Game Day Gazette
June 29, 2026
Peace and calm returned to the ballpark as both games went off without any incidents. The Orange team welcomed back Bobby Miller after an extended absence. His impact was felt immediately as both a mercenary in the first game and as a key cog in the Orange lineup. Noticeable uptick in the number of mercenaries being drawn as the temperature heats up and today’s draw of six players in game 1 and seven in game 2 reflected that. The weather was pleasant with a constant breeze and a little cloud cover.
SUMMER HOURS– the games for Thursday, July 2, 2026, will begin thirty minutes earlier than normal as we transition to our summer schedule. First game starts at 8:00 a.m. and 2nd game is scheduled for 9:00 a.m.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Green (1-1-0) vs. Gray (3-0-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Green– facing the session and league leading Gray squad, Green was missing Jack Spellman and Tom Brownfield but picked up mercenaries Bobby Miller, Don Roets, John Flowers and Barry McRee to round out their lineup. Paul Rubin led off the game with a line shot to short, Scott Wright made a leaping grab to rob him of extra bases. Denny Malloy went down looking for the 2nd out. Ken Mockler slapped a single to right to extend the inning, Tom Kelm grounded to 3B, and Peter Atkins got the force at 2B to retire the side. 2nd – It looked like more of the same in the 2nd as P Ray Pilgrim continued to baffle the Green hitters. Robby Vickery bounced out to 2B to start the 2nd. William Powell grounded out to 3B for the 2nd out. Larry King worked a base on balls, but Ray got Bobby Miller to foul out to end the inning, leaving Green scoreless.
Gray– with a chance to open an early lead, Gray managed to put up three runs in the first. Scott Wright popped out to P Tom Kelm to open the frame. Mike Carroll and Lynn Simpson followed with back-to-back singles. Peter Atkins lined a single to right center to bring in the 1st run of the ballgame. Ray Pilgrim smacked a single up the middle to drive in two runs and stake Gray to an early three-run lead. Phil Stanch fouled out for the 2nd out and Larry Coons was retired on a comebacker to Tom to close out the inning. 2nd – David Stanley led off the 2nd with a sharp single up the middle. Margarito Canava grounded to short and Paul flipped to 2B Don Roets for the force. The baserunner (David) ran to the bag rather than using the run through lane and home plate umpire Terry Watts called interference, ruling Margarito out at 1B to complete the double play. Helpful hint… it is the baserunner’s responsibility to avoid any possible contact with the defensive player so make sure you clearly run wide on any plays at 2B or 3B to avoid a possible interference call. Mercenary Terry Thompson lined a single up the middle to extend the inning but Gray’s other mercenary, Donnie Janac hit into a force out at 2B to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Gray 3 Green 0
Third Inning Recap:
Green– Don Roets opened the inning with a line single to right center. John Flowers grounded a single between 1B and 2B to move Don to 2B. Barry McRee hit into a fielder’s choice at 2B. Paul ripped a double to left center to drive in the first two runs of the game for Green. Denny drove a sinking liner to left center and Lynn was unable to make the shoe string catch on the play. The ball skipped by him and rolled to the fence as he circled the bases for a two-run home run. Ken kept things rolling with a single. Tom K. mashed a double to right center to complete Green’s five-run inning.
Gray- down by two runs, Gray quickly struck back with their own five-run inning to retake the lead. Scott led off with a majestic drive down the right field line that easily evaded RF William Powell for an inside the park home run. Mike and Lynn followed with back-to-back singled. Peter grounded sharply to 2B, and Don flipped to 2B to get the force for the first out. Ray continued to swing a hot bat with another smash up the middle that drove in two more runs. Phil’s single moved Ray to 2B. Larry was retired on a hump back liner just behind 3b for the 2nd out. David ripped a ball over Barry’s head in right center for a double to drive in both runners and complete Gray’s five-run inning.
End of 3rd Score: Gray 8 Green 5
Fourth Inning Recap:
Green– the lead continued to go back and forth as Green responded with their own five run inning in the 4th. Robby led off the frame with a single to right. William fouled out for the 1st out. Larry bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. At this point, the mercenaries stepped up big time! Bobby hit a blooper to RF for a leadoff double. Don reached on an infield single as Larry scored from 3B on the play. John walked to load the bases. Barry singled to drive in the 2nd run. Paul singled up the middle to push across another run. Denny smacked a double to left center to drive in two more and finish off Green’s five-run frame.
