Game Day Gazette
July 3, 2025
Happy 4th of July to everyone! Hope you have a great holiday and celebrate living in the greatest country in the world!
I can’t think of a better way to kick off the 4th of July weekend than by playing softball! We had a great turnout yesterday and based on the feedback I have received, we are going to keep this date on the schedule to play in future years.
Weather was a little iffy, but the cooler temperatures were welcome. We got hit with some brief showers, but it did not stop us from getting in both games. We also took advantage of having the fields all to ourselves and played full seven inning games vs. our normal 50-minute sessions. Surprisingly, we finished the 2nd game at 10:36 a.m. after getting out to an early 8:15 a.m. start.
Which brings me to a friendly reminder that the player draw is supposed to take place 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for the game or 8:15 a.m. for the early game. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the field at 8:08 a.m. and discovered that the draw had already been completed with four players going to the Pioneers and one to the Keystones. We had two priority players that did not get a chance to play despite getting to the field prior to the 8:15 a.m. scheduled draw time. I would ask the home plate umpire or any board member present to help us avoid the temptation to start early and give those players that arrive closer to the published 8:15 a.m. draw time a chance to play as well.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Pioneers (0-3-0) vs. Keystones (1-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Pioneers- P Tommy DeLeon was unhittable in the 1st two innings as he shut down the Pioneers on no runs and one hit. Jack Adams flew out to Cf to open the game. Curt Ashmos and Sal Lopez both grounded out to Ken Brown at short to quickly end the 1st. 2nd- Mickey Poole broke up the no hitter with a clean single to right center. Tommy got Larry King to foul out and Chris Hurst went down swinging and two were away. Alex Valles grounded sharply to 3B and Mike Mordecai, just returning from the injured list, gloved the ball and threw to 2B to get the force and end the frame.
Keystones- Mike Hill led off with a drive to right center that Mickey tracked down for the 1st out. John Flowers doubled and moved to 3B on Patrick Schmidt’s single (Patrick smartly advancing to 2B on the throw to 3B). Ken Brown popped out to short for the 2nd out. Barry McRee laced a single to left to score John, but Patrick got greedy and tried to score from 2B on the play and was thrown out at home to end the inning. 2nd– Tommy DeLeon went down looking to open the 2nd. Mike Mordecai bounced out to 3B for the 2nd out. Robby Vickery lined a single to left (confounding the scouting report for right field Robby!). Greg Tolander’s double moved him to 3B, and he scored on Johnny Neville’s base hit. Morris Carter ended the frame by hitting into a fielder’s choice at 2B.
End of 2nd Score: Keystones 2 Pioneers 0
Third Inning Recap:
Pioneers– broke out with four runs with a little help from their mercenaries that all came from the Sultans (Peter Atkins, Jeff Broussard, Ray Pilgrim and Lucky Hoffman). Peter was retired on a groundball back to the pitcher to start the inning. Jeff singled past 2B to start the rally for the Pioneers. Ray doubled down the left field line moving Jeff to 3B. Lucky lined a shot to left to score Jeff with the Pioneer’s 1st run of the ballgame. Jack ripped a double to left, scoring Ray with the 2nd run. Curt was retired on groundball to 2nd. Sal came through with a big two-out single over 3B to score two more runs to give the Pioneers a 4-2 lead.
Keystones- chipped away at the Pioneers lead with a run in the 3rd. Mercenary Jim Foelker led off the inning with a single. He moved to 2B on Mike Hill’s sacrifice fly to CF and scored on John’s single. Patrick followed with a single, but John was gunned down at 3B trying to advance for the 2nd out. Ken popped out to 2B to end the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Pioneers 4 Keystones 3
Fourth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- not much to say other than P Tommy DeLeon achieved the ASSL version of the “immaculate” inning by retiring the side on only three pitches! Congrats, Tommy!
Keystones– grabbed the lead with a three-run outburst. Barry led off the inning with a single and moved to 3B on Tommy’s double that sailed over Ray’s head in left (doesn’t anybody hit the ball where they are supposed to anymore?). Mike M. drove in a run with a single. Robby continued to confound the “book” on him by lining a single to right to drive in the 2nd run. Sal retired Greg and Johnny for the 1st two outs of the inning. Morris then delivered with an RBI single to center for the Keystones 3rd run.
