2/20/2026
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All,
Congratulations to all teams and players for another great season! Special congratulations to the Diamondbacks for their great season. It is very difficult to go undefeated but they did it - CONGRATULATIONS!
We are going into our new season beginning Tuesday. Let's have another great season (quarter). Hopefully, there is more of a battle for first place, however the key to our league is having fun, sportsmanship, playing hard, good fellowship, and enjoyment of the game.
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A couple of items we need to work on to enhance the quality of our league: -
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Umpires making (coaches at first and third) making more accurate calls. Yes, there will be close calls that can go either way, however umpires should NOT be so quick to make the call. It is your call but be accurate and fair! If there is a controversy the Managers of each team should get together and come to an agreement.
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Be in position PAYING ATTENTION.
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First Base Umpire is responsible for 1st and Home. Third Base for 2nd and 3rd.
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Players should ask for a runner. We, as players, should NOT be telling someone to run for a player. A COURTESY RUNNER is permitted only if the runner being replaced agrees to be replaced.
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The first base outside base belongs to the runner. The inside base is the fielders.
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When there is a play at home plate the catcher must be on the base. If he/she catches the ball before the runner passes the white line and touches the ground on the other side of the white line the RUNNER is OUT. To be called safe the RUNNER must have touched the ground on the other side of the white line with his foot prior to the catcher catching the ball - the RUNNER is out if the foot is still in the air. Difficult call but umpires must be make this an accurate call
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If you are NOT going to play the day of the game; let your manage know you will NOT be at the game.
We have several players who ill and/or not able to play right now. Of special significance are:
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Eric Johnson - Eric is battling kidney issues and is in Brandon Hospital. He has made great progress but is not going to be able to play for a while. Eric needs our prayers.
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Ron Bugg - Not feeling well for awhile. Hopefully, Ron will get back with us. We miss him
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Howard Friedman - Howard is feeling better but is not quite ready to play. Howard - we miss you and look forward to having you back with us.
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Tug McGraw - Tug is back with us after back surgery. Great to have him back
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Frank Carillo - Frank is recovering well from his injury. Hopefully, he will be pickup this quarter.
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Jerry Haniak - Jerry is one of our snowbirds who has been coming down for decades to play in our league.
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Jerry is suffering from a should injury and will miss the rest of the season. We look forward to him making a complete recovery.
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Jimmy Collins - planter fasciatta. Jimmy - hoping for a quick recovery!
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Ralph Larue - Achilles strain
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Jimmy Magionne - knee replacement within the next two weeks and recently entered the Class '46
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Matthew Thomasoff - ankle injury. Hope you are back soon!
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Jim Wallach - our Canadian is suffering from a stomach hernia. Jim, GET WELL SOON. We miss you!
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Donnie Williams - recovering from a shoulder replacement and making good progress.
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Louie Roman - has been out with a bad back. It's great to have him back.
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Rich Columbo - League Treasurer continues to suffer with his back pain. Rich - hoping you are back with us soon.
Hopefully, we have not missed anyone; however, if we have we are very sorry and hope you are back with us soon!
Snow birds - enjoy this beautiful weather. Again, its great to have you all playing in our league.
Finally, thank you to Jim Trueman and all the good work he does keeping our website up to date. It's
important to note that our website has alot of good information. To gain more understanding of our website go to Site Index on the opening page. The Site Index will tell you what information each page contains and a link to get there. Don't hesitate to use the Member's Forum page to communicate with league members.
Thank you for all your support! Let's have another great season!
Phil G
2/3/2026
Fellow Players,
Hope everyone has stayed warm the past week. We need to get back playing
the game we love. Thursday should be game time for us!
Our Annual Valentines Day Luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, February 12,
following our Thursday game. Price is $5 for players and $10 for your guest. We
need your payment NLT Thursday, February 12. Managers will be asking you whether you
are attending and for your payment. It should be alot of fun!
Our next DRAFT is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17. Our goal is to have 8 teams. Your manger will
be asking you whether you are IN or OUT. Again, we want have 8 teams!
It is time to pay our annual dues. Dues are $40. Pay your manager; we want to complete collecting
dues NLT February 17. Players 80 in 2026 and over are NOT required to pay dues, however donations
are welcome. This is a great deal to ONLY pay $40 to pay to play a game we love.
