Game Day Gazette
July 14, 2025
After all the rain we had in the area over the weekend, most of us were surprised to find that the field was indeed playable. To top that off, we were able to get things started twelve (12) minutes ahead of our scheduled 8:30 start time. Again, all of the more reason to try and get to the field at least thirty minutes before game time!
Names in the News:
· Luther Elmore will be coming back to our league after an extended absence due to knee surgery. He has been assigned to the Sultans and should be back on Thursday. Welcome back, Luther!
· Jim Malloy plays in the B league as well as playing for the Austin Wizards (along with Alex Valles, Raul DeLeon and Henry Flores). Unfortunately, Jim was involved in a serious car accident leaving the field in Waco last Thursday and is still recovering. He is home now but needs your thoughts and prayers for full and complete recovery from any injuries suffered in the wreck!
· FYI, there are a few players that will be leaving the area for the summer to avoid the oppressive Texas heat which should create some opportunities to play in multiple games. If you are scheduled for the late game and want to possibly play two, plan to show up early for your chance.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Braves (5-0-0) vs. Keystones (2-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Braves- Doc Hobar, late arrival at the ballpark (8:25 a.m.), goes right from his car to the plate and delivers a line drive single past the short stop to open the game. Paul Rubin followed with a single to left center. Lynn Simpson bounced into a fielder’s choice out at 2B for the first out. Tom Brownfield skied a ball to CF for a sacrifice fly to bring in Doc from 3B for the Braves first run. Dave Berra ripped a ball down the 1st base line that Robby Vickery knocked down but was unable to complete the play as Dave reached with a single. Jim Foelker drilled a shot to left center for a double, scoring Lynn and Dave to put the Braves up by three runs. Tom Kelm flew out to left to retire the side. 2nd- Braves pounded Keystone pitcher, Tommy DeLeon with six hits on their way to a five-run inning. Joe Dayoc led off with a single down the 3B line. Gary Coyle singled past the shortstop to move Joe to 2B. Ray Pilgrim dribbled a ball down the 3B line for a single to load the bases. Jack Adams lined out to Ken Brown at SS for the 1st out. Doc lined a single to right to drive in two runs. Paul lined out to SS for the 2nd out. Lynn smoked a double to right center to score the 3rd run. Tom B. singled sharply up the middle to score both base runners and complete the five-run inning.
Keystones-quickly bounced back with a five-run inning of their own. Mike Hill singled up the middle to start the game. He was forced out at 2B on John Flower’s grounder to 2B. Patrick Schmidt popped a ball over 1B to move John to 3B. Ken Brown’s single up the middle brought in John with Keystone’s 1st run. Barry NcRee followed with an RBI single as Patrick scored the 2nd run. Tommy DeLeon laced a hit to right to score Ken with the 3rd run. Bobby Hawthorne hit a flyball to left that Lynn was unable to hold on to for a double as two more runs crossed the plate and completed Keystone’s five-run inning. 2nd– Margarito Canava fouled out on a flyball down the left field line that Lynn wisely watched drop in foul territory for the 1st out. Singles by Robby Vickery, Greg Tolander and Johnny Neville loaded the bases with Mike “Hit Man” Hill coming to the plate. Mike hit a hard grounder up the middle that Paul (shaded to the right side) was able to glove, step on 2B and make the throw to 1B to complete the inning ending 6U 6-3 double play and retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Braves 8 Keystones 5
Third Inning Recap:
Braves– P Tommy DeLeon bounced back to retire the Braves in order in the 3rd. Dave led off with a ground out to 3B. Jim bounced out to short, and Tom K. popped out to Ken to complete the 1-2-3 inning.
Keystones- John popped out to 1B to start the inning. Patrick followed with a single but was forced out at 2B on an extremely close play on Ken’s grounder to Tom B. at 3B. Barry and Tommy came through with back-to-back singles to score Ken with what turned out to be the only run of the inning. Bobby flew out to LF to close out the frame.
