Game Day Gazette
March 30, 2026
Well, here’s a switch, today’s gazette is my first attempt at doing this write-up without attending the games. I want to thank Dave Berra for keeping the scorebook for these games and sharing his observations about what transpired between the lines on Monday. None of this would be possible without Dave unselfishly sacrificing his bye date to record the action. Here goes nothing…
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Gray (6-1-0) vs. Red (0-5-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
On paper, this was a mismatch, pitting the team with the best record vs. the one with the worst record. But despite a slow start, the Red team battles and gave the front running Gray squad a run for their money.
Gray- despite missing two of their big guns (Tim Coles and Gary Coyle), Gray came out hitting on all cylinders as they put up ten runs in the first two frames. Scott Wright opened the game with a single. Mike Carroll and Peter Atkins followed with base hits to bring in the 1st run. Ray Pilgrim’s single loaded the bases with nobody out. Lynn Simpson flew out to left for the 1st out. Phil Stanch ripped a triple (presumably to right field) to clear the bases and stake Gray to an early four run lead. Larry Coons knocked in Phil with the 5th run to complete the inning. 2nd– same song, second verse as Gray put up another five spot to take a big lead in this one. The mercenaries (Jack Spellman, Jack Adams and Daniel Baladez were huge contributors in this one starting with their first at bats. Margarito Canava led off with a double and scored on Jack Spellman’s two-base hit. Jack Adams followed with a round-tripper to bring in two more runs. Daniel went down on strikes for the only out in the inning. The top of Gray’s potent lineup delivered with four consecutive singles by Scott, Mike, Peter and Ray to bring in two more runs as Gray raced to a ten-run lead.
Red– hoping to cut into Gray big lead, Red struggled against P Ray Pilgrim in the first two innings. Doc Hobar singled to lead off and that was the only hit by Red in the first two frames. Barry McRee bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Sal Lopez fouled out and Ken Brown went down looking to end the inning. 2nd– Terry Watts drew a walk leading off the 2nd but was erased on Bobby Hawthorne’s groundout to short. Mickey Poole flew out to CF for the 2nd out and Jack Kelly grounded out to 2B to retire the side as Red failed to score in either inning.
End of 2nd Score: Gray 10 Red 0
Third Inning Recap:
Gray- up by ten, Gray was looking to play add on and came through with two more runs in the 3rd. Lynn led off with a single but was forced out at 2B on Phil’s comebacker to the pitcher (either Jack or Sal). Larry and Margarito had back-to-back singles to load the bases. Jack S. popped out to 1B, and it looked like Red might get out of the inning unscathed but that was not going to be the case. Jack Adams smacked a two-run double to extend Gray’s lead to an even dozen before Daniel grounded to 1B for the final out.
Red- continued to struggle at the plate (or maybe it was just Ray’s mastery on the mound!) and only managed a single by mercenary Patrick Schmidt in their scoreless half of the 3rd inning.
End of 3rd Score: Gray 12 Red 0
Fourth Inning Recap:
Gray– the top of Gray’s lineup continued to produce as the first four batters reached base (stop me if you have heard this before!) as singles by Scotty, Mike, Peter and Ray produced two more runs. Remarkably, the next three batters all fouled out to keep the score below fifteen runs and avoid the potential for the mercy rule to go into effect.
Red– down by fourteen runs, it would have been easy for Red to crawl into a hole and wait for this one to be over but that was not going to happen, and they roared back with a five-run explosion to eliminate any consideration of the mercy rule. Barry and Sal opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Ken flew out to CF for the 1st out. Terry singled to load the bases and Bobby brought home two runs with a hit of his own. Mickey lined a single to reload the bases and Jack K. drove in the 4th run with a single. Larry hit into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out but Patrick came through with an RBI single to cap off the five-run inning.
End of 4th Score: Gray 14 Red 5
Fifth Inning Recap:
Gray- ok, so what got into Jack Adams today! First, Gray doesn’t really need any help with their powerful lineup, but Jack made a huge contribution with five runs batted in for the game. Jack was also perfect at the plate, going 3-3 with two home runs and a double including a solo shot in the 5th. Great game, Jack!
Red- continued to fight back with another five-run inning in the 5th. Doc started the rally with a one-out double. Barry walked and Sal reached to load the bases. Ken stroked a two -run double to get the scoring started. Terry drove in the 3rd run with a groundout to the right side. Bobby singled home the 4th run. Mickey’s base hit loaded the bases, and Jack Kelly lined a single to right to score the 5th run to cut Gray’s lead to only five runs.
End of 5th Score: Gray 15 Red 10
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Gray- picked up a final run on Peter’s one-out double and an RBI single by Phil.
Red- chasing six but carrying some positive mojo after putting up five runs in each of the last two innings, Red came in thinking there was a chance. With one-out, mercenaries Patrick and Jim Foelker had back-to-back singles. Doc doubled to bring in Patrick and the lead was down to five. But the comeback fell short as Barry fouled out and Sal flew out to CF to keep Red winless on the season.
Final Score: Gray 16 Red 11
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Orange (3-2-0) vs. Green (3-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
This was a battle to see which team could possibly stay with Gray (7-1-0) after today’s win and it went down to the wire.
Orange– the visiting Orange men picked up two runs in the 1st. Bobby Miller singled with one-out and scored on Jack Adam’s double. Patrick Schmidt followed with another two-base hit to bring in Jack with the 2nd run. Jim Foelker walked but Steve Kendig bounced into a fielder’s choice and Terry Thompson lined out to short to retire the side. 2nd– Bubba Barnett singled to start the inning but Luther Elmore ground into a 1-6-3 double play to short circuit the rally. Jerry Mylius singled but was forced out at 2B on Peter Atkins ground out to 3B to end the inning.
Green-Jack Spellman wasted no time as he led off Green’s first at-bat with a triple. He scored on Denny Malloy’s groundout to 2B. Ken Mockler and Tom Brownfield followed with back-to-back hits. Luis Sanchez singled to drive in the 2nd run. Tom Kelm grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out, but Dean Hector slapped a single to bring in Tom B. with the third run of the frame. William Powell singled to load the bases, but Terry got mercenary, Scott Wright, to pop up to short to retire the side. 2nd– fellow mercenary, Ray Pilgrim, led off the 2nd with a single. Barry McRee flew out to CF for the 1st out. Jack S. singled and Denny walked to load the bases. Ken smacked a two-run single and Green was off and running. Tom B. followed with an RBI single to complete the scoring for Green.
End of 2nd Score: Green 6 Orange 2
Third Inning Recap:
Orange- both Adam and Bobby grounded out to short to give Orange two quick out. Jack “have yourself a day” Adams pounded out his 5th extra base hit in as many at bats to put Orange in a position to score. Patrick single moved Jack to 3B but he was left stranded as Jim flew out to CF to retire the side.
Green- Dean led off the inning with a single but was erased on a fielder’s choice grounder to 3B by William. Scott singled to right but was thrown out at 2B trying to stretch the hit into a double. Ray ground out to short to end the scoreless 3rd inning.
End of 3rd Score: Green 6 Orange 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Orange-grabbed the lead with a five-run outburst in the 4th. Steven tripled to open the inning and scored on Terry’s sacrifice fly to left. Bubba fouled out but Orange staged an impressive two-out rally to take the lead. Luther singled and Jerry doubled. Both runners scored on Peter’s triple. Adam knocked in Peter for the 4th run. Bobby’s single moved Adam to 3B and he scored easily on Jack’s single.
Green– unable to get anything going offensively in the inning. Barry singled to open the inning but was forced out at 2B on Jack’s bouncer back to the mound. Denny singled but Ken grounded out to 1b (3U) and Tom B. flew out to right center to end the threat
End of 4th Score: Orange 7 Green 6
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Orange– clinging to a slim one-run lead, Orange was looking to add on in the buffet. Patrick led off with his third hit in as many at-bats for the game. Jim F. was retired on a flyball to center for the 1st out. Steven grounded to short and Jack flipped to 2B for the force. Apparently, the runner from 1B (Patrick) was called for interference resulting in an inning ending double play.
Green- trailing by a single run, Green’s first three batters, Luis, Tom K. and Dean, all reached to load the bases with nobody out. William grounded to 3B and the throw beat Luis to the plate for a force out at home. Scott followed with a hard-hit single (didn’t even have to be there to know Scotty hit a missile!) to right to bring in two runners and give Green a hard-fought walk off win!
Final Score: Green 8 Orange 7
Session 1 Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 1st Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
7 |
1 |
0 |
0.875 |
120 |
76 |
44 |
– |
|
Green |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0.667 |
71 |
53 |
18 |
2.00 |
|
Orange |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0.500 |
74 |
66 |
8 |
3.00 |
|
Blue |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0.333 |
50 |
80 |
-30 |
4.00 |
|
Red |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0.000 |
49 |
89 |
-40 |
6.00 |
Games for Thursday April 2nd were unfortunately rained out!
Next Games: Monday April 6, 2026
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Blue (2-4-0) vs. Gray (7-1-0)
Can anyone stop the rampaging Gray Ghost? It’s time to give Blue a shot in this Civil War reenactment as the union Blue take on the confederate Gray.
Orange has umpiring duties for this one
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Orange (3-3-0) vs. Red (0-6-0)
Is this the game that Red finally puts in all together and gets their first win of the season? Will Orange bounce back after their heart-breaking walk off loss to Green? All will be revealed on Monday!
Blue will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Green will have a bye on Monday so their players (along with the unassigned players) will have priority in the draw.