We are working on how we want to play the last day of the season, February 17. One of the ideas is to
have each manager provide two players from their team which will make up a team to play the D'Backs
on the final day of season. Yes, this team will have two "D players." The rest of us will play pickup games unless
you want to watch the D'Backs game. Your thoughts on the above thought.
Remember our league is a recreation league! Have fun but there is no need to fall on your sword on whether
someone is out or safe, foul ball or fair ball, strike or not, etc.
Finally, we have several players who are hurting or recovering from an injury who need our prayers. Some of those are:
(apologize if I left someone out)
Donnie Williams - recovering from a shoulder replacement
George Isea - recovering from an appendix infection
John Hayes - recovering from falling off a ladder; no broken bones
Ralph Larue - injured hand
Rich Columbo - back
Frank Carillo - recovering from a procedure
Gerry Haniak - arm/shoulder
Mike Kruk - recovering from a back injury
Billy Helms - recovering from a heart procedure (pacemaker)
Mitch Peterson - respiratory
Jim Magionne - preparing for a knee replacement
Ron Buggs - respiratory/heart issues
Finally, appreciate your support as we have the best league in the state!!
Phil G
2/2/2026
ALL - Our annual Valentines Day Luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, February 12 following our Thursday game.
Price is $5 for players and $10 for your guest. Need your payment TO YOUR MANAGER NLT Thursday, February 10.
Please let your Manager know by this Thursday (2/4) if you are attending and if you are bringing a guest so we can provide Golden Corral our headcount..
1/26/2026
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All,
The week of January 27 thru January 31 league games are cancelled. There will be NO batting practice
or pickup games as there are ISSA tournament games all week. Use this week to rest and recuperate and get
ready to go at again beginning February 3.
As mentioned earlier, the league will be sponsoring our annual Valentine's Day Luncheon on February 12. Spouses and
significant others are invited, however they will be paying full price. Mitch Braun is the Project Lead. We hope to have the
final price out this week and start collecting money next week. Thank you to Mitch for heading this up for the
league.
We will begin collecting dues of $40 on Tuesday, February 3. 80 and over players are exempt but may make a donation, if they
desire.
Wednesday games against Lakeland this week are CANCELLED. Julio Reyes is the POC for the inter-league game.
REMINDERS:
- Notify your manager or co-manger if you are unable to make a scheduled game
- Pre-game batting practice - PLAYERS should ONLY bat once and NOT go field to field to hit - we have alot of
players who need to hit.
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Visiting team puts the pitching screen, balls, home plate, scoreboard, batter's box mats and gets the field ready play
prior to the game. Home team picks up the field items and makes sure all the equipment is taken by the wagon to the storage area.
Everyone needs to share in picking up the equipment after the games and assist before the games
Finally, let's continue to enjoy the game we love and have FUN playing this great sport!
Appreciate all those who volunteer and work to make this league so great!
STAY WARM - going to be colder than normal this week.
Phil G
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1/13/2026
Fellow League Members,
Hope everyone had a great holiday season. As we go into the 2026 season there are several areas we need
to improve on:
- Pre-game batting practice - players should ONLY bat once and NOT go field to field to hit - we have alot of players
who want to hit; hence they can't sometimes because some of us bat more than once
- Running for people - the rules state that a runner is permitted ONLY if the runner being replaced agrees to be
replaced.
- Continued good sportsmanship! Winning is NOT everything!
Additional notes:
- Liability sheets need to be completed plus we will have to sign the County Liability sheet(s).
- 2026 dues will be $40. Our 80 and over players are exempt but may make a donation. We will start collecting beginning
January 27.
- We are working on putting together our annual Valentines Day Luncheon. Our league project lead is working on
scheduling the even with Golden Corral for Thursday, February 12. More to follow.
- Our 80 year old group meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month at Golden Corral. All 80 year old and their wives are
invited. Rich Kelly is the point-of-contact (POC). The next luncheon is on Tuesday, January 20 at 11:30 AM at Golden Corral on Providence Av.
Appreciate all the support you give your managers and your support of our great league.
Phil G
11/27/2025
The following are notes from the Commissioner:
- HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all! We have alot to be thankful for this year! Enjoy your family time, be safe, and enjoy
your Thanksgiving!
- The County called me last week and asked if we would participate in the annual Toys for Tots program. We have participated in
this great program for the past 22 years. This is a volunteer program. The County would like for us to bring a toy to the ball field on December 2 or 4.
