Game Day Gazette
June 22, 2026
Nice respite from the heat as cloudy skies and a nice breeze made for great playing conditions for this morning’s games. Don’t forget that we will be moving to 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. start times effective July 2, 2026.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Green (0-0-0) vs. Blue (1-0-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Green– a combination of injuries and summer travel limited Green to only seven players for this tilt. Manager Tom Kelm came up big in the player drawing Jack Adams, Terry Thompson and Jim Foelker from the Orange team and Ken Brown from Red. Jack Spellman stepped into the leadoff role as yours truly continues to recover from a quad injury. Jack opened the game with a line single to right. Dean Hector bounced into a fielder’s choice out at 2B. Mickey Poole followed with a grounder to short that Mike Hill turned into an inning ending double play. 2nd – Paul Rubin led off the 2nd with a single up the middle. Ken Mockler’s single to right center moved him to 3B. Denny Malloy walked to load the bases with nobody out. William Powell grounded to Raul DeLeon at 3B, and he got the force at 3B for the first out, but I was able to beat the throw to the plate for the 1st run. Tom Kelm lined a single to center to load the bases for the 2nd time in the inning. Mercenary Jack Adams bounced out to 3B and this time Raul’s throw to the plate beat the runner (Denny) for an inning ending double play.
Blue– P Tom Kelm had his “good stuff: in the first two frames as he shut down the Blue hitters on no runs and only two hits. Mike Hill led off with a hot shot to right and Dean Hector robbed him off a hit with a nice catch for the first out. Raul DeLeon grounded a single up the middle for Blue’s first hit. He was erased as Henry Flores grounded into a fielder’s choice out at 2B. Don Roets worked a walk, but Tommy DeLeon took a called 3rd strike to end the frame. 2nd – Chris Hurst ground out to Jack Spellman at short for the 1st out. Donnie Janac lined a single to left center but Dave bounded into a 6-4-3 double play highlighted by a nice turn by Dean to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Green 1 Blue 0
Third Inning Recap:
Green– offense came alive in the 3rd as the Greenies rapped out seven hits on their way to a five-run inning. The mercenaries made their presence felt as consecutive singles by Ken Brown, Terry Thompson and Jim Foelker led to the first run. Jack S. made it four hits in a row with an RBI single to right center. Dean reached on an infield single to 3B to load the bases. Mickey lined a single to center to bring in the 3rd run. Paul ended the string of six consecutive hits with a fielder’s choice groundout to short as the 4th run score. Ken blasted a deep flyball over Donnie’s head to easily bring in the final run.
Blue- down by six runs, Blue fought their way back with a four-run outburst as Tom struggled with his control in the inning. Jim Maloy led off the inning by grounding out to 3B on a nice play by Jack Adams. Daniel Baladez reached on a grounder to 3B to get things going for Blue. Alex Valles lined out to 3B for the 2nd out. Doc Hobar, the 4th straight batter to hit a ball to 3B, reached as Jack A. opted to go to 1B rather than try to get the force at 2B, His throw to 1B was wide and Doc cruised into 2B with a “double”. Mike ripped a single to right center to score both runners as Blue finally got on the board. Raul singled to right to put runners on 1B and 2B. At this point, P Tom K. struggled to find the strike zone and walked the next three batters (Henry, Don and Tommy) to force in two more runs. Chris went down swinging to end the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Green 6 Blue 4
Fourth Inning Recap:
Green– came up with another five-run inning to extend their lead back to seven runs. Denny (must be the league leader in walks!) drew a base on balls to start the inning. He was erased as William grounded to 3B for the 1st out. Tom K. followed with a sharp single to right center. Jack A. looped a single to shallow center and William scored from 2B ignoring the stop sign at 3B to plate the 1st run. Ken drove in the 2nd run with a single up the middle. Terry lined a single down the 3B line to drive in the 3rd run. Jim F. popped out to the catcher as Daniel made a nice play coming out form behind the plate to make the catch. With Tommy pitching carefully to the leadoff man, Jack refused the walk and smoked a ball to center for a two-run double to complete Green’s 2nd five-run inning.
