Game Day Gazette
November 3, 2025
Little chilly for our early 8:00 a.m. start but quickly warmed up for a beautiful day of fun, food and fellowship. Special thanks to Terry Thompson for making sure everything went smoothly with Lupe Tortilla for our fabulous luncheon. Great to see a lot of old (aren’t we all!) faces and the softball wasn’t bad either.
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Sultans (6-0-0) vs. Pioneers (0-4-1)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Sultans– the old saying that it’s not how you start but how you finish, was never truer than in today’s contest. The first two batters for the session leading Sultans (Donnie Janac and Gary Coyle) both flew out to Patrick Schmidt in left center to open the game. Peter Atkins grounded sharply back to P Sal Lopez, and he managed to get a glove on the ball, but Peter easily beat the throw to 1B for the first hit of the game. The next six batters reached base as the Sultans pushed across five runs after two outs. Ray “Boom Boom” Pilgrim ripped a ball to straight-away center for a run scoring double, and the Sultans were off and running. Don Roets lined a single to right center to bring in the 2nd run. Rip Wright followed with a single to short. Adam Gordon popped a double down the left field line to drive in the 3rd run. Lucky Hoffman kept the rally going with a ground single down the left field line. Jack Kelly drilled a line shot to right to score Adam and complete the five-run inning. 2nd– No let up in the 2nd as the surging Sultans continued to pound the ball. Luther Elmore led off the 2nd with a grounder back to the pitcher for the 1st out. Jim Foelker (Sultan’s lone mercenary for the game) slapped a single to left center to get things going. Donnie smacked a double to left center to put runners on 2B and 3B. Gary’s line single to left brought home both runners. Peter smoked a ball to center that went over the fielder’s head, and he easily cruised around the bases for a two-run inside the park home run. Not to be outdone, Ray followed with a screaming line drive that went to the fence for a triple. Don cracked another line drive hit to right center to score Ray with the 5th run.
Pioneers-still looking for their 1st win this session, the Pioneers struggled coming out of the box. Jack Adams led off with an infield single to 3B. Sal Lopez hit into a fielder’s choice with Adam now playing 3B making the throw to 2B to get the force. Mike Carroll followed with a grounder to short and Gary Coyle made the flip to Don at 2B for the 2nd out. Scotty Wright drove in the 1st run with a double to right center. Mickey Poole’s singled up the middle to bring Scott around with the Pioneer’s 2nd run. Tim H. bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. 2nd– Alex Valles led off the inning with a ground single through the 5/6 hole. Chris Hurst followed with a slow roller in front of the plate. Ray’s throw to 1B was low and got away from Jack Kelly, allowing the pinch runner to reach 2B and Alex to go to 3B. Patrick ripped a single to right center to drive in Alex. The pinch runner from 2B attempted to score on the play and the throw to home was off target, enabling the run to score and Patrick to reach 2B. Bobby Hawthorne lined a single to left center to score Patrick with the Pioneer’s 3rd run. Morris Carter went down looking for the 1st out. Jack singled down the left field line to advance Bobby to 2B. Sal bounced one back to Adam and he made the force out at 3B for the 2nd out. Mike lined sharply to Don for the final out.
End of 2nd Score: Sultans 10 Pioneers 5
Third Inning Recap:
Sultans- Rip started the 2nd with a line single to CF. Adam followed with a double down the 3B line. Rip came around to score as the throw to the plate was late. Adam tried to stretch his double into a triple, but Morris alertly threw to 3B and the throw beat him for the 1st out of the frame. Lucky grounded out to short for the 2nd out. Jack K. grounded to 1B, and his pinch runner (Peter) was able to beat Chris to the bag for a two-out single. Luther looped a base hit to left center and Jim reach on an infield single to 3B to load the bases for the top of the lineup. Donnie laced a single to left center to bring in the 2nd run. Gary absolutely crushed the next offering from Sal as the ball sailed to the fence in left center for a bases clearing three-run triple to complete the Sultan’s 3rd consecutive five-run inning.
Pioneers– refusing to throw in the towel, the Pioneers put up two runs in the 3rd. Scotty led off with a line single to right center. Mickey reached on an infield hit. Tim flew out to CF for the 1st out as the runner on 2B advanced on the play. Alex grounded out to 1B for the 2nd out as Scott scored the 1st run. Chris and Patrick followed with back-to-back hits down the 3B line to produce the 2nd run. Bobby bounced into a fielder’s choice to close out the frame.