We will store the toy in the field office. I am working on extending the date as it might be a tight schedule for some of us. Appreciate your
participation in the program supporting the less fortunate in the Tampa Bay area.
- As you know we have started our Fall/Winter season; it has not been without some problems i.e., forfeits - not good!.
The goal of the league is to have all teams playing and all pickups assigned to a team. I plan to fix the Cubs issue as they lost
three players who were in the DRAFT but ended up not wanting to be in the DRAFT. Additionally, George Isea went down
with an emergency appendectomy with additional medical issues; hence he will be out for awhile.
- There will be Batting Practice and Pickup games this Friday and Saturday! Big thank you to Bill Gaffney for organizing
these pracitices for our players!
- It was great to have Shelly Wexler back out with us. We are hoping he will be back regularly with us.
- Also, Regis Fennigan came out Tuesday. It was great to see Regis! Also, we are hoping Regis comes back and plays regularly
with us.
- Let's keep George Isea (Cubs), Moises Motntalvo (Pickup), Joey Gargiola (D'Backs), Ottillio Acevedo (Giants),
Mike Kruk (Pickup), Karl Callahan (Sox), Rick Lindsay (Pickup). and Mitch Peterson (Yankees) in our prayers as they continue to recover from
their injuries. Get Well fellow players! I apologize if I missed someone who is ill or recovering!
REMINDER: Brandon Senior Softball League is a senior recreation league with emphasis on all of us participating in the
league games displaying sportsmanship! We strive to have all players who come to the field will play and expect the
manager to play all his drafted and assigned players!
Finally, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Phil G
11/25/2025
All - I received a call from the County asking for our participation in the Toys for Tots program. This program has been supported by our league for the past 22 years.
They asked if we wanted to participate in games on December 7 (Sunday). I told them it may be difficult to play on Sunday morning but we would gladly support the Toys for Tots program!
They would like to have toys by December 7. Please notify your fellow teammates requesting their support of a great program! We will store the toys in the office at the ball field.
Appreciate your support!
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Phil
11/20/2025
Fellow Managers and Players:
Saturday, BP and pickup game
- Wednesday BP
- Black Friday- BP and pickup game, if enough show
Let your teamates know. Bill Gaffney will be at the field on Saturday, Wednesday, and Black Friday.
Billy - Thank you for leading this effort.
Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to All,
Phil
Sent from my iPhone
Fellow BSSA Associates:
Based on the forecasted temperature tomorrow at 9:00 of 43 degrees; GAMES ARE CANCELLED.
The DRAFT will be tomorrow and results should be posted by the end of the day.
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We will be playing Thursday.
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Phil
09/30/2025
Fellow League Members,
The following are a few notes to keep you informed of league and player activities:
- Despite our managers voting to use Fields 1, 2, and 4 some are wanting to play on Field 3. Teams
scheduled to play on Field 3 can play on Field 3 versus Field 1 if both managers agree to play on
Field 3. If both managers agree to play on Field 3 they will notify me and I will notify Cody and
Tom Wise to prepare Field 3 and NOT Field 1.
- I contacted the County reference the trash cans not being emptied, garbage/trash in the area, dirty
bathrooms, the weeds growing around the dugouts and home plate fences, and the dirt in the dugouts.
We will see if the County resolves these issues - More to follow!
- We have coordinated with other leagues in the area to schedule games on Wednesdays of each month.
Bill Gaffney, Brandon Senior Softball League Softball Activities Director, will be managing the team along
with Julio Reyes.
- Batting Practice and Pickup Games every Wednesday and Saturday. On the first weekend of the month there
are tournament games; hence we may need someone to assist Bill Gaffney.
- We are taking donations to purchase six dozen softballs to use on Wednesday and Saturday ONLY. Please see
Bill Gaffney.
- A big THANK YOU to Bob Dowdy who purchased four upgraded carts to store home plate, batter's box rugs, and our
scoreboards. This is league dues used for league needs. Additonally, we purchased new scoreboards for each field.
- HOME TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE TO PICKUP THE PITCHER'S SCREEN, HOME PLATE, BATTER'S BOX RUGS, AND
THE SCOREBOARD AND STORE THEM IN THE SHED. VISITOR TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING UP THE
FIELD FOR BATTING PRACTICE.
- Next DRAFT is scheduled for November 4.
- A big THANK YOU to Jim Trueman for all he does to make our league website work for us!
As always appreciate your support and participation in our great league,
Phil G
League Commissioner