Game Day Gazette
June 8, 2026
After what seemed to be a week of nothing but rain, the skies finally opened and the sun came out allowing us to get back to action on Monday. Overall, the players were showing a little rust from being away from the diamond as both games were fairly low scoring this morning.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Blue (3.-5-0) vs. Orange (4-4-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Blue- with a full complement of players on hand for today’s game including slugger Tim Coles, the Blue was poised to begin their descent from the Session #2 cellar. Don Roets opened the game with a grounder to short and Adam Gordon made a strong throw to 1B to beat Don by a step for the first out. Henry Flores flew out to shallow center on a nice shoe top catch by Chris Villareal. Raul DeLeon popped out to P Terry Thompson on another nice defensive play to close out the scoreless 1st inning. 2nd – Tim Coles led off the 2nd with a high arcing drive to right field that sailed over Greg Tolander’s head and rolled to the fence. Tim took a leisurely tour around the bases for an inside the park home run. Mike Hill bounced out to 2B for the 1st out. Donnie Janac grounded out to short on a nice backhand stop by Adam for the 2nd out. Tommy DeLeon kicked off a two-out rally with a line single to right center. Alex Valles followed suit with another base hit to the right side. Lucky Hoffman knocked in the 2nd run with a sharp single through the 5/6 hole. Dave Berra grounded a single up the middle to load the bases, but Terry was able to retire Johnny Neville on a ground ball to 2B to end the inning.
Orange– missing some key pieces from their lineup (Bobby Miller, Jack Adams and Steven Kendig). Assistant manager Adam Gordon had to go deep in the bucket to draw four players for this one (Gary Coyle, Ray Pilgrim, Bobby Hawthorne and Chris Villareal). Adam led off the Orange attack with an infield single to 3B. Terry Thompson followed with a pop fly single to center field. Jim Foelker laced a single to left center to drive in the first run for Orange. P Tommy DeLeon retired Bubba Barnett and Rick Parker on groundballs to 2B and short, respectively for the first two outs. Greg Tolander lined a ball over short that skipped past the left center fielder to bring in the runner from 3B. Jim never stopped running and came around to score the 3rd run despite a close play at the plate. Greg advanced to 3B on the play to complete his two-run triple. Luther Elmore grounded to 3B to end the frame. 2nd – Gary Coyle led off the 2nd with a groundout to 3B. Ray Pilgrim grounded to #B but Tim’s throw to 1B drifted up the line allowing Ray to reach with a one-out single. Bobby Hawthorne reached on a blooper just over Tim’s head down the 3B line. Chris Villareal drove in the 1st run of the frame with a line single to CF. Adam was the 4th consecutive batter to reach base as he was safe on another close play on a grounder to 3B. Terry Thompson grounded into a fielder’s choice out at 3B, but Bobby was able to score on the play. Jim closed out the inning with a groundout to 3B as Tim beat the runner to the base for the final out.
End of 2nd Score: Orange 5 Blue 2
Third Inning Recap:
Blue– stormed back with a five-run outburst to take the lead in this one. Jim Maloy led off the inning with a single to CF. Don fouled out for the 1st out. Henry followed with a single to left. Raul’s single to left center drove in Jim with the 1st run. Tim scorched a line drive single to left center to load the bases. Mike crossed up the Orange defense with a clean single to left center to drive in the 2nd run. Donnie’s flyball to center was deep enough to bring in the runner from 3B for the 3rd run. Tommy drew a walk to load the bases. Alex ripped a single to left to drive in two more runs and complete the five-run inning for Blue.
Orange- unable to muster any offense in their half of the inning. Bubba opened the inning with a single to right center. Rick popped out to short for the 1st out. Greg bounced one up the middle that Mike gloved and completed the 6U 6-3 double play to end the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Blue 7 Orange 5
Fourth Inning Recap:
Blue– P Terry T. shut down Blue on a single hit to keep the lead to two runs. Lucky bounded out to short to lead off the inning. Dave flew out to left center for the 2nd out. Johnny reached on an infield single but Jim M, grounded into a fielder’s choice out at 2B to end the inning.
