Game Day Gazette
August 11, 2025
Anthony Galindo (B Division President) and I had an opportunity to meet with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation team including the field maintenance crew yesterday. It is important for the league to maintain a good working relationship with the city and there were some issues that were raised at this meeting. I wanted to reiterate some of the rules that we have agreed to do and probably have been a little lax in enforcing:
1. No players are to be on the actual field of play until the maintenance crew have completed their setting up of the field for that day. FYI, we found out in this meeting that there are security cameras capturing all of the activity on the field so big brother is watching!
2. If you have any issues with how the field is being set up such as line placement or length of the lines being chalked, bring those issue to me or one of the C league board members. Do not address these issues directly with the maintenance crew doing the work! They are working off a diagram that we provided and if something is not correct, we will address with their leadership team.
3. Per City of Austin ordinance, smoking is prohibited on the field and in the stands surrounding the field. We would ask that you refrain from smoking in these areas (including vaping) and if you need to smoke do so in your car or in the parking lot.
The first day of the summer sunrise league, with our earlier starting times, got off to a great start as we had two close hard-fought games and only ended fifteen minutes late in the 2nd game. Great way to start the fourth session!
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Pioneers (0-0-0) vs. Senators (0-0-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Pioneers- the “old Settlers” came out hot and quickly put up five runs to start the game. Jack Adams led off with a clean single to CF. Mike Carroll ripped a single to right to advance Jack to 3B. Sal Lopez slapped a single to left to score Jack with the 1st run of the day. Scotty Wright made it four hits in a row with a line shot to right to load the bases. Tim Heerer fouled out for out #1. Mickey Poole slashed a line drive to right to score Mike and Sal. Larry King popped a ball a ball to left field that fell in for a hit scoring two more runners and complete the five-run inning. 2nd– Different story in the 2nd as Raul DeLeon held the Pioneers scoreless despite giving up three hits. Bubba Barnett popped out to short to open the frame. Mercenary Bobby Miller singled past 3B and fellow mercenary Patrick Schmidt singled past short to get things going for the Pioneers. Bobby Hawthorne grounded into a fielder’s choice as Tim Coles threw to 3B for the force. Jeff Broussard singled to load the bases, but Raul was able to retire Jack on a pop up to short to end the inning.
Senators- Pioneer’s pitcher Sal Lopez shut down the Senators in the 1st as all four batters he faced hit flyball to the outfield. Terry Thompson led off with a routine flyball to left that Scotty put away for the 1st out. Henry Flores lined a shot to CF that just held up, allowing Patrick to make a fine running catch for the 2nd out. Raul DeLeon followed with a deep flyball to left that looked catchable, but Scotty could not hold on as the ball fell in for a double. Tim Coles then drove a ball to deep left and Scotty made this play to end the inning. 2nd- Terry Watts opened the 2nd with a line single to right center. Ken Brown followed with a perfectly placed drive down the right field line for a run scoring triple. Jim Foelker lined out to 3B for the 1st out. Tom Brownfield ripped a single up the middle to drive in Ken with the 2nd run. Donnie Janac singled to move Tom to 2B, and he scored on Gary’s infield single. Barry McRee flew out to shallow left for the 2nd out but Johnny Neville delivered an RBI single to drive in the 4th run.
End of 2nd Score: Pioneers 6 Senators 4
Third Inning Recap:
Pioneers- added a run after a slow start to the inning. The first two batters (Mike C. and Sal) both went down looking as Raul had it going on. Scotty, not taking any chance or pitches, smacked Raul’s 1st offering for a base hit to left center. Tim H. beat out a single on a ball that Henry was unable to come up with cleanly. Mickey laced a single to left center to drive in Scotty with the only run of the inning.
Senators- jumped out to their first lead in the contest with a four-run outburst in the inning. Henry led off with a line single up the middle and scored on Raul’s booming triple to dead center. Tim followed with a blast to left center for a double to score Raul. Terry W. singled to move Tim C. to 3B and he scored on Ken’s fly to left center. Patrick made his 2nd nice catch of the game as he was able to haul in Jim’s flyball to shallow center after a lengthy run. Tom B. drilled a double to CF to score Terry w. with the 4th run. Donnie moved him to 3B on an infield hit but Gary flew out to CF to close out the frame.
