The rains have left us with only two playable fields today. The American League Games are therefore canceled today in favor of make-up double headers in the future.
The National League Games will be played although one game will have a field change. Check the board when you arrive.
See you Friday.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Monday, February 9, 2015
Tournament of Champions
Things always look better the morning after, unless it's one of those coyote ugly situations. Your local teammates, known as the Lake Wales Legends, once again participated this past week in the Tournament of Champions here in Polk County. This is that annual tournament where teams have to win a place in the tournament by winning a qualifier tournament during the previous year. It was also the last time this team plays as the Legends. A few of our team mates are moving on to older age groups and few new players are moving up to 65s so a new team called Mustangs has formed to compete in the 65 age group.
In case you don't know, The Legends team is managed by Regis Finnegan (lower left) and administered by Don Witmer (2nd from the right). The TOC team bottom row starting next to Regis, Chuck Duff, Ron Salyer, Joe D'Herin, Don Witmer, Dan Parker, The back row: Don Held, Aaron Phillips, Don Erb, Gary DeFalco Bob DiPetro, Bob Zelazny, Ron Butler, Don Atkins, and among the missing from the picture Fred Gonzalez. The thing about all the D's in our line up is that you can holler "way to go Don" and cover half the team.
The Legends hadn't played together in a while, due to the loss of our teammate Jim Garrison and maybe that explains our slow start in this year's TOC. Friday's games were seeding games where you play two games against random teams in your bracket and the runs scored totals are used to seed teams in the double-elimination chart. We lost both of our seeding games. We only scored about 14 or 15 runs total and wound up the 9th seed out of 10 teams. Not what you call one of our brighter moments.
Our first game on Saturday pitted us against the 8th seeded MCC Insurance team, a group from Florida that we've often played in FHC tournaments. This team beat us in the seeding games but we prevailed beating them 19-12 and moving on in the Championship (winner's) Bracket.
Then we faced another team that we've often met in these national level tournaments, the number 1 seeded team, the Windsor Chiefs from Canada. I think going into this game, we held a 3 games to 2 advantage over the Chiefs. Anyway we beat them in a game as close you would expect given our history, 12-11 to stay in the upper bracket. Our sometimes team mate, Eddie Gazarek plays for the Chiefs. It's always a good game when you're playing friends on the other side.
In our third game on Saturday, we got another team we often play here in Florida, Mello Financial. I don't know what our record is against them is but I do know we always have a good game with them. Again a team mate that often plays for us, Jose Rivera, plays for Mello. Unfortunately they beat us 17-23 putting us in the Elimination (sinner's) Bracket for Sunday's games.
These tournaments are really endurance contests. the teams with the deepest rosters and fewest injuries usually win. Still, lose twice and you're out.
At 8am Sunday we faced the Windsor Chiefs again as they had survived their first games in the Elimination Bracket. We handily beat them 26-16 to extend our series streak against them to 5 of 7.
Now, for the first time, in the tournament we faced a team we hadn't played before, The Silver Streaks from Texas. We pounded the ball pretty hard and beat them 31-16 to win at least third place. That win put us into the game for second place.
Once again our old nemesis, Mello Financial, was our opponent. Unfortunately our streak ended here with a very closely fought contest. We had them on the ropes early, posting a couple of 5 run innings but they came from behind to take the lead while we struggled a bit in the middle innings. Then we came back from 8 down to tie the game in the top of the 7th but failed to hold them as we got two outs and walked the bases loaded to keep the force play in effect. Jose Rivera (playing for Mello) stood at third base, after running for a lame team mate and going first to third on a long out. The next batter managed a hard grounder down the right field foul line that our first baseman missed by a half inch to score the winning run. A clean scoop and we'd have had new life. So it goes, a game of inches. 21-22 was the final score and third place for us.
Just as well, it would have taken two more wins to eliminate the top of the Championship Bracket and we had pretty much left it all on the field in the three games we played. We were down to two or three guys that could still run for others. Everyone was breathing hard and feeling the aches and pains of our ages by the end of the third game. On the plus side, we scored 78 runs in three games on Sunday. That's more like it.
