2008 Winter Haven & Lakeland Softball Competition

Winter Haven - Lakeland Competition
2008

March 5th at the Southwest Complex in Lakeland

Three teams from each softball program faced off in Lakeland for the first of two game dates in the fourth annual Winter Haven-Lakleand Competition. After the games were over, Winter Haven had walked off with two wins in three attempts.
The Lakeland Angels, managed by Angel Martinez, defeated the Winter Haven Dam Piers, which was managed by Fred Dampier. The final score was 25-15.
The Angels pounced on the Dam Piers early as they scored five runs each in the first two innings. It was an uphill battle for the Winter Haven team throughout the game.
The Dam Piers warmed up in the sixth inning when they racked up five runs. Alternate player and starting pitcher Don Bercaw doubled to begin the frame. Jim Laffoon hit an RBI single and Don Erb singled. Fred Dampier drove a 2-2 pitch over the fence between right centerfield and centerfield for a three run homer. The scoring wasn't over yet. Bob Zelazny and Doug Graham singled. A sacrifice fly by Ron Thompson scored Bob for the fifth run of the inning.
Seven more Winter Haven runs crossed the plate one inning later. Ted Taylor, Ed Guspyt, and Don Bercaw singled before Jim Laffoon walked. Don Erb then singled and Fred Dampier hit a sacrifice fly. The scoring was complete after Bob Zelazny doubled and Doug Graham and Bob Lundquest singled. After the seven runs scored, Winter Haven was down 18-15 going into the bottom of the seventh. That was as close as Winter Haven got the whole game.
For the Winter Haven Dam Piers, Doug Graham went 3 for 3.
For the Lakeland Angels, Dick Mahon went 3 for 5 and Frank Acevedo went 2 for 4.

The Winter Haven Wits, managed by Don Witmer beat the Lakeland Kings managed by Russ King. The final score was 18-10.
The top of the lineup for the Wits did all the damage in the game. Eagled eyed Don Witmer walked and scored in this first three trips to the plate. One of the walks began the game. After the second batter flew out, Mike Stepp doubled, followed by singles from Joe D'Herin and Denny Shaffer. Singles by Elmer Black, Ron Augenstein, and Larry Williamson finished off the scoring and the Wits were off and running with five runs in the first.
Another five runs were logged in the scorebooks in the visiting seventh and, by the time the inning was over, the Wits held a 16-8 lead. The big hits of that inning were doubles by Elmer Black and Al Andrews. Larry Williamson singled in the fifth run of the frame.
For the Winter Haven Wits, Elmer Black went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles, Don Witmer went 2 for 2 with 1 triple & 3 walks, Ron Augenstein went 3 for 3 with 1 walk, and Denny Shaffer went 4 for 5 with 2 doubles.
For the Lakeland Kings, Russ King went 3 for 4, Steve Collins went 2 for 4, and Bill McEllister went 0 for 4.

The Winter Haven Loopys managed by Ed Lupiani walloped the Lakeland Winners, which was skippered by Russ Winner. The final score was 23-8.
The entire Winter Haven Loopy squad took part in the scoring. Chuck Duff and Larry Powell each scored four times and every player crossed home plate at least once.
The Loopys scored the maximum five runs in the second and fifth innings. Frank Miller began the second with a single. After the first out was recorded, Carl Luebking and Floyd Welton singled. Both scored after Doug Chamlee doubled and Danny Parker singled. Ed Kline drove in the fifth run with an opposite field single.
The fifth inning began with a Chuck Duff triple, followed by singles by Bob Christiansen, Ed Lupiani, Larry Powell, John Stewart, Carl Luebking, and Floyd Welton.
Chuck Duff hit a two run inside-the-park homer in the sixth inning. Danny Parker doubled before the gapper hit.
For the Winter Haven Loopys, Bob Christiansen went 5 for 5 with 1 double, Chuck Duff went 4 for 5 with 1 homer & 1 triple, Doug Chamlee went 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, and Carl Luebking & Floyd Welton each hit 4 for 5.
For the Lakeland Winners, Jerry Remington went 3 for 5 with 1 double.

Ted Granoski, Tom Mohler, and Beth Stimson were the chief umpires behind home plate on the three fields. The umpires on the bases were Joel Freedman, Larry Frink, Earl Hawthorne, and Harry Perkins.
Thank you for performing a fine job, umpires.

Winter Haven managers Don Witmer, Fred Dampier, and Ed Lupiani.

Lakeland manager Russ King.

March 12th at the DiamondPlex in Winter Haven

The second week of competition concluded in Winter Haven and the good guys fared well. Winter Haven had a clean sweep against Lakeland. But it wasn't easy.