End of 3rd Score: Senators 8 Pioneers 6
Fourth Inning Recap:
Pioneers– took back the lead with three runs in the inning. Bubba was retired on a grounder to 2B to start the inning. Bobby M. singled past 2B and moved to 3B on Patrick’s double to RF. Bobby H. hit a ball in the infield and Patrick broke for 3B, forcing Bobby to head home. He was safe and Bobby H. ending up reaching 1B with a single. Patrick scored on Jeff’s fielder’s choice groundout for the Pioneer’s 2nd run. Jack singled to move Jeff to 2B, and he scored on Mike C.’s base hit to CF. Sal bounced out to 3B to end the inning.
Senators- Sal was able to keep the Senators off the board in the 4th. Barry led off with a single but was erased on Johnny’s groundball to 2B. Terry T. flew out for the 2nd out and Henry lined to short for the final out.
End of 4th Score: Pioneers 9 Senators 8
Fifth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- extended their lead to three runs after putting up a two-spot in the 5th. Scotty opened the frame with a line single to right over the first baseman’s head. Tim H. followed with a base hit to move Scotty to 2B, and he scored on Mickey’s single to left. Larry bounced into a fielder’s choice as Mickey was forced out at 3B. Bubba grounded out to SS for the 2nd out. Bobby M. lashed a double to right center to drive in Tim with the 2nd run to end the Pioneer’s scoring in the 5th.
Senators- battled back to tie the games with three runs of their own in the bottom of the 5th. Raul walked and Tim C. popped out to short for the 1st out. Terry W. and Ken followed with back-to-back hits to plate the 1st run. Jim flew out to CF for the 2nd out. Tom B. stayed hot at the plate with an RBI single to left center. Donnie finished off the scoring with a single up the middle to score Ken with the 3rd run.
End of 5th Score: Pioneers 11 Senators 11
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Pioneers- put up two runs in the buffet as Jeff led off with a single to CF. Jack and Mike followed with back-to-back hits to bring in the 1st run. Sal flew out to left for the 1st out. Scotty picked up his 4th hit to complete a perfect 4-4 day at the plate to drive in the 2nd run. Raul retired the final two batters to keep the lead at two runs.
Senators- Barry led off with a sharp grounder to 3B and Tim H. fielded and made a strong throw to 1B to get the 1st out. Johnny poked a single to left center to get the rally started. Terry T. singled and pinch runner Ken Brwon raced to 3B. Henry drilled a ball to CF that skipped past Patrick allowing both runners to score. Patrick did not give up on the play and he made a strong throw to Jack getting the ball in. Jack’s throw to 3B beat Henry by a step in his effort to stretch the double into a triple. Raul singled and moved to 2B after Sal failed to make the catch on Tim C.’s pop up. Terry W. grounded to short and Jack’s throw to 2B for the force barely beat Tim to the bag for the final out and the first tie of the 2025 season.
Final Score: Pioneers 13 Senators 13
Game 2 9:00 a.m. Sultans (0-0-0) vs. Braves (0-0-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Sultans- don’t look now but the Sultans appear to be hitting their stride. Facing the league leading Braves in back-to-back games, the Sultans came out swinging. Phil Stanch opened the game with a line single to right. Donnie Janac walked, and Gary Coyle singled to load the bases with nobody out. Ray Pilgrim bounced into a fielder’s choice at 2B as Phil came across with the 1st run. Don Roets lined a single to right to score Donnie with the 2nd run. Jeff Broussard followed with a run scoring single for the 3rd run. Adam Gordon went down swinging for the 2nd out. Lucky Hoffman grounded to 3B on what looked to be a routine play but the ball got under Tom Brownfield’s glove for a single to drive in the 4th run. 2nd– Raul De Leon led off the 2nd with a line drive to CF that somehow popped out of my glove and fell in for a single. Jack Adams followed with a single to left. Barry McRee bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. The top of the Sultan’s order (Phil, Donnie and Gary) all came through with singled to drive in two more runs before Ray grounded into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play.
Braves- Paul Rubin fouled out to start the inning. Bobby Miller singled and moved to 3B on Tom Brownfield’s line single to left center. Bobby scored the Braves 1st run on Lynn Simpson’s fielder’s choice grounder to 2B. Dave Berra and Tom Kelm followed with back-to-back singles but Raul snuffed out the rally by getting Jim Foelker to fly out to CF. 2nd– Brian Rider went down on strikes to lead off the 2nd. Braves had to draw five mercenaries (both managers agreed to draw to 12 players due to the August heat) and this was their inning. Ken Brown singled and scored on Patrick Schmidt’s double to right center. Tommy DeLeon fouled out for the 1st out of the inning. Morris Carter kept the inning alive with a single. Paul lined a single to left center to drive in Patrick with the 2nd run. Bobby proceeded to crush a long drive sown the right field line for a bases clearing three-run inside the park homer. This blast tied the score at 6-6.
End of 2nd Score: Braves 6 Sultans 6
Third Inning Recap:
Sultans– continued to rake at the plate as they pounded their way to yet another five-run inning. Don singled to left to start the frame. Jeff grounded a ball to short that got under Bobby’s glove for a single. Adam reached on an infield hit to load the bases. Lucky walked to force in the 1st run of the inning. Luther hit a groundball to 3B for a force as Don came in to score. Raul then unloaded with a long flyball to right center for a two-run bases clearing triple. Jack singled to drive him home with the 5th run.
Braves- Tom B. lined a single to left center to start the inning. Lynn flew out to CF for the 1st out. Dave grounded sharply back to Raul who spun and made an accurate throw to 2B to start an inning ending 1-6-3 double play.
End of 3rd Score: Sultans 11 Braves 6
Fourth Inning Recap:
Sultans- Tom Kelm finally had a shut down inning to give the Braves a chance to get back into this one. Barry led off with a groundout to 3B. Phil flew out to left for the 2nd out. Donnie drew his 2nd walk of the game, but Tom got Gary on a comebacker to end the inning.
Braves-Tom K. popped out to 3B to start the 5th. Jim flew out to CF for the 2nd out and it looked as those the opportunity to strike back had been wasted. Ken singled to ignite the mini rally. Patrick lined a single to left center and Ken running from the crack of the bat made it safely into 3B. Patrick cruised into 2B on the outfield throw to 3B. Tommy drove in both runners with a clean single to the right side.
End of 4th Score: Sultans 11 Braves 8
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Sultans- Ray led off the 6th with a ground single to left. The next batter, Don Roets, quickly got ahead in the count as the home plate umpire called Tom’s first two strike pitches illegal! Don walloped the next offering with an arching flyball that went well over Dave’s head for a huge inside the park home run. Tom was able to limit the damage by retiring the next three batters to end the inning.
Braves- little bit of confusion to start off the inning. Brian Rider was skipped in the batting order in the previous inning, and no one realized it at the time, so he went up to bat to lead off the inning. However, this would be batting out of order, so he was told to stand down. Paul was then put in the leadoff spot and responded with a single through the box that just got past Raul. Bobby followed with a single to right center. Tom B. drove in both runners with a booming double to left center. Lynn smacked a triple to dead center to bring in Tom with the 3rd run. Dave popped out to 1B on a nice running catch by Don. Tom K. ground out for the 2nd out. Jim came through with a two out base hit to score Lynn with the 4th run. Brian came up in his correct spot and grounded a ball to Adam at short. His relay to Jeff covering 2B was low and Jeff could not make the catch, so Jim was safe at 2B. The next batter, Ken Brown, launched a flyball to right and Phil had him played perfectly and made the catch to end the game and give the Sultans back-to-back wins over the once formidable Braves.
Final Score: Sultans 13 Braves 12
Session Four Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 4th Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Sultans |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
13 |
12 |
1 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0.000 |
13 |
13 |
0 |
0.50 |
|
Senators |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0.000 |
13 |
13 |
0 |
0.50 |
|
Keystones |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.50 |
|
Braves |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0.000 |
12 |
13 |
-1 |
1.00 |
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
23 |
11 |
0 |
0.676 |
480 |
364 |
116 |
– |
|
Senators |
15 |
16 |
1 |
0.469 |
377 |
405 |
-28 |
6.00 |
|
Keystones |
15 |
17 |
0 |
0.469 |
382 |
387 |
-5 |
7.00 |
|
Pioneers |
14 |
18 |
1 |
0.424 |
345 |
381 |
-36 |
7.50 |
|
Sultans |
14 |
19 |
0 |
0.424 |
364 |
411 |
-47 |
8.50 |
Schedule for August 14, 2025
Please note that game times starting on Thursday 8/14/25 will be thirty (30) minutes earlier than the previous sessions. Please try to be at the field at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
Game 1 8:00 a.m. (H) Pioneers (0-0-1) vs. (V) Braves (0-1-0)
Game 2 9:00 a.m. (H) Keystones (0-0-0) vs. (V) Senators (0-0-1)
Sultans have a bye on Thursday so their players will have priority in the draw.
Other Announcements:
From Lucky Hoffman:
Please spread the word to both B&C league players about a special opportunity (season ending clearance sale) to get a WhakaBall personally from me at the next few sessions.
I have only a small residual inventory that needs to be cleared in anticipation of 2026 new versions at higher price on home shopping networks.
My cash price will be $40, a major drop from the $59 on the WhakaSports website.