Game Day Gazette
July 28, 2025
The Pioneers win the pennant! The Pioneers win the pennant! Ok so not quite but the Pioneers did get their first win in the session after eight straight defeats with a 14-11 upset of the front running Braves. Congratulations to Jack Adams and the boys in Blue on their big win! I predict this will springboard them into being a true contender for the rest of the season!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Senators (5-3-0) vs. Sultans (4-4-0)
With only six regulars available for this morning’s game, the Senators hit the jackpot with five mercenaries including Bobby Miller, Jack Adams, Patrick Schmidt, Barry McRee and Johnny Neville. The mercenaries were a combined 10-16 (.667 average) and accounted for five runs scored and six runs batted in!
First & Second Inning Recap:
Senators- Jerry Mylius led off the game by lining out to Gary Coyle at 3B. Greg Lloyd followed with a line single to right center. Denny Malloy stroked a double to right center to moved Greg to 3B. Raul DeLeon blasted a drive down the left field line for a bases clearing two-run triple. Henry Flores followed with a sharp single past short to drive in Raul with the 3rd run. Will Scheerer grounded a ball up the middle and Adam turned a smooth 6U 6-3 double play to end the inning. 2nd– Bobby Miller led the parade of mercenaries in this frame with a leadoff double. Jack Adams bounced out to 2B for the 1st out. Patrick Schmidt singled to drive in Bobby with the 1st run. Barry McRee bounced into a fielder’s choice with Gary making the throw to 2B for the force and the 2nd out. Johnny Neville singled past 2B to keep the inning alive. Jerry laced a single to right center to score Barry with the 2nd run. Greg bounced out to Jeff at 2B to end the frame.
Sultans- had a full lineup for this morning’s game and did not have to draw any mercenaries. Donnie Janac and Gary Coyle opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Ray Pilgrim grounded into a fielder’s choice out at 3B on a nice unassisted play by Patrick Schmidt. Jeff Broussard ground into a fielder’s choice out at 2B for the 2nd out. Rip Wight singled to drive in the 1st run for the Sultans. Adam Gordon bounced out to Jack Adams for the final out. 2nd- Phil Stanch walked leading off the 2nd. Lucky Hoffman popped out to short for the 1st out. Jack Kelly lined out to 2B for the 2nd out. Ray Saldana drilled a ball down the 3B line for a single to advance the runner, but P Raul DeLeon got Luther Elmore to ground out to short to end the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Senators 5 Sultans 1
Third Inning Recap:
Senators- flexed their collective muscle and bombed their way to a five-run inning. Denny led off with a line shot double to right center. Raul drove him in with a sizzling grounder past the shortstop. Henry drove a ball to the left center gap for a run scoring double to bring Raul around to score. Will lined a single up the middle to move Henry to 3B. Bobby drove him in with a sharp single to left. Jack popped out to 3B for the 1st out. Patrick followed with another run scoring single to right center. Barry finished off the inning with a clean single in the 5/6 hole to score Bobby with the Senator’s 5th run.
Sultans- answered back with three runs of their own to stay in the game. Donnie led off with a hard single to right center and Gary followed with a blooper to CF that went for a double. Ray crushed a ball to deep center that Bobby was unable to track down resulting in a two-run double. Jeff singled up the middle as Ray stayed put on 2B. Gary came into to pinch run for Ray and scored with some aggressive base running on Rip’s fielder’s choice groundout to 2B. Adam bounced out to 2B for the 2nd out. Phil lined a single to left but Lucky went down looking to end the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Senators 10 Sultans 4
Fourth Inning Recap:
Senators- picked up two more runs to extend their lead to eight runs. Johnny popped out to short to open the frame. Jerry lined a base hit to right center but was forced out at 2B for the 2nd out on Greg’s grounder to 2B. Denny dribbled a ball past Lucky at 1B and it rolled into shallow right field for a double (Denny’s 3rd two-base hit of the game). Raul continued to swing a hot bat as he lined a double to right center to score both runners (picking up his 4th and 5th RBIs of the game). Henry popped out to 3B to end the inning.
Sultans– got some production from the bottom of the lineup on their way to a big five-run inning. Jack Kelly beat out an infield hit (not sure if I have ever written that statement before!) to start the inning. Ray S. lined a single over 2B and Luther lined a ball over 3B to load the bases. Donnie picked up his 3rd hit with a single to CF to drive in the 1st run. Gary followed with a run-scoring base hit for the 2nd run. Ray’s flyball to CF was deep enough to get the runner home from 3B for the 3rd run. Jeff’s single to left scored Donnie with the Sultan’s 4th run. Rip smacked a hard grounder to 1B, but the ball struck Jeff for the 2nd out of the inning. Adam came through with a clutch single to drive in Gary with run #5.
