Game Day Gazette
March 26, 2026
Nothing like Opening Day in the MLB! Every team has a chance to go all the way and win the World Series (except for the Mets of course). Closer to home, we had to call out all the troops to get enough players for the late game between Green and Blue. Blue ended up drawing five players and Green drew six as the impact of early season injuries and out-of-town tournaments was clearly felt. Weather was pleasant, little overcast and windy but not bad for spring time in Texas.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Orange (3-1-0) vs. Gray (5-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Battle between the top two teams did not disappoint although early on this looked like it was going to be a one-side affair with the Gray bombers coasting to an easy win.
Orange- to say Orange was slow coming out of the gate would be an understatement. Adam Gordon led off and took a called third strike on an unhittable pitch from Ray Pilgrim. Ray walked the next two batters (Terry Thompson and Jack Adams). Steven Kendig and Jim Foelker followed with back-to-back grounders to shortstop, Tim Coles. In each case, he flipped to Peter Atkins at 3B to get the force and hold Orange scoreless. 2nd– Ray continued to befuddle the Orangemen as he retired the side in order. Jerry Mylius looked at a called 3rd strike; Greg Tolander went down swinging and Rick Parker grounded to 3B for a quick 1-2-3 inning.
Gray– on the flip side, Gray came out smoking as the first five batters reached on a single, two doubles and a triple. Scott Wright, back in the lineup after missing the last two games, jumped on Terry Thompson’s first pitch for a line drive double to right. Mike Carroll followed with a sharp hit through the 5/6/ hole. Peter Atkins muscled a ball to deep left center for a double to drive in the 1st run. Tim Coles stroked a hard single to right to drive in two more runs. Ray Pilgrim blasted a long drive to right center that rolled to the fence as Ray chugged into 3B with an RBI triple. Lynn Simpson made the first out with a groundout to short. Larry Coons lifted a flyball to CF that was deep enough to score the 5th run and end the frame. 2nd– Not much let up in the 2nd as the bottom of the lineup set up the top for another big inning. Phil Stanch and Margarito Canava led off the inning with back-to-back hits. David Safely reached on an infield single through the box to load the bases with nobody out. Barry McRee bounced out to short as Phil crossed the plate with the 1st run of the inning. Scott liked the result of his first at-bat so much, he did it again with a ringing double to right to score Margarito. Mike reached on an infield single to load the bases. Peter ripped an opposite field double to right center to bring in two more runs. Tim finished up the five-run inning with a towering flyball that went over the left center fielder’s head for an RBI single.
End of 2nd Score: Gray 10 Orange 0
Third Inning Recap:
Orange- at this point, it would have been very easy for Orange to hang their collective heads and concede defeat. However, that was not the case, and they struck back for five runs in the top of the 3rd to make this a ball game. New guy, Wayne Wilson, led off the 3rd with a single through the 5/6 hole. Manager Bruce Barnett drew a walk to get the rally started. Orange’s lone mercenary, Doc Hobar, smacked a single to left center to get Orange on the board. Adam singled to bring in Bruce’s pinch runner and Orange was off and running! Terry Thompson crossed up the scouting report with a hard single to the right side to score Doc. Jack singled to right center to drive in the 4th run. Steven laced a hard drive down the left field line to drive in the 5th run of the inning.
Gray- the momentum slowly began shifting to Orange as P Terry Thompson was able to limit Gray to only a single run in the inning. Ray walked to open the inning but was forced out at 2B on a nice play by Doc on Lynn’s grounder to right. Larry followed with a hard shot to 1B that Wayne gloved and beat him to the base for the 2nd out (Wayne showed some strong defensive skills at 1B throughout the game!). Phil looped a single to right to score Lynn, but Terry got Margarito to ground into a fielder’s choice to close out the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Gray 11 Orange 5
Fourth Inning Recap:
Orange– Jim F. led off the inning with a sinking flyball to CF that skipped past the fielder for a leadoff triple. He scored on Jerry’s base hit to right. Greg was retired on a fielder’s choice, but Rick ripped a liner to left for an RBI double. Ray escaped any further damage, getting Wayne on a grounder to short and striking out Bruce to retire the side.