Blue– Tom regained his control and proceeded to shut down Blue on a single hit in the 4th. Donnie led off by grounding out to short as Jack S. showed great range to get to the ball up the middle. Dave flew out to right center for the 2nd out. Jim M. singled to left center but Daniel hit a comebacker to Tom to retire the side.
End of 4th Score: Green 11 Blue 4
Fifth Inning Recap:
Green– Henry made a nice running catch on Dean’s flyball to left for the first out. Mickey flew out to center for the 2nd out. Paul grounded a single up the middle to extend the inning. Ken ripped a single to right center to advance Paul to 3B. He scored on Denny’s looper over short for Green’s only run as William hit into a force out at 3rd to end the frame.
Blue– P Tom K. continued his up and down performance on the mound as his three consecutive walks contributed to Blue’s three run inning. Alex led off the inning with a sharp grounder to 1B and Denny made a nice stop and beat Alex to the base by a step for the 1st out. The next three batters (Doc, Mike and Raul) all received free passes to load the bases. Henry slashed a single to left to drive in the 1st run. Don was retired on a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Tommy delivered with a clean single to right to bring in two more runs. Chris popped up to 2B, but Dean did not go for the ball, and Jack S. made a late call and crossed the diamond to secure the catch for the final out.
End of 4th Score: Green 12 Blue 7
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Green– continued to attack and added five more runs before the “flip-flop”. Tom K. led off with his 3rd hit of the game. Jack A. looped a double down the right field line to put runners on 2B and 3B. Ken drove in the 1st run with another single to CF. Terry smoked a two-run double to left and Green was off and running. Jim flew out to Henry in left for the 1st out. Jack S. completed his perfect 4-4 day at the plate with an RBI single to right. Dean flew out to left for the 2nd out with the runner scoring from 3B on the play. Mickey’s single loaded the bases, and Paul lashed a single to left center to bring in the 5th run. This gave Green a ten-run cushion and invoked the flip flop rule as Blue came to bat for their buffet inning.
Blue– chasing ten runs, Blue did not go down without a fight. Donnie bounced out to 1B to open the inning. Dave singled but Jim M. lined out to 3B for two quick outs. Daniel and Alex came through with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Doc looped a double down the right field line to bring in two runs for Blue. Mike and Raul followed with back-to-back RBI singles and the lead was cut to six. Tom was able to get Henry to foul off a two-strike offering to end the game.
Final Score: Green 17 Blue 11
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Red (0-1-0) vs. Gray (1-0-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Red-looking to avenge last Thursday’s one-run loss to Gray, Red got off to a slow start. P Ray Pilgrim retired the side in order in the 1st. Doc Hobar popped out to short, John Flower hit one back to Ray and Ken Brown grounded out to 2B to quickly end the 1st. 2nd– Ray walked the first two batters (Mike Mordecai and Terry Watts) to open the 2nd inning. Bobby Hawthorne ripped a single through the 5/6 hole to load the bases with nobody out. Jack Kelly hit a grounder to the right side that pushed across the runner from 3B for the 1st run. Morris Carter went down looking for the 2nd out. Jack Adams (first of Red’s three mercenaries) smashed a double to left center to drive in the 2nd run. Barry McRee hit a comebacker to Ray for the final out.
Gray- Scott Wright was retired on a grounder to short to lead things off for Gray. The next three batters (Mike Carroll, Peter Atkins and Gary Coyle) all had singles to produce Gray’s first run of the game. Ray Pilgrim hit a deep flyball to left to score the runner from 3B. Lynn Simpson lashed a single to right center to drive in Gary with the 3rd run. Larry threatened to add to the lead but his flyball to left center was tracked down by Don Roets for the final out. 2nd– Margarito Canava led off the 2nd with a clean single through the 5/6 hole. David Safely hit a slow roller back to P Jack Kelly and Jack opted to try and get the force at 2B. His throw was of target leaving both runners safe. Mercenary, Jim Foelker was retired on a hump back liner to short for the 1st out. Fellow mercenary, Adam Gordon, hit into a fielder’s choice ground out at 3B for the 2nd out. Scott salvaged the inning with a screaming line shot to right to bring in David for the only run of the frame as Mike bounced into a fielder’s choice to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Gray 4 Red 2
Third Inning Recap:
Red- Red’s 3rd mercenary, Don Roets, led off the 3rd with a double. Doc was retired on a nice running catch by Adam for the 1st out. John smacked a single to right to bring in Don with the 1st run in the frame. Ken popped out to 2B for the 2nd out of the inning. Mike M. and Terry had back-to-back singles to load the bases. Bobby grounded to 3B and Gary was able to make the putout at 3B for the final out.