As it turns out Mello beat Midwest Express, a team from Nebraska & Iowa, twice by big scores of 21-5 and 25-7 or something like that to win the championship and take home the trophy. Way to go Jose! It just goes to show you. We were only a run or a few hits from winning the whole thing. Hey, at least a Florida team and our Mello friends won.
It was a fun series; would have been more fun if we'd have won but c'est la vie.
I'd play ball with these guys anyplace, anytime. Thanks for letting me play with you guys and thanks for putting up with my lame jokes. Next time we'll win it all.
Ron Butler
In case you don't know, The Legends team is managed by Regis Finnegan (lower left) and administered by Don Witmer (2nd from the right). The TOC team bottom row starting next to Regis, Chuck Duff, Ron Salyer, Joe D'Herin, Don Witmer, Dan Parker, The back row: Don Held, Aaron Phillips, Don Erb, Gary DeFalco Bob DiPetro, Bob Zelazny, Ron Butler, Don Atkins, and among the missing from the picture Fred Gonzalez. The thing about all the D's in our line up is that you can holler "way to go Don" and cover half the team.
The Legends hadn't played together in a while, due to the loss of our teammate Jim Garrison and maybe that explains our slow start in this year's TOC. Friday's games were seeding games where you play two games against random teams in your bracket and the runs scored totals are used to seed teams in the double-elimination chart. We lost both of our seeding games. We only scored about 14 or 15 runs total and wound up the 9th seed out of 10 teams. Not what you call one of our brighter moments.
Our first game on Saturday pitted us against the 8th seeded MCC Insurance team, a group from Florida that we've often played in FHC tournaments. This team beat us in the seeding games but we prevailed beating them 19-12 and moving on in the Championship (winner's) Bracket.
Then we faced another team that we've often met in these national level tournaments, the number 1 seeded team, the Windsor Chiefs from Canada. I think going into this game, we held a 3 games to 2 advantage over the Chiefs. Anyway we beat them in a game as close you would expect given our history, 12-11 to stay in the upper bracket. Our sometimes team mate, Eddie Gazarek plays for the Chiefs. It's always a good game when you're playing friends on the other side.
In our third game on Saturday, we got another team we often play here in Florida, Mello Financial. I don't know what our record is against them is but I do know we always have a good game with them. Again a team mate that often plays for us, Jose Rivera, plays for Mello. Unfortunately they beat us 17-23 putting us in the Elimination (sinner's) Bracket for Sunday's games.
These tournaments are really endurance contests. the teams with the deepest rosters and fewest injuries usually win. Still, lose twice and you're out.
At 8am Sunday we faced the Windsor Chiefs again as they had survived their first games in the Elimination Bracket. We handily beat them 26-16 to extend our series streak against them to 5 of 7.
Now, for the first time, in the tournament we faced a team we hadn't played before, The Silver Streaks from Texas. We pounded the ball pretty hard and beat them 31-16 to win at least third place. That win put us into the game for second place.
Once again our old nemesis, Mello Financial, was our opponent. Unfortunately our streak ended here with a very closely fought contest. We had them on the ropes early, posting a couple of 5 run innings but they came from behind to take the lead while we struggled a bit in the middle innings. Then we came back from 8 down to tie the game in the top of the 7th but failed to hold them as we got two outs and walked the bases loaded to keep the force play in effect. Jose Rivera (playing for Mello) stood at third base, after running for a lame team mate and going first to third on a long out. The next batter managed a hard grounder down the right field foul line that our first baseman missed by a half inch to score the winning run. A clean scoop and we'd have had new life. So it goes, a game of inches. 21-22 was the final score and third place for us.
Just as well, it would have taken two more wins to eliminate the top of the Championship Bracket and we had pretty much left it all on the field in the three games we played. We were down to two or three guys that could still run for others. Everyone was breathing hard and feeling the aches and pains of our ages by the end of the third game. On the plus side, we scored 78 runs in three games on Sunday. That's more like it.
