Special to the News-Sun
SEBRING - The Sebring Seventy and Over Softball League was out in full swing at the Highlands County Sports Complex last Tuesday and Thursday even though the weather was getting a little nippy.
In action on Thursday, Jan. 24, the Silent Salesman played Royal Palms, hoping to avenge a loss earlier in the season.
They banged out about 25 hits and played stellar defense, including three double plays.
Royal Palms could not get anything going and fell behind 5-0 after three innings.
The Salesman scored seven more times for a final score of 12-1.
Leading batsmen for the Salesman were Norm Grubb at 4-for-5 with a double, while Bill Todd 3-for-5, including a double.
Victor Rodriquez and Fred Moore each had a 4-for-4 day.
Bob Goodman contributed 3-for-4 and four batters had two hits each.
Victor Rodriquez pitched his best game of the season, limiting a good team to only one run.
Highlands Independent Bank had a very successful day against Buttonwood Bay with a 23-12 victory.
Some of the Bank's bats were warmed up as Don Cunningham had a super day, going 4-for-6 at bats, producing a home run and two triples.
Woody Woodward had 3-for-5, including a double.
Gene Phillips was 4-for-4 and Jim Quartier had 3-for-4.
Each hitting 3-for-3 were Harry Bell and Ross Anderson.
Russ Moody had 2-for-3 and Don Sheets was 3-for-5.
Buttonwood Bay Rebels put together a good many hits, but still lost to the Highlands Independent Bank.
Hot hitters for the Rebels were Jim Monroe and Jim Delahunt, each going 3-for-3.
A series of batters going 3-for-4 included Tony Christo, Tom "Moose" Morrissette, Fred Boyd, John Jeffrey, Earl Richardson and Fred Richardson.
VFW4300 edged out a win over Andrews Allstate Insurance despite being on the wrong side of a triple play.
The final score was VFW 12-10 with VFW on top.
Dennis Burkholtz made a spectacular catch that ended the game.
Having 3-for-5 hits was Ron Lewis.
Winning pitcher John Kloet was 3-for-5, as well as Bob Roth, Chuck Fluharty and Spider McMinn.
Andrews Allstate Insurance made some good plays but could not quite keep up with the VFW players.
For Allstate, Galo Gonzalez had a double in his 3-for-4 times at bat.
Jerry Kuffman was 3-for-3, including a triple.
Rudy Pribble was 2-for-3 and Eddie Lindberg had 2-for-4.
On Tuesday, Jan. 22, Silent Salesman and Buttonwood Bay Rebels had a close and rather strange game with the Rebels coming up the short side at the end.
The Salesman had only thirteen hits, but received thirteen bases on balls to come out on top with the winning score of 10-5.
Leading the hit parade for the Salesman was Jack McFenney having a 3-for-4 day.
Victor Rodriquez went 2-for-3, including a double and Don Goodman was 3-for-5.
Credited with two hits each were Don Day and Ricky Burkholtz.
Buttonwood had a rally going in the last inning, but the only double play of the game for the Salesman ended the threat.
Their bats are coming to life with Tom "Moose" Morissette credited for a triple in his 4-for-4 times up.
Bob Wood was 3-for-4 with a double and triple.
Fred Richardson's 3-for-3 added two more doubles in the game.
VFW4300 rallied to beat Royal Palms 24-19.
Leading the attack were Curt Brown having five hits, including a triple, and Bob Roth three hits with a double.
Jerry Murphy had a triple in his 4-for-5 hits.
Chuck Fluharty, Doran Quigg and Ross "Spider" McMinn produced three hits each, and the winning pitcher was Ron Lewis.
Royal Palms was in front going into the 8th inning.
VFW4300 scored 10 runs to secure the win over Royal Palms.
The Palms Gene Hanford belted out the only home run of the day for the entire six teams.
Kyle Saunders had two triples in his four times at the plate.
Charlie Quinn was 5-for-5 while Jim Longman and Mo Pier both had 4-for-5 outings.
Andrews Allstate Insurance had a final score of 6-3 against Highlands Independent Bank.
Jerry Kuffman had a triple in his 2-for-3 times at bat.
Dale Baughman managed a double in 2-for-3 times up to the plate.
Other players hitting 2-for-3 were Tom Ashley, Galo Gonalez, Eddie Lindberg, Dick Ostrick and Rudy Pribble.
Highlands Independent Bank played a good defensive game against Andrews Allstate Insurance, but just not enough power at the plate to win the game against their opponent.
Don Sheets lead the hitting, going 2-for-4.
A string of 1-for-3 batters were Ross Anderson, Harry Bell, Don Cunningham, Russ Moody, Lloyd Noaker, Gene Phillips, Jose Torres and Woody Woodward.
Thank you to the spectators who frequent the Complex.
It is enjoyable, seeing these older gents participating in a sport they enjoyed when they were younger.
The Complex is located behind the railroad station in Sebring and bleachers are furnished.
Sunday, January 27, 2013 - www.newssun.com/SUN-1-27-13-Sebring70s