July 2010 News Archive
 July 2nd - Since buckets and buckets of rain fell in the area from late afternoon yesterday into the evening hours, apparently many ball players thought the games would be cancelled. They were wrong. Field D drains the best so a two team game was contested there. One team sported 13 players while the other had 12 on their side. As is the custom, 11 played on defense.
Both teams battled and matched numbers for the first four innings. The visitors scored twice in the first and so did the home team. After the first batter fouled out to start the game, Fred Dampier and Jim Laffoon each singled. A sacrifice fly from the bat of Bob Zelazny scored the 
first run and Don Scarbrough drove home the second score with a double.
The home team began their rally with one out, too. Ron Thompson walked before Don Witmer singled. A free pass to Chuck Duff loaded the bases for Wayne Mundy, who connected for a two run base hit. The home squad struck next when they put together some timely hits in the third inning. Number one batter Kirk Coffman hit a line drive towards leftfielder Larry Powell for a single. Ron Thompson followed with a base hit, which sent Kirk scampering to third. The first of two sacrifice fly balls was hit by Don Witmer to drive home the first run. Chuck Duff golfed a towering high deep fly to Richard Marino for a triple and Wayne Mundy also picked on Mr. Marino when he tripled to rightfield. As the ball was thrown around and missed in the infield, Wayne raced home. The next batter reached base on a misplayed ground ball followed by a single from the bat of Larry Wells. 
A Dick Sessink sacrifice fly ball to leftfielder Larry Powell knocked in the fifth run for the good guys.
When Sam Harrell took over the pitching duties from Dick Sessink in the fourth frame, the visitors greeted him with a five spot. Fred Dampier doubled after the first batter grounded out to second baseman Regis Finnegan. Jim Laffoon tripled Fred home and Bob Zelazny had an RBI single. The visiting team couldn't be stopped. Don Scarbrough hit a gapper double, followed by an opposite field single from the bat of Russ King. Sam Lopez doubled in the final two runs. At the end of four innings of play, the score was tied 7-7. The fifth and sixth innings belonged to the home team, who outscored their opponents 10-0. Triples were hit by Ron Thompson, Larry Wells, and Tom Wise. Kirk Coffman scored in each of the two frames as he went 1 for 2. Ron Thompson also scored two times. He walked in the sixth to go along with his triple in the fifth innng. The visiting team batted all 13 men in their lineup in the seventh to put up a double digit score and tie the game. Ten runs touched home in the top of the inning. Some errors kept the rally going but the visitors kept banging away and refused to quit. The score was now 17-17. After the shock of the seventh, the home team lost their lead for the first time in the game when the eighth frame was over. Jim Laffoon banged an opposite field two run home run. Fred Dampier had singled before that blast. Bob Zelazny doubled after the homer and was driven home when Russ King homered to 
the same part of the diamond.
Another run was added to the lead when the visiting team pushed across one run in the ninth. Richard Marino singled but was forced at second when Rich Moots grounded into a fielder's choice. Singles by Les Wolff and Gale Doty brought Rich home. The home team was down two runs heading into the bottom of the last frame. Don Witmer began with a single and scored when Chuck Duff tripled. Chuck easily scored on a Wayne Mundy base rap to tie the score. One of the power hitters fouled out before Larry Wells singled to move the winning run to third. Sam Harrell came through in the clutch with a single to leftfield to bring home the victory for the good guys. The final score was 23-22. Dick Sessink returned to the mound in the eighth inning after starting the game. He notched the victory. Dennis Holder pitched the complete game for the visitors. Joel Freedman didn't play this morning but he worked as the home plate umpire. Thank you Joel. You are doing a great job behind the dish. LEADING HITTERS: Jim Laffoon: 4 for 4 with 1 homer & 1 triple. Fred Dampier: 4 for 4 with 1 double. Sam Lopez: 3 for 3 with 2 triples, 1 double, & 1 walk. Chuck Duff: 3 for 3 with 1 triple, 1 double, & 2 walks. Bob Zelazny: 3 for 3 with 1 triple, 1 double, & 1 sacrifice fly. Russ King: 3 for 4 with 1 homer & 1 triple. Don Scarbrough: 3 for 4 with 2 doubles. Larry Wells: 3 for 4 with 1 triple & 1 walk. Sam Harrell: 3 for 4. Dick Sessink: 3 for 4 with 1 sacrifice fly. Don Witmer: 3 for 4 with 1 sacrifice fly. Inside-the-park home runs were hit by Russ King and Jim Laffoon.  July 6th - No game today, fellows. With five fields to choose from, not one was deemed playable. There was standing water on the diamonds and portions of the outfield on several fields were soft.
