Merry Christmas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and I’m not talking about playing softball. Although we do have our share of fun playing ball at WHSS and we act like jolly ol elves, at times.  I am talking about peace on earth and good will to men. I’m talking about the babe in a manger that changed the world. I am talking about Christmas cookies, exchanging gifts, phone calls and visits from loved ones, Christmas lights and Christmas carols. Merry Christmas to all of you softball players and fans alike. I hope you all get a special present under the tree.

With the big day right around the corner. I thought it would be fun to look at today’s American League game, in the spirit of the season, by viewing today’s game action through Christmas carols. See how many songs you recognize. We started out the day with a White Christmas, Florida style, as the teams took batting practice we did so with a light fog over the fields. It covered us like snowy blanket. This is Christmas in Dixie, softball in Dixie too.

The Visiting team, Silver Bells: Hicks, Hamilton, Shirer, Duff, Wiltshire, Held, Stier, Gazarek, Busch, Aufiero and Matta.

The Home team, Jingle Bells, Debrock, Book, Hurn, Jacobson, Guzman, Quinones, Rad, Guzzo, Rivera, Knox and Guttenberg.

With the teams named after bells you would think that out on the lawn there would arose such a clatter that players would jump from the bench to see what’s the matter. Instead the teams were relatively quiet most of the game, as if a blanket of snow had silenced everything. Not many runs were scored, defense was the name of the game. There was no rocking around the Christmas tree, as you can see for yourself when you read the short hitting star section at the end of this article.

The Silver Bells rung out one run, in the first inning, when Shirer, Duff and Wiltshire all singled. It was Shirer who scored the first run of the game when he crossed home plate. He was the first on our team who could sing, “I’ll Be  (safe at) Home For Christmas”.

The visiting team held that lead in the early action. The Home team Jingle Bells were playing Silent Night, they were held scoreless through the first two innings. In the 3^rd inning the Jingle Bells broke the ice; not only scoring, but taking the lead. The had their own Jingle Bell Rock, softball party. Hits from Debrock, Book, Jacobson. Guzman and Quinones all contributed to a four run inning. After 3 innings of play the score was Silver Bells: 1-Jingle Bells: 4.

I know some players want new bats for Christmas, especially after this game, because the old bats were not working. We were like Frosty the Snowman without his hat. The score was Silver Bells: 2-Jingle Bells: 4, after 5 innings.

In the bottom of the 6^th inning the Jingle Bells found Frosty’s hat. There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found, because when they placed it on their bats they began to dance around.  Jacobson started the 6^th with a single, the next batter was retired and Quinones who had singled was thrown out at the plate after hits by Rad and Guzzo. With two outs and only one run in, Santa Claus came to town. You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, I’m telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town and he is bring a sack full of runs. The Jingle Bell squad singled their way to 4 more runs with hits from Rivera, Knox, Guttenberg and Debrock. The Jingle Bells added their five runs  and took a 9-3 lead into the 7th inning.

The Silver Bells challenged and kept the game close through the final 3 innings. But we were not having a Holly Jolly Christmas game. Somewhere along the way we got run over by a reindeer. The Final Score was Silver Bells 8- Jingle Bells 12.

May the bells ring cheerfully for you and your family. I pray we all may experience Joy to The World. That the Lord would come to all our hearts and homes and bring us peace, love and joy!

Slugging Silver Bells:

Wiltshire: 5/5 with a triple.

Gazarek: 2/2 and two SFs.

Those who jingled all the way, for the Jingle Bells:

Jacobson: 3 / 4 with a triple.

Quinones: 4/4 with a double.

Written by Nick Matta

Jose Agosto, a longtime member of Winter Haven Senior Softball, Lakeland Senior Softball and a Hall of Fame member  passed away on Friday, December 10th. For those of us that knew Jose, he made a difference when he was at the ballpark. No information was provided for funeral services for Jose.

Good morning guys,

The National League Draft was completed yesterday, 12/15 and the teams are as follows.  The managers(s) are listed first.

	National League Teams for 2018
Nationals		Post 8		OJ's
Black, Elmer		King, Russ		Hill, Stevan
Accetta Patrick		Baker, Lee		Witter, Jerome
Bess, Vassural		Bowley, Bill		Andrews, Al
Gilpin, Ken		Gonzales, Freddy		Ayers, Bobby
Goreth, Gary		Hill, Duff		Capozzi,Tom
Hartley, Dave		Johnson, Harding (JJ)		Castillo, Juan
Hawbaker, Don		LaPointe, Rudy		Chrest, Larry
Kallister, B J		Levesque, Raymond		Laffoon, Jim
McLellan, Bill		MacDonald, Cathy		Lloyd, John
McPartlan, Jimmy		O'Callaghan, Mike		Lopez, Sam
Nararro, Pedro		Remington, Jerry		Schapeler, Don
Oesterreich, Herb		Ridley, Hal		Seguin, Gisele
Schapeler, Dean		Skidmore, Bobby		Spegel, Ed
Shaffer, Denny		Vandenberg, Bob		Waddell, Arvil
Shearer, Wayne
Snider, Tom
Warriors		Rays		Flyers
Powell, Larry		Strait, Larry		Fabian, Loren
Ayer, Bill		Altemose, James		Barnes, Reg
Baker, Gene		Andrews, Gerald		Boswell, Ralph
Dampier, Fred		Boito, John		Britton, Bruce
Gelinas, Ken		Burtner, Gary		Castilleja, Bobby
Gibson, John		Dudley, Eugene		Constantine, Chris
Grabb, Larry		Fryzowicz, Travis		Guspyt, Ed
Learn, Norman		Hite, Bob		LoPiccolo, Patrick
Mendes, Roger		Kriger, Leo		Moots, Richard
Merritt, Johnny		LaMay, Don		Roy, Ray
Minder, Jack		Letournean, Joe		Simon, Jeffrey
Rutan, William		Marino, Richard		Smith, Terry
Spitaleri, Robert		Newton, Richard		Taylor, Ted
Vining, Jim		Thompson, Ron		Zakrowski, Art
Wheeler, Michael				Zukic, Marianne

