring out in the 1st inning Rivera and Rad had singles, a double by Netzel follow by hits by Sequin and J.D scoring 5 in the third. Another 5 runs led by a double by Sequin in the 4 and 5 inning Team Davis put the game away with a triple by Shirer and doubles by Tony Q and Essenmacher and the hot hitting by Jacobson. Team Hamilton got hot in the 4&5 inning scoring 9 runs led by a triple by Rabideau and 2 doubles by Ron Ramos in the 4&5 inning . Leading hitters for Team Hamilton - Hamilton 3/4 and Jeff Stier 3/4 good game. Team Keller big scoring inning was in the 7th with and Triple by Gutenberger a double by Ferrande 2 doubles by Shier. Leading hitters for Team Keller - Brock 3/3 good game fellas.  For Team Davis - Leading hitters Sequin 4/4 Jacobson 4/4 J.D3/3 Guzzo 3/4 Shirer 3/4 , Netzel 3/4, Rivera 3/5 and Rad 3/5 . Good Defense and hitting Team Davis .
Write up by JD Davis

Friday, February 1st

It was so refreshing to see Larry Powell out there cheering for his team being run by the now famous Freddy Gonzales. He had to leave about half way thru as he was getting tuckered. THANKS LARRY. Great to see you. 

The game started off with a 4-4 tie after 2 innings and Powell went up 6-4 after 3. Then Fabes put on their hitting shoes and scored 10 in the next 3 innings and looked to be pulling away. But Powell put up a nickel in the 6th to pull closer but put up goose eggs the last 3 innings as Fabe's played solid defense. Final of 15-11 Fabes Flyers which is going to be renamed The Ridge Runners in honor of Ridge Energy. GOTTA SUPPORT THOSE SPONSORS. Some fantastic catches made by Vanderhyde, Travis F. and Wayne Vorhes. Way to go guys. 

See y'all Tuesday.

Write up by Loren Fabian  

Friday, February 1st

After the Braves were scoreless in the 1st inning, the Dukes plated one run on a hit by Ray Roy and then two out hitting by Dave Hartley and Justin Mears. Score 1-0 Dukes.

The Braves Bill McLellan led off the 2nd inning followed by back to back doubles by Joe Peskie and Herb O for two runs to take the lead 2-1. Hits by Danny Parker, Ken Gelinas, Dean Schapler and Jerry Witter around a walk by Alf Gibbons allowed the Dukes to retake the lead 4-2 after two.

The Dukes extended their lead to 7-2 when hits by Ray Roy, Bob Skidmore, Steve Hill, and Willie Morton plated three, after 3.

The Braves cut the lead to 7-6 with hits by the bottom of their order, Norm Learn and Larry Strait and then a double by McLellan and a triple by Peskie. The Dukes came firing back with 4 of their own on 5 straight hits to extend their lead to 11-6 after four on hits by Gibbons, Jerry Remington, Gelinas, Schapler and John Merritt,

The 5th saw the Braves push one across on a double by Frank Jacobs and a single by Pat LoPiccolo. The Dukes stayed hot posting adding 4 more their big Hit was a Skidmore home run. Score 15-7 Dukes.

The teams cooled in the 6th before the Dukes tacked on a 5 spot to run their lead to 20- 7 after Seven. 

The Braves mounted a com back in the 8th putting up 4, started by LoPicclo's 3rd straight hit and hits by Stan Michalski and Jerry Andrews making it 20-11 Dukes. The Dukes added 3 more in the bottom of the 8th to finish their scoring at 23 -11. The Braves could not score in the 9th . Final score 23-11 Dukes.

Hitting stars > Braves, Pat LoPiccolo 3-3, Bill McLellan 3-4, Joe Peskie, Norm Learn, and Larry Strait 2-3.

                     > Dukes, Alf Gibbons 3-3 w, Bob Skidmore 4-5, Justin Mears, Danny Parker, Jerry Remington, Dean Shapler and Jerry Witter 3-4.

Defense Star Herb O 

Winning Pitcher Willie Morton 

Note Alf Gibbons Was perfect for the two games this week going 7-7 and a walk in 8 plate appearances.

Submitted by Steve Hill

Jan 29th Tuesday

Cobras vs Warriors -  It was a crisp cold day at the start of the game.  The sun was out and heating up the infield. It was a great day to play ball. Larry Chrest, Fred Dampier, Jim Laffoon, Ken Webber and Gerry Deridder led off the charge for the Cobras scoring 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning. The Warriors retaliated with Freddy Gonzales, Jimmy Vining, Don Scarbrough, Bill Rutan, Don Hawbaker, John Boito and Art to score 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. The heat of the sun caused ball players to start peeling off layers of clothes making the second inning  a repeat  of hits with both teams scoring 5 runs  each.  Score  10 to 10. However it was a cold day for outfielders as the sun was a factor for both teams defense. The Cobras capitalized on the sun factor and scored 5 runs in the 3rd, 4 in the 4th and 3 in the 5th. The sun blinded the Warriors in the 3rd and 4th innings but were able to stroke 5 runs in the 5th, score Cobras 22 Warriors 15. In the 7th inning the Cobras scored 5 more runs hitting a total of 27. The Warriors remained scoreless after the 5th inning causing a flip flop in the 9th. Final score  cobras 27 warriors 15.

