April 1st - Wednesday - The 2009 season statistics leaders are listed. The statistics are only as accurate as the score sheets.
| Batting Average | Ron Thompson | .765 |
| Ron Augenstein | .753 | |
| Frank Miller | .735 |
| On Base Percentage | Ron Thompson | .771 |
| Ron Augenstein | .769 | |
| Frank Miller | .741 |
| Slugging Percentage | Ron Thompson | 1.531 |
| Bernie Peterson | 1.252 | |
| Ron Aguenstein | 1.144 |
| OPS | Ron Thompson | 2.302 |
| Ron Augenstein | 1.913 | |
| Bernie Peterson | 1.904 |
| At Bats | Bob Lewis | 116 |
| Fred Ducham | 116 | |
| Bill Ayer | 114 | |
| Walt Leggett | 113 | |
| Frank Miller | 113 |
| Runs Scored | Frank Miller | 75 |
| Fred Ducham | 70 | |
| Ron Augenstein | 67 |
| Hits | Frank Miller | 83 |
| Elmer Wilcox | 80 | |
| Floyd Welton | 79 |
| Doubles | Ron Thompson | 22 |
| Bernie Peterson | 20 | |
| Frank Miller | 19 |
| Triples | Ron Thompson | 10 |
| Walt Leggett | 9 | |
| Ron Augenstein | 8 | |
| Floyd Welton | 8 | |
| Elmer Wilcox | 8 |
| Home Runs | Bernie Peterson | 13 |
| Ron Thompson | 11 | |
| Randy Hill | 8 |
| Total Bases | Ron Thompson | 150 |
| Bernie Peterson | 134 | |
| Frank Miller | 123 |
| Walks | Terry Feehan | 14 |
| Lee Baker | 13 | |
| Joe DeForge | 12 |
| Sacrifice Flys | Randy Hill | 3 |
| Elvis Abney | 2 | |
| Ed Kline | 2 | |
| Elmer Black | 2 | |
| John Smith | 2 | |
| Don LaMay | 2 | |
| Fred Ducham | 2 | |
| 21 tied with | 1 |
| Pitching Wins | Elmer Wilcox | 13 |
| Rich Palmer | 12 | |
| Marvin Taylor | 6 |
| Batting Average | Bob Zelazny | .740 |
| Don Erb | .727 | |
| Jim Laffoon | .723 |
| On Base Percentage | Bob Zelazny | .748 |
| Jim Laffoon | .730 | |
| Don Erb | .709 |
| Slugging Percentage | Don Erb | 1.475 |
| Bob DiPietro | 1.263 | |
| Brent Alumbaugh | 1.242 |
| OPS | Don Erb | 2.184 |
| Bob DiPietro | 1.925 | |
| Bob Zelazny | 1.918 |
| At Bats | Chris Constantine | 108 |
| Don Witmer | 106 | |
| Al Andrews | 103 | |
| Mike Stepp | 103 |
| Runs Scored | Don Erb | 63 |
| Jim Laffoon | 61 | |
| Chris Constantine | 56 |
| Hits | Bob Zelazny | 74 |
| Jim Laffoon | 73 | |
| Don Erb | 72 |
| Doubles | Al Andrews | 25 |
| Bob DiPietro | 22 | |
| Don Erb | 22 | |
| Joe D'Herin | 19 | |
| Fred Dampier | 19 |
| Triples | Brent Alumbaugh | 13 |
| Bob Zelazny | 13 | |
| Don Erb | 11 | |
| Don Witmer | 11 | |
| Mike Urell | 8 |
| Home Runs | Don Erb | 10 |
| Don Witmer | 6 | |
| Freddy Gonzalez | 5 | |
| Bob DiPietro | 5 |
| Total Bases | Don Erb | 146 |
| Brent Alumbaugh | 123 | |
| Bob Zelazny | 117 |
| Walks | Dennis Holder | 17 |
| Vassurl Bess | 17 | |
| Keith Linton | 14 | |
| Ted Taylor | 14 | |
| Jim Laffoon | 11 |
| Sacrifice Flys | Don Erb | 5 |
| George Radlein | 4 | |
| Jerry Remington | 4 | |
| Brent Alumbaugh | 4 | |
| Don Bercaw | 3 | |
| Sam Lopez | 3 | |
| Denny Shaffer | 3 | |
| Jim Laffoon | 3 |
| Pitching Wins | Eddie Diaz | 15 |
| Larry Powell | 13 | |
| Jerry Witter | 9 |
April 3rd - With the skies threatening rain this morning, enough players showed up at the old ballpark to field three teams. The gloomy darkness turned into rain that completely flooded the infield before the third inning was complete.