July 9th - The games were finally on for today after missing the last play date due to wet fields. However, there will be no ball games next week. A girls fast pitch tournament will use all the available fields in the local area.
The three team game started out evenly enough but the visiting squad broke it open when they put up a five spot in both the fourth and fifth frames. Just for good measure, they scored six runs in the last inning. All three teams fared well in the opening frame. Marty Martinez started off 
the game with a single but was forced at second when rover Russ King fielded a grounder and flipped to second baseman Frank Acevedo. After the first out, Brent Alumbaugh had a base knock and Roger Edwards followed with a double. A dropped ball in the outfield allowed the next batter to reach base wile driving home a run in the process. Singles by Marvin Taylor and Larry Powell rounded out the offense for the visiting team.
Team Two started off their inning when the lead off batter got aboard on a booted ball in the infield. He was forced at second when the next hitter grounded to second baseman Pat Accetta. A barrage of base hits followed the fileder's choice out. Don Witmer, Regis Finnegan, Ron Butler, Dennis Holder, and Larry Wells all hit safely before Carl Luebking drove a sacrifice fly to right centerfielder Tom Wise for the fifth run. Home run leader Chris Constantine returned from a three week trip to Connecticut, stepped to the plate, and launched a deep drive over the head of rightfielder Vassurl Bess for his eleventh homer 
of the off season. After Chris raced around the bases, Wayne Mundy singled. Power hitter Wally Granger cranked a ball beyond the leftfield fence for a two run home run.
After one inning of play, the score stood at 4-5-3. The home team jumped out with five in the third. Wally Granger blooped a 185 foot double but all the other hits were singles. The first batter flew out to shallow right centerfield to start off the inning. Then Wayne Mundy, Neil Gelpi, Kirk Coffman, George Radlein, Frank Acevedo, and Russ King all banged out base hits. An opposite field single by Russ drove home the last two runs. While Teams Two and Three picked away and scored a couple here and there between the fourth through sixth innings, the first team was busy scoring their runs in bunches. Not one out was recorded in the top of the fourth as five runs crossed the plate. Roger Edwards, Doug Chamlee, and Marvin Taylor began with base raps. A deep double by Larry Powell accounted for two runs and an inside-the-park smash by Tom Wise finished off the five run inning. Five more runs scored in the top of the fifth frame. The damage was done by the lower part of the batting order. Pat Accetta and Rusty Landahl started the rally with base hits before the first out was made on a fly out to leftfielder Kirk Coffman. John Merritt, who went 3 for 3 in the game, collected his second hit before Joltin' Joe DeForge reached base on a misplayed ground ball. Marty Martinez and Ron Thompson singled in the final two runs of the inning. Heading into the seventh and final frame, the score was 16-11-11. An array of hits, walks, fielder's choices, and errors allowed the visiting team to put six runs on the score board. Roger Edwards had a big hit. 
He doubled in the fifth and sixth runs of the last inning.
