Game Day Gazette
April 27, 2026
Today’s weather was hot and humid and gave us a sneak peak at what the summer months will look like as temperatures were in the low 90’s. This did not seem to impact on the turnout except for Green, which only had six players available for the early game.
Team Rebalancing Update:
After looking at the results from the first session, the board opted to implement a “ream rebalancing” with an eye towards making the league more competitive. We also wanted to address the impact of injuries and other player absences that resulted in certain teams drawing a disproportionate share of players through the daily bucket draw.
We conducted a draft in which those teams with winning percentages below .400 for the first session were able to select a player from one of the remaining teams. Red and Blue had winning percentages below the .400 level and therefore were able to draw a single player from either Gray, Orange or Green. Under our new policy, no team could lose more than one player and each of the three teams (Gray, Orange and Green) was able to protect their primary pitcher and three additional players. To keep roster sizes consistent across all five teams, Red and Blue had to expose three players (7th, 8th and 9th picks from the original draft) and those teams that lost a player were able to pick up a “compensatory” pick in the 2nd round of the draft. The results of the team rebalancing draft are as follows:
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|
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Old |
New |
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|
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Team |
Team |
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|
|
|
|
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Patrick Schmidt |
|
Orange |
Red |
|
Tim Coles |
|
Gray |
Blue |
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Barry McRee |
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Red |
Orange |
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Jeff Broussard |
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Blue |
Gray |
|
Mickey Poole |
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Red |
Green |
|
Larry King |
|
Red |
Green |
The last two players were moved from Red to Green due to the number of players lost to injury and illness by the Green team. They only have ten available players vs. 12-14 for the other teams. This last player move will result in all teams having at least twelve available players for the upcoming session.
I want to thank the managers for their thoughtful consideration of the needs of their respective ball clubs and their cooperation throughout a somewhat chaotic process. I also want to thank those players that are moving to new teams for their willingness to accept these moves without any significant pushback. Our goal is to create a more competitive league, and we feel these changes will help us move in that direction. Lastly, I want to thank the board members for their support and input, especially Bobby Hawthorne and Greg Tolander.
The above player changes will be effective for the games starting this Thursday April 30, 2026. Please help welcome your new teammates and here’s looking forward to the 2nd session!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Green (0-0-0) vs. Blue (0-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
As noted above, the Green team only had six regular players available for today’s game. This required them to draw five players to field a lineup. Either Orange did not realize they were on a bye, or their players just love to ball out but there were six players with priority in this morning’s draft. Green manager, Tom Kelm, selected Patrick Schmidt, Jack Adams, Terry Thompson, Rick Parker and Jim Foelker in the draw. Bobby Miller, another Orangeman, opted to not exercise his priority status in the first game and he was not among the five players who joined the Green team. This scenario is exactly why Mickey and Larry were moved to Green so hopefully we will not see a repeat of today’s game changing draw.
Green– Paul Rubin led off the game with a line single to center field. Denny Malloy hit a smash up the middle that Tommy DeLeon gloved for the 1st out. Ken Mockler drilled a base hit to left center to move Paul to 3B. Tom Brownfield grounded into a fielder’s choice (6-4) as Paul crossed the plate with Green’s first run. William Powell ended the inning with a fielder’s choice grounder to 3B. 2nd – Tom Kelm reached on an infield hit to start the 2nd. The mercenaries took over from there. Patrick Schmidt and Jack Adams had back-to-back singles to produce the 1st run. Terry Thomspn drove in Patrick from 3B on a sacrifice fly to left center. Rick Parker bounced to 3B for a fielder’s choice (5-4) for the 2nd out. Jim Foekler smoked a ball to left center for a run scoring triple. Paul looped a hit down the left field line for an RBI double before Denny grounded to short to end the frame.
Blue– last time out, Blue only managed to put one run on the board vs. Orange. The offensive output was much better in this one. Henry Flores fouled out to start the inning. Don Roets lined a shot to right center that went over Tom Brownfield’s head for a triple. Mike Hill singled sharply to right center to drive in Don with the first run. Raul DeLeon smacked a single up the middle. P Tom Kelm walked the next two batters (Tommy DeLeon and Donnie Janac to load the bases. Jeff Broussard singled to left to bring in two runs. Jim Maloy grounded into a fielder’s choice but got the runner home from 3B on the play. Lucky Hoffman ended the frame with a groundout to 3B. 2nd– Daniel Baladez went down swinging to open the 2nd. Alex Valles singled down the 1B line and Chris Hurst drew a walk. Dave Berra singled to load the bases. Henry drove in the 1st run with a single to left center. Don lined out to Tom B. and Chris tried to score from home but Tom’s relay to Terry and onto Rick Parker at home was in time to get the final out.