Before the sky caved in, some players were hitting with authority. Hector Marinacci hit a solo inside-the-park homer in the bottom of the first and hit a run producing double in the second inning. Al Andrews, Ed Kline, Larry Powell, and Denny Shaffer each had two singles in two at bats. Roger Edwards was 2 for 2 with a triple.
Let's try again on Tuesday, guys.
Two new players joined the Winter Haven Senior Softball Club this morning. Richard Marino is originally from Connecticut and Clarance "Skip" Morrison is from upstate New York. Welcome aboard Richard and Skip.
April 7th - A cold front blew in during the evening hours and the temperature was hovering around 64 ° F at game time. It seemed colder since the winds were gusting over 30 MPH.
Two fields were utilized 39 players showed up for the game.
On Fred White Field, the home team pulled out a 30-26 victory after beginning strong. Eddie Diaz recorded the win while piling up eight strikeouts. The visiting starting pitcher was Elmer Wilcox. Jerry Witter relieved Elmer in the fifth inning and finished the game. Today was Jerry's last day since he will be returning to Addison, New York this weekend.
Inside-the-park homers: two for Al Andrews and one each for Ron Butler, Fred Dampier, Wayne Mundy, and Elmer Wilcox.
LEADING HITTERS:
Ron Thompson - 6 for 6 with 4 doubles & 1 walk.
Elmer Wilcox - 6 for 7 with 1 homer & 1 triple.
Wayne Mundy - 5 for 6 and hit for the cycle.
Ron Butler - 5 for 6 with 1 homer.
Eddie Diaz - 5 for 6 with 2 doubles.
Fred Dampier - 4 for 5 with 1 homer, 1 double, & 1 walk.
Gene Morey - 4 for 5.
The game on Field D pitted pitcher Don Witmer against himself. Don elected not to bat and volunteered to pitch for both teams. Thank you Don. Don was so efficient on the mound that the game had been completed while the other game was still in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The visiting team was down six runs heading into the third inning but rallied to tie the score. Frank Miller knocked a two run inside-the-park homer to begin the scoring for the away team. A single from the bat of Pat Accetta drove home the last two runs.
The home team failed to score in only one inning. They were shut down in the eighth frame but won 21-17.
Inside-the-park homers: Hector Marinacci, Frank Miller, and Mike Stepp.
LEADING HITTERS:
Jim Laffoon - 5 for 6.
Hector Marinacci - 4 for 5 with 1 homer & 1 triple.
Frank Miller - 4 for 5 with 1 homer & 1 double.
Joe D'Herin - 4 for 5.
April 10th - The league is still strong enough for four teams and several fans were in the front row seats at the old ball park this morning. Although not a sell out, the crowd today was probably in the top five this year.
On Fred White Field, the home team won by a score of 21-14. Elmer Wilcox recorded the win against fellow pitcher Eddie Diaz. Eddie didn’t get enough run support. That was evident when the team was down in the fourth inning. They scored seven runs just to get back into the game but were still two runs short of a tie at that time. Everyone in the 10 man lineup except one player punched out a hit. The double by Russ King was the only extra base hit in the visiting fourth.
The home team scored 14 of their 21 runs in the first four frames, so they had a big cushion to work with as the game progressed into the later innings.
The five run seventh sealed the victory. Ted Taylor and Roger Edwards each doubled and Frank Miller had a triple. A double from the bat of Elmer Wilcox drove Frank home for the fifth and final run.