Winning pitchers split  BJ Kalister & Ron Thompson

Leading hitters for the Cobras:

Jim Laffoon 4/4 with 2 doubles

Ken Weber 4/4 with a double

Gerry Deridder 3/4 with a double , triple & home run

Larry Chrest 3/4 with  a home run

Ed Segal 3/4 with a home run

Ron Thompson 2/3

Bob Castilleja 2/3

Bill Bowley 2/3

Pat Accetta 2/3

Nick Burns 3/3 with a double

Leading hitters for the Warriors:

Bill Rutan 4/4

Freddy Gonzales 3/4 2 doubles and a triple

Jimmy Vining 2/4 with a home run

Don Scarbrough 2/4 with a double

Don Hawbaker 3/4

Mike Wheeler 2/4 with a double

Write up by Tom Capozzi

Tuesday, January 29th

The Flyers got off to a slow start not scoring in the 1st, while the Dukes came out firing posting 5 runs on six straight hits without recording an out. After one Dukes 5-0.

The Flyers stayed cold while the Dukes posted 4 more runs in the 2nd started by the first of Alf Gibbons 4 hits. 9-0 Dukes after two.

After a quite 3rd the Flyers got on the board scoring one after a double by Ralph Boswell and a single by Ray Levesque in the 4th. The Dukes put up another 5 spot in the bottom half of the inning, their big hits provided by Willie Morton and Jerry Witter. 14-1 Dukes after four.

The 5th saw the Flyers get untracked, scoring 5 runs, on a double by Travis Fryzowicz and a triple by Tom Benson, cutting the Dukes lead to 14-6. The Dukes answered with 3, on big hits Bob Skidmore and Willie Morton. Score 17-6 Dukes after five.

The Flyers stayed hot scoring 4 the top of the 6th on a hit by Larry Grabb and a double by Wayne Vorher after a walk by Boswell. A fine double play turned in by Bob Hite held the Dukes scoreless. Score 17- 10 after six.

Both teams cooled off a little, the Dukes adding two in the 7th, after 2 outs on hits by Ray Roy, Bob Skidmore's 4th hit and a double by Steve Hill. Dukes 19-10.

The Flyers plated one after Boswell's 3 bagger and a sac fl . The Duke were held scoreless primarily by a great over the shoulder catch by Wayne Vorher off a drive by Willie Morton, that looked like it was going to be a 2 run homer. Score 19-11 Dukes going to the 9th.

The Flyer's Larry Grabb started the 9th with hits his 4th, hits by Vorher and Ken Gilpin plated one, hits by Gene Dudley and Bess added two more as the bottom of the order came through. With two on and two outs, leadoff hitter Larry Wells launched a drive to center field that Dave Hartley got a great jump on to run it down, ending the game.  Dukes 19-14 Final.

Hitting stars > Flyers, Larry Grabb 4-4, Wayne Vorher 3-3, Ralph Boswell and Ray Levesque. Dukes, Alf Gibbons and Bob Skidmore 4-4, Ray Roy , Steve Hill and Willie Morton 3-4

Defensive stars, Flyers,Bob Hite and Wayne Vorher

Duke, Ken Gelinas at 1st base and Dave Hartley in centerfield, whom both had great games filling in for missing players.

Winning pitcher Willie Morton 

Submitted by Steve Hill

Tuesday January 29, 2019  Field D

The two teams matched up today on field E and were managed by Russ King and Larry Strait.  King’s home team took the field with Steve Pinnick, Dan Watson, George Knox, Frank Jacobs, Bob Reagan, Gisele Sequin, King, Sam Lopez, Duff Hill, Mike O’Callahan, Elmer Black, Cathy McDonald, Jim McPartlan and Lee Baker.  Strait’s Braves grabbed their bats and hit in this order:  Dick Newton, Leo Kriger, Don Torok, Bill McLellan, Joe Peskie, Herb Oesterreich, Joe LeTourneau, Norm Learn, Pat Lopiccolo, Jerry Andrews, Don LaMay, Strait and Gary Burtner.

First inning looked like this game was going to a slugfest today while the Braves pushed across 3 runs and Post 8 maxed out with 5 runs.  Zero’s were then on the scoreboard for both teams in the second and third innings.  Braves bats came alive in the fourth as Torok line one up the middle, McLellan drove one down the left field line for triple, then Peskie, Herb O, Learn, Michalski had base raps and Andrews singled in the 5^th run of the inning.  Post 8 added a run in the bottom of the inning to make the score 8 to 6 Braves after four innings.  Braves added 3 in the next two innings while Post 8 added 3  in their half of the inning.  Score now 11 to 10 Braves.  Post 8 allowed 1 run in the 7^th and then King and Lopez singled and Duff Hill drove one down the left field corner for a triple, and O’Callahan and Black had hits and McPartlan drove in the 5^th run of the inning.  Score now 15 to 12 for Post 8.        