As it turns out Mello beat Midwest Express, a team from Nebraska & Iowa, twice by big scores of 21-5 and 25-7 or something like that to win the championship and take home the trophy. Way to go Jose! It just goes to show you. We were only a run or a few hits from winning the whole thing. Hey, at least a Florida team and our Mello friends won.
It was a fun series; would have been more fun if we'd have won but c'est la vie.
I'd play ball with these guys anyplace, anytime. Thanks for letting me play with you guys and thanks for putting up with my lame jokes. Next time we'll win it all.
Ron Butler
Thursday, February 5, 2015
National League 3 Team game Field B Feb 3, 2015
National League game on Field B pitted the National’s as the batting team. Manager Black submitted this line up. Waddell, Altemose, Peterson, Lopez, Burns, Wilcox, Crowe, Ayers, Pelletier, Black, Strait, and Bowley. The sit team (Cubs) managed by LaMay posted his line up this way. Thompson, Shaffer, Scarbrough, Michalski, Marinacci (know as Hector), Stepp, Mohan, Baker, Leggett, DePalma, McPartlan, and Yarletts. The field team Braves) managed by Powell went with this order. Turpin, Macko, King, McLellan, Lautenschlager, Augenstein, Ragonese, Ayala, Bloom, Powell, Podbielski, and Morey.
Leading Hitters for the Nationals were Altemose 3-4, Wilcox 2-3, Crowe 2-3, Waddell 2-4
Leading Hitters for the Cubs were Shaffer 4-4, G. Baker 2-3, McPartlan 2-3, Thompson 2-4, Scarbrough 2-4, Michalski 2-4, Marinacci 2-4
Leading Hitters for the Braves were King 5-5, Ayala 3-4, Bloom 3-4, Lautenschlager 3-4, Turpin 3-5, Macko 3-5, Augenstein 2-4, Ragonese 2-4, Podbielski 2-4
Final Score - Nationals 7 Cubs 12 Braves 22
Extra base hits: Wilcox 3B, Shaffer HR, Scarbrough 2 DBLS, Michalski 3B, King 2B,3B, Lautenschalger HR, DBL.
Write up by Don LaMay
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
GOOD NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH
The City of Auburndale has graciously agreed to allow WHSS to use the Auburndale Softball Complex on Tuesdays and Fridays for the first three weeks in March. The Board of Directors will be discussing this issue at the board meeting on February 17th and more news will be available after the board meeting. We will resume normal play in Winter Haven on Tuesday, March 24th.
don witmer, commissioner
The City of Auburndale has graciously agreed to allow WHSS to use the Auburndale Softball Complex on Tuesdays and Fridays for the first three weeks in March. The Board of Directors will be discussing this issue at the board meeting on February 17th and more news will be available after the board meeting. We will resume normal play in Winter Haven on Tuesday, March 24th.
don witmer, commissioner
This was a two team game. The visitors were the Marlins, managed by Jeff Simon. Their lineup was D. Hill, Simon, Grabb, Remington, Marino, Zakrowski, Benson, G. Seguin, Moots, Baker and Gibson. The home team was the Pirates, managed by Floyd Welton. Their lineup was Barnes, F. Miller, Mahon, Guspyt, Hawbaker, Parker, Bess, Witter, Welton, Ducham and Kline. This was a contest that saw the Marlins open up a big lead early and after four innings of play the score was 14-4. The next two innings saw the lead increase as the Marlin bats stayed red hot. After six innings the lead had increased for the Marlins to 22-11. In the seventh frame the Pirates bats came alive by scoring 6 runs and the Marlins added only 3 runs. In the top of the eighth inning the Marlins went three and out. Down by eight runs in the bottom of the eighth the Pirates continued their hot hitting and with a fierce competitive spirit scored seven runs to trail by only one run going into the top of the ninth. This game was going to be decided in the last inning. The Marlins were up to the challenge with their best offensive inning of the season by scoring 13 runs to take a decisive 14 run lead over the Pirates. The Pirates did not score in the bottom of the ninth and the Marlins get the win. Leading hitters for the Marlins: D. Hill 6-7 2 2B, 3B, Simon 6-7 2B, 2 3B, 5-6 2B,BB, Remington 4-7 2 2B, Zakrowski 6-7, Benson 4-7 2HR, G. Seguin 4-5 BB, 2HR, Moots 4-6, Baker 3-6, Baker 3-6. Leading hitters for the Pirates: Barnes 2-5 2BB, Mahon 5-7 HR, Guspyt 4-5 BB, 3B, Hawbaker 4-5 BB, Parker 5-6 2B,HR, Ducham 3-5,and Kline 4-4 2B. WP was G. Seguin. Pool players are thanked for their participation. Danny Parker was the pool player for the Pirates and Jack Benson was the pool player for the Marlins. Congratulations go out to all players for a close and hard fought contest.
