B League Picayune
Often in error, never in doubt.
Volume 7, Issue 7 – March 24, 2025
Dave Berra’s weather report: A beautiful spring day after last night’s storms – 70 degrees; sunny, cloudless sky; humidity 31%; wind from the northeast at 9 MPH.
Games of Monday March 24:
10:30 a.m., Gray (3-2) at Red (2-3):
1 2 3 4 BUFFET FINAL Gray 0 5 0 5 0 10 Red 1 0 5 5 X 11 Pitchers: Gray – Jack Kelly (innings 1 and 4) and Lupe Albrado s(innings 2 and 3); Red – Joe Bernal. Mercenaries: Red – Tom Kelm and Jim Maloy. Umpires: home – Spike Davidson; bases – Larry Fiorentino and Mike Velaney. Perfect at the plate: Gray – Jack Crosley and Boo Resnick (both 2 for 2), Dave Jaffe (2 for 2 with a double), and Paul Rubin (3 for 3); Red – Tom Kelm (1 for 1 with a walk), Jim Maloy (2 for 2), and Jack Spellman (3 for 3).
Joe Bernal did an amazing job of shutting down the top of the Gray batting order in this game – while lead-off hitter Tommy Gillis knocked two doubles in three at bats and number-two hitter Paul Rubin went 3 for 3, neither they nor Gray’s 3-4-5 hitters scored a run in this game. In the first inning Joe worked around singles by Paul and Adam Reddell, getting three outs on ground balls to the left side. Lupe Albrado pitched the first inning for Gray and allowed just a single run, on Joe Bernal’s sacrifice fly.
Gray grabbed the lead with five runs on six singles and Tommy Gillis’s two-run double in the top of the second, all the runs coming after a defensive misplay with two out: with runners on first and second, Boo Resnick grounded a ball to the 5-6 hole. Shortstop Jack Spellman made the play, but both pitcher Joe Bernal and second baseman Mark Dolan converged on the bag, and my throw sailed between the two and into right field, two runs scoring on the play and three more on hits by the next four batters.
Jack Kelly came on to pitch in the bottom of the second and retired Red 1-2-3. Gray had the heart of its order up in the third, but Joe Bernal also worked a 1-2-3 inning, the third out coming on a great play by Donald Drummer to catch George Romo’s drive to deep right-center.
Red then rallied and took the lead with five runs in the home half, on Tom Kelm’s lead-off walk and five singles, the last three with two out.
Each team scored five times in the fourth inning. There was also a scary moment in the top half of the frame. Gray’s first five batters hit safely: Jack Crosley led off with a single, Johnny Lee and Dave Jaffe doubled (Johnny Lee’s hit was to deep right-center), and Hal Darman and Boo Resnick followed with singles. Three runs were in with none out when Jack Kelly grounded to second baseman Mark Dolan; Mark flipped to Jack Spellman for the force at second; I looked to third to see if I had a chance at throwing out Hal, which I did not, so I spun left and threw as hard as I could for first, only my throw caught Boo right in the ribs. Not that I have a very strong arm, but I was using what I have, and I caught Boo unprepared and not ten feet away from me, and pretty well knocked the wind out of him. I said it on the field and repeat it here: I am so, so sorry, Boo.
Lupe Albrado followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in the fourth run and Tommy Gillis knocked his second double of the game to drive in Jack Kelly’s pinch-runner with the fifth.
With Jack Kelly back on the mound for Gray, Red came right back with five runs in the bottom half. The first five batters of the inning singled, two runs scoring, Anthony Galindo hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field, and Gary Coyle delivered the fourth and fifth runs with a ringing double to right-center.
Entering the buffet, Red led by one run. Paul Rubin led off with a high fly to left field; moving to his left and in a bit, Jim Maloy got to the ball, couldn’t hang on for the catch, but quickly recovered and made a strong, accurate two-hop throw to Mark Dolan covering second base, the peg reaching Mark while Paul’s foot was not quite down on the line – out number one. Morgan Witthoft grounded to shortstop and was out by half a step for the second out. Adam Reddell hit a hard grounder to Mark Dolan, who stayed down on the ball, caught it cleanly, and threw to first baseman Dale Fugate for the final out. Final score: Red 11, Gray 10
I took off after Red’s game to attend the UT women’s basketball game versus Illinois at the Moody Center. I’m indebted to Dave Berra and Terry Watts for their scoresheets of today’s games, and to David Brown for his superb recap of the 12:30 game. (UT won 65-48. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, number 32, was awesome.) Also, I think that’s Mike Velaney in the Bevo outfit.
11:30 a.m., Purple (2-3) at Green (3-2):
1 2 3 4 5 BUFFET FINAL Purple 0 3 3 4 3 X 13 Green 0 0 1 0 5 3 9 Pitchers: Purple – Spike Davidson; Green – Johnny Wimpy (innings 1-3) and Chunky Wright (innings 4 and buffet). Mercenary: Green – Adam Reddell. Umpires: home – Jack Crosley; bases – Hal Darman. Perfect at the plate: Purple – Rex Horvath (4 for 4); Green – Johnny Wimpy (2 for 2 with a walk). Home run: Larry Fiorentino (inside the park) (2).
