July 2006 News Archive

May - June - July 2006 - The webmaster took an extended vacation.  On May 28th, it was off to France for a nine day education tour with the Lakeland school system & a private Christian school group from Tuscon, Arizona.  Upon return, the next stop was Texas to visit family.  Visits were made to Wimberley, Austin, San Antonio, Texas City, League City, Dickinson, & Galveston. After a Half Century weekend softball tournament at Cocoa Beach, Jacksonville was on the agenda.  Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for a week was next, followed by an extended visit to West Virginia.  Visits were made in Romney, Martinsburg, & Sharpsburg.  A one day trip to Washington, D.C. was included as well as a day trip to Hagerstown, Maryland. Pictures are identified as follows: Fred Dampier at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France; the Mississippi Welcome Center on the way to Texas; the Mountain View Lodge in Wimberley, Texas; the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas; Fred & Joy at the Galveston Beach; two pics at the Antietam National Cemetery in Sharpsburg, West Virginia; the nation's Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. July 21st - It's been over a month since a game has been reported, but, with the exception of Friday, July 28th, the vacation season is over for this reporter.  The turnout during the summer has been sparse & only 18 ballplayers showed up to play in the heat today. The contest was exciting since the score was tied 19-19 going into the 7th and final inning.  After the visiting team scored two runs to take the lead, the home team came right back with two runs to tie the game after regulation play.  With two outs in the bottom of the 7th, Rusty Landahl singled to leftfielder Randy Lane.  Randy relayed the ball to shortstop Larry Powell, who fired the ball to catcher Morris Rosenhack to get baserunner Murray Graveline out at home and take the game into extra innings. The top of the 8th began with a barrage of hitting from near the top of the lineup.  Randy Lane singled, followed by a double by Ron Thompson, a triple by Fred Dampier, a triple by Larry Powell, & a single by Sam Harrell.  The four runs scored with those hits were enough the seal the win for the visiting team as they held the top of the home team lineup scoreless to end the game.  The final score was 25-21.  Larry Powell started the game for the visiting team & Ron Thompson relieved him & recorded the win.  The home team pitcher was Dick Sessink. Jim Laffoon blasted four balls over the short fence for doubles & Ron Thompson drove two balls over the fence. Morris Rosenhack connected for an opposite field hit to rightfielder Billy McDonough & over the head of defending 1st baseman Rusty Landahl.  Sam Harrell scored on the play.  Nice hit Morris. Rusty Landahl played 1st base for both sides so the teams would even out at nine per team & he also was in the batting lineup for both sides.  Rusty ended the day with an outstanding 9 hits in 10 at bats! Two double plays were turned by the winning team.  The first play involved shortstop Ron Thompson to 2nd baseman Sam Harrell to 1st baseman Rusty Landahl.  The other double play began with a grounder to shortstop Larry Powell.  Larry flipped the ball to 2nd baseman Sam Harrell, who threw to 1st baseman Joel Freedman. The home team turned two double plays of their own.  Shortstop Jim Laffoon fielded a grounder, stepped on 2nd base & fired to 1st baseman Rusty Landahl.  Jim also caught a line drive from the bat of Fred Dampier & fired to first to get the runner attempting to retreat back to the base. In the very first inning, leftfielder Bill Walker caught a long fly out for the first out & a line drive for the third out of the inning. A nice play was made on a two out hit by Elvis Abney.  Centerfielder Murray Graveline relayed the ball to shortstop Jim Laffoon & Jim cut down the runner headed for home with a perfect throw to catcher Joe DeForge.  Good play guys. Murray Graveline returned to the Winter Haven Senior Softball Club.  Murray is a retired post office employee & last played for the Black Team during the 2004 season.  Welcome back, Murray. July 25th - There was a good turnout today, the best in about two months, as 21 ballplayers arrived at the old ballpark for the game.  A few players in attendance haven't been playing on a regular basis this summer.  Kenny Duell, Dean Schapeler, Tim Gallagher, & Ed Neumyer all joined the regulars today. For the second straight playing date, the game went down to the wire.  The home team tied the game at 14 with two runs in the bottom of the 6th inning.  The visiting team was held scoreless going into the bottom of the 7th & last frame so the home team needed only one run for the win. Doug Chamlee, returning from shoulder surgery to begin playing again for the first time since before the 2006 January through March season began, batted with one out in the 7th & got his fourth straight hit.  Ron Thompson pinch ran for Doug and advanced to 3rd base on a single by Sam Harrell. After the 2nd out was made, leadoff batter Ed Neumyer came through with the game winning single when he connected for an opposite field hit in the direction of rightfielder Vassurl Bess.  The final score was 15-14 as Fred Dampier received the win against opposing pitcher Dick Sessink. The game was played on the short field & Jim Laffoon continued his hitting barrage with three balls over the fence before he walked on four straight pitches in his last plate appearance.  Combined with his offense this past Friday, Jim hit seven consecutive balls over the fence. Of the four hits from the bat of Doug Chamlee, two were over the fence.  One of the balls hit the top of the chain link fence & bounced over. Reg Barnes drove a deep hit over the defending fielders for a double & Fred Dampier went 4 for 4 with two triples.  One of the hits by Fred was a left centerfield shot that came within a few inches of clearing the fence. Perhaps the best fielding play today occurred when Ron Butler hit a hard grounder to the right of shortstop Jim Laffoon.  The ball skipped out of the glove, but Jim was able to retrieve the ball & throw a rocket to 1st baseman Rusty Landahl to get the runner out by less than half a step.  Great play Jim. As mentioned earlier, Doug Chamlee began playing again.  In the exhibition game the Center State Bank Black team played before the season began, Doug reached for a ball while in the field & hurt an already damaged shoulder.  The attempt to get the ball resulted in a season ending injury that required surgery.  Doug has been faithful to the Winter Haven Senior Softball Club by volunteering to umpire many times & everyone appreciates his dedication.  Doug has returned playing again & we all welcome him back onto the field.

June 2006