Special to the News-Sun
SEBRING - The Highlands County Sports Complex saw some outstanding play by the senior 50's softball league this past week.
On Tuesday, Jan. 22, Bill Jarrett Ford hung on to top Fairmount Services 18-15.
The winners were lead by slugger Dave Reed's 4-for-4 day and three runs scored.
Shortstop Jim Kahn continued his hot hitting also with 4-for-4 and two runs scored.
Speedy leadoff Jim Holmes was 3-for-4, including two doubles and a triple, bringing his last three-game hit total to 11-for-12.
For Fairmount Services, Canadian pitcher Bob "Swamp" Poulan, back in port after a week-long Caribbean cruise, hammered out four hits including two doubles.
Also for Fairmount, Brad Caid, Boom Boom Buja, Tom McNally and Dick Cook smacked three hits each.
Fairmount entered the bottom of the 8th down three runs with the heart of the order coming up, and relief pitcher Kahn set them down 1-2-3.
On Thursday, in the first game of a doubleheader, a large crowd watched Bill Jarrett come out ahead in an 8-3 win over Reflections.
The score was not indicative of the closeness of the game.
Both teams put on a defensive clinic throughout the game, with the Jarrett team error free for the contest.
Outstanding plays for Jarrett were made by Jim Kahn, Dale Thornton, Ray Trudeau, Norm Grubbs and Dick Schultz.
For Reflections, fleet-footed, left-center fielder Gary Kindle stole the show, making a Willie Mays catch in the 3rd inning.
In the 4th, Kindle crashed into the left-field fence, making another amazing catch, and snuffing out a Jarrett rally.
He also had two hits on the day.
Heading into the bottom of the 6th with the scored tied at 3-3, Jarrett Ford's first eight batter's reached base leading to five runs, the maximum runs allowed per team per inning.
Hits were in short supply for both teams, as Reflections ace Hollywood Detore and Jarrett's hurler Victor Rodriguez were both outstanding on the mound.
Les Osbeck, Dave Reed, and Larry Kelly lead the Jarrett club with two hits each.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Fairmount Services nipped Reflections 15-13.
After six innings, with the score knotted at 11-all, Fairmount scored four runs, lead by Johnny "Boom Boom" Buja's three-run, inside-the-park home run.
Also having big days were Gary Quartara with 4-for-4 and a triple, Canadian import "Swamp" Poulan, 3-for-3 and two doubles, manager Braid Caid 3-for-4, and Jim Morgan 3-for-4 with a double.
Speedy Dick Cook, hobbled with a nagging leg injury, went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple.
For Reflections, Don Dobert continued his hot hitting with three hits, along with Big Phil Grimke, and Plattsburgh, New York's own bat master, Gary Decasta.
Chipping in with two hits each were Tom Trapman, Kenny Farano, John Smutnick, Ron Reiches, Hollywood Detore and Gary Kindle.
Saturday, January 26, 2013 - www.newssun.com/SUN-1-27-13-Sebring50s