Game Day Gazette
October 20, 2025
A day of celebration at the ballpark as our resident Master Chef, Bruce Barnett, provided his best backyard grilling in support of the Bobby Fund. Thanks as well to those that provided drinks, chips and yummy desserts! It was a treat to be fed at the ballpark and we get to do it all again next Monday (10/27) at the annual Austin Senior Softball League luncheon catered by Lupe Tortilla.
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Keystones (2-1-0) vs. Braves (0-2-1)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Good game between the two teams atop the season long standing with only a few runs separating them until the Keystones exploded in the buffet to put the game out of reach.
Keystones– welcomed back Mike Hill and world record holder, Ken Brown, back to the lineup and their presence was felt immediately. Showing signs of rust from his extended absence, Mike led off with a line single to right center. John Flowers and Patrick Schmidt followed with back-to-back hits to load the bases with nobody out. Ken Brown singled to right to bring in the 1st run. Mike Mordecai grounded to 3B, and Ken was forced out at 2B for the 1st out. Bobby Hawthorne singled to drive in the 2nd run. Tommy DeLeon grounded to short, and Jim Aaron elected to go home to get the force, but Brian Rider was unable to handle the throw and two runs scored on the play. Johnny Neville bounced back to the pitcher for the 2nd out but the runner from 3B was able to score the 5th run as Dave Berra’s throw was wide of the plate. Looking back there was only one hard hit ball by the Keystones but less than stellar defense by the Braves led to the five-run inning. 2nd– Morris grounded back to P Tom Kelm to open the 2nd inning. Gary Coyle was retired on a deep fly to left center on a nice running catch by Bobby Miller for the 2nd out. Henry Flores and Ray Pilgrim came through with back-to-back hits to start the mini rally for the Keystones. Mike reached on an infield single to score the runner from 3B. John bounced out to 2B as Doc Hobar went far to his right to scoop the ball and get the out at 1B.
Braves-Doc Hobar led off the bottom of the 1st with a sharp single to left. Bobby Miller was retired on a hard grounder to 2B as Doc advanced on the play. Paul Rubin hit a pop fly double between left and left center to bring in Doc for the 1st run. Dave Berra popped out to short for the 2nd out. Lynn Simpson lashed a base hit to CF to score Paul with the 2nd run. Tom Kelm singled to left center and Brian Rider followed with a clean single over short to load the bases. Mercenary extraordinaire, Jim Aaron, stepped up and lined a two-run single to CF to close the gap. Donnie Janac singled to drive in the 5th run of the frame.
2nd– Promising start to the inning as Mickey Poole and Lucky Hoffman started things off with back-to-back singles. However, the top of the Braves lineup failed to produce. Doc popped out to 1B for the 1st out. Bobby smashed a two-strike grounder down the 3B line that looked like a sure double. The home plate umpire, Raul DeLeon, saw things differently and made a foul ball call for the 2nd out. Paul grounded to Ken for the force at 2B to end the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Keystones 6 Braves 5
Third Inning Recap:
Keystones– Patrick, reaching into the fountain of youth, hit the ball a country mile over Lynn in CF for a leadoff inside the park home run. Tom stepped up to limit the damage by retiring the next three batters on infield groundouts.
Braves- Dave led off the 3rd with a flyout to CF. Lynn and Tom followed with back-to-back hits. Brian bounced out to 2B for the 1st out, but the runners advanced to 2B and 3B on the play. Jim lined a single to right center to score both runners and tie the game.
End of 3rd Score: Keystones 7 Braves 7
Fourth Inning Recap:
Keystones- scratched out a run on three hits and a walk to regain the lead. Tommy singled to open the inning. Johnny followed with a hard shot between 3B and SS for a single, Morris went down swinging for the 1st out. Gary singled to bring in the 1st run. Henry hit a slow roller to the 5/6 hole and Paul was able to get to the ball and make the throw to Doc for the force at 2B for the 2nd out. Ray worked a walk to load the bases. Mike hit a sinking liner to right center and Donnie got a great jump on the ball and raced in to make a great running catch to save at least two runs.
Braves– Tommy retired the side to preserve the Keystones one-run lead. Mickey popped out to 3B; Lucky grounded out to 3B and Doc flew out to CF to retire the side.
End of 4th Score: Keystones 8 Braves 7
Fifth Inning Recap:
Keystones- after being held to single runs in the previous three innings, the Keystones came out swinging in the 5th on their way to a huge five-run inning. John led off with a double and the next six batters reached on base hits as the Keystones put up four runs. Patrick, Ken, Mike M., Bobby, Tommy and Johnny led the hitting attack. Morris hit into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out, but Gary ripped a single to left to drive in the 5th run.
Braves– down by six, the Braves rallied back with four runs of their own. Bobby singled to right to get the inning started. Paul launched a flyball over Patrick’s head for a two-run inside the park homer to close the gap. Dave singled but was forced out at 2B for the 1st out. Tom picked up his 3rd hit of the game to keep the inning alive. Brian popped out to 2B on an infield fly call for the 2nd out. Mr. Clutch, Jim Aaron. popped a short fly to CF that fell in for a two-run single to pull the Braves within two runs (Jim’s 5th and 6th RBI for the game!)