Friday, December 15th

An interesting game took place on Field C between Hamilton and  Matta. Final score was 18-6 Hamilton.

Larry Book had "the book" on Nicks guys allowing only 6 runs, but benefited from 8 line outs and a couple nice catches

in the outfield.  Many nice plays on both sides and good sportsmanship the whole game.

Leading hitters 

Hurn 2-4

Quinones 2-4

Toro 2-4

Butler 2-3

Hicks 3-5 HR

Hamilton 2-3

Shirer 3-4

Rad 3-3

Wiltshire 3-4

Gazarek 2-3

Scarbrough 2-4

Book 2-3

Busch 2-4

Ogden 2-4

D'Herin 3-4

Write up by Joe D'Herin

Elmer Wicox

I am sorry to report that WHSS player, manager, slugger and good friend, Elmer Wilcox has died at the age of 84 at the Veteran's Home in Bangor, Maine. 

Here's a link to his obituary.  Elmer Wilcox

Good Morning All,

This is the results of the American League Draft that occured on Tuesday 12/12.
 The team manager(s) are list first for each team.

	American League Teams for 2018
Yankees	Pirates	Tigers	Blue Jays
Guzzo, Al	Matta, Nick	Hamilton, Tommy	Davis, John (JD)
Jacobson, Les	Aufiero. Raymond	D'Herin, Joe	Abreu, Luis
Alumbaugh, Brent	Brock, Rick	Gonzalez, Miguel	Burns, Nic
Book, Larry	Crowell, Randy	Held, Don	Busch, Brian
DeBroeck, Leonard	Deemie, Walt	Keller, Don	Butler, Ron
DeRidder, Jerry	Doerbaum, Dave	Knox, George	Cobb, Mike
Farinas, Angel	Duff,Charles	Pinnick, Steve	Coffman, Kirk
Gutenberger, Peter	Gazarek, Eddie	LePinnet, Glen	Denny, Greg
Guzman, Luis	Hicks, Steve	Rodriguez, Poke	Essenmacher, Kurt
Hurn, Eddie	Pepin, Ron	Scarbrough, Don	Jacobs, Frank
Rivera, Jose	Shirer, Dave	Seguin, Scot	Ogden, Morty
Carpenter, John	Vanderhyde, George	Stier, Jeff	Pcholinski, Rad
Toro, Juan	Wiltshire, Michael	Thiry, Tim	Quinones, Anthony
Torok, Don	Zelazny, Bob	Watson, Shawn	Reagen, Bobby
		Witmer, Don	Wells, Larry

Friday, December 1, 2017

December is here and the Santa’s are already working.  Elmer Black doing a great job with the presents for the kids and next Thursday a good group of guys and gals going to doing the Santa Calling for youngsters in the Winter Haven area.

Two teams were assembled for field E today.  Russ King took charge of the Visitors team with Capozzi, Dampier, Coffman, Zakrowski, Schapeler, King, Witter, LaPointe, LaMay and Merritt.  Steve Hill skippered the home team lined up in this order, Freddy G., Roy, Hill, Herbie O, Lopez, Accetta, Minder, Vandenberg, Marianne (new player this year), and Callahan. 

First inning started with a walk to Capozzi and those leadoff walks always score especially with Dampier in the batter’s box.   Fred lined a drive deep to right center field and circled the based for homerun.  Singles by Coffman, Schapeler, Witter and Lapointe drove in the 5^th run of the inning.  Freddy led off with a long drive to deep left center but Coffman made a good running catch for the first out of the inning.  A single by Roy followed by a liner to the centerfield fence from the bat of Steve Hill tallied two runs, then singles by Herbie O., Lopez, Minder, Vandenberg added two more.  After the end of the first 5 to 4 favor of King’s team.

Second inning visitors posted a big “0” and the Hill team was all uphill by pushing across 5 runs to take a commanding lead.  The bats went silent for the next three innings with the home team adding just one run in the fourth.

In the 6^th inning the visitors added 2 runs and the home team recorded another 5 run inning.  End of six Home 15 Visitors 7.  The King’s did not give up and added 6 more runs in the 7^th and 8^th while holding the Hill’s scoreless.  In the 8^th inning pitcher Witter struck out three of the four batters he faced. Game ended with the King’s under the Hill’s by a score of 15 to 17.  Good game by all.

King’s leading hitters were Dampier with the cycle, Coffman 4 for 5, Schapeler 3 for 5, King 4 for 5, LaPointe 3 for 5 and LaMay 4 for 5.

Hill led his team going 5 for 5 with two HR, Roy 3 for 5, Herbie 3 for 5, Accetta 4 for 5, and Lopez and Minder both 3 for 5.

Submitted by Don LaMay