Game Day Gazette
June 16, 2025
Nice to be back on the field albeit with a delayed start to today’s games. Today marks the end of the 2nd session of the season. After having no rainouts in the 1st session, we lost four games to rain this last session.
Today’s games were delayed for an hour based on the information provided by the city grounds crew. Once people started arriving at the fields, it was clear that the field conditions had greatly improved and there was no reason to further delay the start of the games. After watching the grass dry for about 30 minutes, the games commenced with the first pitch coming at 8:45 a.m.
Welcoming a new player, Dean Hector, to the league this morning. Dean is coming from a background in fast pitch baseball and looks to be quickly adapting to our slower paced game!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Braves (5-3-0) vs. Senators (3-4-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
The Braves were down six players for today’s contest and had to draw four from the bucket. Joining the Braves as mercenaries were Scott Wright, Jack Adams, Mickey Poole and Gary Coyle. The guys went a combined 5-12 at the plate for the game.
Braves– With no Bobby Miller and Doc Hobar not available at the start of the game, Paul Rubin moved into the leadoff spot and opened the game with a line single up the middle. Lynn Simpson bounced into a force out at 2B for the 1st out. Jim Foelker singled and Tom Brownfield followed with an RBI single to right center to drive in Lynn for the games first run. Dave Berra singled to load the bases. Tom Kelm drove in the 2nd run with a sharp single to left. Joe Dayoc grounded to 3B and the new guy, Dean Hector, made the throw to 2B for the force and the 2nd out. Greg Lloyd, back on the mound after an extended stint at 1B, got Scott Wright to pop out to 3B to retire the side. 2nd– Jack Adams led off the 2nd with a base hit. Mickey Poole followed with a line drive single over the shortstop’s head (Mickey special!) Gary Coyle hit into a fielder’s choice out at 2B for the 1st out. Paul singled to CF to load the bases. Lynn followed with a line shot to right for a bases clearing three-run single. Jim smacked a single to left to put runners on 1B and 2B. Tom B. was retired on a nice catch by OF Will Scheerer for the 2nd out. Dave came through with a clutch two-run double to left center to complete the Braves five-run inning.
Senators- Terry Thompson led off the inning with a line single to left. Greg Lloyd followed with a base hit to right. Tim Coles drove in the 1st run of the game for the Senators with a sharp single to left. Henry Flores reached on an infield hit to load the bases with nobody out. Terry Watts slapped a line drive to right to drive in the 2nd run. Will Scheerer singled up the middle to bring in the 3rd run of the frame. Jerry Mylius drove in the 4th run on a fielder’s choice groundout before P Tom Kelm retired Roger Geras for the final out of the inning. 2nd– New guy, Dean Hector, fouled out in his 1st senior softball at bat. As noted earlier, Dean is coming to the league with a background in fast pitch baseball and to his credit, his at bats steadily improved over the course of the day. Chris Villareal (Senators only mercenary) singled to right. Terry T. hit a ball up the middle and Paul’s relay beat Chris to 2B for the putout. Another victim of the 70 ft. baselines on this field. Back-to-back singles by Greg and Tim produced the 1st run of the inning. Henry Flores drove in two more runs with a base hit to left center as the Senators evened the score at 7-7.
End of 2nd Score: Braves 7 Senators 7
Third Inning Recap:
Braves-Tom K. opened the frame with a ground single past the new pitcher, Terry Thompson. Joe followed with a line single to left. Scott flew out to CF for the 1st out of the inning. Jack hit into a fielder’s choice as Jim scored from 3B for the only run of the inning. Mickey flew out to LF for the final out of the inning.
Senators- bounced back with a run of their own to knot the score at 8-8. Will singled to start the inning. Rick struck out but Jerry singled to put runners on 1B and 2B. Roger grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Dean hit a sizzling grounder down the left field line. The ball struck the bag for Dean’s first senior softball hit and RBI. Terry T. was retired to end the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Braves 8 Senators 8
Fourth Inning Recap:
Braves- exploded with their 2nd five-run inning to seize a commanding lead over the Senators. Gary opened the frame with a sharp single up the middle. The late arriving Doc Hobar (not his fault, he was told we would not be starting the early game until 9:30 and we went ahead and had first pitch at 8:45, sorry Doc!) came through with a base hit in his first at bat. Paul lined a drive to left center that Will was able to get a glove on but could not hold as it fell for a single to load the bases. Lynn popped out to the catcher for the 1st out with Roger making a fine play on the ball. Jim ripped a single to left scoring two runs for the Braves. Tom B. lifted a fly to right field and Rick made an excellent running catch as Paul scored from 3B on the play. Dave and Tom K. had back-to-back singles to load the bases. Joe D. continued to swing a hot bat with a solid single over the shortstop to drive in the 4th run. Scott finished off the five-run inning with an RBI single to the right side.