The Winter Haven Loopys defeated the Lakeland Angels by the widest margin of the three games. To indicate how close all the games were today, the final score of this game was 16-10.
The Loopys scored early and often. Four runs crossed the plate in the first, five in the second, and three in the fourth. Those runs were all that were needed in the game.
In the first, leadoff batter Doug Chamlee singled, Ed Kline singled, and Chuck Duff doubled. All three scored in the first. The fourth and last run scored when Ed Lupiani walked and Ed Gazarek doubled him home.
The bottom of the lineup scored in the second. Four straight singles were hit by Frank Miller, Freddy Gonzalez, Floyd Welton, & Larry Powell. Doug Chamlee doubled and scored the fifth run on a Chuck Duff single.
Ed Gazarek really pounded the ball today. The final four Winter Haven runs were scored on a two run inside-the-park homer in the fifth, driving in Bob Christiansen and another two run inside-the-park homer in the eight frame, again driving in Bob.
Chuck Duff cranked the ball over the fence during the game.
For the Winter Haven Loopys, Ed Gazarek went 4 for 4 with 2 homers and 2 doubles, Doug Chamlee went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, Freddy Gonzalez went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, and Frank Miller went 3 for 4.
For the Lakeland Angels, Frank Acevedo went 1 for 3 with 1 walk and Lloyd Hopper went 1 for 4 with 1 double & 1 walk.

The Winter Haven Wits won in the bottom of the ninth against the Lakeland Winners. Mike Stepp singled and scored on a Denny Shaffer single after Joe D'Herin pushed Mike to second. The final score was 15-14.
The Wits had to fight back in the early innings and the middle innings, too. The Winners took a 5-3 lead going into the bottom of the third. Don Bercaw began the frame with a long triple. Mike Stepp singled him in and Joe D'Herin singled. Denny Shaffer reached on an error. All four players scored, with the final hit by Ron Augenstein. After three innings of play, Winter Haven finally had the lead as the score was 7-5.
Lakeland fought back and held a 14-7 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning. Six Winter Haven players crossed the plate on singles and defensive errors. By the time the dust had settled, Lakeland had a one run lead, with the score being 14-13.
There were no more Lakeland runs in the game. Winter Haven scored one in the eighth to tie the game. The big hit was a leadoff triple by Elmer Black. A single by Cal Leigh scored Elmer.
For the Winter Haven Wits, Mike Stepp went 4 for 5 and Ron Augenstein went 3 for 4.
For the Lakeland Winners, Jerry Remington went 1 for 5.

It took until the end of the game for the Winter Haven Dam Piers to have the lead over the Lakeland Kings and that lead resulted in a win.
Lakeland jumped out quick with four in the first on timely hitting and Winter Haven had to play "ketchup" ball the rest of the game. Runners were stranded at third base for Winter Haven in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings.
An eighth inning rally by Winter Haven tied the score at 8-8. Singles by Herb Oesterreich, Ted Taylor, & Doug Graham preceeded a triple by Don Erb.
After holding Lakeland scoreless in the top of the ninth, the final and winning run crossed the plate in an unlikely finish. The first two batters reached on infield fielding errors and a sacrifice fly by Eddie Diaz sealed the victory. The final score was 9-8.
For the Winter Haven Dam Piers, Don Erb went 3 for 4 with 1 triple.
For the Lakeland Kings, Bill McEllister went 3 for 3 with 1 double, Russ King went 2 for 4, Steve Collins went 1 for 4, and Lakeland pitcher George Radlein went 0 for 4.

Thank you to all the players, umpires, and fans for making this year a success. Everyone enjoyed the competition and look forward to the games in 2009.

WINTER HAVEN TEAM PICTURES

Dam Piers

Loopys

Wits

LAKELAND TEAM PICTURES

Kings

Angels

Winners

Winter Haven Umpire Tom Mohler & Lakeland Umpire Harry Perkins.

Lakeland Umpire Beth Stimson.

WINTER HAVEN TEAM MEMBERS

Dam Piers	Wits	Loopys

Fred Dampier-Mgr	Don Witmer-Mgr	Ed Lupiani-Mgr
Eddie Diaz	Al Andrews	Doug Chamlee
Don Erb	Ron Augenstein	Bob Christiansen
Tim Gallagher	Elmer Black	Chuck Duff
Doug Graham	Joe D'Herin	Ed Kline
Ed Guspyt	Sam Harrell	Carl Luebking
Jim Laffoon	Cal Leigh	Frank Miller
Bob Lundquest	Harvey Rennie	Danny Parker
Herb Oesterreich	Denny Shaffer	Larry Powell
Ted Taylor	Mike Stepp	John Stewart
Ron Thompson	Elmer Wilcox	Floyd Welton
Bob Zelazny	Larry Williamson

ALTERNATES

John Abramo	Bill Ayer	Lee Baker	Don Bercaw
Ron Carrothers	Ed Gazarek	Don LaMay	Bob Lewis
Gene Morey	Rich Palmer	Dean Schapeler	Dick Sessink
John Smith	Bob Swartz	Jack Valliere	Jerry Witter