End of 2nd Score: Green 5 Blue 5
Third Inning Recap:
Green-Ken drove a ball to deep center, but Donnie was well positioned and made the catch for the first out. Tom B. crushed a ball to right center for a triple and scored on William’s hit over 3B. Tom K. followed with a line single up the middle. Patrick reached on an infield single to load the bases. Jack and Terry had back-to-back RBI singles. Rick kept the party going with a line single to CF to bring in the 4th run. Jim ripped a single up the middle to drive in the 5th run as the mercenaries earned their hefty salaries in this frame!
Blue- Mike singled to lead off the 3rd and moved to 3B on Raul’s double. Tommy D. and Donnie each lined out to short and it looked like Tom K. was going to be able to wriggle out of the inning unscathed. Jeff came through with the big hit as he lined a two-run single to right center. Jim was retired on a pop fly to 1B that Denny couldn’t handle but recovered and was able to beat Jim to the bag for the final out.
End of 3rd Score: Green 10 Blue 7
Fourth Inning Recap:
Green– Paul led off with a double to shallow left. Denny singled to move him to 3B, and he scored on Ken’s single to CF. Tom B. followed with a blast to left center for a two-run double. William flew out to left center and Tom K. bounced out to short. Patrick delivered with a double to left center to score Tom with the 4th run. Jack popped out to 2B to retire the side.
Blue– P Tom K. shut down Blue in the inning holding them to no runs and a single base runner. Lucky popped out to the pitcher to open the frame. Daniel grounded out to short for the 2nd out. Alex walked but Chris grounded to 3B and Jack’s throw to 2B got the force out to end the inning.
End of 4th Score: Green 14 Blue 7
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Green- more damage from the mercenaries as Terry, Rick and Jim all reached to quickly load the bases. Paul bounced back to new pitcher, Raul, who got the force at home for the 1at out. Denny stepped up and drove a ball over Don’s head in left center for a bases clearing three run double. At this point, Green was up by ten do the teams flip flopped and Blue came to bat for their buffet inning
Blue- down by ten but with the top of the order due up, Blue did not go away without a fight. Dave flew out to left center for the 1st out. Henry and Don followed with back-to-back hits. Mike stroked an RBI single to right to get Blue on the board. Raul smacked a n RBI single and Tommy’s base hit to right brought in the 3rd run. Donnie drove in the 4th run with a line single to right center. Jeff grounded to 2B for the 2nd out. Jim laced a single to right center to score Tommy’s pinch runner. Tom B. got the ball in quickly to Terry. Terry’s relay home to Rick beat Donnie by a step for the game ending out.
Final Score: Green 17 Blue 12
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Red (1-0-0) vs. Gray (0-1-0)
Revenge game for Gray as Red staged the upset of the year on Thursday with a resounding 13-8 victory for their first win of the season.
First & Second Inning Recap:
Red– not the start they were looking for as Gray pitcher, Ray Pilgrim limited them to no runs on one hit. Terry Watts fouled out to open the game. Barry McRee grounded out to 3B, and John Flowers bounced one back to Ray to retire the side. 2nd– Ken Brown hit one up the middle and Ray made a nice backhand stop to get Ken for the first out. Bobby Hawthorne walked to be the first baserunner and Sal Lopez followed with a sharp single down the 3B line. Mike Mordecai hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Gray- came out on fire as the first six batters all reached base. Scott Wright and Peter Atkins led off with back-to-back line singles to center. Gary Coyle cracked a base hit down the 3B line to drive in Gray’s first run. Ray Pilgrim continued to swing a hot bat as he launched a double to right center. Lynn Simpson and Phil Stanch followed with back-back singles to bring in the 4th run. Margarito Canava made the firs tout with a popup to 3B and Larry Coons fouled out to the catcher. Art Monzingo singled to load the bases but Bobby Miller grabbed Nick Roberts blooper over 2B and got the force to end the frame. 2nd– David Safely led off the 2nd with a ground single to right. Scott popped out to the catcher on a nice catch by Sal Lopez. Peter hit a fly ball to deep center that was caught but pinch runner Phil Stanch was off with the hit and was doubled off when he tried to return to 1B but failed to touch the bag at 2B on his way.
