Game Day Gazette
September 8, 2026
Shaky start to the return of Tuesday softball! We thought the move to K6 was going to take place this morning, but we had some miscommunication with PARD, and the field will not be ready for play until Monday (9/14). Once everyone figured out where to play, we scrambled to get enough guys to get things started. Orange only had to draw two players, but Blue was down five and there were only five chips in the bucket. Morris Carter graciously agreed to fill in as the home plate umpire allowing Mickey Poole to join in the player pool, still leaving us one player short. Terry Watts showed up after the first two inning at bat for Orange and the lineups were set. Whew!
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Game 1: Orange (3-3-0) vs. Blue (2-5-0) 8:00 a.m. 9/08/26 |
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
Total |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
X |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blue |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
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Starting pitchers- Blue- Tommy DeLeon; Orange- Terry Thompson |
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Mercenaries: Blue- Jack Spellman, Patrick Schmidt, Jeff Broussard, John Flowers and Terry Watts |
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Orange- Paul Rubin and Mickey Poole |
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Home Plate Umpire- Morris Carter and Larry King on the bases |
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First & Second Inning Recap:
Orange- Welcomed Jack Adams back to the lineup and he flew out to left to get things started. Bobby Miller smoked a drive to deep center that soared over Patrick Schmidt’s head for a solo homer. Jim Foelker fouled out for the 2nd out. Terry Thompson looped a single to right field to extend the inning, but Steven Kendig bounced into a fielder’s choice to close things out. 2nd – Adam Gordon laced a double to left center to kick off the 2nd. Barry McRee lined out to 3B on a nice grab by Jack Spellman for the first out. Jerry Mylius doubled to right to push across the 1st run of the inning, Bubba Barnett singled to move Jerry to 3B, and he scored on Paul Rubin’s base hit to left center. Mickey grounded sharply to 3B, and Jack smartly turned a 5U 5-3 double play to end the inning.
Blue– arguably missing their three top hitters (Tim Coles, Raul DeLeon and Don Roets), Blue did the best they could with six of their own players along with five mercenaries. Blue has notoriously been a slow starting ball club and today was no different. P Terry Thompson was particularly sharp and held Blue scoreless over the first two frames. Mike “Hit Man” Hill did his thing, lining a single to right center to lead things off. Tommy DeLeon singled to center and things were looking good for Blue. Both Donnie Janac and Henry Flores flew out to left center for two quick out. Chris Hurst bounced into a fielder’s choice to close out the frame. 2nd– Dave Berra lined out to Terry T. to open the 2nd. Jack Spellman ripped a clean single to right but was unable to advance as Patrick Schmidt fouled out and Jeff Broussard grounded into a fielder’s choice (5-4) to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Orange 3 Blue 0
3rd Inning Recap:
Orange- Jack Adams drilled a ball through the 5/6 hole and legged out a double to open the inning. Bobby hit a wicked shot up the middle that caromed off Tommy’s hip and rolled towards 3B for an infield single. Jim hit a flyball to medium center field to move both runners. Terry followed with a well-placed pop fly that fell just in fair territory for a two-run double. Steven reached on an infield single to 3B with Terry holding at 2B. Adam lined another single to left center to drive in Terry with the 3rd run. Barry moved the runners to 2B and 3B with a sacrifice fly to center but Jerry stranded the runners as he popped out to 3B to retire the side.
Blue– John Flowers flew out to shallow center to lead off the 3rd. Terry Watts smacked a double to right and scored on Mike’s single to right center for Blue’s first run. Tommy was unable to keep it in fair territory and fouled out for the 2nd out. Henry flew out to left on a nice grab by Mickey Poole to close out the frame.
End of 3rd Score: Orange 6 Blue 1
Fourth Inning Recap:
Orange– Bubba went down swinging to open the inning. Paul grounded back to Tommy for the 2nd out. Mickey crushed a ball to left for a standup triple. Jack followed up with a three bagger of his own as he belted one to deep center to drive in Mickey with the 1st run. Bobby doubled to right to score Jack with the 2nd run. Jim popped out to 2B to end the inning
Blue– Chris and Dave opened the 4th with back-to-back singles to center field. Jack S. grounded into a fielder’s choice out a t 2B for the 1st out. Patrick grounded a run scoring single through the 5/6 hole to bring in the 1st run. Jeff looped a single to right to load the bases. John worked a walk from Terry to force in the 2nd run. Terry W. lined out to 2B, and John ventured a little too far off the base and the throwback to 1B beat him for an inning ending double play. It was a very close call but the home plate umpire did not overturn the call made on the field.
