Game Day Gazette
July 20, 2026
The rain appears to be gone for a time and the oppressive summer heat returned with a vengeance in today’s ballgames. In what has become a patten in this 3rd session, the underdogs came out victorious in both of today’s games as the race for the session lead tightened.
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Blue (4-3-0) vs. Red (3-3-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Blue-Tommy DeLeon led off the opener with a line shot to 3B that Gary Coyle snagged for the 1st out. Raul DeLeon followed with a sinking liner to center that John Flowers gloved but could not hold (nice running try!) for a one-out double. Tim Coles ripped a single to left center to drive in the 1st run. Donnie Janac went down looking on a pitch that was clearly flat, but no call was made by home plate umpire Tom Kelm. Henry Flores ended the frame with a line out to shortstop Jack Spellman. 2nd – Don Roets opened the 2nd with a sharp single up the middle. Alex Valles flew out to center for the 1st out. Daniel Baladez followed with a bouncer to short that was easily handled by Jack as he got the force at 2B. Mercenary Jack Adams walked but Paul Rubin grounded to 2B for the final out.
Red– P Tommy DeLeon looked sharp in the early going as he tossed two shutout innings to open the game. Doc Hobar laced a line single through the 5/6 hole to start the inning. Patrick Schmidt flew out to left center for the1st out. John Flowers grounded up the middle but Tim Coles had him played perfectly and scooped up the ball, stepped on 2B and completed the throw to 1B for an inning ending double play. 2nd– Mike Mordecai led off the 2nd with a grounder to 3B but Paul Rubin could not complete the throw to 1B as Mike reached with an infield hit. Bobby Hawthorne bounced into a force play at 2B for the 1st out. Terry Watts grounded to 2B, and Raul got the force t 2Bfor the 2nd out. Butch Barber extended the inning with a ground single up the middle, but Tommy retired Sal Lopez on a flyball to left to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Blue 1 Red 0
3rd Inning Recap:
Blue– tacked on another run in the 3rd to extend their slim lead. Ray Pilgrim (3rd mercenary in the lineup) ground out to short to open the inning. Tommy was retired on a flyball to right that held up for Terry Watts for the 1st out. Raul reached on a three-pitch walk. Tim followed with an opposite field single. Donnie drove in the only run with an infield single before Henry flew out to center to close out the frame.
Red– finally got untracked as the big Red machine put up a three-spot to grab the lead. Morris Carter grounded out to 3B to start the inning. Mercenary Jack Spellman smacked a single to right to get things rolling for Red. Fellow mercenary Gary Coyle worked a walk to put runners on 1B and 2B. Doc hit another hot smash between short and 3B to drive in Red’s first run. Patrick grounder to 2B allowed Gary to cross the plate with the 2nd run. John lined an RBI single to right as Doc scored the 3rd run. Mike singled but Bobby flew out to left center to end the scoring.
End of 3rd Score: Red 3 Blue 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Blue- Don drew a walk to lead off the 4th. He was retired on Alex’s grounder to short. Daniel followed suit with another fielder’s choice groundout o short (Blue couldn’t seem to help but continually hit balls to Jack S. in this game). Jack Adams’ flyball to shallow center fell in for a single. Paul doubled down the left field line to drive in the only run of the inning before Ray grounded out to 3B to retire the side.
Red– Terry singled to lead off the 4th. Butch hit a ball in front of the plate and Daniel made a nice play to throw him out at 1B for the 1st out. Sal flew out to left on a nice running catch by Henry for the 2nd out. Morris bounced out to short to finish the shutout inning.
End of 4th Score: Blue 3 Red 3
Fifth Inning Recap:
Blue-Sal retired the first two batters on routine flyball but was not so lucky on the 3rd batter. Tim Coles launched a towering flyball to left center that easily left the park to give Blue a one-run lead. Donnie reached on another infield hit to keep the inning alive but Henry popped out to 3B to close out the inning.
Red– Jack S. was retired on a grounder to 2B to start the 5th. Gary reached on a slow roller to 3B. Doc picked up his 3rd hot of the day on another hard-hit ball to left. Patrick singled to drive in the 1st run. John and Mike followed with back-to-back RBI singles as Red jumped out to a 6-4 lead. Bobby grounded to 3B and Paul started a 5U 5-4 double play to end the inning.
End of 5th Score: Red 6 Blue 4
Sixth Inning Recap:
Blue-Don laced a single to right center to open the 6th. Alex was retired on a liner to Jack for the 1st out. Daniel singled but was forced out at 2B on Jack’s grounder to Jack for the 2nd out. Paul launched a missile to left center that easily sailed over the Patrick’s head (despite his desperate glove toss) for a bases clearing three-run homer to give Blue the lead. Ray bounced out to 3B to retire the side.
