Friday, March 30th
After reading some of Nicks write up for the American League, sounds like there were two really good games on Friday. In the National League S. Hills Heros took on Hite's Hammers and it was a seesaw battle. Largest lead was 5-1 in favor of Hill after 1 inning. From there, there was 2 ties and 3 lead changes. By the end of 6 it was 9-6 in Favor of Steve Hill but Hite came up with 4 in the 8th and 2 more in the top of 9 holding a 12-9 lead and just needing to hold in the bottom of 9. Hill scored 2, were down by 1 with 2 outs, runners on all bases and new guy Gray steps to the plate and promptly pounds a wicked hit to right center scoring 2 for the win. WOW. 2 walk off hits on same day. This was one of the most fun and enjoyable game I have ever been involved in in 6 years. Umpiring was excellent as there were no disagreements. 
Write Up by Loren Fabian

Happy Easter

We had a wild hare of a game in the AL, on 3/30, Good Friday, Easter weekend. I’m not talking Nick Matta, wild hair, I mean a wild Easter Bunny game.

The Easter Bunny, (also called the Easter Rabbit or Easter Hare), is a folkloric figure and symbol of Easter, depicted as a rabbit bringing Easter eggs. Originating among German Lutherans, the "Easter Hare" originally played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behavior at the start of the season of Eastertide. The custom was first observed in 1682, referring to a German tradition of an Easter Hare bringing Easter eggs for the children. (Wikipedia).

Team Cottontail, Visitors: Stier, Wiltshire, Shirer, Guzzo, Busch, Laffoon, Zelazny, Gutenberger, DeRidder, Pepin, Dampier and Wells.

Team Flopsy and Mopsy, Home: Hicks, Hamilton, Rad, Jacobson, Matta, Witmer, Dale Bancroft, Book, Scarbrough, Reagen, Knox and Constantine.

Team Cottontail, hopped down the bunny trail in the first inning, scoring a run. Stier started the hoppy experience with a single. Wiltshire, then singled Stier to third. Guzzo drove in the run with a single. Team Cottontail continued to fill up their basket with candy, scoring two more runs in the 2^nd and 3^rd innings. After three innings, the score was 5-0, in favor of the anthropomorphic rabbit.

Team Flopsy and Mopsy were busy flopping, at least on offense, for the first six innings. The only thing we were able to add to the scoreboard were Easter egg, zeros. Both teams played really good defense. Pepin, Guttenberger and Shirer ran down some fly balls, like they had a little rabbit in them, for the visitors. Team Flopsy and Mopsy turned 5 double plays; thanks to the infield of Hamilton, Rad, Matta, Scarbrough and Jacobson. One outfield highlight was a shoestring catch that Steve Hicks made in left-center field. Steve then he doubled the runner off of 2^nd base. We went into the bottom of the 7^th inning with Cottontail leading, 5-0. Team Flopsy-Mopsy was as silent as a marshmallow peep.  

It was in the bottom of the 7^th that Team Flopsy and Mopsy started their resurrection. We scored our first two runs of the game. Hamilton tripled, Rad hit the jellybean to the leftfield fence, for a HR. It was not our last supper though. We came back in the 8^th to score a run, matching the solo run that Cottontail had scored. Larry Book doubled, then Reagen singled him in. After 8 innings the score was Cottontail: 6- Flopsy and Mopsy: 3.

Cottontail was shut out in the 9^th.  They wanted to seal the tomb, on defense, as the Home team came up for their last at bat. Team Flopsy-Mopsy needed 4 runs to win the game. Although keep in mind that through 8 innings, we had only managed to score 3 runs. It was if the Visiting team had dropped us in boiling water and hard boiled us. Easter is a time of miracles and teaches us that you have to have faith.

We were able to roll away the stone in the 9^th. Hicks started the inning with a double, Hamilton hit his 2^nd triple of the game, to score Hicks. Rad then doubled in Hicks. Matta tied the game with a single to right, scoring Rad. Witmer won the game driving in Matta, (pinch runner, Hicks) when he doubled up the middle. Final Score: Cottontail: 6-Flopsy/Mopsy: 7.

It was a fun game, of course, a softball game is in no way a miracle. Although it certainly is a blessing that we can play ball at our age. The greatest miracle and blessing came over 2000 years ago when God sacrificed His Son, for our sins. Then Jesus conquered death, with his resurrection.  Because of those acts we can have redemption and eternal life, by committing our lives to God through the sacrifice of Jesus. We can also experience answer to prayers and have covenant with God. I wish you all a Happy Easter and Passover.

Those who earned chocolate bunnies for Cottontail:

Stier: 3/4.

Wiltshire: 2/4 with a triple.

Guzzo: 2/4.