End of 4th Score:Orange 8 Blue 3
Fifth Inning Recap:
Orange– Terry picked up his third hit in as many at bats to open the 5th but was erased as Steven bounced into a 6-4-3 double play. Adam completed his perfect day at the plate with an infield single. Barry and Jerry followed with back-to-back singles to drive in the 1st run. Bubba lined an RBI single up the middle to keep the two-out rally going, Paul dropped in a double to left center to bring in two more runs. Mickey slapped a base hit to center to score Paul and complete the five-run inning.
Blue- it’s not often that a team has four hits in an inning but doesn’t score but Blue managed to accomplish that in the 5th. Mike and Donnie opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Donnie’s single loaded the bases with nobody out. Henry grounded sharply to Bobby, and he stepped on the 2B bag for the 1st out. Rather than go the traditional route to 1B for the double play, Bobby threw a strike to the plate and his throw beat Mike to complete the 6U 6-2 double play. Chris hit a ground single past the mound to load the bases for the 2nd time in the inning. P Terry was able to leave all three runners stranded as he retired Dave for the final out.
End of 5th Score: Orange 13 Blue 3
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Blue– down by ten, the teams flip flopped and Jack S. led off the buffet with a line single to right. Patrick flew out to Jim in right center for the 1st out. Jeff picked up a single to put runners on 1B and 2B. John hit a floater to shallow right and Jack made a nice running catch on the ball for the 2nd out. Terry W. bounced into a fielder’s choice (6-4) to end the game..
Final Score: Orange 13 Blue 3
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Game 2: Red (2-4-0) vs. Green (6-0-0) 9:00 a.m. 9/08/26 |
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
Total |
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Red |
4 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
X |
16 |
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Green |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
X |
11 |
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Starting pitchers- Green- Luis Sanchez; Red-Terry Thompson |
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Mercenaries-Green- Mike Hill, Jack Adams and Steven Kendig |
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Red- Bobby Miller, Terry Thompson, Jim Foelker, Donnie Janac, Barry McRee and Jeff Broussard |
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Home Plate Umpire- Steve Browne (on loan from B division) and Dave Berra on bases |
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First & Second Inning Recap:
Red– on paper, this looked to be a mismatch with the season long frontrunner vs. the team that has been mired in the cellar for most of the season. The good news for Red is the game is decided on the field not based on the odds on Kalshi. Doc Hobar opened this one with a single to right. John Flowers followed with a base hit to right. Patrick Schmidt drilled a single to right center to bring in the 1st run. Terry Watts made it four hits in a row with a single to right to plate John with the 2nd run. Morris Carter went down swinging for the 1st out. Bobby Miller grounded sharply to 3B, and Robby got the force at 3B for the 2nd out as the runner from 3B scored on the play/ Terry Thompson knocked in the 4th run with a single to right. Jim Foelker flew out to center to end the frame. 2nd– Donnie Janac grounded out to short to open the 2nd inning. Barry McRee laced a single to center followed by Jeff Broussard’s base hit to right to get things rolling. Doc grounded into a fielder’s choice (4-6) for the 2nd out with Barry crossing the plate for the 1st run. John and Patrick contributed back-to-back run scoring singles to cap off the scoring.
Green- already down by seven, Green needed a fast start to get back in this one. Paul Rubin led off with a single to left center. Jack Spellman grounded one up the middle that Bobby Miller was able to glove and make a strong off-balance throw to 1B to get the 1st out. Luis Sanchez was robbed by Doc on a hot smash to 2B for the 2nd out. Denny Malloy came through with a big two-out single to drive in Paul with the first run. Mickey Poole lined out to 3B to end the frame. 2nd– Tom Kelm opened the 2nd with a walk vs. P Terry Thompson. William Powell aka Wild Bill stepped up with his shiny new Senior bat (it is actually a hand me down from Morris) and absolutely creamed a ball that skied over Donnie Janac in left for a two-run home run. The next two batters, Larry King and Mike Hill were retired on groundball outs to 3B and 2B respectively. Jack Adams started a two-out rally with a single and Steve Kendig reached to put runners on 1B and 2B. Paul grounded a single past the shortstop to load the bases. Jack Spellman stepped up and rocketed the ball to right center past Jim F. for a bases clearing three-run double to pull Green within one run of the lead.
End of 2nd Score: Red 7 Green 6
Third Inning Recap:
Red- Luis Sanchez took over for Tom Kelm on the mound and promptly walked the leadoff batter, Morris Carter. Bobby bounced into a fielder’s choice to 2B Mike Hill for the 1st out. Terry T. and Jim followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Donnie ripped a line shot up the middle that Luis caught as much out of self-defense as anything for the 2nd out. Barry laced a single to left center to drive in two runs, but Jim was thrown out at 3B to close out the frame.
