Game Day Gazette
July 9, 2026
Greetings from the “Better late than Never” department… I wanted to share the results from last Thursday’s action but first wanted to thank Bobby Hawthorne for stepping up to make sure everything was up to speed for Thursday’s games.
I also wanted to thank Dave Berra and Johnny Neville for keeping the scorebook for the games and sharing their efforts with me.
Finally, I wanted to thank the twenty-seven (27) guys that showed up to play on Thursday. This represent just over 40% of the total number of players in the league and were just enough to make sure the games got played and there were no forfeits. We had nineteen players participating in both games and five members of the Orange team (Jack Adams, Terry Thompson, Jim Foelker, Steven Kendig and Barry McRee) that showed up on their bye and played both games. Adam Gordon was the 6th Orange player that showed up in the late game. Thanks to all of you guys for showing up while others were off vacationing, rehabbing from injury or playing in the Heart of Texas tournament up the road in Waco.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Blue (3-2-0) vs. Red (2-3-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
This edition will be a little different since I was actually not at the game so this second-hand account will be more summary and less detail but hopefully works.
Blue-sitting atop the standings with Gray, Blue was hoping to extend their willing streak and get some separation in their climb back into the standings. However, Blue only had four (4) of their own players available for this tilt and therefore had to rely on the contributions from their seven (7) mercenaries including Terry Thompson, Ray Pilgrim, Steven Kendig, Dave Stanley, Margarito Canava, Tom Kelm, Scott Wright and Mike Carroll). Sal Lopez was back on the bump for Red after an extended absence and he showed no drop off as Blue struggled at the plate in the opening frame, only managing a lead off single by Mike Hill. 2nd – Little more action in the 2nd. Dave Berra drew a leadoff walk and moved to 3B on Terry Thompson’s double. Ray Pilgrim’s single drove in the 1st run of the game. Steven Kendig followed with an RBI single to stake Blue to an early two-run lead.
Red– riding a two-game winning streak and looing to turn their season around, Red had five of their own players show up for this one and drew six more to complete their roster with Jack Spellman, Jack Adams, Barry McRee, Robby Vickery, Jim Foelker and William Powell joining Red for this game. With at least three quality starting pitchers on their roster, manager Johnny Neville selected Ray Pilgrim for the starting nod. Looked like the right choice as Ray held Red to only a leadoff hit from Mike Mordecai in the scoreless first inning. 2nd– like their counterparts, Red bounced back to put up two runs in the 2nd to tie the score. Wish I could have been there to see this, but Morris led off the inning with a triple! He scored on Jack Spellman’s groundout to 2B for the 1st run. Jack Adams doubled and scored on Robby Vickery’s single to knot the game at two runs apiece.
End of 2nd Score: Red 2 Blue 2
Third Inning Recap:
Blue– came out swinging in the 3rd and exploded for four runs to grab the lead. Tom Kelm led off the inning with a single. Don Roets moved Tom’s pinch runner to 3B, and he scored on Daniel Baladez’ single. Dave Berra drove in the 2nd run with a double. After Terry T. was retired on a flyball to left, Ray crushed a double to bring in two more runs. Steve flew out to left center to close out the inning.
Red- already down by four runs, Red responded with their own five-run outburst to retake the lead. Mike Mordecai drew a leadoff walk and moved to 2B on Bobby Hawthorne’s single. Sal Lopez blasted a triple to bring in both runners. He scored on Gen Nelson’s base hit for the 3rd run of the frame. Morris Carter was retired for the 1st out. Jack Adams Spellman and Jack Adam’s followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Barry McRee drove in the 4th run on a ground out to short and Robby Vickery wrapped things up with an RBI single to cap the five-run inning.
End of 3rd Score: Red 7 Blue 6
Fourth Inning Recap:
Blue- Dave Stanley led off the 4th with a single but was erased on a double play grounder off the bat of Margarito Canava. Tom Kelm flew out to center to retire the side in a scoreless 4th for the boys in Blue.
Red– tallied a single run on Jim Foelker’s leadoff double and an RBI single from Mike Mordecai surrounded by three groundball outs.
End of 4th Score: Red 8 Blue 6
Fifth Inning Recap:
Blue- continued to struggle at the plate. Mike Carroll, late sub for Gray manager Scott Wright, opened the inning with a single. He was erased on Mike Hill’s groundout to 2B. Don also grounded out to 2B before Daniel flew out to left to end the frame.
Red– the first six batters all reached as Red extended their lead with a four-run inning. Morris and Jack Spellman opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Jack Adam’s doubled to bring in the 1st run. Barry McRee and Robby Vickery followed with RBI singles and the lead ballooned to five runs. Jim Foelker stroked a single to push across the 4th run. P Ray P. managed to retire the next three batters to avoid another five-run inning.
End of 5th Score: Red 12 Blue 6
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Blue-chasing six runs, Blue managed to get back on the scoreboard but it was too little too late. After Dave Berra ground out to open the inning, Terry, Ray and Steven all singled to bring in the 1st run. Dave Stanley hit into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out and Margarito fouled out to close out the game and assure Red their 3rd win in a row!.
