Winter Haven Senior Softball Club

Winter Haven Senior Softball Club
Winter Haven, Florida

July 30th - The last game for the month of July involved a three team contest.

Team One began the game with a few runs. After the lead off hitter flew out to right centerfielder Tom Wise, the bases were loaded with singles. Ron Thompson, Jim Laffoon, and Regis Finnegan all had clean base raps. Ron Butler sacrificed in the first run before Sam Lopez and Sam Harrell each had RBI base hits.

The middle team also started with a fly ball out. This one was skied to rightfielder Richard Marino. Wayne Mundy followed with a hit and advanced to third when Don Witmer reached base on a booted ball in the infield. Roger Edwards made the defensive team pay for their blunder when he doubled both base runners home. Afterwards, Don Scarbrough laced a rope to right centerfield for a single, driving home Roger. The next batter, Kirk Coffman, drew his first walk this off season and RBI singles from the bats of Larry Wells and Walt Leggett completed the five run inning.

The home team got in on the scoring action in the first frame, too. Fred Dampier began with a triple in the direction of rightfielder Vassurl Bess. The next batter was victim to the change up of opposing pitcher Dick Sessink as he went down on strikes. With the first out in the books, Chris Constantine singled Fred home and Chuck Duff doubled Chris to the plate. Frank Acevedo, who is swinging a hot bat lately, had an RBI single. The inning continued with a walk to Doug Chamlee. Russ King knocked in the fourth run with a base hit and Tom Wise singled towards leftfielder Roger Edwards to drive home the fifth and final run of the home first.

The first squad took the lead in the second with a five spot. After the first hitter popped up to shortstop Chris Constantine, Richard Marino reached base on a mishandled ball at first. Gale Doty, who was 3 for 3 on Tuesday, collected his fourth straight single. Lee Baker followed suit with a base hit. That hit rolled over the batting order. Tim Gallagher lined what he thought was a clean single towards left centerfielder Fred Dampier, but Fred got the runner at second for a fielder's choice out. Another dropped ball at first kept the inning alive for Jim Laffoon, who doubled. A base hit by Regis Finnegan drove home the fifth run.

Since Team Two and Team Three were held scoreless, it was 8-5-5 after the completion of two innings of play.

The lead changed in the third when the first squad failed to score. The middle team started with their number one batter. He reached base on a misplayed ball in the infield. Afterwards, Wayne Mundy doubled and Don Witmer and Roger Edwards each banged singles. Kirk Coffman had a one out single and Walt Leggett ended the inning once again, but this time with a sacrifice fly.

The home team also began the frame with their lead off batter. Fred Dampier doubled for his first of three successive two baggers. He scored when Marty Martinez singled towards right centerfielder Reg Barnes. After the next batter flew out to left centerfielder Tim Gallagher, Chuck Duff connected for his second double in as many at bats. Frank Acevedo extended his hot streak with a single. Doug Chamlee then hit a ball between outfielders and coasted around the bases as the ball rolled to the right centerfield fence. He ran out of gas between second and third and had to pull in to the hot corner for a triple. Doug didn't make it home, although he was on third with one out. The home team did rack up four runs in the inning, though.

Team One, who had the lead early in the contest, sort of rolled over and played dead from the fourth through the sixth innings. They could not get a runner past second base and put up goose eggs on the score board.

The battle was now between the second and third teams. Team Two pushed two across in the fifth, thanks to an inside-the-park homer by Don Witmer. Vassurl Bess had singled and Wayne Mundy erased him from the base paths with a grounder fielder’s choice, so Wayne scored in front of Don Witmer.

The home fourth was not much as it turned out. Stevan Hill smashed a gapper for an inside-the-park homer. Oops, wait a minute. The defense noticed that Stevan missed third base, so he was credited with a double and the first out on the appeal play. Stevan is an honest man and admitted to missing the bag. Gene Baker singled and Fred Dampier drove the pinch runner for Gene home with a double. One run in the fourth was the tally.

Only six men stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fifth but two scored. Chris Constantine singled and Chuck Duff hit an opposite field inside-the-park homer. He also hit one in the last game here in Winter Haven.