Busch: 2/4.

Laffoon: 2/4

Dampier: 2/3 with a double.

Flopsy and Mopsy players who earn peanut butter eggs:

Hicks: 3/4 with a double.

Hamilton: 2/4 with two triples.

Rad: 3/4 with a HR and a double.

Matta: 2/4.

Witmer: 3/4 with a double.

Book: 2/3 with a double.

Knox: 2/3.

Written by Nick Matta

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If you gave Loren Fabian your jacket to get embroidered, it will be available on Tuesday, April 3rd. If you have any questions about your jacket, please call Loren at 507.280.7117.

Thanks.

Tuesday, March 27th

WOW. One of the best comebacks I have seen and been involved in. S. Hill's home team took a commanding lead into the 7th inning of 19-9 and could not seem to do anything wrong with Pat Lopiccolo on the mound and using the wind to his advantage. HOWEVER in the top of the 8th Kings Kruisers batted more than around and tied it at 19-19. Ok. OJs put up 2 in the bottom of 8 and just had to hold King in the top of the 9th but couldn't as they put up 4 and went peacefully 1 2 3 in the bottom of the 9th for a 23-21 fantastic come back win. Dean Shapeler and Larry Chrest both had great catches in the outfield. Russ King at 3rd base caught a hot smash off the bat of I think our oldest player, Jim McPartlan even tho he had to catch it 4 times without hitting the ground. 

And my hero Mr. Don LaMay was 5 for 5 and Larry Strait pinch running for him from the plate scored 5 runs in Don's honor with Larry Chrest having to slow up to not pass Strait. Amazing. 

Congratulations Don on a fantastic last game at WHSS. Make sure all your softball and golf buddies see this. It is an honor to play with you sir. By the way, he had a put at home plate also which thinking about it now saved one or more runs. Remember the score was 23-21. 

Write up by Loren Fabian

REMINDER     REMINDER     REMINDER     REMINDER

There will be no games in Winter Haven on Friday, March 23rd. There is a SSUSA Spring National Tournament being held in Winter Haven at the Diamondplex .

See you Tuesday morning at the sign up table.

Tuesday March 20, 2018  Field D

Today’s game played on Field D was the two teams that ended the season in first and second place.  The OJ’s were short players today.  One of the subs was Walt Leggett just off the DL.  Good to see you back Walt.

The OJ’s came out with bats blasting, Torres hit a sharp drive up the middle but was out at first with a good throw from Hite to first.  Hill lines one deep to right center and LaTourneau made a great running catch.  Then after 2 out Laffoon triples, Schapeler triples, Lopez triples (but stops at 2^nd base), so Capozzi gets into the game with another triple, and Wells drive in the 3^rd run of the game.

There was a lot of good hitting and fielding today, highlighted by 2 line drives to the fence of the bats of Joe LeTourneau and Steve Hill.  Thanks to Bob Hite for playing 2^nd base for both teams.  Game called after the 7^th inning.  Reason, food and drinks were being served.  Thanks to the league and all the Board of Directors from the Winter Have Senior Softball League for all their work.

Oh! Final score was Braves 17 OJ’s 12.

Winning pitcher Gerry Andrews

Hitting stars – Everyone

 

Submitted by Don LaMay

Tuesday, March 20th
Spring must be here or it must be Mike Cobb's birthday or just the return of Frank Jacobs in the lineup and outfield or little help from our lucky Irish man Nick Burns. JD's KFC ALLSTARS  Bombed Al's Yankees Bombers 21 to 17. The KFC ALLSTARS led until the 6th inning when the bombers bats came alive tying the game 15 to 15 with Mr. muscle man Jose Rivera hitting a triple and an inside the park homer 4/5 for the day. The speedy Pete Gutenberger also hit a inside the park homer 3/4 for the day. The bombers could only mustard up 17 runs for the day, tired from all the scoring all season.Great job Les Jacobson and Al Guzzo. The leading hitters for Yankees were Jacobson 3/5 1 double, Alumbaugh 3/5, 5 hitters with 2 hits apiece Boswell, Dampier, Constantine1 double Book 1 double, DeRidder 1 double good season guys,  But JD's KFC ALLSTARS just hammered away at the bombers. Leading hitters for KFC ALL Stars were Larry Wells 4/5 , Brian Busch 5/5 1 triple, Rad Pcholinski a inside the park homer 4/5 great job the Capt. Tony Q. 4/5 1 double good hitting ,Nick Burns 4/5 1 double good job Nick, Lou Abreu 2/3 with 2 walks good job 3 players with 3 hits Bobby Reagen 3/5, Mike Cobb a birthday double  J.D 1 triple good season KFC ALLSTARS great job.
Write up by JD Davis