End of 3rd Score: Braves 8 Keystones 6
Fourth Inning Recap:
Braves- were able to create some separation with their 2nd five-run inning of the game. Joe led off with a groundball out to SS (still amazes me how many balls find their way into Ken’s glove regardless of where he plays in the field!). Gary and Ray ripped back-to-back singles and Jack picked up an RBI with a single of his own. Doc popped out to SS and the bat slipped out of his hands for the 2nd out. Paul singled up the middle to drive in the 2nd run. Lynn smacked his 2nd two-bagger of the game to score Jack with the 3rd run. Tom B. picked up his 4th and 5th RBI for the game with a line single to cap off the five-run inning.
Keystones– were unable to close the gap as Tom K. held them scoreless in the frame. Mike M. lined out to SS to open the inning, Margariot grounded out to 3B for the 2nd out. Robby singled and moved to 2B on Greg’s infield hit. The rally fizzled as Johnny bounced into a fielder’s choice out at 2B to retire the side.
End of 4th Score: Braves 13 Keystones 6
Fifth Inning Recap:
Braves- Dave led off the inning with a single but was erased at 2B on Jim’s grounder to 3B. Tom K. lined out to Ken for the 2nd out. Joe D’s single kept the inning alive for the Braves mercenaries. Gary and Ray both completed their prefect 3-3 days at the plate with back-to back run scoring singles before Jack ended the inning with a line out to 3B.
Keystones- failed to cut into the Braves lead as Doc’s defensive prowess led the way to another scoreless inning. Mike H. grounded sharply to 2B, and Doc ranged to his left to make the play for the 1st out. John singled up the middle but was forced out at 2B on Patrick’s groundball to 2B. Ken singled but Barry hit another groundball to 2B and Doc made the routine flip to Paul, covering 2B for the final out.
End of 5th Score: Braves 15 Keystones 6
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Although the C league rules state that the flip flop will occur once a team is ahead by ten runs, the teams agreed to go ahead and let the Keystones continue at the plate with their buffet inning.
Keystones- showed some life in the open inning as the first three batters (Tommy, Bobby and Mike M.) all reached base to push across the 1st run. Margarito hit a wicked grounder to Paul who managed to catch the ball on the short-hop and make the throw to 1B for the 1st out. Robby bounced into a run-scoring fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Greg completed a perfect 3-3 day at the plate with a sharp single past Tom B. at 3B to bring in the 3rd run. Johnny fouled out to end the game as the Braves moved their record to 6-0-0 for the session.
Final Score: Braves 15 Keystones 9
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Pioneers (0-5-0) vs. Senators (2-3-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Pioneers- looking to get in the win column for the 1st time in the 3rd session, the Pioneers struck quickly with a leadoff double by Jack Adams and an RBI single from Mike Carroll. The rally was squelched as the next batter, Tim Herer, ground into a slick 5-4-3 double play. Scott Wright bounced out to short to end the inning. 2nd– Sal Lopez ground out to SS to open the 2nd inning. Mickey Poole laced a one-out single but Larry King fouled out for the 2nd out. Alex Valles rapped a single past 3B Peter Atkins, but Paul Rubin fouled out to end the inning.
Senators- Terry Thompson led off the inning with a clean single to left. Greg Lloyd bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Terry Watts popped out to 2B for out # 2. The Senators 1-2 punch of Tim Coles and Raul DeLeon flexed their bats with back-to-back singles to bring in the Senators 1st run. Henry Flores ground into a fielder’s choice at 2B to close out the frame. 2nd-Jerry Mylius led off the inning with a base hit to right. P Sal Lopez retired the next three batters to keep the game tied at 1-1. Will Scheerer and Rick Parker hit into back-to-back fielder’s choice outs for the first two outs. Peter Atkins hit a fly ball to shallow left and Paul made a running catch for the final out of the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Pioneers 1 Senators 1
Third Inning Recap:
Pioneers- Donnie Janac was retired on a comebacker to Raul to open the inning. Barry McRee singled and moved to 2B on Jack’s single. Mike C. went down swinging for the 2nd out and Tim H. bounced out to 3B to retire the side.