Orange– with a chance to even this one up, Orange was able to load the bases with nobody out. Luther opened the frame with a line single to CF. Gary walked, and Ray smacked a single to left. Tommy was able to retire Bobby on a pop out o short and Chris on an infield fly to 1B to quickly get two out. Adam grounded to short and Mike tossed to 2B to get the force to end the inning with three men left stranded.
End of 4th Score: Blue 7 Orange 5
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Blue– the inning started slowly as Terry retired Don a flyball to right and Henry on a grounder to short. Raul’s two-out single extended the inning and brought up Tim for the 3rd time. He did not waste the at bat as he blasted another towering drive to right for his 2nd home run of the game to give Blue a four-run lead. Mike reverted back to form with a sharp single to right but Donnie was retired on a ground ball to 3B to close out the frame.
Orange– chasing four runs, Orange was unable to generate any offense in the open inning. Terry led off with a ground out to short. Jim drilled a single to left center but was forced out on Bubba’s grounder to 3B. Rick hit another groundball to 3B and Tim fired to 2B ahead of the runner to get the force and secure Blue’s 4th win of the session.
Final Score: Blue 9 Orange 5
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Green (5-2-0) vs. Gray (4-5-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Green-Paul Rubin opened the late game with an infield single. Jack Spellman drilled a base hit to right center to move Paul to 3B. I scored on Luis Sanchez’ sharp single to right center for the 1st run. Dean Hector grounded into a 6U 6-3 double play started by mercenary Tim Coles (returning to the Gray squad for the first time since he was moved to the Blue team). Denny Malloy drew a walk, and Tom Kelm ripped a line drive single over 3B to bring in the 2nd run. William Powell grounded into a fielder’s choice grounder to retire the side. 2nd– Mickey Poole slapped a single up the middle to open the 2nd inning. Green picked up three players from the bucket (Patrick Schmidt, Terry Thompson and Morris Carter) as they were missing some of the thump in their lineup with Ken Mockler and Tom Brownfield out r today’s game. Patrick Schmidt grounded into a fielder’s choice out for the 1st out. Terry was retired on a pop out to short and Morris went down looking to complete the scoreless 2nd inning.
Gray- P Luis Sanchez looked unhittable in the early going as he shut down the potent Gray lineup over the first two innings. Phil Stanch led off with a grounder back to the mound for the 1st out. Mike Carroll grounded out to short as Jack Spellman’s strong throw beat Mike to the bag for the 2nd out. Peter Atkins was retired on a flyball to center to end the frame. 2nd– Gary Coyle bounced out to 2B and Ray Pilgrim grounded out to short to start the 2nd. Lynn Simpson laced a single to right center for Gray’s first base runner. Luis recovered and got Jeff to ground out to 3B as Mickey completed the throw to 2B to get the inning force play.
End of 2nd Score: Green 2 Gray 0
Third Inning Recap:
Green- Paul took a walk to open the 3rd inning. Jack and Luis followed with back-to-back hits to bring in the 1st run of the inning. Dean singled to left center to drive in Jack with the 2nd run. Denny coaxed his 2nd walk of the game off Ray to load the bases. Tom grounded sharply up the middle, but Tim was well positioned to field the ball, step of the bag and fire to 1B to complete the 6U 6-3 double play. William lined a single down the left field line to bring in the 4th run of the inning. Mickey picked up his 2nd hit in as many trips to the plate. Patrick lined a shot to center and Peter made an unbelievable acrobatic catch to rob him of a hit and prevent at least one run from scoring.
Gray- Larry Coons led off the 3rd with a catchable flyball to left but some miscommunication between Terry and Paul resulted in the ball falling in for a double. Margarito Canava flew out to left center for the 1st out. Tim Coles, reunited with his old Gray running mates, lashed a double to right center that narrowly evaded Denny for the 2nd out as the 1st run scored. Jim Foelker (other mercenary) stayed hot with a line single to center to drive in the 2nd run. Luis was able to get Phil and Mike to hit into fielder’s choice outs to end the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Green 6 Gray 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Green- Terry led off the 4th with a double to center field. Morris went down swinging for the 1st out. Paul grounded to short but Tim, thinking a force was in play, looked to 2nd but Terry wasn’t moving. I reached first without any throw being attempted to get another infield hit. Jack picked up his 3rd hit in as many at bats to load the bases. Luis hit a deep flyball to Phil in right center that brought in the runner from 3B. Dean bounced out to end the inning.
