Game Day Gazette
April 6, 2026
After getting washed out last Thursday, everyone was ready to get back in action to start the week. Mother Nature cooperated and we had a cool but dry start to today’s slate of games.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Gray (7-1-0) vs. Blue (3-4-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Gray- played this one shorthanded as Tim Coles, Gary Coyle and Phil Stanch were missing from Gray’s starting lineup. As a result, Coach Pete had to draw four from the bucket to complete the game day roster. Over the last couple of games, Gray has jumped out to an early lead and then held on to get the win. However, today Gray struggled coming out of the gate. Scott Wright grounded out to Jim Aaron at short to open the game. Mike Carroll followed with a line a single to right. Peter Atkins flew out to center on a nice catch by Don Roets for the 2nd out. Ray Pilgrim drilled a ball past Jim A. for a single. Lynn Simpson brought home the first run of the game with a sharp single through the 5/6 hole. Margarito Canava slapped a single up the middle to load the bases. Larry Coons lofted a ball to shallow center, but Don had him played perfectly and made the catch to end the inning. 2nd – Mercenaries opened the 2nd inning as Paul Rubin reached on an infield single to start the frame. Jim Foelker doubled to right center to put both runners in scoring position. Tom Kelm ripped P Tommy DeLeon’s first offering down the left field line, but it was just foul. Tom ended up fouling out for the first out of the inning. Bubba Barnett grounded out to 2B as Paul scampered home with Gray’s 2nd run. Back to the top of the lineup, Scott lined a single to right to bring in Jim with the 2nd run of the inning. Mike’s single moved Scott to 3B. Peter hit a flyball to right center and Dave Berra came in and made a fine catch to close the door and limit Gray to only three runs in the 1st two innings.
Blue– throughout the 2026 season, Blue has been a notoriously slow starting team, but they flipped the script with a five-run outburst in the 1st to quickly gain the upper hand in this one. The first three batters all reached as Don Roets. Jim Maloy and Donnie Janac singled to produce the 1st run. Jeff Broussard bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out of the inning. Tommy DeLeon reached on a single down the 3B line to load the bases. Henry Flores followed with a booming drive to left center that gapped the outfielders for a bases clearing three-run double. Dave wrapped up the five-run inning with a line single to center. 2nd– Lucky Hoffman went down looking as P Ray Pilgrim clipped the mat on back-to-back pitches. Chris Hurst banged a single but was forced out at 2B on Daniel Baladez’ grounder to 3B. Jim Aaron grounded sharply up the middle, but Paul was able to glove the ball and flip to Mike to get the inning ending force at 2B.
End of 2nd Score: Blue 5 Gray 3
Third Inning Recap:
Gray- Ray led off the inning with a ground single down the 3B line. Lynn followed with a base hit to left. Margarito hit a slow roller to 3B, and Jack Adams gloved the ball. Stepped on the base and fired to 2B to complete the double play. Larry fouled out to end the frame.
Blue- super mercenary (based on his hot bat) Jack Adams led off the inning with a double down the 3B line. Don reached on an infield single as Jack was unable to advance. Jim F. grounded to 3B and Scott made the throw to 2B for the force (lots of chances at 3B today and Scott made almost all of them). Donnie grounded one up the middle and Paul scooped up the ball stepped on 2B and threw to 1B (nice leaping catch by Tom K.) to complete the inning ending double play.
End of 3rd Score: Blue 5 Gray 3
Fourth Inning Recap:
Gray– the mercenaries were able to scratch out another run to get Gray within one run of the lead. Paul grounded a single to right center to get the inning started. Jim F. lined out to short on a sparkling defensive play by Jim Aaron for the first out. Tom K. popped a single to center but was erased on Bubba’s grounder to short as Paul moved to 3B. He scored on Scott’s shot to center. Mike grounded sharply to 1B, but Chris made a nice stop and beat him to the base to close out the frame.
Blue– maintained their slim lead with a run of their own in the 4th. Jeff grounded out to short to start the inning. Tommy singled and Henry walked to start the mini rally. Dave singled to right center to drive in the only run of the inning. Lucky and Chris both grounded out to 3B and Scott easily made the throws to 2B to get the forces to close out the inning.