Newton walked to lead off the 8^th, then singles from Kriger, Torok, McLellan loaded the bases.  Herb O. drove one down the right field line to clear the bases. Then LeTourneau drove a deep fly to left center to score the fifth run of the inning. Post 8 answered with base hits from Pinnick, Watson, Jacobs, Reagan, Sequin, and King to take a 19 to 17 lead after 8 innings.  Braves managed one run in the ninth to make the final Score Post 8  19 and Braves 18.  Great game from both teams.

Post 8 hitters:  Pinnick 3 for 4, Jacobs 4 for4, Sequin, Reagan, King, and Lopez all 3 for 4, Knox 2 for 4, and Black 2 for 3.

Brave hitters: Torok 4 for 4 2B, McLellan 4 for 4 3B, Herb O. 4 for 4 2B, Peskie, Michalski, and Andrews all 3 for 4, Newton, Learn and LaMay all 2 for 4.

Congrats to Elmer Black and Joe D’Herin on their election to the Polk County Senior Softball Hall of Fame.                                                                

Submitted by Don LaMay for Russ King                            

HALL OF FAME TICKETS     HALL OF FAME TICKETS     HALL OF FAME TICKETS

Ticket sales for the Polk County Senior Softball Hall of Fame banquet have begun in Winter Haven and Lakeland. The cost of the tickets are still $20.00 each. The banquet will be in Winter Haven this year at the Lake Ashton Health and Fitness center. Ron Thompson, Bob Zelazny and Don Witmer are selling tickets in Winter Haven. Russ King and Jack McNiven are selling tickets in Lakeland. This years inductees are Joe D'Herin and Elmer Black from Winter Haven and Ron Lloyd and Jack McNiven from Lakeland.

Lets everyone come out and support this years inductees. Please buy your tickets as soon as you can.

Thanks.

Don Witmer, Commissioner
Winter Haven Senior Softball

Friday, January 25th

The Dukes posted 3 in the top of the 1st on singles by Dale Johnson, Bob Skidmore, Bob Zelazny and Justin Mears. Post 8 put up 5 in the bottom of the inning on 6 straight singles by Steve Pinnick, Bob Reagan, Poke Rodriguez, Duff Hill, George Knox and Russ King's 1st of 4 hits. Post 8 leading 5-3 after one.

After a quite 2nd the Dukes took the lead 8-5 with 5 in the 3rd. Big hits were a two run homer by Steve Hill and a two run double by Bob Zelazny.

Post 8 trimmed the Dukes lead to 8-6 with one in the 4th.

Neither team scored again until the 7th, when the Dukes posted another 5 runs, taking a 13-6 lead.  Post 8 roared right by with 4 runs, the key hit provided on a bases loaded single by Gisele Seguin, on her way to a 4-4 day. Score 13-10 Dukes after 7.

The 8th saw the Dukes extend their lead to 16-10 when the bottom of their order came through on hits by Ken Gelinas, Rudy Lapointe and John Merritt’s 2nd hit of the day. Post 8 added one in the bottom of the inning 16 -11 going to the 9th

The 9th saw the Dukes come out firing after one out with 6 straight singles and loading the bases after scoring 3. Post 8 ended the Dukes scoring at 19, on a fine double play started by mid fielder Gisele Seguin, her 3rd of the day. Post 8 was not going away as George Knox, Duff Hill, Sam Lopez, Bob Regan and Elmer Black had singles around a big triple in the gap by Russ King, scoring 5 runs. With two outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, the tying run was at the plate. The comeback was ended on a nice play by 2nd baseman Jerry Remington. Final score 19-16 Dukes.

Hitting stars > Dukes, Bob Zelazny 5-5, Justin Mears, Dave Hartley 3-4 and Ken Gelinas 2-3 

                    > Post 8 , Gisele Seguin and Russ King 4-4 , Steve Pinnick , George Knox and Duff Hill 3-4

Defensive star of the game > Gisele Seguin who had an outstanding game. Great job G.

Winning pitcher > Jerry Witter

Submitted by Steve Hill for Russ King

Friday, January 25th
Team Matta 21 team Davis 15. It was a cold day for Florida, but team Matta's bats were hot and so was Nick. It was 11 to 11 going into the top of the 6 inning. The hot bottom order of team Matta were up Greg Denny, Witmer, Matta and Gaston hitting for 4 singles in a row scoring 1 run and then a 3 run triple by Keller sparked a 5 run inning. Team Davis could just answer back with 3 runs in the cold bottom of the 6 and 1 more in the 8th and team Davis's bats got colder in the 9th with team Matta bats got hotter scoring 5 more runs in the top of the 8th inning. New player Grant Swary's double and Gaston's double sparking a 5 run rally and good pitching by Rick Brock . Leading hitters for Team Davis Tony Q. 3/4 with a triple Jeff Stier 3/4 with a double Brad Scheirer 3/4 with a double J.D. Davis 3/4. Leading hitters for team Matta Clint Gaston 4/4 with a double, Nick Matta 4/4, Rick Brock 3/5 Wayne Epperson 3/5 Lou Guzman 3/5 Don Keller 3/5 with a triple Steve Hicks 4/4 1 sac good game Hicks and Team Matta.
Write up by JD Davis