Schooni's Tops LP Marine In Senior Softball

On Al Chipps' day, his Schooni's Family Restaurant team squeaked out a 7-6 win over the Lake Placid Marine team in Lake Placid Senior Softball league play last Wednesday at the Lake June Ball fields.

As the league celebrated Al Chipp's 90th birthday, he made a play at the plate that helped lead to the one-run win. On this windy day, several excellent plays were made in the field for both teams, particularly in right field by Howard Carney for the Schooni's team and Larry Lane for the Lake Placid Marine team.

Paul Brand, Bob Fee, Jim Guild, Paul Stephenson, Bob Sheets and Ray Hensley all had two hits each. Sheets, with one out in the bottom of the seventh, got a double and was then driven in by Ray Hensley with what proved to be the winning run for the Schooni's team. Crafty Cal Bready routinely "served" the ball to an open spot over the infield for a 4 for 4 day to lead the Lake Placid Marine effort. Dave Holloway and Bob Fox were 3 for 4 and Glenn Wearsch and Jeff Stanley were 2 for 4 in the losing effort.

Play on the other field was a rout with the Michelle Yates Insurance team leading the Central Security team by a score of 14 to 3 going into the last inning. Then, the Central Security team bats came alive, scoring seven runs, but it was too little too late as Yates prevailed by a score of 14-11.

Fred Moore was 4 for 4, Duke Hensley had three doubles, Jim Hensley a triple and a double, Doran Quigg two doubles and a single and Harland Newby had three singles for the winners.

Ed Engler led the Central Security offense with a triple among his 3 for 4 day. Dana Hurlbut continued the hot bat, going 3 for 4 and Tom Walsh and John Miller were each 2 for 4 in the losing effort.

The wins kept the Michelle Yates and Schooni's teams in a tie for first place in the league with records of 5-3, followed by Central Security at 4-4. The Lake Placid Marine loss dropped them into a last-place tie with the idle Seminole Tire team at 3- 5.

At the game's conclusions, all joined in to sing "Happy Birthday" (they play better than they sing) for Al Chipps and then enjoyed sharing his birthday cake along with the usual hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks.