B League Picayune
Often in error, never in doubt.
Volume 5, Issue 20 – May 19, 2023
Truncated issue, as the Kegster is taking a vacation weekend in KC, Mo.
Games of Thursday May 18:
10:30 a.m.: Green (5-6) at Red (5-5)
Based on reporting by Jeff Broussard:
After shutting out Green in the top of the first, Red scored five times in the home half. Green rallied and briefly led 10-8, but Red poured it on in the late inings to win. Mike Hill was perfect at the plate and made some fine defensive plays, including a relay home to catcher Ray Pilgrim to cut down a runner trying to score – per Jeff, Mike “was the Green MVP for sure.” Tim Balke returned to the Green lineup, which was supplemented by mercenaries Ken Brown, Rick Jensen (perfect at the plate), and Jim Maloy.
Final score: Red 18, Green 11
11:30 a.m.: Blue (5.5 – 5.5) at Gray (4-6)
Based on reporting by Anthony Galindo and Greg Lloyd: Only four Blue were players present due to tournaments and health issues. Gray had Greg Lloyd on the mound, facing Blue's Gary Bowles. Mercenary Peter Atkins hit a grand slam for Gray in the second inning. Anthony: “We had runners on base every inning, but hit into too many force-outs and double plays.” Final score: Gray 11, Blue 2Peter Atkins (R) receives an invisible Pluckers coupon from Gray's Rick Jensen (L). Final Score: Gray 11, Blue 2
12:30 p.m.: Purple (3.5 – 6.5) at Maroon (7-3)
Based on reporting by Tom Kelm and Jeff Broussard:
Tied at 10-10 in the last five-run inning, Scott Wright put Maroon ahead with a run-scoring line-drive hit to center field. In the buffet, Chunky Wright on the mound for Maroon, facing the heart of the Purple order, got Adam Reddell on a swinging strike three to open the inning. With two out, Larry Bunton hit a screaming line drive to right fielder Larry Shupe, who made (per Tom) “a terrific catch,” (per Jeff) “a fine running catch by Gold Glove right fielder Larry Shupe.” Ken Brown (4 for 4) and Dave Jaffe (3 for 3) were perfect at the plate for Maroon.
Final score: Maroon 11, Purple 10, Maroon extending its winning streak to four games and its lead for the session to a game and a half ahead of Gold, which had the bye.
Standings – Session Two:
Games Runs Runs Run W/L
W L Win %: behind: for: allowed: differential: streak:
Maroon 8 3 .727 — 125 105 +20 W4
Gold 6 4 .600 1.5 116 99 +17 L1
Red 6 5 .545 2 128 131 – 3 W1
Blue 5.5 6.5 .458 3 142 150 – 8 L1
Gray 5 6 .455 3 134 116 +18 W1
Green 5 7 .417 3.5 129 150 -21 L1
Purple 3.5 7.5 .318 4.5 112 135 -23 L2
Home Visitor Walk-off Extra-inning Flip-flop 1-run games
W-L: W-L: Wins: W-L: W-L: W-L:
Maroon 4-1 4-2 1 0-0 2-1 3-1
Gold 3-2 3-2 2 2-0 2-0 3-2
Red 4-2 2-3 1 0-0 2-2 1-1
Blue 1.5-4.5 4-2 0 1.5-0.5 2-2 0-1
Gray 2-3 3-3 1 0-2 2-2 1-2
Green 2-4 3-3 1 0-1 2-3 1-0
Purple 2-4 1.5-3.5 0 0.5-0.5 0-2 0-2
[Purple and Blue tied their game of May 11; it is counted as half a win and half a loss in the standings.]
2023 total victories (read across) and losses (read down):
Blue Gold Gray Green Maroon Purple Red TOTAL
Blue X 2 2 1 0 2.5 1 8.5
Gold 1 X 1 3 1 0 1 7
Gray 2 1 X 1 1 0 2 7
Green 1 0 1 X 0 3 3 8
Maroon 1 2 1 3 X 3 0 10
Purple 0.5 1 2 0 1 X 1 5.5
Red 2 1 1 1 2 1 X 8
______________________________________________________________
TOTAL: 7.5 7 8 9 5 9.5 8 54
Schedule for Monday May 22:
10:30 a.m.: Gray (5-6) at Gold (6-4), Red umpiring
11:30 a.m.: Red (6-5) at Purple (3.5 – 7.5), Gold umpiring
12:30 p.m.: Maroon (8-3) at Blue (5.5 – 6.5), Purple umpiring
Green has the bye – players from that team will have priority out of the bucket.
Preview: Gray and Gold, with nearly identical run differentials, square off at 10:30, Gold looking to maintain its grip on second place, Gray looking to reach .500. Red, over .500 despite a negative run differential, can move into second with a win over Purple at 11:30 combined with a Gold loss. Blue team at 12:30 will see if it can keep Maroon from running away with the Session 2 title.
Keggy’s Korner:
The honorary Gold Glove of Austin’s own Willie “El Diablo” Wells, at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.