Green- there is a golden rule in senior slow pitch softball and that is you need to score every inning to have a chance to win. Green did not get the message and fell behind with consecutive scoreless innings. Luis flew out to Jim for the 1st out. Denny Malloy drew his league-leading 17th walk of the season but was erased on Mickey’s ground out to short. Tom K. flew out to Patrick in left center to retire the side.
End of 3rd Score: Red 10 Green 6
Fourth Inning Recap:
Red- broke open this tight game with a five-run outburst in the frame. Jeff banged out a leadoff single to right. Doc dropped a short fly just inside the right field line for a double. John rapped a single to right to score both runners, and Red was off to the races. Patrick followed with a double to right center. Terry W. looped a single to right to put runners on the corners. Morris drilled a single through the 5/6 hole to drive in the 3rd run. Bobby singled in the 4th run and Terry wrapped up the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left center for the 5th run.
Green- threatened but could not score in the inning. William fouled out to open the inning Larry flew out to left center on a nice running catch by Patrick. Mike and Jack had back-to-back singles to give Green some hope. Steve went down swinging to end the inning with Green trailing by eight runs.
End of 4th Score: Red 14 Green 6
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Red- up by eight, Red only needed to out up two runs to force a flip flop. Looking for a shutdown inning, I decided I needed to play in to avoid leadoff hitter Jim F. from dropping one in front of me. When I shared my defensive philosophy with teammate Denny, he scoffed that I wasn’t really playing “in” so I took two steps forward and promptly watch Jim launch one over my head for a leadoff triple. Donnie drilled one up the middle to easily bring Jim in with the 1st run. Barry picked up his 3rd hit in as many at bats with another single to left center. Jeff continued to have success going “oppo” and his looping single brought Donnie around to score the run and prompt the flip flop with Green coming up for their final at bat.
Green- down by ten, it was going to take some kind of miracle for Green to come back in this one. I was scheduled to lead off, and William made an offhand comment that if I came up twice in the inning, we were going to win the game. He came so close with his prediction as all eleven batters came to the plate in the buffet, but I never got a 2nd chance. I singled down the left field line to open the inning and scored on Jack Spellman’s triple to center. Luis made the 1st out on a sacrifice fly to right as Jack came across with the 2nd run. Terry walked the next two batters (Denny and Mickey) and there was still hope in the Green dugout. Tom Kelm lined a single to left to drive in the 3rd run. William grounded to short and Bobby’s throw to 3B beat the runner from 2B for the 2nd out as Tom’s courtesy runner scored. Larry laced a single to left center to bring in the 5th run. Mike and Jack followed with back-to-back hits to load the bases. Steven put a good stroke on Terry’s first pitch but Patrick had him played perfectly and the ball nestled in his glove for the final out.
Final Score: Red 16 Green 11
Current 4th Session Standings:
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ASSL C league 2026 4th Session Final Standings |
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Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
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Green |
6 |
1 |
0 |
0.857 |
103 |
60 |
43 |
– |
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Orange |
4 |
3 |
0 |
0.571 |
63 |
77 |
(14) |
2.00 |
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Gray |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0.429 |
78 |
76 |
2 |
3.00 |
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Red |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0.429 |
84 |
86 |
-2 |
3.00 |
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Blue |
2 |
6 |
0 |
0.250 |
57 |
86 |
-29 |
4.50 |
All good things must come to an end and so it is with Green’s dream of having a perfect record for the session. Red’s upset tightened the race for the session crown and Orange appears to be closing in on session leaders.
Season-to-date Standings:
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ASSL C league 2026 Season to-date Standings |
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Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
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Green |
23 |
12 |
1 |
0.639 |
473 |
358 |
68 |
– |
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Gray |
23 |
16 |
2 |
0.561 |
468 |
427 |
57 |
2.00 |
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Orange |
20 |
16 |
1 |
0.541 |
394 |
369 |
19 |
3.50 |
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Blue |
14 |
24 |
0 |
0.368 |
330 |
440 |
-86 |
10.00 |
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Red |
12 |
24 |
0 |
0.333 |
340 |
411 |
-58 |
11.50 |
Green’s lead is back down to two games with Orange lurking In 3rd only 3.50 games out of the lead.
Next Games: Thursday September 10, 2026
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Red (3-4-0) vs. Gray (3-4-0)
Battle for 3rd place and a chance to get back to .500. Should be a tightly contested affair.
Green has umpiring duties for this one.
Game 2 9:00 a.m. Green (6-1-0) vs. Orange (4-3-0)
No longer unbeaten but still on top, can Green rebound from Tuesday’s loss and hold off the hard charging Orangemen? Should be a barnburner!
All will be revealed on Thursday!
Red will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Blue will have a bye on Thursday allowing their players to have priority in the draw and thereby potentially impact on the outcome of the above games!