Write up by Jeff Simon
Taits vs JD's started out close, 5 to 3, in favor of Taits. Leadoff homer by Jose Rivera and 5 consecutive hits accounted for the 5 runs. The Taits continued the 5 run tallies for the next 5 innings totaling 30 runs for the game. Highlights were another homer from Jose and homers from Hamilton,Stier, and Essenmacher and clutch hitting thru out the Taits lineup. JD's boys could only counter with 8 tallies of their own. Final score for game 1 was 30-11.
Taits Leading hitters
Saints and Sinners
Game 1
You know how it is. When you can't buy a win, you know you must be in the sinner's bracket. At least that's how it feels.In the first game of our double header with Freddy's Angels (read Saints), my fun loving Sinners (team Butler) managed to tie the game at 10 apiece at the bottom of the third. After that we scored a measly 2 runs to the Angels 8 making the final 18-12 Visitors over the Home team. Once again, "If they don't win it's a shame".
Oh well, as Billy Joel said, "I'd rather party with the Sinners than pray with the Saints, the sinners are much more fun." The trouble is my sinners ain't havin' much fun. (that must be a song lyric from somewhere).
Winning pitcher: Pat Lopiccolo
Leading Hitters Game 1
Saints
- Constantine 3 for 4 HR 2B
- Witmer 3 for 4 2B
- Giordano 2 for 3 BB
- Pinnick 2 for 3
- Borrelli 2 for 3
- LoPiccolo 2 for 3
Sinners
- Brock 3 for 4 3B
- Deemie 4 for 4 2B
- Walsko 3 for 3 2B
Game 2
What can I say, if we're not the sinners then we're the Bad News Bears. We might be on our way to setting a record; a record for losses that is.The Saints polished off the Sinners again in the second game. And once again, the score was tied up in the third when the Sinners put up their only 5 run frame making the score this time 8-8.
After that it was downhill all the way as the Sinners only managed a single run the rest of the game.
Their one and final run came with two out in the top of the 6th when Ron Butler (me) tripled to center and Walt Deemie, nursing a strained quad, cashed in the RBI, hobbling into third for back to back triples. Unfortunately, Walt was stranded at third and except for that one run 6th inning the rest were zeros.
Freddy's Angels (or Saints) on the other hand kept the pressure on, scoring in every inning except the last (when the Home team didn't have to bat).
Final Score 9-16. Winning pitcher: Steve Pinnick
Leading Hitters Game 2
Sinners
- Andrews 2 for 3
- Lafoon 2 for 3
- Brock 2 for 3 2B
- Butler 2 for 3 3B
- Deemie 3 for 3
- Hite 2 for 3
Saints
- Gonzalez 2 for 3 BB
- Witmer 3 for 4 2B
- Toro 3 for 3 SAC 2B 3B
- Jacobson 1 for 1 SAC BB
- Humphrey 2 for 3
- Giordano 2 for 3
- Torres 3 for 3 2B
- Borelli 2 for 3
submitted by Ron Butler
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