End of 2nd Score: Gray 4 Red 0
Third Inning Recap:
Red- stormed back with five runs in the 3rd to take the lead. Mickey Poole drew a leadoff walk but was forced out at 2B (3-6) on Jack Kelly’s grounder to 1B. Butch Barber stroked a double to right center to drive in the 1st run. Morris Carter reached on a ground single through the 5/6 hole. Bobby Miller drove in two runs with a double to right field. Terry singled through the 5/6 hole to score Bobby. Barry and John finished off the five-run inning with back-to-back singles to give Red the lead.
Gray- Gary led off with a single to center and scored on Ray’s triple. Ray launched a ball to left that soared over Bobby H.’s head. Lynn reached on a pop up to 1B that wasn’t handled as Ray came across with the 2nd run. Phil laced a single down the 3B line. Margarito bounced into a fielder’s choice (4-5) for the 1st out. Larry’s single brought in the 3rd run ahead of pop-up outs from Art and Nick.
End of 3rd Score: Gray 7 Red 5
Fourth Inning Recap:
Red-Ken and Bobby opened the frame with back-to-back doubles to score the first run. Ray escaped any further damage by getting Sal and Mike on groundouts and Mickey on a pop fly to send the inning.
Gray- extended their lead with a four-run outburst in the 4th. David led off with a single to right and moved to 3B on Scott’s double to right field. Peter brought in both runners with a line single up the middle. Gary smoked a double to left center to score Peter with the 3rd run. Ray finally made an out on a flyball to center. Lynn’s single moved Gary to 3B and he scored on Larry’s infield single.
End of 4th Score: Gray 11 Red 6
Fifth Inning Recap:
Red– Jack Kelly singled to lead off the 5th. The next two batters grounded into fielder’s choice out. Bobby M. tripled to CF to drive in the first run but was left stranded as Terry flew out to right.
Gray– Nick bounced out to lead off the 5th. David smacked his 3rd single of the game but was gunned down (11-6) trying to stretch the hit into a double. Scott grounded sharply to 1B and Sal made the stop and beat him to 1B to retire the side.
End of 4th Score: Gray 11 Red 7
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Red– Barry and John led off the buffet with back-to-back singles. Ken stroked a ball down the right field line that Art was unable to catch up with. Ken was flying around the bases and the play resulted in a three-run home run to close the lead to one run. Bobby H. lined out to 3B for the 1st out. Sal reached on a single but Mike hit one back to Ray and he spun and fired to 2B for the force with Ken completing the game ending 1-6-3 double play.
Final Score: Gray 11 Red 10
Season-to-date Standings:
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ASSL C league 2025 Season to-date Standings |
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Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
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Gray |
11 |
3 |
0 |
0.786 |
167 |
112 |
55 |
– |
|
Green |
7 |
3 |
0 |
0.700 |
118 |
90 |
28 |
2.00 |
|
Orange |
6 |
4 |
0 |
0.600 |
118 |
91 |
27 |
3.00 |
|
Blue |
3 |
8 |
0 |
0.273 |
61 |
126 |
-65 |
6.50 |
|
Red |
1 |
10 |
0 |
0.091 |
100 |
145 |
-45 |
8.50 |
Green and Orange are both undefeated at 1-0-0 in the current session while Red and Gray are 1-1-0. Blue is slow out of the gate this session with two losses in as many games.
Next Games: Thursday April 30, 2026
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Green (1-0-0) vs. Blue (0-2-0)
Orange has umpiring duties for this one.
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Orange (1-0-0) vs. Gray (1-1-0)
How will the new line ups impact on Thursday’s games?
Green will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Red will have a bye on Thursday so their players (along with the unassigned players) will have priority in the draw.
Other News & Notes:
· I will be out on Thursday so Bobby Hawthorne will let you know if there are any delays or cancellations due to weather.
· The City of Austin has informed us that Krieg (as well as all other Austin parks) will be closed for a city-wide training on May 11th (Monday). PARD has agreed to let us make up that game on the next day so mark your calendars for Tuesday May 12th!