Team Two needed to score so they could record a win, provided their defense could stifle the home team. They accomplished that feat by putting up a four mark in the seventh and holding the home team scoreless. The first batter popped up to second baseman Larry Powell to start the middle of the seventh before Fred Dampier lined a rope to centerfield for a single. Bob Zelazny connected for an opposite field home run for the first two scores. The next batter grounded to Larry Powell so the middle team was down to their final out. Regis Finnegan lined a single to left and Ron Butler doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Dennis Holder doubled in both teammates. Larry Wells singled afterwards but was stranded on the bases with Dennis when the inning came to a close. The final score was 22-15-11. Marvin Taylor pitched for the team that scored 22 and surrendered 15 while on defense. Dennis Holder also notched a victory as that team scored 15 and allowed 11 while in the field. LEADING HITTERS: Roger Edwards: 4 for 4 with 2 doubles. Ron Butler: 4 for 4 with 1 double. Wally Granger: 3 for 3 with 1 homer & 2 doubles. Larry Powell: 3 for 3 with 1 double. John Merritt: 3 for 3. Marvin Taylor: 3 for 3. Don Witmer: 3 for 4 with 1 triple & 1 double. Regis Finnegan: 3 for 4 with 1 double. Dennis Holder: 3 for 4 with 1 double. Larry Wells: 3 for 4. Wally Granger hit a ball over the fence on Fred White Field. Inside-the-park home runs were hit by Chris Constantine, Tom Wise, and Bob Zelazny. July 12th - Monday - The Winter Haven Senior Softball Club games are cancelled tomorrow, Tuesday, July 13th, and are also cancelled on Friday, July 16th.
The DiamondPlex softball fields will be the location of the girls 2010 ISA Fastpitch World Series Softball Tournament. This tournament is a blessing in disguise because it will give our ball players a chance to get a rest from the summer heat and be ready to play again on Tuesday, July 20th.  July 16th - Since the games are cancelled again today, now is the time to post off season statistics.
Listed are leaders through 29 off season games.
* - Must have played over one half of the games. Note: The statistics are only as accurate as the score sheets. July 17th - Saturday - The Sebring All Stars made their trek to Nalcrest for the ongoing wood bat doubleheader challenge against the Lakeshore All Stars. Sebring has dominated the competition and today was no exception.
Winter Haven Senior Softball Club members Fred Dampier and Sam Harrell are members of the Nalcrest softball program and represented Lakeshore. Also, WHSSC member Angel Merced was on the Lakeshore squad. Regino "Gutey" Gutierrez is the pilot for 
Lakeshore. He gave the ball to Ed Stewart for the first game. Nalcrest resident Ed spun a shutout yesterday in Nalcrest as his team won 4-0 in a wood bat game. He pitched well today, walked no one, but surrendered more than one unearned run.
Lakeshore scored in only two frames. Ray Sanchez began the sixth with a base rap to leftfield. After the next batter flew out, Ron Rutts, Ivan Merced, and Ed Stewart combined for consecutive base hits. Ron ended the game with a perfect 3 for 3 performance. Ivan is one of the sons of Angel Merced. Lakeshore pushed one more run across in the last inning. Larry McNair singled and was driven home with a double from the bat of Angel Merced. The Sebring All Stars won the first game by the score of 5-2. Raphael Arrieta was given the nod to start the second game of the doubleheader. He last pitched on June 19 at Sebring in a 13-4 loss. Regino Gutierrez made some changes in the lineup for Game Two in an effort to generate some offense. Tim Gibson was inserted into the lead off spot and responded by going 2 for 3 and scoring one run. Ramon Frias batted in the two hole and did well, too. He had three singles in four at bats and drove home two of the Lakeshore runs. Lakeshore scored a lone run in the top of the fifth inning as a result of three successive hits from the bats of 
Tim Gibson, Ramon Frias, and Ray Jiminez.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, right centerfielder Tim Gibson was chasing a fly ball to his left. Just as the ball skimmed off the glove of his outstretched arm, Tim was hit by a New York subway. The glove flew off Tim's hand. Rightfielder Gary Morra was uninjured in the collision but Tim left the game with a nasty gash above his top lip. Had this been a sanctioned football game, Gary would have been charged with a late hit and the team would absorb a 15 yard penalty. Two runs crossed the plate for Lakeshore in the final frame. Fred Dampier was patient at the plate and drew a free pass, followed by a Ron Rutts single. Ramon Frias drove home both runs with a base hit. Sebring won the second game 8-3. Lakeshore had an increase in run production over their first game but also gave up 60% more runs. July 20th - The morning softball games returned after a one week layoff. The Florida sunny skies were somewhat overcast but there was no chance of rain this morning. The temperature was guaged at 88° F after the game was complete but the heat index was 96° F. However, it was much hotter in the dugouts. There is very little ventilation in those oven boxes.