Senators– failed to score in the 4th as Raul DeLeon was added to the lineup (another victim of the early “late” starting time). Note to team managers, any late arriving players must be added to the end of the lineup unless they are specifically replacing another player. In Raul’s case, he was inserted in the lineup between Greg and Tim where he normally bats. This creates much confusion for those who keep the scorebook! Back to the action, Greg led off the inning with a ground out to SS. Raul flew out to LF ahead of Tim’s 3rd hot of the game. Henry bounced into a force at 2B to end the Senator’s scoreless 4th inning.
End of 4th Score: Braves 13 Senators 8
Fifth Inning Recap:
Braves– P Terry T. retired Jack and Mickey on groundballs to short to start the 5th inning. Gary singled to start the Braves rally. Doc followed with a triple on a ball that skipped past Will and rolled to the fence. Paul doubled down the left field line to score Doc with the 2nd run. Lynn’s single brought Paul in with the 3rd run before Jim went down swinging for the final out.
Senators– down to their last at bat and trailing by eight runs, the Senators could only tally a single run in the buffet inning. Will and Rick opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Terry W. hit a hard grounder to 3B, and Tom B. turned it into a 5U 5-4 double play to kill the Senators rally. Roger singled to keep the game alive, and Dean lined a single over short to drive in the only run of the inning. Terry T. grounded to 3B, and Tom B. made the throw to 2B to get the force for the final out as the Braves emerged victorious by a final score of 16-9.
Final Score: Braves 16 Senators 9
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Sultans (3-5-0) vs. Keystones (3-5-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Sultans- only managed to score a single run in the first two innings as Keystone pitcher, Tommy DeLeon, was virtually unhittable. The Sultans continue to miss Peter Atkins from their lineup, and we are all hopeful he will be returning soon! Chris Villareal opened the game by grounding out to Robby Vickery at 1B. Donnie Janac followed with a groundout to shortstop Ken Brown (he and Mike Hill switched defensive positions for this game). Gary Coyle ripped a single to give the Sultans their first base runner of the game. Ray Pilgrim followed with a booming triple over the left fielder’s head to score Gary with the 1st run. Jeff Broussard ended the Sultan’s 1st inning with a groundout to short. 2nd-Rip Wright, back from an extended absence, led off the 2nd with a line single to CF. Don Roets was retired on a ball hit sharply to 1B for the 1st out. Adam Gordon followed with a ground out to short (is it just me or does the ball always seem to find Ken wherever he is at in the field?). Lucky bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
Keystones- Mike Hill drew a walk to open the game but was forced out at 2B on Patrick Schmidt’s groundball to Adam at SS. Ken Brown drove the ball to the gap in deep left center for a run scoring triple. Bobby Hawthorne reached on an infield single. Tommy DeLeon lined a shot to right center to drive in Ken with the 2nd run. Margarito Canava popped out to short for the 2nd out. Alex Valles singled up the middle to drive in Bobby, but Tommy’s pinch runner was thrown out, attempting to get to 3B on a nice play by Chris V. 2nd-Barry McRee struck out leading off the 2nd. The next three batters (Johnny Neville, Morris Carter and Robby Vickery) all reached base with singles to produce the 1st run of the inning. Dean Hector was retired on a leaping catch by SS Adam Gordon for the 2nd out. Leadoff man, Mike H. singled to drive in the 2nd run. Patrick’s single brought in the 3rd run. Ken slashed a hit to the left side to score Mike H. with the 4th run. Bobby finished off the Keystone’s big five-run inning with a run scoring single.
End of 2nd Score: Keystones 8 Sultans 1
Third Inning Recap:
Sultans– continued to struggle at the plate in the 3rd. Chris Hurst singled to start the inning. Ray Saldana went down looking on a perfect pitch that just nicked the outside back corner of the plate. Jack Adams ground out to 3B for the 2nd out. Chris V. singled but Donnie bounced out to Ken who flipped to Mike for the force at 2B to end the inning.