With Spike Davidson holding Green to just one run over the first four innings, Purple was able to get its offense untracked after going out in order in the top of the first, and wound up building an insurmountable 13-1 lead. Rex Horvath was game MVP for his play on both sides of the ball, going 4 for 4 with two RBI and scoring three times, and starting inning-ending 5u., 5-3 double plays in the bottom of the first and fourth innings. Larryr Fiorentino laced a double to start Purple’s rally in the third, and an inning later legged out a two-run inside-the-park home run, his second of the season.
Green finally found its footing in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs on eight hits (a lead-off triple by Adam Reddell, back-to-back doubles by Doc Hobar and Mike Garrison, and five singles) without making an out. That wasn’t enough to avert a flip-flop, however.
Spike Davidson got two quick outs to start the buffet. The next five batters – mercenary Adam Reddell and the top of the Green lineup – hit safely, three runs scoring, the last two on Mike Garrison’s triple, before Green’s luck ran out and Pat Scott ran down Tim Coles’s fly to left-center for the final out. Final score: Purple 13, Green 9
1:00 p.m., Orange (1-4) at Blue (2-3):
1 2 3 4 5 BUFFET FINAL Orange 2 0 0 1 4 4 11 Blue 3 0 0 5 0 4 12 Pitchers: Orange – Gary Bowles; Blue – Tommy Deleon. Mercenaries: Orange – Anthony Galindo; Blue – Tim Coles and Chris Waddell. Umpires: home – Chunky Wright; bases – Mike Garrison. Perfect at the plate: Orange – Peter Atkins (4 for 4) and Ken Mockler (4 for 4 with a double); Blue – Chris Waddell (2 for 2 with a walk). David Brown provides this outstanding recap:
Blue vs. Orange was a duel between two pitchers who consistently tested the 12-foot limit and two offenses that mostly sputtered but occasionally exploded. Fun game all around.
A few notes on the hitting side for Orange. (1) In his first three at bats, Clint Fletcher scorched a ground ball to SS, a line drive at 3B, and another line drive to left-center that all resulted in outs. Prior to Clint’s fourth at bat, Mike Garrison said from his umpiring position near 1B, “The law of averages says Clint is getting a base hit this time.” The prediction didn’t look so good when Clint hit a pop up between 3B and the pitching rubber, but the ball fell safely between Tommy Deleon and Dave Pittard and Clint glided into 1B with a big smile on his face that was matched by Mike’s. (2) Peter Atkins, who is returning from a torn tendon in his foot that he suffered the first week of the season, hit hard line drives to all parts of the outfield and enjoyed a 4-4 day. That dude is tough! (3) Ken Mockler had the longest flyball today with a hit over Tom Bellavia’s head for a double in the fourth. Ken had three singles as well to complete a 4-4 day. (4) Larry Shupe continued his hot streak with a 2-3 day. (5) Leading off the third inning, mercenary Anthony Galindo took a called strike and then hit a sharp line drive down the left field line that landed just foul for the strikeout. In the fifth, Anthony took a called strike and then hit a sharp line drive down the left field line that landed just fair and went nearly to the fence for a double. The President persevered!
In the first inning, Blue loaded the bases twice. First with Steve Sandall, Jimmy Sneed, and Tom Bellavia going 1B/BB/1B. George Brindley and Don Solberg followed with back-to-back fielder’s choices to the Orange middle infielders with runs scoring on each play. Dave Pittard, Daniel Baladez, and Tommy Deleon followed with three singles to reload the bases before Tim Coles grounded into a 6-4 FC.
Orange went 3-up, 3-down in the second inning with an inning ending 6-4-3 double play, and Blue followed with 4-up, 3-down in their half of the second. Both teams had 4-up, 3-down innings in the 3rd with a fun 1-6-3 ground out by George Brindlely that started as a hard-hit ball up the middle until Gary Bowles got a glove on it and deflected to the SS. [Editor’s note: David Brown was the shortstop. I didn’t see it, but I bet a doughnut it was an excellent play.]
Orange scored one run in the 4th to tie the game and Blue followed with the game’s only five-run inning.
Orange scored 4 in the top of the 5th to pull within a run.
In the bottom half, Blue had a single and two 6-4 FC outs to put a runner at 3B. Two walks loaded the bases before Ken Mockler made a great running grab of a fly ball hit near the left field line.