Inside-the-park homers: Sam Lopez, Hector Marinacci, and Frank Miller.
LEADING HITTERS:
Elmer Wilcox - 5 for 5 with 2 doubles.
Ed Kline - 5 for 5.
Hector Marinacci - 4 for 4 with 1 homer, 1 triple, 2 doubles, & 1 walk.
Roger Edwards - 4 for 5 with 1 triple & 3 doubles.
Russ King - 4 for 5 with 1 triple & 1 double.
Frank Miller - 4 for 5 with 1 homer & 1 triple.
Rich Moots - 4 for 5.
Sam Lopez - 3 for 4 with 1 homer, 1 triple, & 1 walk.
Ron Thompson - 3 for 4 with 1 double & 1 walk.
The game on Field E ended up 18-14, but the visiting team jumped off to a 12-0 lead before the good guys got any type of offense started. The first four batters in the lineup each scored twice as the visitors hung five spots on the score board in the first and second innings. Of the four who scored twice, Fred Dampier went 2 for 2 with a homer and a double, Joe D’Herin and Chuck Duff each went 2 for 2 with a double and a single, and Denny Shaffer had two singles.
The fifth frame was productive for the home team. They were down 12-3 when it was their turn to bat. And bat they did. Terry Feehan, Lee Baker, and Freddy Gonzalez began with base hits before the first out was in the books. Jim Laffoon smacked a two run triple and Bob Zelazny followed that up with a two run homer. Five runs crossed the plate and the score had been narrowed down to 12-8.
The home team made a run in the ninth with four runs but fell short by four runs. Larry Wells hit an opposite field homer in the ninth that sailed way over the head of rightfielder Gene Baker. In the eighth, Larry picked on Gene with a triple over his head.
Inside-the-park homers: Fred Dampier, Jim Laffoon, Doug McLellan, Larry Wells, and Bob Zelazny.
LEADING HITTERS:
Jim Laffoon - 5 for 5 with 1 homer & 1 triple.
Chuck Duff - 5 for 5 with 1 double.
Doug McLellan - 4 for 4 with 1 homer, 1 double, & 1 sacrifice fly.
Fred Dampier - 5 for 6 with 1 homer & 2 doubles.
Bob Zelazny - 4 for 5 with 1 homer, 1 triple, & 2 doubles.
Joe D’Herin - 3 for 4 with 1 double & 1 sacrifice fly.
April 14th - The chance of rain in the area increased from 40% yesterday afternoon to 70% this morning. The weatherman didn't disappoint. Menacing dark dark clouds covered practically the entire city of Winter Haven before the games were called after three innings of play because of rain. The low clouds darkened the field and gave the appearance of a domed stadium during the shortened game.
Al Andrews, Eddie Diaz, and Ed Kline got their hacks in before packing up and heading home. Each player knocked inside-the-park homers on Fred White Field.
Stay tuned as we try again on Friday.
April 17th - Two fields were allocated for the games this morning. The game on Fred White Field ended with the score of 19-10. The winning team didn’t take the lead until the third inning but held it from that point forward. Five runs scored in the third. Hot hitter Lee Baker lead off with a single and that was followed by a base hit from the bat of Reg Barnes. Ron Butler doubled in the first run. A single by Glenn Holland knocked in another run. Russ King stepped into a pitch of his liking and banged an inside-the-park homer to cap off the inning.
They added five more in the next frame and the feat was accomplished by means of singles. Doug Chamlee, Eddie Diaz, Fred Ducham, John Merritt, Lee Baker, and Ron Butler all had base hits.
The opposing team did all their damage with the first four batters. Lead off hitter Vassurl Bess had two doubles and scored twice, Mike Stepp doubled and scored two runs, Hector Marinacci was perfect at the plate with a 5 for 5 game with a double, and Angel Merced had an inside-the-park homer.
Besides Angel, Russ King also had an inside-the-park homer on Fred White Field.
LEADING HITTERS:
Hector Marinacci - 5 for 5 with 1 double.
Russ King - 4 for 5 with 1 homer & 1 double.
Doug Chamlee - 4 for 5 with 1 double.
