It is with great sadness that I am having to let everyone know that Sam Lopez's wife passed away suddenly today. Please keep Sam in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. I do not have any details at this time. As soon as I know something, I will let everyone know.

Tuesday, Jan 3rd

Not a lot to report in the National league today as we had to play 3 team games because field A was not available. Final score was Simon 18, Fabian 10 and Powell 9. All 3 teams had full rosters for opening day. That included G Seguin on Simon's team and Penny Pelletier on Fabe's team. Welcome ladies with your hubby's cheering you on in the stands. 

See y'all Friday and we'll play for real. 

Write up by L. Fabian. 

Never Underestimate the Power of A Good Meal.

A strong start to the season with a hard fought, close game between Matta’s Athletics, (Visitors) and JD’s KFC team (Home). Both teams gave a great effort and played with good sportsmanship. Thanks to Joe D’Herin and Les Jacobson for umpiring. The Home team trailed most of the game, although they kept things close. JD’s squad they must have been inspired by the KFC meal delivery that came as the game drew to a close. Team KFC scored two runs in the bottom of the 9^th to tie and then win the game. (Special thanks to George Tinsley for the tasty Kentucky Fried Chicken meal. Thanks to the Hite family who supplied delicious cookies.) Three big HR’s in the game; JD, Tony Quinones and Dave Shirer. Goose, Al Guzzo, had the defensive gem of the game, an over the shoulder grab from 2^nd base, in short right field. Final Score: A’s:21-KFC: 22.

Write up by Nick Matta

 

The Yankees and the Angels squared off in the season opener with Freddie Gonzalez's Angels having their way with Juan Toro's Yankees. It looked like it was going to be a horse race for the first two innings as neither team managed to score. The third inning saw the Angels score at will with Ship's triple the big hit. So at the end of three the score was 5-0.

 

Both teams score once in the fourth and in the fifth the Yankees were able to win the inning by scoring four runs to the Angels three. All the Yankee runs came from six successive singles from the bottom of the line up. From then on it was just trying to hold on for the Yankees. The Angels scored five runs in each of the next two innings and could have scored more except for the five run rule.The eighth inning was a wash with three runs scored by each team.

 

Thanks to the Flip Flop rule, the Yankees had an opportunity to catch up. Trailing 22-9, the Yanks managed to put up seven hard fought runs. It was Dave Doerbaums three run home run that excited the crowd. Final score was Angels 22, Yankees 16..

 

While Dave had the only ball hit that left the park, Dave Shipley had the hottest bat with a triple, single, and two doubles. Tommy Hamilton pitched a great game for the Angles and backed by Mike Wiltshire's glove and Dave Shipley's bat seemed to coast to victory.Other key performances were Dan Reponen 4 for 4 and Michael Elmer 4 for 4.

Write Up by Bob Zelazny

MONDAY, JAN. 2, 2017 - HAPPY NEW YEAR


LEAGUE PLAY STARTS TOMORROW


The 2017 season league play begins tomorrow with 10 teams playing ball. Team #11, Manager Tommy Hamilton has a Bye. Listed below are some reminders to make sure the opening games go smoothly:

• The team listed last on the schedule is the home team and will wear their Silver shirt and sit in the Third base dugout. The visiting team will wear there Blue shirt and sit in the First base dugout. If you are in doubt about which shirt to wear, bring both of them to the ball park. New shirts will be provided to all players this year.
• Wear your Winter Haven Senior Softball hat from last year. If you did not play last year, you will be given a new hat. If you played last year and do not have a WHSS hat, they will be available for purchase this year. WHSS shirts and hats are required for league play.
• Be at the ball park no later than 9:00 AM. Your manager needs to know how many players he has so he can request a pool player if one is available.
• Go to your field that is shown on the schedule. It is not necessary to sign in during the league play. If there is a schedule change, it will be posted on a board at the Commissioners table located next to the men's restroom and will be posted on the website if we know ahead of time of the schedule change.
• There is a schedule change for the National League tomorrow. The City of Winter Haven is still working on rebuilding Field A for the Polk State College girls softball team. They anticipate those improvements will be completed before the end of the week. There will be three team games on Field C and Field E. Team #2 will play on Field C and Team #1 will play on Field E. These games will not count in the standings and will be made up later on in the season.
• Kentucky Fried Chicken, one of our great sponsors,  is providing lunch tomorrow. The Board of Directors are providing Cookies and Refreshments.

There will be a league meeting before the games begin at the Commissioner's table. There will be other items discussed at that meeting. Be there at 9:30.


Thanks.


Don Witmer, Commissioner

Friday, December 30th.

On a Cold and Windy Friday Morning, playing outfield in Winter Haven was a comedy of errors. Consequently a total of 55 runs were scored as only 2 fly balls were caught in the outfield and only 1 pop fly in the infield. Many errors and misjudged fly balls. Even some pitches couldn't make it to the plate accurately. 

Duff Hill made his managerial debut with Duff's Diamondbacks and help from Jeff Simon. The Diamondbacks beat Fabe's Flyers 34-21. WOW!!!  There was also a total of 11 home runs in the game 7 of which were by the Flyers but still got beat soundly. 

The defensive play of the game was made by rookie George Knox playing 2B in the 7th inning. A line shot was headed for grass up the middle until George stretched hard to the backhand and cradled the ball in the web of his glove. Unfortunately, he pulled a left thigh muscle and had to leave the game except for batting.  He did hit one more time with a runner from home and got his fourth hit of the day. I know he will be a fine addition to WHSS and certainly hope he is ok for opening day Tuesday. 

See y'all Tuesday for opening day. Stay healthy and let's have a super fun year in league. 

Write up by Loren Fabian. 

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Must be another softball game in central Florida as it was a FLIP FLOP again. After 8 innings Fabe's Flyers led 19-6 hence the flip flop. It was 7-6 after 2 innings but then Strait's Tigers put up goose eggs until the last inning with 2 outs and manager Larry Strait launched one over the left fielders head for his first ever home run making the final score 19-7. He enjoyed his beer at the legion on that one. Denny Schaffer had the catch of the game running to the fence, reaching up and feeling the ball thump into his glove. 

We had a new player, Cathy MacDonald who caught the whole game for the Flyers and made a fantastic play on a popper in front of the plate. It would have went foul but she hustled out and the ball ran into her left leg in fair territory and she calmly picked it up and fired a STRIKE to first base for the out. A lesson to all to run everything out. Welcome aboard Cathy. 

Tigers.       Duff Hill lead off HR, Schaffer 3-4, Dean Schapeler 3-4, Strait HR. 

Flyers.        Steve Hill 5-5, Dampier 4-5, Hartley 3-4, Fabian 3-4, BJ 3-4, Cathy 1-4 first WHSS first 

                  hit. 

Write up by Loren Fabian - retired carpet layer pursuing journalists career. Ha!!!