End of 4th Score: Blue 6 Gray 4
Fifth Inning Recap:
Gray- Peter continued his tough luck game with his 3rd fly out on a well struck ball to left field leading off the 5th. Ray followed with a single down the left field line. He was forced out on Lynn’s fielder’s choice groundout to 3B. Margarito came through with a big hit as he doubled to drive in Lynn with the only run of the inning, Larry grounded back to the pitcher and Tommy’s throw to 1B narrowly beat the streaking Peter Atkins running from home to retire the side.
Blue- got some much-needed separation in this tightly contested game by putting up a three-spot in this frame. Daniel led off the inning with a single to left. Jim A. and Jack A. followed with back-to-back singles to bring in the 1st run of the inning. Don laced an opposite field single to drive in the 2nd run. Jim M. bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Donnie singled to score the 3rd run of the inning before Jeff and Tommy each grounded into fielder’s choice outs to end the inning.
End of 5th Score: Blue 9 Gray 5
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Gray- chasing four runs, Gray stepped up and battled to even the score. Again, it was the mercenaries leading this rally. Paul singled to left to open the frame but was erased on Jim F.’s ground out to short. Tom K. and Bubba had back-to-back singles to bring in the 1st run of the inning. Scott appeared to draw a walk to load the bases, but Peter opted to have him continue his at-bat. As luck would have it, Scott lined a shot down the 1B line that Chris managed to knock down and get the 2nd out of the inning. Mike hit a fly to shallow center that skipped past Don for a two-run triple. Peter singled to bring in Mike to tie the game. Ray completed his perfect 4-4 day at the plate with another single to left. Lynn hit a flyball to right and Daniel came in and made a great inning ending catch to preserve the tie.
Blue- needing only a run to pull the upset, Henry led off with a pop fly down the left field line. Paul gave chase and got his glove on the ball but could not make the catch as Henry reached on a single. Dave flew out to CF for the 1st out. Lucky ripped a single up the middle to move Henry into scoring position. Chris hit a floater over 3B that dropped in for a hit to load the bases with one out. Gray brought their infield in to try to cut off the winning run. The strategy appeared to work as Daniel grounded to Mike at 2B. However, Bubba was unable to complete the catch, and Henry crossed the plate with the plate with the winning run.
Final Score: Blue 10 Gray 9
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Red (0-6-0) vs. Orange (3-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Red– still looking for their 1st win of the season, Red did not get the start they were hoping for as they went scoreless over the 1st two frames. Doc Hobar led off the game with a line single to center. He was forced out at 2B on Barry McRee’s grounder to short. Ken Brown flew out to right center for the 2nd out. Terry Watts drew a walk, but Bobby Hawthorne grounded to 3B and Adam Gordon made the put out at 3B to retire the side. 2nd– P Terry Thompson made short work of Red’s batters in the 2nd as he retired the side in order. Sal grounded out to 3B to start the inning. Mickey Poole flew out to left center on a nice catch by Patrick Schmidt. Mike Mordecai popped out to Luther Elmore behind the plate to end the frame.
Orange-Terry Thompson smacked a leadoff single to center to get things going for Orange. Jack Adams popped out to 2B for the 1st out. Bobby Miller followed with a well-placed drive down the right-field line that rolled to the fence allowing Bobby to circle the bases for a two-run home run. Jim Foelker singled up the middle, but P Sal Lopez got Steven Kendig to pop out to short for the 2nd out. Patrick Schmidt lined a single to left to keep the rally going but Adam Gordon grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. 2nd– Sal continued to pitch well in the 2nd, getting two batters on infield pop ups to hold Orange without a run. Bubba Barnett led off with a pop up to 2B. Luther Elmore followed with a line single to CF. Rick Parker was retired on a pop up back to the pitcher for the 2nd out. Jerry Mylius single to right center but Greg Tolander grounded into a fielder’s choice to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Orange 2 Red 0
Third Inning Recap:
Red- still very much in the game after holding Orange to only two runs, Red scored their 1st run of the game to cut the lead to one run. Larry King led off with a fair ball just in front of the plate. The catcher (believe it was Rick but not sure) moved quickly and his throw to 1B beat Larry to the bases for the 1st out. Morris Carter grounded to 3B and the throw to 1B was wide allowing pinch runner, Mickey Poole to advance to 2B. He moved to 3B on Ken Mockler’s single to center field. Doc drove in Red’s first run with a sacrifice fly to CF. Barry lined a ball up the middle, but Bobby was playing the line and his relay to 2B beat Ken running from 1B for the out to end the frame.
Orange- erupted for four runs to extend their lead to five runs. Terry lined a leadoff single to start the 3rd. Jack drilled a hard grounder up the middle that Ken Brown somehow reached and made the flip to Doc to get the force at 2B. Bobby lined a double down the left field line to put both runners in scoring position. Jim F. singled to left to drive in two runs. Steven hit into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Patrick laced a two-out double to left. Adam and Bubba responded with back-to-back RBI singles to complete the four-run inning.
End of 3rd Score: Orange 6 Red 1
Fourth Inning Recap:
Red-scratched back with three runs to make this a game. Terry walked the first two batters to get things going for Red. Bobby’s sharply hit grounder got past Adam at 3B and drove in the 1st run of the inning. Sal lined a run-scoring single to left for Red’s second run. Mickey grounded back to Terry, and he was able to get the force at 2nd but the runner from 3B scored on the play. Mike singled but Larry grounded to 3B and Adam turned a beautiful 5U 5-4 double play to end the inning.
Orange– Rick lined a sharp single to left center to open the frame. Sal was able to get two quick outs, getting Jerry to fly out to right center and Greg on a fielder’s choice. However, the top of Orange’s lineup crushed it from there as the next five batters reached base to stretch their lead to seven runs. Terry finished a perfect 3-3 day at the plate with another line single to center. Jack stroked a double to right center to drive in Greg. Bobby finished his 3-3 day with a n RBI single up the middle. Jim kept up the hit parade with a line single to left while driving in the 3rd run. Steven put a bow on Orange’s five-run inning with a double to drive in two more runs.
End of 4th Score: Orange 11 Red 4
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Red– one thing you can say about this team is that they never give up and today proved to be no exception. Down by seven, Red stormed back with their best offensive output of the game in the buffet. Morris led off with a walk and Ken M. blasted a double to CF to get things rolling. Doc hit a deep drive to left center over Patrick’s head for a two-run double. Barry flew out to CF for the 1st out. Ken B. singled up the middle and Terry followed with a looping single to right center to bring in the 3rd run. Bobby’s singled loaded the bases. Sal lifted a flyball to center to drive in Red’s 4th run of the frame. Mickey lined a base hit to left to score the 5th run and the lead was down to just two runs. The rally came up short as Mike grounded out to short to retire the side and keep Red out of the win column. Better luck next game
Final Score: Orange 11 Red 9
Session 1 Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 1st Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
7 |
2 |
0 |
0.778 |
129 |
86 |
43 |
– |
|
Green |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0.667 |
71 |
53 |
18 |
1.50 |
|
Orange |
4 |
3 |
0 |
0.571 |
85 |
75 |
10 |
2.00 |
|
Blue |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0.429 |
60 |
89 |
-29 |
3.00 |
|
Red |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0.000 |
58 |
100 |
-42 |
6.00 |
Blue’s stunning upset of the front running Gray squad has tightened things up in the race for the 1st session crown!
Next Games: Thursday April 9, 2026
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Green (4-2-0) vs. Red (0-7-0)
Green gets back in action after a two-game day break after Monday’s bye. Is this the game where Red breaks through and gets that first win to get off the schneid?
Blue has umpiring duties for this one
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Blue (3-4-0) vs. Gray (7-2-0)
Rematch of Monday’s upset of the season. Will Gray be looking to avenge the loss and right the ship or can Blue continue to ride this hot streak and get back to .500 for the year. All will be revealed on Thursday!
Green will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Orange will have a bye on Thursday so their players (along with the unassigned players) will have priority in the draw.