Gray- extended their narrow lead to five with a four-run outburst in the 3rd. The first three batters (Peter, Gary and Ray) all reached on singles to get the first run across. Lynn fouled out for the 1st out. Larry popped a ball to shallow center that fell in for a hit and drove in the 2nd run of the frame. Margarito’s single loaded the bases with only one out. David grounded to Doc at 2B and his only play was to get the force at 2B as the runner scored from 3B on the play. Jim F. lined a base hit to left center to drive in the 4th run of the inning. Adam bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the frame.
End of 3rd Score: Gray 8 Red 3
Fourth Inning Recap:
Red-Jack worked a walk from Ray to open the 4th. Morris hit one in front of the plate and his pinch runner easily beat the throw to 1B for a single. Jack Adams followed with a single to right to drive in the 1st run. Barry walked to load the bases. Don looped a ball down the right field line for an RBI single. Doc hit a pop fly over short that looked like it was going to drop in for a hit. Scott made a great play of the ball and rob Doc of a base hit. Barry, thinking like the rest of us, took off on the “hit” and was easily doubled off after Scott made the play. John lined another single to right to chase home the 3rd run in the inning. Ken took a walk to load the bases, but Ray was able to get Mike to foul off a two-strike pitch to retire the side.
Gray- with their lead cut to two runs, Gray responded by putting up a three-spot in the 4th. Scott was retired on a fly ball to center to open the frame. Mike singled past 2B and Peter walked to start the rally. Gary unloaded on a ball to left center and both runners scored on his RBI double. He moved to 3B on Ray’s single and scored on Lynn’s base hit up the middle. Margarito hit a deep fly to left center, but Don hauled it in to end the frame. now
End of 4th Score: Gray 11 Red 6
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Red– in what seemed to be a very quick game, Red came up in their half of the open inning, needing five runs to tie the game. It was not meant to be as Ray shut them down in the buffet. Terry grounded out to short for the 1st out. Bobby singled past 3B but Jack popped out to Ray and Morris went down on strikes to close out the contest.
Final Score: Gray 11 Red 6
Current Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 3rd Session Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
18 |
12 |
6 |
– |
|
Green |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0.000 |
17 |
11 |
6 |
0.50 |
|
Blue |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0.500 |
21 |
23 |
-2 |
1.00 |
|
Orange |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0.000 |
6 |
10 |
-4 |
1.50 |
|
Red |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
12 |
18 |
-6 |
2.00 |
Season-to-date Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 Season to-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
17 |
7 |
1 |
0.680 |
298 |
235 |
57 |
– |
|
Green |
13 |
6 |
0 |
0.684 |
257 |
183 |
68 |
1.50 |
|
Orange |
9 |
10 |
1 |
0.450 |
212 |
197 |
19 |
5.50 |
|
Blue |
8 |
12 |
0 |
0.400 |
155 |
243 |
-86 |
7.50 |
|
Red |
4 |
16 |
0 |
0.200 |
180 |
244 |
-58 |
11.00 |
Gray remains unbeaten in the 3rd session and still holds a one and one-half game lead over Green.
Next Games: Thursday June 25, 2026
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Green (1-0-0) vs. Blue (1-1-0)
Rematch of Monday’s game that was heavily influenced by Green’s mercenaries. Who will show, who will be drawn, all will be revealed on Thursday.
Orange has umpiring duties for this one.
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Orange (0-1-0) vs. Gray (2-0-0)
Gray appears to have regained their champion’s swagger. Can anyone knock off the front-runners? Orange is looking to break into the win column but faces tough competition in Thursday’s late game..
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.