Gray– P Tom Kelm held Gray scoreless in the 4th to keep Green on top. Margarito went down swinging to open the frame. Terry singled to right center but was erased on a ball hit to Tom. Neither Paul nor Don knew who was covering 2B on the play. Tom Lolli popped a throw towards the base, and I was able to make a lunging catch ahead of Terry to get the force. Talk about making a routine play look difficult! Scott flew out to left center to retire the side.
End of 4th Score: Green 10 Gray 8
Fifth Inning Recap:
Green– when you’re hot, you’re hot! Green continue to pound the ball, putting up their 3rd consecutive five-run inning in the frame. Ken was retired on a grounder to short to open the inning. Tom K. continued to punish the ball as his drive to right center gapped the fielders for a one-out triple. Robby laced a single to center to drive in the 1st run. William followed with a line single over the third baseman’s head. In what turned out to be the key at-bat of the inning, Larry worked Ray for a walk to load the bases, Bobby, showing no signs of rust from his time away, stepped up and absolutely smoked a ball to left center that got past Lynn for a crushing inside the park grand slam homer to put Green up by seven.
Gray– displaying the heart of a champion and some pretty good hitting skills, Gray bounced back with their own five-run inning to keep this one close. Mike and Lynn opened the frame with back-to-back singles (if this sounds familiar, it should have as this duo was 6-6 in their first three trips to the plate). Peter singled to load the bases with nobody out. Ray Pilgrim have yourself a day at the plate! He crushed a bases-clearing three run double to complete a perfect 3-3 day at the plate with SEVEN runs batted in! Phil singled to move Ray to 3B and he scored on Larry’s single. David capped off a perfect day at the plate with a well struck ball up the middle to drive in Phil with the 5th run.
End of 5th Score: Green 15 Gary 13
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Green– with Gray hot on their heels, Green needed to get some separation in this one and came up with three runs to take a five-run lead. Don flew out to right center to open the inning. John and Barry came through with back-to-back singles to get things going. Paul lined a single down the left field line to drive in the first run. Denny went down looking on two perfectly placed pitches by Ray. Down to their last out, Ken and Tom came through with clutch RBI singles to put two more runs on the board. Robby went down on strikes to end the frame.
Gray– chasing five runs, Gray was unable to get its offense going and fell short. The individual details may be off as I had to go directly into the next game as a mercenary but here’s what I recall. Margarito led off the open inning with a single. Terry T. flew out to left center for the 1st out. Donnie and Scott singled to load the bases with one out. Mike picked up his 4th hit in as many trips to drive in the 1st run of the inning. Chasing flyballs all day in left center finally caught up to Lynn, and he had to come out of the game. Chris Villareal replaced him in the batting order and grounded to 2B. Don made the underhanded toss to 2B to Paul for the force and he threw to Larry at 1B to complete the game ending 4-6-3 double play as Gray suffered their first loss of the session.
Final Score: Green 18 Gray 14
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Orange (0-2-0) vs. Red (0-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Orange- looking like a completely different team with Bobby Miller back in the lineup, Orange pounded out thirteen (13) hits on their way to scoring nine runs in the first two innings. Terry Thompson and Jack Adams singled to open the contest. Bobby Miller drilled a ball down the right field line that got past Terry Watts for a three-run homer. The next five batters reached as Orange finished off the five-run first inning without making an out. Jim Foelker singled to left center. Barry McRee and Luther Elmore followed with back-to-back hits to load the bases. Jerry Mylius slapped a single to right to drive in the 4th run and Ken Mockler finished off the frame with an RBI single to left. 2nd– the hit parade continued in the 2nd as Scott Wright led off with a single. Ray Pilgrim popped out to 2B for the 1st out. Robby Vickery slapped a single to right to put runners on 1B and 2B. The top of the lineup came through again as Terry’s single loaded the bases. Jack and Bobby followed with back-to-back doubles to drive in three more runs. Jim flew out to left center for the 2nd out. Barry singled to score Bobby with the 4th run before Luther ground out to short for the final out.
