Game Day Gazette
March 23, 2026
Spring break is over and it’s time to get back to the action. Great turnout today due in part to the smell of outdoor grilling wafting over the field as Chef Bruce orchestrated yet another wonderful Bobby Fund cookout. The burgers, dogs and desserts were awesome with a new addition, jambalaya, rounding out a gastronomic feast (good eats all around!). Thanks to Bruce and Mrs. Bruce for their efforts to raise money for a cause that is near and dear to all of us. Well done!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Gray (3-1-0) vs. Green (2-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Gray-looking for revenge after falling to Green last week, Gray came out swinging. With Scott Wright out of the lineup, Phil Stanch stepped into the leadoff role and grounded back to the pitcher to open the game. Peter Atkins doubled and Gary Coyle singled to put runners on 2B and 3B. Tim Coles ripped a drive to right center for a triple to bring in two runs. Ray Pilgrim followed with an RBI single through the 5/6 hole and Gray was quickly up by three runs. P Tom Kelm buckled down and retired two of the next three batters to end the inning. 2nd– Tom walked David Safely to open the 2nd and that led to a big inning for Gray. Mercenary Terry Thompson continued to astound with his newfound power as he drove a ball over Denny Malloy’s head in left for a run scoring triple. Daniel Baladez followed with a single to score Terry. Phil bounced into a fielder’s choice for the first out. Peter drove a liner to CF and the ball skipped on the wet grass and got past John Flowers for a two run inside the park home run. Gary singled but was left stranded as Tom retired Tim on a flyball to left field (Tim’s first out of the 2026 season) and Ray grounded into an inning ending force out.
Green– could not have asked for a better way to start a game. Five batters up, five runs with two home runs leading the way! Paul Rubin led off with a single to left center. Jack Spellman drove a ball down the right field line that skipped past the outfielder and rolled to the fence as Jack sped around the bases for a two-run inside the park home run. Ken Mockler reached on a hard grounder to 3B that Gary was unable to make a play on. Dean Hector smacked a double to left to put two runners in scoring position. Tom Brownfield continued to swing a hot bat as he smoked a drive to right field. Both runners scored easily, the only question was whether Tom could circle the bases to get that elusive inside the park homer. He never stopped running and the 3B coach waved him in as he crossed the base with an inning ending three-run shot. 2nd– Denny Malloy opened the inning with a sharp single but was forced out at 2B on Tom Kelm’s grounder to short. Luis Sanchez slapped a single up the middle to put runners on 1B and 2B. P Ray Pilgrim shut down Green, getting Rip Wright and William Powell on fielder’s choice groundouts to shortstop Tim Coles to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Gray 7 Green 5
Third Inning Recap:
Gray- very quick inning as Tom retired the side in order getting Lynn Simpson on a pop out to 3B, Larry Coons on a grounder to short and Margarito on a pop out to short.
Green- was unable to take advantage of Gray’s scoreless 3rd inning. Mercenary John Flowers grounded out to 2B to lead off the inning. Fellow mercenary, Jim Foelker, followed with a line single to left. Paul drilled a line drive just out of Ray’s reach for a single to CF and things were looking good for the Greenies. Jack Spellman hit a flyball to right center for the 2nd out. The relay coming from the outfield was initially mishandled by 2B Terry Thompson, so I took off for 2B. Terry made a strong throw to SS Tim Coles, but I beat the throw by a half-step. Unfortunately, the umpire, Larry King, did not see it that way and I was called out for an inning ending double play. Larry is one of the best umpires we have in our league and a great guy, but he later admitted he might have missed this one. We’ll never know how the inning might have turned out but hey, that’s softball!