End of 4th Score: Keystones 6 Pioneers 4
Fifth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- struck back with three runs in the inning to reclaim the lead in this back-and-forth affair. The first two batters (Peter and Jeff) were retired. Ray singled up the middle and Lucky reached on a single to left. Jack’s double to right scored Ray and moved Lucky to 3B. New Pioneer, Curt, then slapped a single to CF to score both runners.
Keystones- Mike H. led off the 5th with a sharp single to left (really?). John picked up his 3rd hit to move Mike to 3B. Patrick “singled” to right but the throw from the outfield beat John at 2B for the force and the 1st out. Mike did manage to score on the play to tie the score at 7-7. Ken singled but Sal retired the next two batters (Barry and Tommy) to avoid any further damage.
End of 5th Score: Pioneers 7 Keystones 7
Sixth Inning Recap:
Pioneers– Tommy shut down the Pioneers in the 6th as he only allowed a single to left by Larry as the game remained tied at 7-7 heading into the bottom of the 6th.
Keystones- broke this one open with a five-run explosion in the 6th. Mike M. popped out to 3B leading off. Robby completed his perfect 3-3 day with a double to left. Greg fouled out for the 2nd out and it looked like Sal would get out of the inning. Johnny spoiled that thinking with a run-scoring triple down the right field line. Morris knocked him in with a single past the short stop. Jim singled to get the Keystones back to the top of their lineup. Mike H. grounded to short, but Jeff could not secure the relay throw from Jack and the bases were loaded. John singled to right, driving in two runs and completing his perfect 4-4 day at the plate. Patrick singled to move him to 3B, and Ken drove him home for the 5th run.
End of 6th Score: Keystones 12 Pioneers 7
Seventh “Open” Inning Recap:
Pioneers– Peter led off the 7th with a single but he was erased on the fielder’s choice ground out to Tommy. Ray then grounded a ball to Ken for a game-ending 6-4-3 double play to secure the win for the Keystones.
Final Score: Keystones 12 Pioneers 7
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Braves (3-0-0) vs. Sultans (2-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Braves- Doc Hobar led off the game with a line single up the middle. Bobby Miller followed with a hard grounder past the shortstop. Paul Rubin singled to left and the Braves were off and running with their 1st run. Tom Brownfield flew out to CF as the runners advanced to 2B and 3B. Billy Hill laced a single to left to bring in Bobby with the 2nd run. Lynn fouled out for the first out. Tom Kelm stepped up and ripped a shot down the left field line to drive in Paul with the 3rd run. Dave hit into a fielder’s choice to close out the Braves 1st inning. 2nd– Jim Foelker walked to start the Braves 2nd. Brian Rider went down looking for the 1st out. Terry Thompson (Braves lone mercenary) singled to move Jim to 2B. Doc bounced into a fielder’s choice (6-4) for the 2nd out. Jim never stopped running as he passed 3B and was thrown out at the plate to retire the side.
Sultans- Don Roets led off the Sultan’s 1st inning with a line shot to right. He moved to 2B on Peter Atkins single to center and scored on Phil Stanch’s pop fly hit to right. Ray Pilgrim hit a hard grounder up the middle that Tom gloved and threw to Bobby at 2B for the force and on to 1B to complete the 1-6-3 double play. Jeff followed with a comebacker to Tom and the 3rd out. 2nd-Rip Wright bounced out to Bobby at SS for the 1st out. Adam Gordon and Lucky Hoffman had back-to-back singles to get things going for the Sultans. Ray Saldana reached on a bunt single in front of the plate to load the bases. Jim Aaron followed with a sacrifice fly to center that was caught by Lynn Simpson as the runner scored from 3B. Sal Lopez ground into a fielder’s choice to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Braves 3 Sultans 2
Third Inning Recap:
Braves- Bobby led off the frame with a single but was forced out at 2B as Paul ground out to Jim Aaron, ranging far from the 1B bag to make the play. Tom B. flew out to left center for the 2nd out. P Ray Pilgrim then retired Billy Hill for the final out in the scoreless 3rd.
Sultans– Don opened the inning with a base hit to right. Peter followed with a fielder’s choice grounder to SS for the 1st out. Phil singled to put runners on 1B and 2B. Ray grounded to 3B, Tom B. stepped on the bag and threw to 2B to get the runner for an inning ending double play (5U 5-4).