Following a 5-3 ground out to start the buffet, Anthony Galindo hit a double, Clint Fletcher hit his pop-up single between 3B and pitcher, and Peter Atkins scorched a ball to left-center to tie the game and put runners at the corners with one out. Mike Malay singled to plate the go-ahead run and put Peter at 3B. Ray Pilgrim hit a sac fly to left-center to bring in another run. Ken Mockler followed with his fourth hit of the day and Marvin Krabbenhoft singled to drive in the 4th run of the inning. David Brown then flied out to LC for his 4th fly ball out of the game
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Blue needed three to tie and four to win in the bottom of the buffet. Jimmy Sneed and Tom Bellavia started the inning with back-to-back walks before Peter Atkins made a nice catch on George Brindley’s line drive to left-center. Don Solberg hit a sharp ground ball past Clint Fletcher at 2B to score Jimmy and put runners at the corners. Dave Pittard walked to load the bases, and then Daniel Baladez singled in a run. [Editorial note: George Brindley was running for David Pittard, and he took a wide turn at second, intending to try for third, only to see that Don had held up at third. Orange threw to second to try for George, but when a runner is retreating to a base, it’s not a force play, a tag has to be made, and Orange didn’t do that, so George, notwithstanding his best efforts, was safe. George provided me these details, and I thank him.] Tommy Deleon came up to bat with the tying run on 3B and the winning run on 2B and proceeded to squeeze a groundball through the 5-6 hole. Ken made a throw home that was too late to nab George, pinch-running for Dave Pittard.
Final score: Blue 12, Orange 11
B League Standings – Session One:
| Games | Runs | Runs | Runs dif- | W/L | ||||
| Wins | Losses | Win %: | behind: | for: | allowed: | ferential: | streak: | |
| Maroon | 5 | 1 | .833 | 0 | 94 | 74 | 20 | W1 |
| Blue | 3 | 3 | .500 | 2.5 | 79 | 71 | 8 | W1 |
| Red | 3 | 3 | .500 | 2.5 | 87 | 86 | 1 | W2 |
| Green | 3 | 3 | .500 | 1.5 | 76 | 78 | -2 | L2 |
| Gray | 3 | 3 | .500 | 1.5 | 78 | 81 | -3 | L1 |
| Purple | 3 | 3 | .500 | 2.5 | 71 | 78 | -7 | W1 |
| Orange | 1 | 5 | .167 | 3.5 | 69 | 86 | -17 | L1 |
| Home | Visitor | Walk-off | Extra-inning | Flip-flop | 1-run games | |||
| W-L: | W-L: | wins | Wins: | W-L: | W-L: | |||
| Maroon | 2-1 | 3-0 | 1 | 0-0 | 3-0 | 1-0 | ||
| Blue | 2-1 | 1-2 | 1 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 1-1 | ||
| Red | 2-1 | 1-2 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-1 | ||
| Green | 0-3 | 3-0 | 0 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 0-0 | ||
| Gray | 1-2 | 2-1 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | ||
| Purple | 2-1 | 1-2 | 1 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 1-0 | ||
| Orange | 1-2 | 0-3 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-1 |
2025 total victories (read across) and losses (read down):
| Blue | Gray | Green | Maroon | Orange | Purple | Red | TOTAL | |
| Blue | X | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Gray | 1 | X | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Green | 0 | 1 | X | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Maroon | 1 | 1 | 1 | X | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Orange | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Purple | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 1 | 3 |
| Red | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 3 |
| TOTAL: | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 21 |
2025 season home run leaders:
Bobby Miller – 4
Tim Coles – 3
Tim Bruton – 2
Larry Fiorentino – 2
Tom Belavia – 1
George Brindley – 1
Donald Drummer – 1
Anthony Galindo – 1
Mike Garrison – 1
Rex Horvath – 1
Mike Malay – 1
Chris Waddell – 1
Chunky Wright – 1
Schedule for Thursday March 27:
10:30 a.m.: Maroon (5-1) at Purple (3-3), Red umpiring
11:30 a.m.: Red (3-3) at Orange (1-5), Maroon umpiring
12:30 p.m.: Green (3-3) at Blue (3-3), Orange umpiring
Gray has the bye, with priority for its players out of the bucket.
Preview: Final games of Session One. Maroon, idle today, clinched first place for the session when Green lost to Purple, so Thursday’s games don’t have much import, except maybe as a prompt for where to assign players coming off the DL. Will we see wholesale roster changes for Session Two or just tinkering at the edges by the B League powers that be? One thing is certain: Only time will tell.
Keggy’s Korner:
Morgan Witthoft checks in:
This weekend is the HONK festival , Friday evening and all day Sat/Sun, dozens of fun bands playing at multiple stages.
I’m playing with the Klezmer Bund at:
Friday, 3/28 6:00-6:30 at Showpony @ Jackalope Riverside
Saturday, 3/29 – 1:30-2:15 and 3:00-3:45 at Mueller Lake
Sunday, 3/30 – 1:11-1:22 at Pan Am Park
But a great time is to be had whether you catch the Klezmer shows or just the vibe of the whole festival.
Hey, Virgilio stopped by, and I missed him. Here he is with Johnny Lee and Greg Lloyd.