End of 4th Score: Senators 12 Sultans 9
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Senators- Will led off the buffet by popping out to short for the 1st out. Bobby doubled and scored on Jack’s single for the 1st run. Patrick popped out to 1B on a nice catch by Lucky. Barry singled and Jack came around to score as Adam’s throw home was wide of the target. Johnny’s single to right center moved Barry to 3B and he scored on Jerry’s hit to right center.
Sultans- now trailing by six, the Sultans could only manage to put up a single run in their half of the buffet inning. Phil led off by grounding to 2B for the 1st out. Lucky smacked a single down the left field line to get a runner on base. Jack stroked a beautiful line drive to right for a single. Ray S. popped out to short for the 2nd out. Luther singled to load the bases. Donnie completed his perfect 4-4 day at the plate with a run-scoring single up the middle. Gary grounded to Jack Adams at SS, and he made the unassisted force at 2B to end the game as the Senators triumphed by a final score of 15-10.
Final Score: Senators 15 Sultans 10
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Pioneers (0-8-0) vs. Braves (7-1-0)
Most days I enjoy doing these recaps but it’s not as much fun when my team loses and it especially not as fun when I don’t play well. So here we go, just letting you know I’m really not having fun now!
First & Second Inning Recap:
Pioneers- looking to finally get in the win column, manager Jack Adams opened the game by flying out to right center on a nice catch by Dave Berra. Scott Wright, just back from his vacation in some tropical paradise, lined a single to right for the 1st hit of the game. Sal Lopez grounded to short for a fielder’s choice out at 2B. Mike Carroll bounced to 2B and Doc Hobar flipped to Paul to get the force to end the scoreless 1st inning. 2nd– The first three batters (Tim Herer, Mickey Poole and Alex Valles) all singled to load the bases. Larry King bounced out to 2B for the force and the 1st out as Tim scored on the play. Ken Brown ripped a single up the middle to score Mickey with the Pioneer’s 2nd run. Ray Saldana hit a fly to center that was deep enough to get the runner in from 3B. In a bit of déjà vu, Jack flew out to Dave in right center to close out the frame.
Braves- started out like gangbusters as the session leading Braves marched eight batters to the plate without making a single out. Doc Hobar led off with a single and moved to 3B on Bobby Miller’s double. Paul Rubin reached on an infield hit to load the bases. Tom Brownfield smacked a two-run double to open the scoring for the Braves. Lynn Simpson stroked a single to right center to plate Paul with the 3rd run. Dave Berra’s single to right center loaded the bases with still no outs. Tom Kelm and Joe Dayoc followed with back-to-back run scoring singles as the Braves completed their five-run 1st inning. 2nd-Donnie Janac led off the 2nd with a single up the middle. Morris Carter hit a flyball to shallow right center and Donnie was caught in no man’s land not knowing whether the ball could be caught. It ended up dropping in but the throw to 2B beat Donnie to the bag for the 1st out. Tommy DeLeon grounded sharply to 3B, Tim Herer made a strong throw to 2nd for the out and Scott completed the relay to 1B for an inning ending 5-4-3 double play (for some reason, Tommy had no runner from the plate in this at bat?).
End of 2nd Score: Braves 5 Pioneers 3
Third Inning Recap:
Pioneers- Scott bounced out to Doc for the 1st out. Sal singled to left and Mike Carroll walked to put runners on 1B and 2B. Tim, no longer looking or hitting like the “new guy”, ripped a shot over short to drive in Sal with the 1st run. Mickey grounded sharply past the mound, but I was shading him towards 2B and was able to grab the high chop, touch the base and complete the inning ending 6U 6-3 double play.
Braves– the top of the Braves lineup fell flat in the scoreless 3rd inning. Doc led off with a single, but Bobby popped out to 2B for the 1st out. Paul, doing his best Casey at the bat impression, swung mightily and completely whiffed on an inside pitch for the 2nd out. Tom B. lined out to Tim at 3B to retire the side.
End of 3rd Score: Braves 5 Pioneers 4
Fourth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- P Tom Kelm held the Pioneers scoreless in the 4th. Alex led off the inning with a hot shot down the 1B line that Tommy was able to glove and make the play at 1B for the 1st out. Larry singled on a routine grounder that was bobbled by me, allowing him to reach 1B. Bubba Barnett, back from an extended absence, grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Ken singled to put runners on 1B and 2B. Ray S. hit a sizzling grounder down the 3B line, Tom B. made a nice backhand stop to get the unassisted force out at 3B for the final out.
Braves- P Sal Lopez continued to stymie the Braves hitters with his 2nd consecutive scoreless inning. Lynn led off with a clean single to right center. Dave hit a comebacker to Sal, and he whirled to make the throw to 2B and Ken finished off the 1-6-3 double play. Tom Kelm followed with a single, but Joe grounded to short to end the inning.