Gray– David led off the inning with the best hit in his brief history in the C division as he lined a ball to CF to get things rolling. Barry hit into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Scott completed a perfect 3-3 day at the plate with a single down the 1B line. Mike grounded to 2B for the 2nd out. Peter reached on a walk (he decided not to continue the at-bat with Tim on-deck) to load the bases. Tim drove a ball to CF but Steven had him played perfectly and he made the catch for the final out of the scoreless 4th inning.
End of 4th Score: Gray 11 Orange 7
Fifth Inning Recap:
Orange- trailing by four runs, Orange mounted a furious comeback to take the lead. Doc smacked a leadoff single to left center to start the frame. Adam went down swinging for the 1st out, but the rest of the lineup picked him up. Terry singled up the middle and Jack followed with a deep shot down the right field line. The ball rolled to the foul line as Jack rounded the bases for a three-run home run! But Orange was not done. Steven drilled a double to left center and Jim lined a ball up the middle that skipped past the fielder as he circled the bases for a two-run homer.
Gray- trailing for the first time in this contest, the league leaders rose to the challenge and took back the lead with two runs in the inning. Ray led off with a single to left but Lynn popped out to 2B for the 1st out. Larry singled down the 3B line and Phil punched an RBI single to right center to get Gray on the board. Margarito hit a ball to CF that was deep enough to get the run in from 3B to give Gray their 2nd run. David hit a slow roller to 3B but crumbled to the ground in pain about half-way down the 1B line. Peter completed the throw to 1B for the 3rd out as David remained on the ground in clear pain. Thank God we have a doctor in the house as Doc Hobar quickly jumped in to provide aid and help David to the bench. Hate to ever see something like this happen, especially when David was hitting so well in this game. We hope this is nothing serious and you will be back soon. Take care.
End of 5th Score: Gray 13 Orange 12
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Orange- Ray retired the first two batters on routine infield grounders. Rick single to right center to give Orange some hope. Wayne followed with a hit to put the tying run on 2B. Bruce hit one right back to Ray for the final out as Orange’s comeback fell just short.
Final Score: Gray 13 Orange 12
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Green (2-2-0) vs. Blue (2-3-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
This one came down to a battle of the mercenaries as the two team drew a combined eleven (11) players out of the bucket. Green was down six players while Blue needed five to fill out its roster in this battle of the misfit toys!
Green– Paul Rubin reached on an infield single that P Ray Pilgrim could not come up with to start the game. Denny Malloy ripped a liner up the middle that Ray snagged for the 1st out. Ken Mockler singled to right to put runners on the corners. Tom Kelm hit a sizzling ground ball down the 3B line to drive in the game’s first run. William Powell followed with a well-placed hit through the 5/6 hole to drive in the 2nd run. The parade of mercenaries started with Peter Atkins smacking an RBI double to center. Jim Foelker finished off the inning with a sharp single up the middle to score two more runs to complete the five-run 1st inning. 2nd– Scott Wright continued to swing a hot bat with a lead off double to right. John Flowers reached on an infield single to move Scott to 3B. Rick grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out as Scott came across with the 1st run. Jack Adams singled but Paul bounced to 3B for the 2nd out. Denny walked to load the bases and Ken singled in the 2nd run to complete the scoring.