At the end of five innings of play, the score was 10-12-12.

Team Three sealed the victory in the sixth. No outs were recorded as the team scored five runs. George Radlein, Stevan Hill, Dan Davis, and Gene Baker all had base hits before Fred Dampier and Marty Martinez blasted doubles.

The final score was 10-12-17. George Radlein picked up his second win in as many games. That team scored 17 runs and gave up 10 in the process. The other two pitchers of record were Dick Sessink and Marvin Taylor.

Joel Freedman seems to be a mainstay behind home plate. He umpired at the dish before deciding to rest awhile. Joel then took over the duties of score keeping. Thank you for your dedication, Joel.

LEADING HITTERS:
Fred Dampier: 4 for 4 with 1 triple & 3 doubles.
Chuck Duff: 3 for 3 with 1 homer & 2 doubles.
Roger Edwards: 3 for 3 with 1 triple & 1 double.
Jim Laffoon: 3 for 3 with 1 double & 1 walk.
Stevan Hill: 3 for 3 with 1 double.
Regis Finnegan: 3 for 4.

Chuck Duff and Don Witmer each hit an inside-the-park home run on Fred White Field this morning.

Stevan Hill will be returning back to Stow, Ohio after a one week visit. We will all see you in the Fall, Stevan.

July 27th - It was on the hot side today. The sun was out in full force and the temperature was hovering just above the 90° F by the time the game was finished. There was not a dry shirt in the dugout today.

Three teams of 11 players each took the field. Although the line up of the home squad comprised several

players who were not fleet of foot when it came to base running, they were filled with hitters. It was predicted after one inning of play that they would have the highest score and the team did just that.

The first team were the low guys on the totem pole, scoring a whopping eight runs in the seven inning contest. Clean up hitter Jim Laffoon hit well, as expected. He went 4 for 4 with one homer and one double. There were several inside-the-park homers but the one Jim hit was by far the most legit. He drove a ball deep to rightfield way over the head of Vassurl Bess. Not only was it a blast, but also the ball was to the complete opposite field by righty Jim.

The lead off hitter for Team One did his job. Frank Acevedo batted 3 for 4. He scored a run in his last trip to the plate.

Team Two spread their 11 runs throughout the scorecard. The first and last batters were the only two who

didn't score at least one run. Ron Butler, Chuck Duff, and Dick Sessink each found their way home two times. The team scored in every inning but never more than two runs in any frame.

Team Three lead the pack with 17 runs. Ron Thompson hit for the cycle in four at bats. Gale Doty, batting in the 11 hole, went 3 for 3. The runner for Gale scored twice. Doug Chamlee was dependable, too. He had four hits in four trips to the plate. One was a gapper double.

The final score was 8-11-17. George Radlein was the only pitcher of the three who recorded a win. He pitched for the powerful home team, which scored 17 runs but surrendered only eight in the contest. The other two pitchers were Sam Harrell and Dick Sessink.

Joel Freedman umpired behind the plate and kept the game going at a steady pace on this hot and humid morning.

LEADING HITTERS:
Ron Thompson: 4 for 4 and hit for the cycle.
Jim Laffoon: 4 for 4 with 1 homer & 1 double.
Doug Chamlee: 4 for 4 with 1 double.
Gale Doty: 3 for 3.
George Radlein: 3 for 4 with 1 triple.
Bob Zelazny: 3 for 4 with 1 triple.
Frank Acevedo: 3 for 4.

Chuck Duff, Regis Finnegan, Jim Laffoon, and Ron Thompson each hit an inside-the-park home run this morning.

Stevan Hill is visiting from Ohio and dropped by the old ball park for a competitive game of softball. Steven, who played in the infield for the AL pennant winning Florida Cardiology Tigers, was assigned to right centerfield for the first team. He did a fine job at his new position.

	Polk County Senior Softball Hall of Fame.








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	How to score keep.








	Driving Directions to Winter Haven Softball Fields - Polk Community College DiamondPlex.
	Driving Directions to Southwest Complex in Lakeland from Winter Haven.