Keystones– added a run in the 3rd as Tommy led off with a single to right. Margarito struck out but Alex and Barry had back-to-back singles to load the bases. Johnny bounced out to 2B for the 2nd out as Patrick scored from 3B on the play. Morris ended the frame by grounding out to Adam at SS.
End of 3rd Score: Keystones 9 Sultans 1
Fourth Inning Recap:
Sultans- a combination of some leaky fielding and timely hits resulted in a five-run inning to get the Sultans back in the game. Gary led of the 4th with a line single. Ray P. walked and Rip singled to load the bases. Don smacked a single to right to score Gary with the 1st run. Adam followed with an infield single as Morris was unable to handle the throw to the plate, allowing the 2nd run to score. Lucky drew a walk to force in the inning’s 3rd run. After Chris H. made the 1st out, late arrivals, Jack Kelly and Phil Stanch immediately contributed with back-to-back singles to drive in the final two runs in the Sultans five-run 4th inning.
Keystones– Jack Kelly held the Keystones scoreless in the 4th as Robby flew out to LF to open the frame. Dean singled to left but was forced out at 2B on Mike’s grounder to Adam. Patrick kept the inning alive with a single, but he was also forced out at 2B on Ken’s fielder’s choice groundball to short to end the inning.
End of 4th Score: Keystones 9 Sultans 6
Fifth (Open) Inning Recap:
Sultans-chasing three runs, the Sultans were unable to generate any offense in the buffet. Ray S. provided an initial spark with a hard groundball past the pitcher leading off the inning. Chris V. hit a groundball up the middle, but Ken was perfectly positioned and was able to gobble up the ball, step on 2B and complete the relay to 1B for a rally killing 6U 6-3 double play. Donnie and Gary had back-to-back singles to provide a glimmer of hope but Ray P.’s flyball to left was caught by Dean for the final out as the Sultans came up short in a 9-6 loss.
Final Score: Keystones 9 Sultans 6
Final 2nd Session Standings:
As noted earlier, today’s games marked the end of the 2nd session of the 2025 season. The Braves win allowed them to move into a first-place tie with the idle Pioneers.
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 2nd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
6 |
3 |
0 |
0.667 |
130 |
98 |
32 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
6 |
3 |
0 |
0.667 |
112 |
94 |
18 |
– |
|
Keystones |
4 |
5 |
0 |
0.444 |
103 |
124 |
-21 |
2.00 |
|
Senators |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0.375 |
94 |
117 |
-23 |
2.50 |
|
Sultans |
3 |
6 |
0 |
0.333 |
101 |
107 |
-6 |
3.00 |
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
15 |
6 |
0 |
0.714 |
301 |
222 |
79 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
12 |
9 |
0 |
0.571 |
243 |
238 |
5 |
3.00 |
|
Senators |
9 |
11 |
0 |
0.450 |
253 |
275 |
-22 |
5.50 |
|
Keystones |
9 |
12 |
0 |
0.429 |
258 |
279 |
-21 |
6.00 |
|
Sultans |
7 |
14 |
0 |
0.333 |
243 |
284 |
-41 |
8.00 |
The Braves now hold a three-game lead over the Pioneers after two sessions but with three more sessions to play, it is still a wide-open race for the treasured championship T shirts.
Next Games: Thursday June 19, 2025
Game 1 8:30 a.m. (H) Pioneers (0-0-0) vs. (V) Sultans (0-0-0)
Game 2 9:30 a.m. (H) Senators (0-0-0) vs. (V) Keystones (0-0-0)
Braves have the bye on Thursday so their players will have priority in the draw.
Other C league news:
Thanks to the generosity of the ASSL players, we raised over $1,300 for the Capital Area Food Bank. Terry Thompson was able to secure matching donations to push the total donation to over $4,000 for the Capital Area Food Bank. Shout out to Terry for making this a successful fund-raising effort for the league.
The raffle ticket drawing was done between the C and B league games and Jack McDermott won first prize, a 2025 Short Porch Kevlar/ Spin Tech Wig Popper Black Out Senior Slow-pitch Bat; Steve Hamlett won second prize, a swag bag plus a pair of Beebe Sports Men’s Oahu Turf Shoes.