End of 3rd Score: Sultans 15 Pioneers 7
Fourth Inning Recap:
Sultans- on the plus side, the Pioneers did not allow a 4th consecutive five-run inning but nonetheless, the Sultans put up four more runs to extend their lead to twelve runs. Peter led off the inning with a double to left center. Ray ripped a single to center field to score Peter with the 1st run. Don singled to CF to move Ray to 3B, and he scored on Rip’s single to right. Adam slapped a single to left to load the bases. Lucky grounded a single in the 5/6 hole to score Don. Jack K. popped a single to right to drive in the 4th run. Luther grounded to short and Jack Adams threw home to force Adam with the 2nd out. Donnie popped out to 2B to end the inning.
Pioneers– down by 12, needed to score at least three runs to avoid the dreaded flip-flop. Pioneers showing fight throughout this contest went one better and put up four runs in the frame. Morris (or his pinch runner) reached on an infield single to open the frame. Jack blasted an opposite field shot to right for a run-scoring triple. Sal followed with a line single to left to score Jack. Mike lined out to short for the 1st out. Scott picked up his third hit in as many at-bats to score Sal (he had advanced to 2B on overthrow to 1B). Mickey singled to CF, but Ray retired Tim on a groundball to short for the 2nd out. Alex knocked in the 4th run with a line single to left. Chris hit into a fielder’s choice out at 2B to retire the side.
End of 4th Score: Sultans 19 Pioneers 11
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Sultans- Gary stayed hot at the plate with his 2nd triple of the game (another beautifully struck ball to left center!). Peter took a called 3rd strike for the 1st out (does the term “once in a blue moon” come to mind?). Ray capped off a perfect 4-4 day at the plate with, yet another line shot to CF to score Gary. Don moved him to 2B with another line drive single to right for his perfect 4-4 day. Rip popped out to 2B, and Adam singled to load the bases (oh, he went 4-4 as well!). Lucky grounded to short and Jack’s relay to 2B beat Adam by a step for the final out.
Pioneers– Patrick opened the buffet inning with a fly out to right center. Bobby singled but was forced out at 2B on Morris’s grounder to short. At this point, the Pioneers staged a heroic two-out rally. Jack doubled on a liner to left center and drove in the 1st run. Sal followed with a double to roughly the same spot to plate Jack. Mike singled just outside of the 2B bag to score Sal with the 3rd run. Scott and Mickey (both hitters were 4-4 on the day) had back-to-back hits to drive in the 4th run and cut the lead to five. Tim flew out to Donnie in CF to end the game as the Sultans remained unbeaten for the session.
Final Score: Sultans 20 Pioneers 15
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Braves (1-4-1) vs. Senators (2-3-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
With their magic number down to one, the Braves had a chance to clinch the season long crown with either a win or a tie in this contest.
Braves- coming off their 1st win of the 4th session with Thursday’s beat down of the Pioneers, the Braves came out on fire. Doc Hobar and Paul Rubin started the inning with back-to-back singles. Tom Brownfield roped a long single to left center to drive in the 1st run. Lynn Simpson lined a single to CF to score Paul with the 2nd run. Keith Kreitman continued on his recent tear at the plate with a double to drive in two more runs. Dave Berra wrapped up the five-run 1st with a clean single to right center. 2nd–Senator’s pitcher, Terry Thompson, righted the ship and held the Braves scoreless in the 2nd to keep this one close. Jim Foelker flew out to CF leading off the frame. Tom Kelm rapped a single to left but was forced out on Peter Atkin’s hard grounder to 2B. Henry Flores made another fine stop at 2B on Scott’s bouncer in the hole and got the force at 2B to end the inning.
Senators– missing a couple of big bats in their lineup for today’s game (both Tim Coles and Raul DeLeon were out), the Senators struggled to score. Denny Malloy ground out to 2B leading off the inning. Henry Flores, Terry Thompson and Greg Lloyd all singled to load the bases with only one out. Tom Kelm managed to wriggle his way out of the early inning jam bu=y getting Terry Watts and Jerry Mylius to ground out. 2nd– Tom retired the Senators in order in the 2nd, getting all three batters on groundball outs.
End of 2nd Score: Braves 5 Senators 0
Third Inning Recap:
Braves- Ray Pilgrim led off the 3rd and Terry threw him two perfect pitches to get him looking for the 1st out. Doc smacked a double to right center, but Terry retired the next two batters to escape with a scoreless inning. Paul worked a walk, but manager Tom Kelm gave him the green light to stay and take his at-bat (bad choice on my part). Paul swung and missed at Terry’s next offering for the 2nd out. Tom B. fouled out to end the 3rd.
