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Highlands Today

Highlands Ridge Edges Merchants

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Special to Highlands today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 24, 2009

At the Highlands County Sports Complex Tuesday, March 17, the eight teams had a very sad ending to the games. It was the seventh inning of Andrews Allstate Insurance game with Royal Palms when tragedy struck. One of Allstate's players, Jim Larnard, was stricken and rushed to the hospital, but was gone. Thank you to those who worked with him until the ambulances came.

His team members and the League membersmourn his passing. He was a very good Christian witness, as well as a great teammate. It is a real loss to the team as well as to the League, his church and the community.

The managers of Andrews Allstate Insurance and Royal Palms feel it best to not include the results of the game in respect to the situation.

On Field I the game between Highlands Ridge and Highlands Merchants was a good defensive battle. Ridge was trailing 6-4, but John Pinna hit a single, which started the rally which saw Ridge score five runs for a 9-6 win.

Top hitters for Ridge were John Bielman going 4-for-4, Dave Majick 3-for-3 and Curt Brown had three hits.

The Merchants Bill Yeager was 2-for-3, including a home run, Ross McMinn went 2-for-3 with a double and triple, Bobby Fulcher had three hits, Bob Roth had two hits and Wayne Hill had two hits and made several outstanding defensive plays.

Silent Salesman and the Blue jays had a low scoring game, but Salesman came out on top 8-4.

The Jays scored four runs in the second inning and the Salesman held them scoreless for the last six innings.

Outstanding defensive plays and a good pitching effort by Harley Smith had a bearing on the outcome.

Leading the Salesman offense was Mike Jurmu with three hits, including a home run, Jerry Johnston went 3-for-4 with a double, Syd Collins had four singles and Don Cunningham and Harley Smith each had three hits.

The Blue Jays had little to record except all of their hits were singles, and they managed to make more errors than hits.

The Rebels faced the Highlands Independent Bank for their last time this season and came out on top 15-7.

Jim Strietzeland Fred Boyd each hit a homer.

Rollie Carlson was the winning pitcher.

For Highlands Independent Bank Bob Burley was 5-for-5, J. C. Brown had four hits and Carl Puffenbur and George Walker reached base three times.

Thursday's Games

Sebring Senior Softball League played their last games of the season on March 19 at the Highlands County Sports Complex.

The Rebels and Blue Jays played a doubleheader and both games were low scoring.

The first game was tied in the sixth inning, which was to have been the last inning, but after playing an extra scoreless inning, the teams agreed to call it a draw.

Jim Munroe went 3-for-3, while Tom "Moose" Morrissette, Stan Turl and Don Matthews had two hits each.

Blue Jays Ed Carroll had a two-run homer.

The second game between the Rebels and Blue Jays had the Rebels winning 4-3.

Rebels Don Purdy, Jim Munroe and Jerry Mattis all went 2-for-2, Stan Turl had two hits, and Blue Jays Harold Dinel hit a three-run homer.

Highlands Independent Bank batters saved their best for the last game of the season. They scored 10 runs in the first two innings and held on to win their first game of the season by edging out Silent Salesman 15-13.

Early in the game Al Toratuta hit a grand slam and went 4-for-4, J. C. Brown had three hits, including a homer, Lyle Haas was 2-for-4, including a home run.

Bob Burley went 2-for-3 and Bob Richmond had two hits.

The Banks defense also had a double play.

The Salesman battled back but left 15 men on base including the potential tying runs in the last inning.

Getting multiple hits for the Salesman were Don Cunningham and Jerry Johnston, Syd Collins was 3-for-4, including a triple, Mike Jurmu had three hits and Richard Godfrey and Bob Flack had big days at the plate.

Highlands Merchants and Andrews Allstate Insurance started their game at a slower pace with a 5-0 score through the fourth inning. Both teams put it in forward gear and the Merchants charged ahead to a 16-5 victory.

Merchants Bill Yeager went 3-for-3, including a triple, Jose Torres went 2-for-4 with a triple and Ross McMinn had two hits.

Victor Rodriquez had three hits, John Diaz and Bob Roth went 2-for-3 and Wayne Hill and Brian Pluta reached base twice.

Highlands Ridge and Royal Palms first four innings began a little slow with a 9-2 score in the bottom of the fourth inning, but a rally brought the final score to 14-11 in favor of Highlands Ridge.

Two home runs for the Ridge were executed by Doug Ebeling and Andy Timermanis both hitting 4 for 4, Walker Spence went 3-for-4 and contributed to the defense by making several key plays in the field.

Three players with two hits each were John Pinna, Tommy Gaionwonik and Joe Healey.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

DIVISION 1

Highlands Merchants 11-3

Highlands Ridge 10-4

Royal Palms 3-11

Andrews Allstate 3-11

DIVISION 2

Silent Salesman 12-3

Rebels 9-5 tied 1

Blue Jays 7-7 tied 1

Highlands Ind Bank 1-14

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