Lee Baker - 3 for 4.
Walt Leggett - 3 for 4.
John Merritt - 3 for 4.
The game on Field E ended with 23-17 score. Of the 23 runs for the victorious team, 15 were scored in three innings. They scored the maximum five runs in the first, fourth, and sixth frames. Within those most productive innings, Brent Alumbaugh went 3 for 3 with two doubles and a triple. He also scored each time. Al Andrews also went 3 for 3. Two of his three hits were doubles.
The team that fell short closed the gap in the final two innings. They were down 23-8 heading into the eighth inning. Don Scarbrough, Sam Lopez, Jim Laffoon, and Gene Morey each singled and Roger Edwards connected for a double. After they were finished the eighth inning, four runs had crossed home plate.
The last inning went well, too. Joe DeForge, who ended the day going 3 for 4, began with a single. Ed Kline tripled afterwards and scored on a Don Scarbrough single. Sam Lopez had a base hit and Wally Granger hit a three run homer.
Wally Granger hit two balls over the fence on Field E and Doug McLellan cleared the fence with one swing. Dennis Holder hit an inside-the-park homer.
LEADING HITTERS:
Jim Laffoon - 5 for 5.
Wally Granger - 4 for 5 with 2 homers & 1 double.
Brent Alumbaugh - 4 for 5 with 1 triple & 2 doubles.
Doug McLellan - 3 for 4 with 1 homer, 1 triple, & 1 walk.
Al Andrews - 3 for 4 with 2 doubles & 1 walk.
Roger Edwards - 3 for 4 with 2 doubles & 1 sacrifice fly.
Joe DeForge - 3 for 4.
April 21st - The league is still holding at four teams. The home team demolished the visitors 32-18 on Fred White Field.
The squad that lost took an early 10-2 lead after two innings of play, though. Fred Dampier received the ultimate compliment from the opposing pitcher. He received a bases empty intentional walk as the pitcher pointed to first base in the top of the second inning of a nine inning game. Now that is what is known as respect with a capital R when a batter is walked that early in a game.
Elvis Abney had two doubles in the first two frames and scored two times. George Radlein walked and singled while scoring one time.
Vassurl Bess, playing shortstop for the home team, scored five times in six at bats. He had two doubles and one triple in the process. Dean Schapeler also scored five runs. He had a dominate day at the plate as he had three inside-the-park homers and a double.
Bernie Mohan was penned in to play third base for the home team and he did a super job at the hot corner. He fielded every ball hit his way that was within reach and made strong and accurate throws to first and second base. Utility player Bernie may have found a new home at that position.
Inside-the-park homers on Fred White Field: Dean Schapeler had three, Ron Butler hit two and one each came from the bats of Fred Dampier, Eddie Diaz, Frank Miller, and Bernie Mohan.
LEADING HITTERS:
Eddie Diaz - 5 for 5 with 1 homer & 1 double.
Elvis Abney - 4 for 4 with 3 doubles.
Dean Schapeler - 5 for 6 with 3 homers & 1 double.
Bernie Mohan - 4 for 5 with 1 homer.
Rusty Landahl - 4 for 5 with 1 triple.
Bill Spring - 4 for 5.
Fred Dampier - 3 for 4 with 1 homer, 1 double, & 1 IBB.
Reg Barnes - 3 for 4 with 1 walk.
George Radlein - 3 for 4 with 1 walk.
The game on Field E ended with a 14-10 score. The team on the short end of the stick collected eight of their 10 total runs in the first three frames. Lead off hitter Al Andrews doubled and scored in the first and duplicated that act in the third frame.
The second inning started with singles by Glenn Holland, Ed Kline, Fred Ducham, and Marvin Taylor. The first three batters crossed home plate while Marvin was stranded at first when the inning came to an end.
Al Andrews doubled to open the third, and Russ King, Wally Granger, and Ted Taylor each had singles after the first out had been recorded. A base hit by Ed Kline drove in the fourth and final run of the inning.