End of 3rd Score: Gray 7 Green 5
Fourth Inning Recap:
Gray– Tom retired the first two batters, getting David S. on a grounder to short and Terry T. on a wicked liner to short (nice catch by Jack Spellman). Daniel B. started a two-out rally with a single to left. Phil slapped a single to right and Gray was off and running. Peter smacked his third extra base hit of the game to drive in the first run. Gary knocked in Phil with a sharply hit ground single to left. Tim followed with a majestic drive to right field that gapped the fielder’s and ended with a two-run triple. Ray flew out to CF to end the threat after Gray put up a four spot to extend their lead to six runs.
Green– Ken led off the inning with a single but was erased as Tom B. grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Tom was batting after Ken as Dean had to leave the game after pulling a muscle running to 1B in the prior inning. Denny ripped a double to right center to start a rally for Green. He scored on Tom Kelm’s single with Jim F. running from the plate. Luis singled and somehow Jim scored on the play (guessing there were some overthrows involved in the play). Rip hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
End of 4th Score: Gray 11 Green 7
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Gray- not a lot of offense in the buffet. Tom K. shut down Gray, holding them to a single hit by Margarito to keep the lead at four runs.
Green– after putting up five runs in the 1st, Green was only able to tally two more runs over the next three frames (not a winning recipe for slow-pitch softball). William led off the buffet by flying out to left. John F. bounced out to short for the 2nd out. Jim F. made solid contact but his flyball to center was easily caught by Peter to end the ballgame.
Final Score: Gray 11Green 7
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Blue (1-3-0) vs. Red (0-4-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Blue– with the home team struggling to get players in position to start the game, Terry Watts was pressed into duty at 2B. This “move” worked out well for Red as the first two batters (Don Roets and Mike Hill) were both retired on liners to 2B. In an unrelated “move” starting pitcher Jack Kelly only pitched to one batter before realizing he had left his protective gear (helmet) in the car. Sal Lopez replaced him on the mound for the remainder of the contest. Donnie Janac ended the 1st by grounding out to Ken Brown. 2nd– Alex Valles picked up Blue’s first hit with a single to left center. Henry Flores reached on an infield hit to get the inning off to a promising start. Leon Cikota grounded to Mike Mordecai at 3B. Mike ran the runner from 2B back to the bag, tagged him out and flipped to 2B to complete the 5U 5-4 double play. Tommy DeLeon laced a single to right center, but Chris Hurst grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. Fun fact, this is the third straight game that Blue has failed to score in the first two innings!
Red-wasted no time in getting on the board as Butch Barber and Sal Lopez opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Ken Brown was retired on a fielder’s choice groundout to short. Terry Watts lined a single to right center to drive in the first run of the game. Bobby Hawthorne, back from a relaxing spring break holiday, lined an RBI single to left field. Jack Kelly kept the hit parade going with a line single up the middle to bring in the 4th run. Mickey Poole single loaded the bases and Mike Mordecai finished off the five-run 1st inning with a sharp single to CF. 2nd– Larry King led off the 2nd with a single to right field. Barry McRee bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Morris Carter went down looking and mercenary, Patrick Schmidt, single to center to keep the inning alive. The latest new guy to join the league, Nick Roberts, had the misfortune of facing one of the best pitchers (Tommy DeLeon) is his debut and he was no match for Tommy’s tantalizing high ball pitch and went down swinging to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Red 5 Blue 0
Third Inning Recap:
Blue- having gotten the first two innings out of the way, Blue broke loose and managed to put up three runs to make this a ballgame. Singles by Jeff Broussard, Dave Berra and Jim Maloy loaded the bases. Terry Thompson delivered a sacrifice fly on a ball to deep center to drive in Blue’s first run of the day. Don reached on an infield single to load the bases again and Mike Hill smacked a single to center to drive in two more runs. P Sal Lopez limited the damage by getting Donnie and Alex to foul out to retire the side.
Red– Butch was retired on a grounder to 2B to lead off the 3rd. Sal slashed a single to left to start the action for Red. Ken lined a double to left to put both runners in scoring position. Terry W. popped a ball to short right center and Sal was able to score from 3B to give Terry an RBI on the “sacrifice” fly. Bobby followed with a singled just inside the 3B bag to drive in the 2nd run before Mickey hit into a fielder’s choice to close out the frame.