End of 4th Score: Braves 5 Pioneers 4
Fifth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- put up a five-spot in the 5th to seize control over this contest. Jack and Scott started the frame with back-to-back singles. Sal lined a shot to left to drive in Jack with the 1st run. Mike C. followed with a base hit to right, scoring Scott with the 2nd run. Tim kept up his perfect day at the plate with a single through the 5’6 hole to drive in the 3rd run. Mickey kept the line moving as he slashed an RBI single up the middle for the 4th Pioneer run. Alex bounced to short, and I got the force at 2B for the 1st out while holding Jack at 3B. Larry grounded to short, and Jack took off for home. My rushed throw to Morris missed the mark as he crossed the plate with the 5th run.
Braves- looking like anything but the session and season long leaders, the Braves were held scoreless for the 3rd consecutive inning. Donnie bounced back to Sal for the 1st out. Morris fouled out for the 2nd out. Tommy singled to left but Doc flew out to center for the final out.
End of 5th Score: Pioneers 9 Braves 5
Sixth Inning Recap:
Pioneers– Bubba opened the inning with a groundout to Doc at 2B. Ken followed by drawing a walk. Ray S. grounded to short but my “throw” to Doc was off and Ken cruised safely into 2B. Jack followed with a line single to score Ken. Scott flew out to Dave in right center on a nice over the shoulder grab. Sal flew out to left on a nice running catch by Donnie to retire the side.
Braves- was it just me or did it seem like this was a very long game! Braves finally woke from their three-inning slumber and put up four runs in the 6th. Bobby led off by refusing a walk and promptly singled up the middle but was thrown out at 2B on a close play trying to stretch the hit into a double. Paul singled to left and scored on Tom B’s booming triple to right. Lynn stayed hot at the plate with another single to score Tom. Dave and Tom K. had back-to-back singles to bring in Lynn with the 3rd run. Joe fouled out for the 2nd out, but Donnie came through with an RBI single to plate the 4th run. Morris bounced back to Sal for the final out.
End of 6th Score: Pioneers 10 Braves 9
Seventh “Open” Inning Recap:
Pioneers– the details of the Pioneers final at-bat are a little hazy. Mike led off with a walk and Tim singled to complete a perfect 4-4 day at the plate. I believe Mickey drove a ball to CF that turned Bobby around and he was unable to make the catch as it turned into a two-run double. Alex’ single moved Mickey to 3B and he scored on Larry’s fielder’s choice out at 2B. Bubba singled, and Ken walked before Ray and Jack flew out to end the frame.
Braves- Tommy drew a walk to start the Braves buffet as they now trailed by five runs. Doc popped out to short for the 1st out. Bobby singled but was erased at 2B on Paul’s one-hopper to Ken at short. Tom B. smashed a base hit to drive in both runners and cut the lead to three runs. Lynn capped off a perfect 4-4 day at the plate with a single to right center, but Tom B. was cut down trying to advance to 3B for the final out securing a victory for the Pioneers!
Final Score: Pioneers 14 Braves 11
Session Three Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 3rd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
7 |
2 |
0 |
0.778 |
120 |
84 |
36 |
– |
|
Senators |
6 |
3 |
0 |
0.667 |
93 |
87 |
6 |
1.00 |
|
Keystones |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0.500 |
86 |
75 |
11 |
2.50 |
|
Sultans |
4 |
5 |
0 |
0.444 |
80 |
99 |
-19 |
3.00 |
|
Pioneers |
1 |
8 |
0 |
0.111 |
72 |
106 |
-34 |
6.00 |
Don’t look now but the Senators only trail by a single game by virtue of their win and the Braves loss to the Pioneers.
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
22 |
8 |
0 |
0.733 |
421 |
306 |
115 |
– |
|
Senators |
15 |
14 |
0 |
0.517 |
346 |
362 |
-16 |
6.50 |
|
Keystones |
13 |
16 |
0 |
0.448 |
344 |
354 |
-10 |
8.50 |
|
Pioneers |
13 |
17 |
0 |
0.433 |
315 |
344 |
-29 |
9.00 |
|
Sultans |
11 |
19 |
0 |
0.367 |
323 |
383 |
-60 |
11.00 |
The Senators closed the season long gap to 6.50 games with over half of the games yet to be played.
Next Games: Thursday July 31, 2025
Game 1 8:30 a.m. (H) Braves (7-2-0) vs. (V) Keystones (4-4-0)
Game 2 9:30 a.m. (H) Pioneers (1-8-0) vs. (V) Senators (6-3-0)
Sultans have a bye on Thursday so their players will have priority in the draw.
Will the Braves rebound after their surprising loss to the Pioneers and knock off the rested Keystones? Can the Pioneers stay hot and knock off the surging Senators? Anything can happen on any given day in the world of senior softball so stay tuned as all will be revealed come Thursday.
Reminder of New Summer Hours:
We will be moving our scheduled start times up by thirty (30) minutes effective August 11, 2025, to help us better deal with the Texas heat. The new start times will be 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.