The score card for the winning team was spotted with players who hit well in the contest. Ninth hitter Bob Lewis lead the pack with a 4 for 4 performance. Sam Lopez, batting three up in the order, went 3 for 4 with a triple. Whoever made the lineup must have looked like a genius because the 14 runs were sprinked throughout the batting order. Only three of the twelve didn’t manage to find their way home.
LEADING HITTERS:
Bob Lewis - 4 for 4.
Bob Zelazny - 4 for 5 with 1 double.
Joe D'Herin - 4 for 4.
Russ King - 3 for 4 with 1 double.
Wally Granger - 3 for 4 with 1 double.
The SSUSA Spring National Championships, a qualifier tournament for the 2010 Tournament of Champions, is taking place this week. Jose Agosto manages the Lakeland Angels, a team in the 65 age division. Chuck Duff pilots the All Star Grill team in the 60s division. Several players from the Winter Haven Senior Softball Club and the Lakeland Senior Softball program play on the teams.
Please plan to watch some of the games and support the guys.
Click on the Senior Softball USA link to find out the game times and dates.
April 24th - The two games almost had the identical score. The home team won 27-17 on Fred White Field and the visiting team pulled out a 28-17 victory on Field E.
Ten runs were pushed across the plate in the first two innings to enable the home team to retain the lead throughout the game. Every player except one scored a run in those offensive frames. Bob Lewis and Ron Thompson each scored two times.
The home team managed the maximum runs in the fifth, seventh, and eighth innings, too. Reg Barnes, who hit for the cycle today, gapped rightfield and right centerfield for an inside-the-park grand slam homer in the eighth.
Hector Marinacci and Eddie Diaz each touched home four times in the contest for the visiting team.
Inside-the-park homers on Fred White Field: Eddie Diaz had two homers and Reg Barnes and Fred Dampier each hit one homer.
LEADING HITTERS:
Reg Barnes - 5 for 5 and hit for the cycle with a GS homer & 1 walk.
Ron Thompson - 5 for 5 with 1 double & 1 walk.
Rich Moots - 5 for 5.
Fred Dampier - 5 for 6 with 1 homer & 3 doubles.
Eddie Diaz - 4 for 5 with 2 homers & 1 triple.
Mike Stepp - 4 for 5 with 1 triple.
Rusty Landahl - 4 for 5 with 1 double.
The losing team started with a bang on Field E. Freddy Gonzalez began the game with a double and Bob Zelazny and Ed Kline followed with singles. Clean up hitter Wally Granger doubled home two runs. Larry Wells, who hit well today, singled but was left stranded at first.
The second frame saw Joe DeForge and Freddy Gonzalez bang out base hits before Bob Zelazny tripled both base runners home. Wally Granger hit a two run homer in the second inning.
The middle innings were kind to the visiting team. A total of 15 runs were placed on the score board in the fifth through the seventh frames. Ted Taylor went 2 for 2 and scored each time. Walt Leggett, Sam Lopez, and Gene Morey also scored two times apiece, although the score sheets credit the three hitters with one hit each.
The visiting squad added five more insurance runs in the final inning. Al Andrews and Russ King doubled in the ninth. Russ ended the day hitting for the cycle while Al was perfect at the plate with a 6 for 6 performance.
Wally Granger and Russ King hit inside-the-park homers on Field E.
LEADING HITTERS:
Al Andrews - 6 for 6 with 2 doubles.
Freddy Gonzalez - 5 for 6 with 1 triple & 2 doubles.
Denny Shaffer - 4 for 5 with 2 triples.
Larry Wells - 4 for 5 with 3 doubles.
Doug McLellan - 4 for 5 with 2 doubles.
Frank Miller - 4 for 5 with 1 walk.
Several ball players said their "good byes" after the game. Jo D'Herin is returning to Dearborn, Michigan, Fred Ducham is returning to Sanford, Michigan, Gene Morey is leaving for Howard City, Michigan, Mike Stepp is leaving for Clinton TWP, Michigan, and Ted Taylor will be heading north of the border to Markham, Ontario, Canada. See you guys in the Fall.
April 28th - At this time last year, the league was into the second week of playing with three teams. This year is a bit different. There were four teams again this morning.