The three team game was contested on Fred White Field. The first team broke the ice as the first batter scored the only run in the top of the opening inning. Larry Powell singled and moved to third on a Ron Thompson base hit. Kirk Coffman singled Larry home and well enough, because the next three batters all made outs. Team Two went down in order but the home squad started with a big bang. Ron Butler and Tom Wise singled. Ron scored when the next batter reached base on a misplayed fly ball. Second 
baseman Vassurl Bess handled a pop up for the first out before Chuck Duff hit a fly ball out of reach of right centerfielder Rich Moots for an inside-the-park home run. The three run dinger gave the home team four runs so far. They were not finished yet. Don Scarbrough slammed a three bagger near the leftfield line beyond Raul Torres. The next batter, Dick Sessink, left no doubt if the fifth run would score when he hit a sacrifice fly to left centerfield.
The second and third innings were uneventful for Team One as they sent only six batters to the plate. Lee Baker did single but overran second base when the lead off batter hit a grounder to first base. After Gale Doty made the unassited putout, he threw to rover Brent Alumbaugh, who applied the tag to pick Lee off. That turned out to be an inning ending double play. The middle team didn't get their first hit until there were two out in the second inning. Raul Torres hit a ball out of reach of defending right centerfielder Regis Finnegan for a solo inside-the-park homer. They continued their lack of hitting in the third when one run scored. With one out in the books, Rich Moots reached base on a misplayed ball in the infield, advanced to second when John Merritt singled, and raced home after a ground ball fielder's choice play. Team Three went quietly in the second and third frames after the explosive first inning. At the end of three innings of play, the score was 1-2-5. The first team opened it up in the top of the fourth. Kirk Coffman doubled and made it home when the next batter got aboard due to an infield error. That runner advanced from first 
to third when another infield error was committed on the third batter of the inning. Regis Finnegan singled both miscues home. Three straight singles from the bats of Marvin Taylor, Larry Wells, and Ken Ota competed the five run inning.
Team Two responded offensively when Russ King singled, Jim Laffoon doubled, and Fred Dampier connected for a three run inside-the-park homer that split leftfiielder Neil Gelpi and left centerfielder Kirk Coffman. Base hits by Raul Torris and Sam Harrell accounted for one more run. Brent Alumbaugh began the home fourth with his first of two doubles and was knocked home with a Chuck Duff double. John Fulton singled Chuck home for the third and final run of the fourth frame. The score at the end of four innings stood at 6-6-8. The game was getting tight. Lee Baker started the top of the fifth with his second consecutive base hit and Larry Powell also singled. A free pass to Ron Thompson, the off season walks leader, loaded the bases. That was Ron's 14th walk of the off season. Kirk Coffman drove in two runs with a base knock before Chris Constantine drove a sacrifice fly to leftfielder Chuck Duff. A single by Marvin Taylor rounded out the scoring for Team One. The second squad kept in the game when they pushed across one run 
in the fifth frame. Russ King and Sam Lopez singled before Jim Laffoon doubled Russ home. Jim was still standing on second when the third out was recorded.
The pitching of George Radlein shut down the home team in order in the fifth inning. Team One added to their lead in the sixth and seventh frames. Two scored in the sixth by was of base hits from Larry Wells and Ron Thompson along with a Lee Baker walk. By the way, Lee is second in off season walks with 11 totaled so far. Regis Finnegan hit a solo inside-the-park homer in the seventh inning. Heading into the middle of the seventh, Team One held a 14-10-10 lead. Team Two got busy and made a charge for the win. Jim Laffoon hit a two run inside-the-park homer following a Sam Lopez double. Singles by Raul Torres, Sam Harrell, Rich Moots, and John Merritt were good enough for three more runs. The comeback was successful. The final score was 14-15-10. The only pitcher to record a win was George Radlein. LEADING HITTERS: Lee Baker: 2 for 2 with 1 walk. Jim Laffoon: 3 for 4 with 1 homer & 2 doubles. Raul Torres: 3 for 4 with 1 homer. Kirk Coffman: 3 for 4 with 1 double. Sam Lopez: 3 for 4 with 1 double. Sam Harrell: 3 for 4. Russ King: 3 for 4. John Merritt: 3 for 4. Inside-the-park home runs were hit by Fred Dampier, Chuck Duff, Regis Finnegan, Jim Laffoon, and Raul Torres. July 23rd - Tropical Storm Bonnie is approaching Florida so the game was played under cloudy conditions. There is a 50% chance of rain later today and into the weekend.