Blue-Henry Flores led off with a single but was forced out at 2B on Don Roet’s comebacker to P Tom Kelm. Mike Hill slapped a single to right to drive in Blue’s 1st run. Jeff Broussard singled to keep the inning alive. Dave Berra grounded sharply to 1B, Scott gloved the ball and hustled to the bag for the out. Scott quickly fired the ball to 2B to complete the 3U 3-6 double play to end the inning. 2nd– Chris Hurst led off the 2nd with a line single that was just out of my reach at shortstop. Jim Aaron grounded sharply to short and somehow, I whiffed on the throw to 2B to get the force, so everyone was safe. Tim Coles flew out to Denny in left for the 1st out. Ray Pilgrim bounced back to the pitcher for the 2nd out. Phil Stanch came through with an RBI single on a pop fly to right for Blue’s 2nd run. Morris Carter grounded to short as Paul flipped to Jack to get the force and end the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Green 7 Blue 2
Third Inning Recap:
Green- extended their lead with a five-run outburst in the 3rd. Peter started the rally with a one-out single. Jim followed with a single through the 5/6 hole to put runners on the corners. Scott drilled a ball that went through the first baseman’s glove for a two-run double. John was retired on a grounder to 2B for the 2nd out. Rick and Jack had back-to-back singles to bring in the 3rd run. Paul doubled to right center to drive in both runners. I tried to advance to 3B but was thrown out after touching the base. However, Jack had already scored the 5th run so the “out” did not count.
Blue– Henry led off the 3rd with a groundout to 2B. Don and Mike followed with back-to-back singles. P Tom Kelm got Jeff on a grounder to 1B (throw to 2B for the force) and Dave on a comebacker to complete the scoreless inning.
End of 3rd Score: Green 12 Blue 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Green-Denny and Ken opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Tom K. ripped a ball up the middle that got past the center fielder as pinch runner, John Flowers, sped around the bases for a three-run inside the park homerun. Ray retired the next two batters (William and Peter) before Jim F. popped one up to the mound. Ray was unable to make the catch and Jim ended up on 2B with a double. Scott was retired for the 1st time today as he bounced on back to Ray to retire the side.
Blue– picked up a couple of runs in the 4th. Chris singled to lead off the inning, but Jim A. grounded to short for a force and the 1st out. Tim blasted a double to drive in Jim with the 1st run of the inning. Ray singled to left to score Tim but that was all of the offense that Blue could muster.
End of 4th Score: Green 15 Blue 4
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
At this point, the teams flip-flopped and Blue batted in the buffet.
Blue– Henry opened the buffet with a ringing double to left center. Don fouled out, but Mike singled to right to move Henry to 3B. Jeff grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out as Henry was unable to advance. Dave popped out to 1B to end the game.
Final Score: Green 15 Blue 4
Session 1 Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 1st Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
6 |
1 |
0 |
0.857 |
104 |
65 |
39 |
– |
|
Orange |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0.600 |
67 |
58 |
9 |
2.00 |
|
Green |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0.600 |
63 |
46 |
17 |
3.50 |
|
Blue |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0.333 |
50 |
80 |
-30 |
3.50 |
|
Red |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0.000 |
38 |
73 |
-35 |
5.00 |
Next Games: Monday March 30, 2026
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Red (0-5-0) vs. Gray (6-1-0)
The team with the best record (Gray) against the team with the worst record (Red) so this should end up being a shootout.
Green has umpiring duties for this one
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Green (3-2-0) vs. Orange (3-2-0)
Intriguing matchup between the two teams tied for 2nd place. This is the first meeting between these two teams and will go a long way in determining if anyone can challenge the front running Gray squad.
Red will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Blue will have a bye on Thursday so their players (along with the unassigned players) will have priority in the draw.
Other News & Notes:
New player assignments:
John Flowers- Red
Daniel Baladez- Blue
Nick Roberts- Gray
Monday’s edition of Game Day Gazette- we are heading to Cali for a short vacation, so I won’t be there on Monday. Dave Berra has agreed to keep the scorebook but there will be no Gazette published on Monday. See you next Thursday!
Great time of year to be a sports fan with the Sweet Sixteen in Men’s and Women’s college basketball, the opening weekend for major league baseball and Horns vs. Sooners at the Disch. Enjoy all the action and may every Longhorn team emerge victorious in every game (isn’t that what it means to be an Orange blood?).
Have a great weekend,
Paul