End of 3rd Score: Red 7 Blue 3
Fourth Inning Recap:
Blue-P Sal Lopez retired the first two batters and appeared to be on his way to an easy inning, but Blue had other ideas as the next seven men reached base in route to a big five -run inning. Tommy and Chris had back-to-back singles to start the rally. Jeff banged out a hit to load the bases. Jim Maloy crushed a ball to deep left center for a grand slam home run to tie the ball game. There was some confusion at this point as home plate umpire Tom Kelm indicated the inning was over thinking the 5th run had scored. The official scorer (me) and the unofficial scorer (Johnny Neville) argued that it was only four runs. Cooler heads prevailed and the inning resumed with two outs and four runs in. Dave singled and Terry walked. Don laced a single to right center to drive in Dave with the legitimate 5th run.
Red– now trailing for the first time in the game, failed to launch any offensive threat in the scoreless 4th inning. Mike M. singled leading off the inning but was forced out at 2B on Larry’s grounder to short. Barry flew out to center for the 2nd out. Morris hit a hard grounder to short that bounced off Mike’s shin and rolled right to Jeff at 2B for the inning ending force.
End of 4th Score: Blue 8 Red 7
Fifth Inning Recap:
Blue– seized control of this one with their 2nd five-run inning of the game. They pounded out eight hits including seven singles and a double by Henry Flores in putting up five more runs. Mike and Donnie got things rolling with back-to- back hits. Alex drove in the first run. Henry “doubled “on what should have been a routine force at 2B, but the overthrow went to the right field line allowing Donnie to score. Leon and Tommy contributed back-to-back run scoring singles to push across the 3rd and 4th runs. Chris’ single loaded the bases, and Jeff put a bow on the five-run inning with a line drive single to center.
Red– failed to get on the scoreboard in the 5th as Tommy struck out two batters and only allowed a single to Patrick in the scoreless inning.
End of 5th Score: Blue 13 Red 7
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Blue– extended their lead to eight runs as they added two more runs in the buffet. Jim M. finished off a perfect 3-3 day at the plate with a leadoff single. He was forced out at 2B on Dave’s grounder to short. Terry ripped a single to left but Don was retired on a liner to short. Mike H. singled to right center to drive in both runners, but he was called out trying to stretch the hit for the final out.
Red– chasing eight runs, Red managed to put up three runs to make this look a little closer. Ken B. led off with a drive to right that skipped past the right fielder allowing Ken to cruise around the bases for a leadoff home run. The next three batters (Terry W., Bobby and Jack) all reached on singles to load the bases. Mickey grounded into a 6-4-3 double play with the runner scoring from 3B. Mike M. singled to drive in the 3rd run but Larry lined out to 2B to end the ballgame.
Final Score: Blue 15 Red 10
Session 1 Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 1st Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0.833 |
91 |
53 |
38 |
– |
|
Orange |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0.750 |
55 |
45 |
10 |
1.00 |
|
Green |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
48 |
42 |
6 |
2.00 |
|
Blue |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0.400 |
46 |
66 |
-21 |
2.50 |
|
Red |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0.000 |
38 |
72 |
-33 |
4.50 |
Next Games: Thursday March 26, 2026
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Gray (5-1-0) vs. Orange (3-1-0)
The two league leaders square off in the early game as Gray currently hold a slim one game lead over Orange.
Blue has umpiring duties for this one
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Blue (2-3-0) vs. Green (2-2-0)
This is already the 3rd meeting between these two teams and the season series is split thus far. Let’s see which team can take the runner match and remain in the race for the session crown.
Gray will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Red will have a bye on Thursday so their players (along with the unassigned players) will have priority in the draw.
Have a great rest of the week and see you on Thursday.
Paul