End of 5th Score: Keystones 13 Braves 11
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Keystones- kudos to the Keystones as they broke open this tightly contested game with six runs in the buffet. Henry and Ray opened the inning with back-to-back singles and Mike drove in the 1st run with a single to right center. John bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out, but Patrick laced a run-scoring single to drive in the 2nd run. Ken struck the big blow as be blasted a drive down the left field li ne over Mickey’s head for a three-run homer. The Keystones added one more run to take a commanding eight-run lead.
Braves- chasing eight runs, Tommy retired the first two batters in the buffet. Soc lined a two-out single to keep the Braves’ faint hopes alive. Bobby ripped a ball to right center and did not stop until he circled the bases for a two-run inside the park home run. Paul reached on an infield single, but Dave lined out to short to end the game.
Final Score: Keystones 19 Braves 13
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Pioneers (0-2-1) vs. Senators (1-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Pioneers-Jack Adams led off the game with a base hit to left. Senator’s pitcher, Terry Thompson, retired the next three batters to complete a scoreless 1st inning. Art Monzingo and Mickey Poole hit into back-to-back fielder’s choice out and Gene Nelson fouled out to end the inning. 2nd– Bubba Barnett led off the 2nd with a base on balls. He was forced out at 2B on Tim H.’s grounder to short. Chris Hurst ground out to 1B for the 2nd out. Bobby Miller drilled a double to right center to drive in the 1st run for the Pioneers. John Flowers flew out to right to retire the side.
Senators– Denny Malloy led off the game with a walk. He moved to 2B on Terry Thompson’s line single to left center. Denny scored on Raul DeLeon’s single to right. Tim Coles hit a deep drive to right that was caught for the 1st out as the runner from 3B scored on the play. Terry Watts singled to right to put runners on the corners. Henry Flores flew out to shallow CF for the 2nd out. Jerry Mylius ground into a fielder’s choice to end the frame. 2nd– got the bats rolling in the 2nd as they added five runs to take an early six-run lead. Will Scheerer walked and Rick Parker singled to start the inning. Roger Geras hit into a fielder’s choice with the force out at 3B. Peter Atkins mashed a two-run double to left center and scored on Ken Brown’s single to right. Denny bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Terry crushed a ball to deep Cf that went for a double to drive in the 4th run. Raul finished off the inning with an RBI single to right.
End of 2nd Score: Senators 7 Pioneers 1
Third Inning Recap:
Pioneers- another quick inning for Terry as he allowed a single to Ray Pilgrim while retiring Jeff Broussard, Mike Mordecai and Jack Adams.
Senators- took command of this game with their 2nd five-run inning. Tim led off by striking out as he took a mighty cut and the ball never left the plate area. The next six batters reached base. Terry W. walked, Henry singled, and Jerry doubled to right to bring in the 1st run. Singles by Will, Rick and Roger brought in two more runs. Peter drove in the 4th run with a deep fly to CF that Bobby grabbed for the 2nd out. Ken laced a single to right to complete the five-run inning and give the Senators an eleven-run cushion.
End of 3rd Score: Senators 12 Pioneers 1
Fourth Inning Recap:
Pioneers– fought their way back into the game with a five-run outburst of their own in the 4th. Art led off with a single and he scored after successive hits by Mickey and Gene. Bubba singled to bring in the 2nd run. Tim H. ripped a double to left to score the 3rd run and Bobby finished off the inning with a two-run double to right.
Senators– picked up a single run in the 4th. Denny opened the frame with a soaring double to left center. Terry T. fouled out but Raul singled to move Denny to 3B. Tim drove him in with a single to left center. Terry W. fouled out, and Henry popped out to 2B to end the inning.
End of 4th Score: Senators 13 Pioneers 6
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Pioneers- the Pioneers were unable to put any runs on the board despite Ray’s booming double to left center as they fell by a final score of 13-6.
Final Score: Senators 13 Pioneers 6
Session Five Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 5th Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Sultans |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
50 |
31 |
19 |
– |
|
Keystones |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0.750 |
51 |
43 |
8 |
1.00 |
|
Senators |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
42 |
39 |
3 |
2.50 |
|
Braves |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0.000 |
38 |
56 |
-18 |
3.50 |
|
Pioneers |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0.000 |
35 |
47 |
-12 |
3.50 |
Looks like a two-team race but the Senators may have something to say about that as they are riding a two-game winning streak.
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
30 |
18 |
1 |
0.622 |
668 |
559 |
109 |
– |
|
Keystones |
25 |
23 |
0 |
0.521 |
575 |
567 |
8 |
5.00 |
|
Sultans |
21 |
24 |
3 |
0.469 |
553 |
586 |
-33 |
7.50 |
|
Senators |
21 |
24 |
2 |
0.468 |
573 |
593 |
-20 |
7.50 |
|
Pioneers |
18 |
26 |
4 |
0.417 |
485 |
549 |
-64 |
10.00 |
Don’t look now but we have a pennant race on our hands. Each team still has eight games to play (assuming no rainouts) so anything can and will happen!
News & Notes:
The annual ASSL luncheon will be on Monday, October 27th. If you have not signed up via Terry’s on-line link, please do so ASAP.
Monday’s (10/27) games will start at 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. rather than 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. so we can play a complete game and be done for the B division early start time of 10:00 a.m.
Next Thursday’s Games:
8:30 a.m. (H) Senators (2-2-0) vs. (V) Keystones (3-1-0)
9:30 a.m. (H) Braves (0-3-1) vs. (V) Sultans (4-0-0)
Should be two great games, not to be missed! See you Thursday…
Pioneers will have a bye, and their players will have priority in the draw.
Paul