End of 3rd Score: Braves 3 Sultans 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Braves- erupted for five runs to provide some cushion in this low scoring game. Lynn and Tom K. opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Dave followed with a booming drive to right center for a two-run triple. Jim followed with a single to drive him in with the 3rd run. Brian bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Terry followed with a drive to left over Lucky’s head that went for a run-scoring triple. Doc put a ribbon on the inning with a single to knock in Terry with the 5th run.
Sultans– P Tom Kelm continue to stymie the Sultan hitters. He walked Jeff to lead off the inning but quickly got Rip to bounce into a 6U 6-3 double play for the first two out. Adam fouled out to end the inning for the Sultans.
End of 4th Score: Braves 8 Sultans 2
Fifth Inning Recap:
Braves– Bobby opened the 5th with a double to right. Paul lined to SS, but Adam could not make the play as Paul reached 1B safely. Tom B. followed with a booming drive to right center for a double to score both runners. Billy’s single moved Tom to 3B. Lynn bounced a ball to Ray, and he made the throw to 2B for the force. Adam then completed the 1-6-3 double play with a strong throw to 1B to beat Lynn to the bag. Tom K. (Mr. Clutch) drove a ball up the middle to score Tom with the 3rd run.
Sultans– were able to scratch out a run in the inning. Lucky walked to start the frame. He was forced out at 2B on Ray’s grounder to short. Jim A. singled up the middle and Sal followed with a base hit to score the only run. Don flew out to right on a nice running catch by Dave and Peter was retired on a fielder’s choice grounder to SS
End of 5th Score: Braves 11 Sultans 3
Sixth Inning Recap:
Braves– Jim opened the 6th with a single to right. Brian struck out and Terry laced a single to left. Doc popped out to 2B for the 2nd out. Bobby singled to bring Jim around to score the 1st run. Paul doubled down the left field line to score both runners. Tom B. followed with an RBI single to score the Braves 4th run.
Sultans– I apologize to the Sultans for not capturing the details over their last two at bats. I was scrambling to get things going for the pick-up game following this and thought I would just fill in the book later. Short version, the Sultans failed to score in the 6th.
End of 6th Score: Braves 15 Sultans 3
Seventh “Open” Inning Recap:
Sultans– With the Braves up by twelve, the teams flip flopped, and the Sultans stayed at the plate for their final at bat. Again, I apologize to the Sultans for not capturing the details over this at bat. I do recall Ray S. grounding to Bobby for the final out (sorry Ray!) but bottom line, the Sultans were not able to score and went down by a final score of 15-3.
Final Score: Braves 15 Sultans 3
Session Three Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 3rd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
61 |
26 |
35 |
– |
|
Keystones |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
43 |
39 |
4 |
2.00 |
|
Senators |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
34 |
41 |
-7 |
2.00 |
|
Sultans |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
32 |
45 |
-13 |
2.00 |
|
Pioneers |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0.000 |
25 |
44 |
-19 |
4.00 |
The Braves moved their record to a perfect 4-0-0 and a two-game lead over the next three teams that are tied for 2nd place. The Pioneers are still looking for their 1st win of the session. Already hearing the cries to break up the Braves!
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
19 |
6 |
0 |
0.760 |
362 |
248 |
114 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
12 |
13 |
0 |
0.480 |
268 |
282 |
-14 |
7.00 |
|
Senators |
11 |
13 |
0 |
0.458 |
287 |
316 |
-29 |
7.50 |
|
Keystones |
11 |
14 |
0 |
0.440 |
301 |
318 |
-17 |
8.00 |
|
Sultans |
9 |
16 |
0 |
0.360 |
275 |
329 |
-54 |
10.00 |
The Braves continue their willing ways and have stretched their lead over the Pioneers to seven full games. The Senators and Keystones are both closing in on the race for 2nd place.
Next Games: Monday July 7, 2025
Game 1 8:30 a.m. (H) Sultans (2-2-0) vs. (V) Pioneers (0-4-0)
Game 2 9:30 a.m. (H) Keystones (2-2-0) vs. (V) Senators (2-2-0)
Braves have the bye on Monday so their players will have priority in the draw.