Red– Blue’s slim lead did not hold up as Red responded with five runs in the bottom half of the 6th. Terry singled to start the inning but was erased on Butch’s fielder’s choice groundout to 2B. Sal flew out to center for the 2nd out but then the floodgates opened. Morris hit a dribbler down the 3B line and I could not get the ball out of my glove fast enough to make a play on the speedy Patrick running for Morris. Jack smacked a double to right to drive in the 1st run. Gary reached on another infield single as Patrick crossed the plate with the 2nd run. Doc completed a perfect 4-4 day at the plate with another base hit to left center to drive in two more runs. Patrick finished off the five-run frame with an opposite field shot to bring in Doc to complete the scoring.
End of 6th Score: Red 11 Blue 7
Seventh “Open” Inning Recap:
Blue-chasing four runs, Blue put up a valiant effort but came up just short. Tommy lined out to 1B to open the inning. Raul walked for the 2nd time and scored as Tim lined a triple down the left field line to complete his perfect 4-4 day at the dish. Donnie proving it is sometimes better to be lucky, reached on his 3rd infield hit to score Tim with the 2nd run. Henry smacked a single to center and tying runs were onboard. Sal rebounded and retired Don on a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Alex hit one back to the pitcher to close out the game and give Red a four-game winning streak and move them into a tie for 1st place for the session.
Final Score: Red 11 Blue 9
Game 2 9:00 a.m. Orange (2-4-0) vs. Green (3-3-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Orange- no spoiler alert needed as the Orange men dominated this one from start to finish. Terry Thompson popped out to short to lead things off but the next four batters reached in a sign of things to come. Jack Adams smacked a single to center and moved to 3B on Bobby Miller’s line single to right. Jim Foelker dropped in a single to shallow center to bring in the 1st run. Steve Kendig rapped a single to center to bring in the 2nd run. Barry McRee was retired for the 2nd out. Interim manager Adam Gordon reached on an opposite field pop fly single to plate Jim with the 3rd run. Jerry Mylius lined a ball to left center that fell just in front of Paul Rubin for another RBI single before the side was retired. 2nd– Orange had the unique distinction of having all eleven (11) of their players show up for this one, so they did not need any mercenaries. The bottom of the line up showed up and showed out as Greg Tolander and Luther Elmore went a combined 6-6 for the game. These two were the catalysts in the 2nd as Greg reached on a very close call at 1B (initially ruled out by Morris but then over turned). Luther lined a single to center to set the table for the top of the lineup. Terry launched a flyball to center and it looked like Tom Brwonfield had a bead on it but the ball popped out of his out stretched glove for an RBI double. Jack’s single brought in Luther with the 2nd run. Bobby followed by grounding an RBI double to right to drive in two more runs. Jim put a bow on Orange’s five-run 2nd with an RBI single to left.
Green- probably too early in the season to coronate Terry Thompson as the most outstanding pitcher but his performance in this game along with his shut out earlier in the year prove he can be tough to hit. Leadoff man, Paul Rubin, grounded to 2B to start this one and was called out at 1B on a very close play. Jack Spellman grounded one back through the box, but Terry knocked the ball down and quickly recovered to make the play at 1B d=for the 2nd out. Luis Sanchez popped out to 2B as Terry retired the side in order. 2nd– Green put up little resistance in the 2nd as Terry continued to control the game from the mound. Denny Malloy flew out to left center to start the inning. Tom Brownfield singled sharply to right center for Green’s first hit. Robby Vickery grounded to 3B, and Adam Gordon made the throw to 2B to get the force for the 2nd out. Tom Kelm grounded a single up the middle but William Powell bounced out to 3B to end the threat.
End of 2nd Score: Orange 9 Green 0
Third Inning Recap:
Orange- not content to sit on their nine-run lead, Orange put up four more runs in the 3rd. Steve grounded to short to start the inning, but the next seven (7) batters reached base to put up a four-spot. Barry ripped a shot to center to get things started. Adam followed with a line single to left center. Jerry and Bubba followed with back-to-back RBI singles. Not to be out done, the dynamic duo of Greg and Luther did likewise as Orange raced to a thirteen (13) run lead. Terry lined a ball to center that I was able to get a glove on, but it clanked off and fell for a single to load the bases. P Luis Sancez was able to retire Jack on a pop to short for the 2nd out. Bobby lined a bullet to center that Tom was able to hold on to for the final out.
Green- same song, different verse as Terry kept the scoreless street intact. Larry King went down swinging to open the frame. Mercenary Scott Wright fouled out for the 2nd out. Fellow mercenary Patrick Schmidt reached as his line drive to left barely eluded shortstop Bobby Miller. Paul lined out to deep short (maybe shallow left center) as Bobby ventured far to his left to make the play to retire the side.