Final Score: Red 12 Blue 7
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Gray (3-2-0) vs. Green (2-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Gray-according to Dave’s scorebook, Gray had twelve players on the roster for this one, evenly split between regulars and mercenaries. Those joining in the effort included Jack Adams, Don Roets, Terry Thompson, Adam Gordon, Sal Lopez and Daniel Baladez. Manager Tom Kelm was on the mound for this one and struggled in the opening frame. Scott Wright greeted him with a leadoff double. Mike Carroll’s single moved Scott to 3B. Ray Pilgrim fouled out for the 1st out. Margarito Canava bounced into a fielder’s choice as Scott held at 3B. Tom walked David Safely to load the bases and proceeded to issue another walk to Larry Coons to force in the 1st run. Jack Adams lined a single to bring in two more runs for Gray. Tom still struggling with his control walked a third batter, Don Roets to load the bases again. Terry Thompson smacked a single to drive in two more runs to complete the five-run 1st inning for Gray. 2nd– Tom settled down in the 2nd and only allowed a leadoff hit to Adam Gordon before retiring the next three batters to keep the lead at five runs.
Green- not sure why the discrepancy but Dave’s book only showed eleven players for Green including five mercenaries. The new additions included Mike Hill, Jim Foelker, Steven Kendig, Barry McRee and Mike Mordecai. Ray Pilgrim drew his 2nd start on the mound for the visiting Gray team. Jack Spellman continued to tear it up at the plate with a leadoff single. Probably should not jinx him but Jack has reached base in his last eight plate appearances and had a perfect 3-3 day in this one to extend that streak to 10 AB’s. Denny Malloy followed with (presumably) an inside-the-park homerun for Green’s first two runs. Mickey Poole’s walk was followed by back-to=back singles by Tom Kelm and Robby Vickery to load the bases with nobody out. Somehow P Ray P. was able to wriggle his way out of the jam without any further damage. William Powell bounced into a fielder’s choice with the throw from 3B going to the plate to get the force. Mike Hill lined out to 1B and Jim Foelker hit into a fielder’s choice out at 2B to retire the side. 2nd– Green went ’27 Yankees in the 2nd as they marched eight men to the plate and everyone reached on the way to a five-run inning. The mercenaries led the way as Steve Kendig singled, and Barry McRee doubled to start the frame. Mike Mordecai’s single brought in the 1st run. Jack S. singled to score Barry with the 2nd run. Denny drew a walk to load the bases. The next three batters (Mickey, Tom K. and Robby) all produced RBI singles to complete the five-run inning and put Green up by two.
End of 2nd Score: Green 7 Gray 5
Third Inning Recap:
Gray- P Tom K. continued to befuddle the Gray hitters as they only managed a single from Margarito in the scoreless 3rd inning.
Green- P Ray P. bounced back in the 3rd and shut down Green, only allowing back-to-back singles to Mike H. and Jim F. before getting Steve to fly out to right and Barry to pop out to 1B to close out the scoreless inning.
End of 3rd Score: Green 7 Gray 5
Fourth Inning Recap:
Gray- closed the lead to a single run as a double from Don Roets and a single from Terry Thompson produced the only run of the inning.
Green- extended their lead back to five runs with a four-run outburst in the fourth inning. After the first batter was retired, Jack S., Denny and Mickey followed with singles to load the bases. Tom K. smacked a single to bring Jack into score. Robby apparently hit a ball to left center but the runner going from 1B to 2B was forced out with the throw from the outfield for the 2nd out. Denny scored on the play to at least give Robby an RBI if not a base hit. William and Mike H. stroked back-to-back RBI singles to plate two more runners before Ray retired Jim F. on a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
End of 4th Score: Green 11 Gray 6
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Gray– P Tom K. looking to secure the win for his Green team retired Sal on a flyball to left to start the buffet. Daniel Baladez singled but Scott flew out to right center for the 2nd out. Mike Carroll ripped a double to drive in Daniel (or his pinch runner). Ray P. hit a sharp grounder up the middle that apparently caromed off Tom K. to 2B and Mike Hill who fired to 1B to get the final out.
Final Score: Green 11 Gray 7
Current Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 3rd Session Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Green |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
72 |
62 |
10 |
– |
|
Red |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0.500 |
51 |
50 |
1 |
0.50 |
|
Gray |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0.500 |
52 |
62 |
-10 |
0.50 |
|
Blue |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0.500 |
67 |
65 |
2 |
0.50 |
|
Orange |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0.400 |
43 |
46 |
-3 |
1.00 |
New leader for the session as Green ascended into the top spot after taking down Gray. Again, only one game separates the five teams in the tightest session race we have seen in the 2026 season.
Season-to-date Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 Season to-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
18 |
10 |
1 |
0.621 |
332 |
285 |
57 |
– |
|
Green |
15 |
8 |
0 |
0.652 |
312 |
234 |
68 |
0.50 |
|
Orange |
11 |
12 |
1 |
0.458 |
249 |
233 |
19 |
4.50 |
|
Blue |
10 |
14 |
0 |
0.417 |
201 |
285 |
-86 |
6.00 |
|
Red |
7 |
17 |
0 |
0.292 |
219 |
276 |
-58 |
10.00 |
With the season more than 40% complete, Gray’s lead has shrunk to only a half-game while two other teams still have a legitimate chance of catching the season long leaders. As predicted, Red appears to be poised for a late season run after winning their 3rd game in a row.
Next Games: Monday July 13, 2026
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Gray (3-3-0) vs. Orange (2-3-0)
Can Gray right the ship, who will be back and who is still out of the lineup for both squads. Orange is in the cellar but only one game out of the lead, can they call on the “Bobby Miller” magic to get them back on the winning track? All will be revealed on Monday.
Blue has umpiring duties for this one.
Game 2 9:00 a.m. Blue (3-3-0) vs. Green (3-2-0)
Blue is counting on more than four of their own showing up on Monday while Green is hoping to extend their lead and have a chance to finally catch Gray in the season long standings.
Gray will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Red will have a bye on Monday so their players will have priority in the draw.