Two teams of 11 members and one with 10 comprised the turnout for the three team game. The wind was blowing in from leftfield most of the game. That made it difficult to drive the ball with authority to that part of the field. Team One gave it a run for the overall victory in the low scoring contest. They 
finished with seven runs. The three through five hole batters accounted for most of the offensive. Jim Laffoon, batting third, went 3 for 4 with three runs scored but did not have the opportunity to drive home any runs.
Clean up hitter Roger Edwards had the hot bat for the team. He was perfect at the plate as he batted 3 for 3. All three hits went for extra bases. His first drive was the deepest hit of the day for everyone. Roger pulled the ball to the depths of leftfield into the wind for a triple. The old pill flew over the head of defending outfielder Regis Finnegan. Roger tripled again in the fourth inning as he connected for a gapper between left centerfielder Fred Dampier and right centerfielder Ron Thompson. Roger walked in his last at bat after he doubled in the fifth to drive home Jim Laffoon for the second time. Pitcher Bobby Ayers batted in the five slot and went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. All three runs were Roger Edwards. In all, Jim scored three of the seven runs, Roger Edwards scored three and Bobby Ayers scored once. The middle squad scored in three of the seven innings. Marty Martinez went 3 for 3 with a triple and scored two of the five runs for the team. Wayne Mundy also batted 3 for 3. One of his hits was a double. The home team scored three runs apiece in the first two innings and went on to rack up a total of eight for the game. Brent Alumbaugh pulled a ball down the rightfield line beyond the reach of Rich Moots for an inside-the-park homer. Frank Acevedo had 
singled beforehand.
Russ King also went 3 for 3 for the good guys and had two RBIs. In the field, pitcher Bobby Ayers owned the first inning. He nabbed three very hard line drives. Kirk Coffman, Neil Gelpi, and Ron Butler all attempted to hit the ball up the middle but sure gloved Bobby would not allow that to happen on his shift. Before the game was finished, Bobby caught two more line drives and picked up an assist when he fielded a grounder hit by Marvin Taylor. The final score was 7-5-8. Dennis Holder recorded a win as that team scored eight and gave up seven runs while on defense. Bobby Ayers picked up a win, too. That team scored seven and surrendered five runs. Chuck Duff worked behind the plate as the chief umpire this morning. Joel Freedman handled the score sheets as the official scorekeeper. Thank you, Chuck and Joel, for volunteering your services. LEADING HITTERS: Roger Edwards: 3 for 3 with 2 triples, 1 double, & 1 walk. Marty Martinez: 3 for 3 with 1 triple. Wayne Mundy: 3 for 3 with 1 double. Russ King: 3 for 3. Bobby Ayers: 3 for 4 with 1 double. Jim Laffoon: 3 for 4. Brent Alumbaugh hit an inside-the-park home run this morning. Snowbird Terry Feehan came down to Winter Haven this week from Deshler, Ohio. He assumed the duties of catcher for Team One. Terry drew a free pass in his third and final at bat of the game. Dan Davis came off the Disable List and patrolled first base for the home team. He singled in his last trip to the plate. He plans to play only on 
Friday until he gets back into condition. Welcome back, Dan.
Rich Palmer, who is still on the DL, dropped by and watched the game. It was good to see you, Rich. Now is the time for the Winter Haven Senior Softball Club members to begin searching for sponsors for the upcoming 2011 season. The cost is $250.00. The sponsor's name will be printed on the back of the team shirt. Elvis Abney and Hank Gomez each personally sponsored a team in 2008 and Rusty Landahl sponsored a team in 2009, so please consider that option, too. 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. 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. |
June 2010