Senators– broke through with three runs to grab an early lead in this one. Mike Hill led off with a single to get things going for the Senators. Terry T. ground into a fielder’s choice, forcing Mike at 2B for the 1st out. Greg grounded to Tim H. at 3B and his throw beat Terry to 2B for the 2nd out. Terry W. looped a single to right to put runners on 1B and 2B. Tim C. blasted a drive to right center for a double to score Greg and move Terry to 3B. Raul hit a routine grounder to Jack at SS and he calmly stepped on the 2B bag not realizing that there was no force in place allowing all runners to move up a base. Henry finished off the scoring with a line shot over short to drive in the 3rd run. Jerry ended the frame with a pop up to SS.
End of 3rd Score: Senators 4 Pioneers 1
Fourth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- Scott led off the inning with a double and moved to 3B on Sal’s base hit to LF. Mickey ground out to 2B but was able to push across a run on the play. Larry fouled out for the 2nd out before Alex bounced into an inning ending fielder’s choice at 2B.
Senators—broke this one open with a five-run outburst in the 4th. Will and Rick opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Peter’s single loaded the bases with nobody out. Mike H. grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out, but Will was able to score on the play. Terry T. lined a single to left to reload the bases. Greg popped out to 1B, but Larry was unable to make the catch but recovered to get the force at 1B to retire Greg. Terry W. hit a perfectly placed shot to right to bring in other run. Tim closed out the scoring with a booming triple to drive in two runs and put the Senators up by seven runs.
End of 4th Score: Senators 9 Pioneers 2
Fifth Inning Recap:
Pioneers– mounted a comeback with a big five-run inning of their own. Paul led off with a single to the right side but was forced out on Donnie’s groundball to 2B. Barry singled to keep the train moving. Jack hammered a ball to left center for an RBI double as two runners scored. Mike C. single moved him to 3B, and he scored on Tim H.’s double to left. Scott singled in Mike and Sal completed the five-run inning with another shot to left to score Tim and close the gap to two runs.
Senators– Raul and Henry opened the inning with back-to-back doubles for the 1st run. Jerry popped out to short before Will smacked a single to right center. He was forced out at 2B on Rick’s grounder to SS. Peter made the final out with a flyball to left center that Paul made a nice running catch on.
End of 5th Score: Senators 10 Pioneers 7
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Pioneers– Raul made short work of the Pioneers in the open inning as he retired all three batters to secure the win. Mickey ground out to 2B, Larry ground out to 3B, and Alex ended the game with a groundball out to 2B as the Pioneers evened their record to 3-3-0 and the Pioneers remained winless at 0-6-0.
Final Score: Senators 10 Pioneers 7
Session Three Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 3rd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
6 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
89 |
43 |
46 |
– |
|
Sultans |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
32 |
45 |
-13 |
2.50 |
|
Senators |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0.500 |
51 |
61 |
-10 |
3.00 |
|
Keystones |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0.400 |
52 |
54 |
-2 |
3.50 |
|
Pioneers |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0.000 |
40 |
67 |
-27 |
6.00 |
The Braves moved their record to a perfect 6-0-0 and now hold a 2.50 game lead over the 2nd place Sultans.
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
21 |
6 |
0 |
0.778 |
390 |
265 |
125 |
– |
|
Senators |
12 |
14 |
0 |
0.462 |
304 |
336 |
-32 |
8.50 |
|
Pioneers |
12 |
15 |
0 |
0.444 |
283 |
305 |
-22 |
9.00 |
|
Keystones |
11 |
15 |
0 |
0.423 |
310 |
333 |
-23 |
9.50 |
|
Sultans |
10 |
16 |
0 |
0.385 |
288 |
336 |
-48 |
10.50 |
The Braves continue their winning ways and have stretched their lead over the Pioneers to 8.50 games. The race for 2nd remains close with only two games separating the remaining four teams.
Next Games: Thursday July 17, 2025
Game 1 8:30 a.m. (H) Braves (6-0-0) vs. (V) Senators (3-3-0)
Game 2 9:30 a.m. (H) Sultans (3-2-0) vs. (V) Keystones (2-3-0)
Pioneers have a bye on Thursday so their players will have priority in the draw.