Red- in the battle to see which team would emerge from the cellar, Red quickly found itself down by nine runs and looking for a strong start to get back into this one. Alas, it was not meant to be as P Terry Thompson was in top form for this tilt. Doc Hobar to right center. He was forced out at 2B on John Flower’s grounder back to the pitcher. Terry Watts lined a single to right center to get a runner in scoring position. Ken Brown grounded into a fielder’s choice out at 2B leaving runners on the corners. Mike Mordecai worked a walk to load the bases with two out. Chris Villareal lined out to Scott at 2B to retire the side. 2nd– Jack Kelly popped out to shallow center on a nice play by Scott for the first out. Morris Carter popped a ball in front of the fielders on the left side and pinch runner Ken Brown easily made it to 1B for a single. Mercenary Peter Atkins flew out to right center for the 2nd out. Fellow merc, Paul Rubin lined a single to left center to put runners on 1B and 3B. Terry was able to wriggle his way out of a tight situation by getting Orange’s 3rd mercenary, Don Roets, to ground into a fielder’s choice to close out the scoreless frame.
End of 2nd Score: Orange 9 Red 0
Third Inning Recap:
Orange- Jerry and Ken led off the 3rd with back-to-back singles. Ken’s pinch runner scored from 3B on Scott’s fielder’s choice grounder to short. Ray followed suit with another grounder to short resulting in the 2nd out. Robby popped out to 1B to put a quick end to the inning.
Red- not sure if it was Terry’s pitching or Red’s anemic hitting but in either case, the 3rd inning produced no runs and no hits. Doc led off with a pop up to 2B. John took a mighty swing on a ball that dropped well in front of the plate as he struck out for the 2nd out. Terry was retired on a grounder to short as Terry completed his 3rd consecutive shut out inning.
End of 3rd Score: Orange 10 Red 0
Fourth Inning Recap:
Orange –the Red outfield was flashing some leather in this frame with two outstanding catches to keep this one at a ten-run lead. Terry led off with a routine flyball out to center. Jack followed with a flyball to shallow center that Peter Atkins grabbed on a dead run for the 2nd out. Bobby kept up his perfect day at the plate with a single to right center. Jim F. ripped a line drive to left center and John took a few steps to his left to make a backhand catch to retire the side.
Red- another quick inning for P Terry Thompson as he hurled his 4th shutout inning in a row. Ken grounded out to short to open the inning. Mike was retired on a pop fly to 2B for the 2nd out. Chris smacked a clean single to right field and Jack K. drew a walk to provide a glimmer of hope for the Red men. However, Terry dispatched Morris on two pitches to end the threat.
End of 4th Score: Orange 10 Red 0
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
The team flip flopped based on the ten-run rule and Red stayed at the plate for the buffet.
Red– with the three mercenaries coming to the plate, this looked like the best opportunity for Red to break through and at least salvage some dignity but that was not to be. Peter bounced out to short to open the frame. Paul hit a grounder up the middle that had hit written all over it but Scott had crept over behind 2B and was perfectly positioned to scoop up the ball and make the throw to 1B to get the 2nd out. Don grounded to 2B for the final out as Orange secured the victory. Kudos to Terry and the Orange defense as today’s white washing was the first shutout of the 2026 season!
Final Score: Orange 10 Red 0
Current Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 3rd Session Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0.750 |
41 |
35 |
6 |
– |
|
Green |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0.000 |
47 |
38 |
9 |
0.50 |
|
Blue |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0.667 |
34 |
35 |
-1 |
0.50 |
|
Orange |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0.333 |
21 |
19 |
2 |
1.50 |
|
Red |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0.000 |
12 |
28 |
-16 |
2.50 |
Green’s win over Gray tightened things up considerably in the 3rd session race. With Green and Blue only trailing by half a game.
Season-to-date Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 Season to-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
18 |
8 |
1 |
0.667 |
321 |
258 |
57 |
– |
|
Green |
14 |
7 |
0 |
0.667 |
287 |
210 |
68 |
1.50 |
|
Orange |
10 |
11 |
1 |
0.455 |
227 |
206 |
19 |
5.50 |
|
Blue |
9 |
12 |
0 |
0.429 |
168 |
255 |
-86 |
7.00 |
|
Red |
4 |
17 |
0 |
0.190 |
180 |
254 |
-58 |
12.50 |
Next Games: Thursday July 2, 2026
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Green (2-1-0) vs. Orange (1-2-0)
Both teams coming off big wins on Monday. Can Orange get back to .500 and become a threat for the session and season long title? Or will Green take down the Orangemen and pull into a tie for the session lead with Gray? All will be revealed on Thursday.
Blue has umpiring duties for this one.
Game 2 9:00 a.m. Blue (2-1-0) vs. Red (0-3-0)
Blue has a chance to move into a tie for the session lead with a win. Red is desperately seeking to end this three-game losing streak. Which team will come out on top for Thursday’s contest?
Green will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Gray will have a bye on Thursday so their players will have priority in the draw.