Gray- Peter popped out to short to lead off the 4th inning. Gary and Ray delivered back-to-back singles to start a rally for Gray. Lynn singled to load the bases. Jeff grounded to Tom at 1B and he threw to 2B to get the force for the 2nd out as Gary scampered home from 3B. Larry came through with a huge hit as his single to left drove in the 2nd run. Margarito was retired on a pop fly to short to end the frame.
End of 4th Score: Green 7 Gray 4
Fifth Inning Recap:
Green- Denny lined a single up the middle to open the inning. Tom followed with a smoking line drive to center. Peter read the ball perfectly and made yet another amazing catch as he caught the ball inches from the turf and did a full somersault to put the icing on the cake. Peter’s catch robbed Tom of a sure hit and likely extra bases if the ball got past him. William walked and Mickey completed his perfect 3-3 day at the plate to drive in Denny. Patrick lined out to right center for the 2nd out. William thinking the ball was in for a hit took off on the swing and was easily throw out at 2B to complete the inning ending twin killing.
Gray- the game took a dramatic shift in the bottom half of the 5th. Luis retired Tim on a flyball to right center as Patrick made a nice running catch to secure the 1st out. Jim F. lined out to left for the 2nd out. Gray mounted a two-out rally as Phil and Mike reached on back-to-back singles. Peter hit a flyball to right center and Patrick looked like he was in position to make an inning ending catch. However, he was unable to complete the catch and Peter reached on an RBI double. Gary drove in the 2nd run with a single to right center. Ray mashed a flyball to deep right center for a two-run double and Gray was off and running. Lynn slapped a single to right to wrap up the five-run inning as Gray took the lead for the first time in this contest.
End of 5th Score: Gray 9 Green 8
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Green– only down by a run, Green was looking to grab the lead and play add on to put pressure on Gray. Terry led off the buffet with a sharp single to left. Morris came through with his 1st hit of the game as he singled to right to out runners on 1B and 2B with nobody out. Paul grounded sharply to 3B, but Gary gloved the ball and got the force at 3B for the 1st out. Jack completed a perfect 4-4 day at the plate with a single to load the bases. Luis grounded one up the middle and Tim fielded the ball, stepped on 2B and completed the game ending 6U 6-3 double play as his throw to 1B beat Luis by less than a step. Great comeback wain for Gray and a heart-breaking loss for the session leading Greenies….
Final Score: Gray 9 Green 8
Current Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 2nd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Green |
5 |
3 |
0 |
0.625 |
102 |
76 |
26 |
– |
|
Red |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0.500 |
75 |
69 |
6 |
1.00 |
|
Gray |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0.500 |
109 |
112 |
-3 |
1.00 |
|
Orange |
4 |
5 |
0 |
0.444 |
90 |
85 |
5 |
1.50 |
|
Blue |
4 |
5 |
0 |
0.444 |
74 |
108 |
-34 |
1.50 |
Gray’s dramatic win over Green tightened up the overall race for the 2nd session crown. Only one and a half games separate the five teams as it appears competitive balance has been reached!
Season-to-date Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 Season to-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
15 |
7 |
0 |
0.682 |
268 |
211 |
57 |
– |
|
Green |
11 |
6 |
0 |
0.647 |
220 |
166 |
54 |
1.50 |
|
Orange |
9 |
9 |
0 |
0.500 |
194 |
175 |
19 |
4.00 |
|
Blue |
7 |
11 |
0 |
0.389 |
134 |
220 |
-86 |
6.00 |
|
Red |
4 |
13 |
0 |
0.235 |
162 |
206 |
-44 |
8.50 |
Gray reasserted their place atop the standings with the win over Green as they increased their lead to 1.5 games.
Next Games: Thursday June 11, 2026
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Red (4-4-0) vs. Green (5-3-0)
Will Green and Red finally meet up as scheduling issues and rainouts have prevented these teams from going head-to-head this session. Top spot in the 2nd session is at stake in this one.
Orange has umpiring duties for this one.
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Orange (4-5-0) vs. Gray (5-5-0)
Will Gray win back-to-back games or can Orange get some reinforcements and get back to .500 for the session? All will be revealed on Thursday.
Red will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Blue will have a bye on Thursday so their players (along with the unassigned players) will have priority in the draw.