End of 3rd Score: Orange 13 Green 0
Fourth Inning Recap:
Orange- Tom Kelm came in to pitch in the 4th and was able to limit Orange to only a single run. He retired Jim on a pop to short and Steve on a comebacker to the mound for two quick outs. Barry and Adams extended the inning with back-to-back singles. Jerry drove in the only run as he laced an RBI single to right. Bubba grounded back to the pitcher as Tom got the final out.
Green- reaching new heights of futility, Terry retired the side in order in the scoreless 4th inning. Jack led off with a repeat of his earlier groundball to the pitcher for the 1st out. Luis bounced out to 2B for the 2nd out and Denny went down looking to mercifully end the 4th.
End of 4th Score: Orange 14 Green 0
Fifth Inning Recap:
Orange- didn’t take Orange long to figure out the new pitcher as they added three more runs in this runaway game. Greg and Luther led off with back-to-back hits to set up the top half of the order. They came through as Terry rapped a single up the middle to drive in the 1st run. Jack, after attempting to switch hit in his at bat, ground into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Bobby went back to right to pick up his 3rd double of the game and drive in the 2nd run. Jim was retired for the 2nd out before Steven slashed a single to right center to plate Bobby with the 3rd run. Barry made the final out as he flew out to shallow center.
Green- now down by seventeen runs, Green continued to struggle at the plate. Tom B. got his 2nd hit of the day with a leadoff single. The next two batters, Robby and Tom K., each hit into fielder’s choice out. William grounded one past 3B to put two runners on but Larry flew out to left as the streak of scoreless innings reached five.
End of 4th Score: Orange 17 Green 0
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
At this point, the mercy rule kicked in and Green stayed at the plate for their open inning as the teams flip flopped.
Green– looking to avoid the humiliation of a shutout in senior slow pitch softball, Green stepped up and finally broke through with two big runs in the buffet. Scott opened the inning by grounding sharply to 1B but Christmas came early to Bubba, and he found the ball in his glove and won the footrace to the bag for the 1st out. Patrick completing a perfect 2-2 day at the plate followed with a single to left center. Paul grounded a base hit up the middle to put two runners on. Jack grounded sharply to 2B on a ball that should have been caught but it skipped under Jack A.’s glove allowing Patrick to sprint home with the 1st run. Luis laced a single to right allowing me to cross the plate with the 2nd run. Denny singled to load the bases with nobody out. Tom grounded sharply to 3B, but Adam made the play and fired to 2B to get the force and the 2nd out. Terry recovered from the shock of being scored upon and retired Robby to end the ballgame.
Final Score: Orange 17 Green 3
Current Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 3rd Session Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Red |
4 |
3 |
0 |
0.571 |
62 |
59 |
3 |
– |
|
Gray |
4 |
3 |
0 |
0.571 |
58 |
67 |
-9 |
– |
|
Blue |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0.500 |
88 |
84 |
4 |
0.50 |
|
Orange |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0.429 |
65 |
54 |
11 |
1.00 |
|
Green |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0.000 |
82 |
91 |
-9 |
1.00 |
Congratulations to the Big Red Machine as they steam rolled their way into the top position for the session. On the flip slide, Green’s one-sided loss to Orange propelled them into the cellar. The good news, only one game separates the five teams and as we know anything can happen on any given day in this league.
Season-to-date Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 Season to-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
19 |
10 |
1 |
0.633 |
338 |
290 |
57 |
– |
|
Green |
15 |
10 |
0 |
0.600 |
322 |
263 |
68 |
2.00 |
|
Orange |
12 |
13 |
1 |
0.462 |
271 |
241 |
19 |
5.00 |
|
Blue |
11 |
15 |
0 |
0.423 |
222 |
304 |
-86 |
6.50 |
|
Red |
8 |
17 |
0 |
0.320 |
230 |
285 |
-58 |
10.00 |
Gray took advantage of their bye to extend their lead to two (2) games over Green. Orange is lurking in 3rd place and poised for a stretch run with their new found swagger. Red is riding a four-game win streak, so anything is possible, just look at the Boston Red Sox. In any case, I got no clue, which is what makes it exciting to come to the ball park!
Next Games: Thursday July 23, 2026
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Blue (4-4-0) vs. Gray (4-3-0)
Peter Atkins in back and Gray is looking to reestablish themselves as the team to beat. Blue is looking for a strong finish to this session so this should be a barn burner.
Orange has umpiring duties for this one.
Game 2 9:00 a.m. Orange (3-4-0) vs. Red (4-3-0)
Ostensibly, the two hottest teams going head-to-head in this one, Promises to be an exciting slate of games in this hotly contest session race.
Blue will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Green will have a bye on Thursday so their players will have plenty of time to think about all of the things that went wrong on Monday and make sure that never happens again! They will also have priority in the draw.