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Men's Senior Softball
Weekly Recap
Lake Placid, Florida
SCHOONI’S RESTAURANT CLAIMS 2026 LEAGUE TITLE
Written by: Cliff Bluml
March 17, 2026
Lake Placid Senior Softball played the final games of the 2026 season on Monday, March 16th. Schooni’s team had already clinched the title, so these games were all about the race for the second spot. Lake Placid Marine and Griffin’s Dry Cleaning couldn’t have been more tied! They each had won 12 and lost 7. They played each other 4 times, each winning 2 of those contests. And finally, while playing against each other, they had both scored a total of 61 runs. Unless one of the teams lost and the other won on Monday, it was down to a coin toss. In the end, both teams won their final outing, ending the season in a tie for second place.
Individual highlights from all three fields include: Schooni’s Dave Reed (single, 2 triples and a home run), Jim Wood (2 doubles), and Ellis Howard were all 4-for-4. Going 3-for-3 for Lakeside Dermatology were Tom McNally (2 doubles) and Mark Boivin (double). Jerry Kidd and Alex Stanish were 2-for-2. Frank Menendez went 3-for-3 for Miller’s Central Air. On Lake Placid Marine, Billy Ball (triple) and Jim Thomson (double) were both 4-for-4. Steve Burbick contributed a home run. Going 3-for-3 were Cathy Collier, Lou Carman, Tom Trapman, and Gary Williamson. Four batters, Joe Shea, Jim Nicolet, George Hartman and Bill Gallagher went 3-for-3 in Conley’s lineup. And for Griffin’s Dry Cleaning, Bob Daglian went 5-for-5 including 2 doubles, while Bones McCoy (double and home run), Tim Salazar (2 triples), Joey Bentzler (double), and Greg "Boots" Dasovic all went 4-for-5.
After the games, the teams gathered at the fields for lunch and an awards presentation. Members of this year’s championship team, Schooni’s Restaurant, proudly displayed their championship rings and shirts. The league trophy, and a huge thank you for their sponsorship, was later given to Schooni’s owner Jamie Rodriguez at the restaurant at 209 N Main Ave, Lake Placid. This is Schooni’s second year as a team sponsor and first trophy.
Also honored on Monday were the individual team MVP’s. Voted in as MVP’s were: Schooni’s Restaurant – Jeff Myers; Lake Placid Marine – Ron Kilburn; Miller’s Central Air – Frank Menendez; Griffin’s Dry Cleaning – Bob Daglian; Lakeside Dermatology – Mark Boivin; Conley Insurance – Mike Martino. The MVP’s received a flashy MVP ring along with unlimited bragging rights. Mike Martino donated his ring to teammate Cheryl Linck to acknowledge her expert first aid for an injured team member during the season.
Our league would like to thank the people who help keep our members active. We are extremely grateful to the team sponsors. Lake Placid Marine, Lakeside Dermatology, Conley Insurance, Griffin’s Dry Cleaning, Miller’s Central Air and Schooni’s Restaurant have supported the league for years. We can’t thank you enough.
Highlands County Sports Complex worked to have the fields groomed, lined, and in excellent condition in any weather. Thank you, Paula, and your whole crew.
The newspaper worked with us so we could highlight team and individual results. Thanks to Gene Welbaum from the Griffin’s team for his many weekly recaps.
Our umpires tolerate the abuse that umpires everywhere endure while keeping the games on track. To Jim Kahn, Chuck Detore, Steve Engebretson, Richard Prince and Don Dobbert we say, “Good Call”.
There is no softball game without “the book”. Our volunteer scorekeepers and scoreboard tenders keep track of each hit, run, and out. Holly, Gerry, Jodi, Bonny, Harold, Bob, and Hannah, your efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you one and all.
And lastly, thanks to the team managers, another thankless job that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Somebody has to tell the 14 guys on each roster, each of whom thinks they know way more than their manager does, where to play in the field and when to step up to the plate – good luck with that! With that said we hope Ron, Jim, Frank, Rudy, Richard, Eddie and Ellis will all come back and do it again next year.
Thanks to everyone for another successful season. Apologies to anyone I missed, stay healthy and come back ready to “play ball”.
Visit us online at www.lpsoftball.com
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