The visiting team held off a ninth inning rally to pull off a 17-15 win. Larry Powell pitched his team to victory against George Radlein.
Both teams scored five in the opening frame. Dave Podbielski lead off for the visitors with a single. After the first out was recorded, Glenn Holland and Ron Thompson each singled, followed by a sacrifice fly from the bat of Fred Dampier. The final three runs scored from consecutive base hits by Doug Chamlee, Sam Harrell, Larry Powell, and Marvin Taylor.
The home team responded with five runs of their own, but they did it after the first two batters flew out. Hector Marinacci, Ed Kline, and Dean Schapeleer each singled before Doug McLellan doubled in two runs. Afterwards, Randy Lane drove in a run with a base hit and George Radlein doubled in the final two runs.
Winning pitcher Larry Powell cooled off the opponents bats. He pitched four scoreless innings after the big first inning. Meanwhile, the visiting team put up six runs in those three frames and held the lead the remainder of the game.
With the visitors ahead by six runs going into the bottom of the ninth, it was time for a charge by the good guys. Pat Accetta absolutely crushed the ball in perhaps his longest hit ever when he burned leftfielder Doug Chamlee for a triple to lead off the last inning. Two outs that never left the infield came directly afterwards and Pat was still standing at third wondering if his hit was going all for naught. Then Ed Kline drew a walk and Dean Schapeler singled Pat home.
The last hurrah was a three run inside-the-park homer by Doug McLellan as he smoked the ball down the third base line.
Dave Podbielski played a stellar rightfield. He caught more fly balls than the other three outfielders on his team. It seemed the opposing team was trying to pick on him, since he is a pitcher/first baseman but Dave stood up to the test and passed with flying colors.
Ed Kline fielded the hot corner with ease this morning. At one time in the game, he dove for a ball hit by Doug Chamlee. He had time to hop to his feet and throw out Doug at first.
Eddie Diaz, patrolling left centerfield, made an outstanding catch on a potential gap hit by Fred Dampier that would have gone for an inside-the-park homer. Eddie ran hard to his right and reached out to nab the ball with his 15" outfielders glove. Later in the game, Fred suggested to Eddie that he purchase a 13" glove. Nice catch, Eddie.
Doug McLellan hit two inside-the-park homers on Fred White Field and Fred Dampier and Bob Zelazny hit one dinger each.
LEADING HITTERS:
Ron Thompson - 5 for 5 with 1 triple.
Glenn Holland - 5 for 5 with 1 double.
Doug McLellan - 4 for 5 with 2 homers & 2 doubles.
Pat Accetta - 4 for 5 with 1 triple.
Randy Lane - 4 for 5 with 1 triple.
The game on Field E was not as close as the game on Fred White Field. The home team racked up a 22-13 victory.
The visiting team jumped off to a nice lead as they managed five runs in the first. Vassurl Bess and Freddy Gonzalez both singled before Chris Constantine doubled to the opposite field. Base hits by Russ King, Larry Wells, and Dick Sessink followed. A two out single by John Smith drove home the fifth run.
Five more runs came home in the visiting fourth inning. The same five players who touched home in the first also accounted for the scoring in the fourth inning. Chris Constantine and Russ King doubled while Vassurl Bess and Freddy Gonzalez singled. Larry Wells got aboard on a fielding error.
It wasn't until the latter innings before the home team got uncorked. They were down 12-4 going into the bottom of the fourth frame. Doubles by Bob Lewis, Wayne Mundy, and Wally Granger, along with a single by Dennis Holder, helped the team to four runs. At the end of four innings of play, the visiting team still held a 12-8 lead.
While the visitors were being held to goose eggs for the next four innings, the home team took advantage and pushed across 19 runs to coast to an easy win. Wayne Mundy ended the day scoring six runs in six plate appearances as he went 4 for 6. Bob Lewis scored four times.
There were no inside-the-park homers on Field E.
LEADING HITTERS:
Russ King - 3 for 4 with 2 doubles & 1 sacrifice fly.
Bill Walker - 4 for 5.
