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Highlands Today

Merchants Handle Andrews Allstate

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Special to Highlands Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 16, 2009

The Sebring Senior Softball League at Highlands County Sports Complex Tuesday, March 10, felt the results of the time change and the placement of the ultra bright morning sun. There were fewer than usual game comments from the managers about their teams activities. For one reason, in the outfield the players heard the ball drop in front of them before their glove-shaded eyes could see it. On other fields the batters were the ones hampered by the sun.

Highlands Merchants and Andrews Allstate Insurance score was a mere 4-0 at the end of the fifth inning, but ended with the Merchants winning 9-3. Merchants Ron Lewis had a well pitched game as well as batting 2-for-3, including two home runs.

Players with two hits were Harry Bell, Bobby Fulcher, Bob Roth and Kyle Saunders.

Allstate's top hitter was Rod Palmer credited with knocking in two of his team's three runs.

Silent Salesman and Highlands Independent Bank each had their share of losing fly balls in the sun. Apparently the Bankers let a few more fall in for hits then the Salesman, as the score at the end of the"fly ball circus" was 20-7 in favor of the Salesman.

Extra base hits were plentiful with Don Cunningham going 3-for-3 with a home run and four runs scored. Harley Smith had three hits and scored three times. Jerry Johnston went 4-for-4 with two doubles, Ray Concepcion had four hits, including a triple.

Bob Flack went 2-for-3 with a triple and Roque Socarras was 2-for-4, including a double.

For the Bank, Bob Burley's bat was active again banging out a home run, Dale Demar had two hits and Al Toratuta was 2-for-3, including a double.

Highlands Ridge overtook Royal Palms with a 16-10 finale.

For Ridge, Andy Timermanis had three hits and scored three times, John Penna had a big hit to start the top of the seventh inning when five runs scored.

Doug Ebeling, Dave Majick and John Bielman had three hits each.

Royal Palms Ross Anderson was 2-for-4, including two doubles and four RBI.

Cal Bready went 3-for-4, Bob Floodine was 3-for-5 and four other batters had two hits.

The Blue Jays held the lead over the Rebels with a 14-5 win. Everyone who batted for the Blue Jays team had two hits. They executed good defense in the field.

The Rebels Don Purdy went 3-for-4, including a triple and Stan Turl had two hits.

Thursday's Games

At the Sports Complex in Sebring on Thursday, March 12th, it was not the cold, or the wind, so it must have been the heat that held scores moderately low.

Highlands Merchants held their own over Royal Palms with a 13-7 victory. Merchants Wayne Hill was 3-for-4 and had some outstanding plays at shortstop.

Victor Rodriquez went 3-for-4, including a home run, Jose Torres went 2-for-3 with a home run and Bobby Fulcher was 3-for-3.

Harry Bell, Ron Lewis, Kyle Saunders and Bill Todd had two hits each.

Royal Palms Doug Hammond went 2-for-4 with a home run and had three RBI.

Ross Anderson had two hits, including a double and a triple, while Bob MacCarrick and Cal Bready both were 2-for-3.

Blue Jays and Highlands Independent Bank finished with the Jays on top 16-9.

The Jays Don Day hit a home run. Dick Schiltz, also hit a homer, which gave him an average of a home run for each game he played.

The Banks J. C. Brown was 4-for-4, Dale Demar and Harold Buff each had three hits and George Walker was 2-for-3.

The Bank rallied in the seventh inning by scoring six runs, but it just was not enough to overtake the Jays.

Thursday Field B must have been jinxed for both teams, Silent Salesman and Rebels, to have such a minimal amount of runs scored.The Rebels and Silent Salesman slugged it out for their last meeting this year. The result was, no doubt, the lowest score of all League games this season with Rebels prevailing 5-1.

The Rebels seemed to have magnets in their gloves as most of Silent Salesman's hard hit balls ended up as easy outs.

Harley Smith led the Salesman hitters with two singles in three at bats.

The Rebels fine pitching job was done by Larry Carlson, top hitter was Tony Caristo going 3-for-4, Jerry Mattis had three hits and Stan Turl, Jack Gross, Jim Strietzel and Don Matthews reached base twice.

The Rebels Team had a fine turnout of Buttonwood Bay supportersurging them to their victory.

Highlands Ridge and Andrews Allstate Insurance had an 18-11 final score with Ridge as winners. The Ridge sported three home runs off the bats of Doug Ebeling, Tommy Gaiowonik and Andy Timermanis. Next best hitters were Curt Brown and John Blielman batting 3-for-4.

For the Insurance Men Rudy Pribble does not hesitate to say he was the losing pitcher. Ken Crandall helped his team by going 3-for-3, Dave Wagner and Dan Webb each had two hits and Bob Lott reached base twice.

There is one more week of League softball still to play.

The final games will be held Thursday, March 19th at the Complex.

Send summaries of your league's play to sports@highlandstoday.com

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