Senators- managed to scratch across a run in the inning to break up the shutout. Ken Brown led off the inning with a groundball to 3B. Tom B. gloved it but did a slight double clutch knowing he had to get the ball quickly to 1B to beat the speeding Dr. Brown. The throw was low, and Ken advanced to 2B on the play. Donnie Janac lined out to short for the 1st out. Denny singled to score Ken with the 1st run. Henry bounced into a fielder’s choice out at 2B for the 2nd out. Terry T. singled but was forced out at 2B on Greg’s grounder to short.
End of 3rd Score: Braves 5 Senators 1
Fourth Inning Recap:
Braves– bounced back in the 4th to put up five runs and seize control of the game. Lynn led off the inning with a line single to CF. Keith cranked out his 2nd double in as many at-bats to put runners on 2B and 3B. Dave singled in both runners. Tom K. followed with another line single to left. Peter blasted a double to left center to bring in two more runs. Scott finished off the five-run 4th with an RBI single as the Braves stretched their lead to nine runs.
Senators– Tom limited the Senators to two singles in the scoreless 4th to allow the Braves to maintain their nine-run cushion.
End of 4th Score: Braves 10 Senators 1
Fifth Inning Recap:
Braves– pretty much put this one out of reach with another five-run outburst in the 5th. Ray and Doc led off with back-to-back singles. Paul’s single to left scored Doc for the 1st run. Tom B. smacked another line drive to left center for a long two-run single. Lynn followed with a smash to right center that skipped past the fielders for an RBI triple. Keith wrapped up his perfect 3-3 day at the plate with his third double to drive in Lynn with the 5th run.
Senators– Senators finally broke through in the 5th with a four spot to close the gap to ten runs. Ken Brown singled to open the frame. Denny and Henry had back-to-back one out hits to score Ken. Terry T. launched a long flyball over Jim’s head in left for a three run inside the park home run. Tom was able to get the next two batters on grounders to SS to avoid any further damage.
End of 5th Score: Braves 15 Senators 5
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Senators– down by ten, the Keystones came up short in their rally. Singles by Jerry, Will and Ken loaded the bases with two outs but Tom was able to induce a fielder’s choice grounder to 2B to end the game.
Final Score: Braves 15 Senators 5
Session Five Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 5th Session |
||||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
Remaining Games |
|
Sultans |
7 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
98 |
68 |
30 |
– |
4.00 |
|
Keystones |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0.667 |
76 |
62 |
14 |
2.50 |
5.00 |
|
Braves |
2 |
4 |
1 |
0.286 |
83 |
77 |
6 |
4.50 |
5.00 |
|
Senators |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0.333 |
53 |
71 |
-18 |
4.50 |
5.00 |
|
Pioneers |
0 |
5 |
1 |
0.000 |
51 |
83 |
-32 |
6.00 |
5.00 |
The Sultans continue their march towards a perfect session with their seventh win in a row. They have now built a two- and one-half game lead over the Keystones.
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
||||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
Remaining Games |
|
Braves |
32 |
19 |
1 |
0.625 |
713 |
580 |
133 |
– |
5.00 |
|
Keystones |
26 |
24 |
0 |
0.520 |
600 |
586 |
14 |
5.50 |
5.00 |
|
Sultans |
24 |
24 |
3 |
0.500 |
601 |
623 |
-22 |
6.50 |
4.00 |
|
Senators |
21 |
26 |
2 |
0.449 |
584 |
625 |
-41 |
9.00 |
5.00 |
|
Pioneers |
18 |
28 |
4 |
0.400 |
501 |
585 |
-84 |
11.50 |
5.00 |
Well, it official, the Braves have won the pennant! They now lead the idle Keystones by five and one-half games with only five games left to play.
Kudos to both the Keystones and Sultans for making this a race with their strong showing in the latter half of the season. The Braves just built too much of a lead for either team to overcome.
Congrats to Braves manager Tom Kelm for putting together this team and guiding them through the ups and downs of a very long season.
Congrats as well to Jack Kelly for his recent three-year run as the league winning manager but all good things must come to an end. Sorry Jack! Not!
Next Thursday’s Games:
Back to regular game times for the rest of the season!
8:30 a.m. (H) Keystones (4-2-0) vs. (V) Braves (2-4-1)
9:30 a.m. (H) Pioneers (0-5-1) vs. (V) Senators (2-4-0)
Sultans will have a bye, and their players will have priority in the draw.