Game Day Gazette
May 12, 2025
Hope everyone enjoyed the cool morning air on Monday as the first heat wave of the summer is heading to central Texas, and temperatures are supposed to spike at 106 degrees on Wednesday! The good news is they will drop back to a balmy 97 degrees on Thursday. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids on Wednesday to stay hydrated.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Braves (1-2-0) vs. Keystones (2-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Braves– having returning starters Bobby Miller, Tom Brownfield, Tom Kelm and Doc Hobar back in the lineup recharged the Braves after last week’s listless performance against the Senators. Leadoff hitter, Doc Hobar, opened the game with a groundout to 2B. Bobby Miller followed with a base hit to right field. Paul Rubin fouled out for the 2nd out. Tom Brownfield ripped a single to advance Bobby to 3B. Tom Kelm drove a ball to left center that John Flowers could not reach, and it skipped past him for a two-run triple. 2nd– Joe Dayoc opened the 2nd with a line single to left. Dave Berra singled to put runners on 1B and 2B. Brian Rider bounced into a 6-4-3 double play as Joe moved to 3B. Jim Foleker lined a shot to left to score Joe with the 1st run of the inning. Peter Atkins (lone mercenary for the Braves) cracked an RBI double to score Jim with the 2nd run before Doc flew out to John to end the inning.
Keystones- missing three of their key players (Ken Brown, Mike Hill and Patrick Schmidt) the Keystones struggled at the plate throughout this game. John Flowers opened the game by flying out to Peter in right center. Tommy DeLeon slapped a single to right for the Keystone’s first hit. Mike Mordecai ground into a fielder’s choice at 2B for the 2nd out. Bobby Hawthorne ripped a single past the shortstop, but P Tom Kelm was able to retire Robby Vickery to close out the scoreless 1st inning. 2nd– Barry McRee lined out to Tom K. for the 1st out. Margarito Canava singled but was forced out at 2B on Johnny Neville’s grounder to SS. Morris Carter fouled out to end the scoreless 2nd inning for the Keystones.
End of 2nd Score: Braves 4 Keystones 0
Third Inning Recap:
Braves– Bobby doubled to open the frame. Paul walked and both runners scored on Tom B/’s booming drive to right center. Tom K. singled to drive in the pinch runner for the 3rd run. Lynn Simpson bounced out to the pitcher for the 1st out. Joe singled and Dave followed with an RBI single to drive in the 4th run of the inning. Brian’s hit loaded the bases, and Jim stroked a double to left to score Dave with the 5th run of the frame.
Keystones- Donnie Janac led off the 3rd with a ground single to left. Ray Pilgrim bounced into a fielder’s choice out at 2B for the inning’s first out. John flew out to Dave in RF for the 2nd out and Tommy popped out to short to retire the side.
End of 3rd Score: Braves 9 Keystones 0
Fourth Inning Recap:
Braves- Peter led off the inning with a well-struck ball to left center for a triple. Doc ground out to short for the 1st out of the frame. Bobby doubled down the 3B line to drive in Peter for the Braves 1st run. Paul had an infield single on a ball to right center that Bobby cut off on a nice stop. Tom B. flew out to deep center, allowing both runners to advance. Tom K. continued his clutch hitting with a sharp single through the 5/6 hole to score both runners. Lynn singled but Joe popped out to end the inning.
Keystones- Mike M. fouled out leading off the inning. Bobby lined a shot to 3B that would have been a double, but Tom B. disproved the old adage that size does matter and snagged the ball for the 2nd out. The next three batters (Robby, Barry and Margarito) all reached base as the Keystones mounted their biggest threat of the night, but Tom K. was able to coax Johnny into hitting into an inning ending fielder’s choice to retire the side and keep the shutout intact.
End of 4th Score: Braves 12 Keystones 0
Fifth Inning Recap:
Braves– Dave led off with a single and moved to 3B on Brain’s single. Jim bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Peter hit a sacrifice fly to deep center to score the runner from 3B. Jim’s aggressive baserunning paid off as he scored all of the way from 1B with the help of an overthrow at 3B to score the 2nd run. Doc was robbed of a hit on a nice running catch by John in CF to retire the side.
Keystones- Mike led off the inning with a single and moved to 3B on Bobby’s ground ball to short. Paul made a decent backhand stop on the ball but his off-balance throw to 2B to get the force sailed into right field giving Bobby a double. Robby struck out but Barry came through with a single to break up the shutout and give the Keystones their 1st run of the game. Tom retired the next two batters to end the inning.
End of 5th Score: Braves 14 Keystones 1
Sixth Inning Recap:
At this point, with the Keystones trailing by more than 10 runs, the teams flip-flopped.
Keystones- apparently, I zoned out during the Keystones last at-bat and all I can recall is Morris fouling out to start the inning and Tom B. executing a 5U 5-3 double play to end the game. Not sure who hit the ball, but does it really matter….
Final Score: Braves 14 Keystones 1
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Pioneers (2-1-0) vs. Senators (1-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Pioneers- Scott ended his season-long hitting streak as the Pioneers leadoff man as he ground out to 1B for the 1st out. Jack Adams ripped a drive up the middle for a triple and scored on Mike Carroll’s single to right. Butch Barber followed with a beautifully struck drive to right center for a two-run inside the park homer. Larry King lined out to short for the 2nd out. Mickey Poole singled to extend the inning, but Sal fouled out to retire the side. 2nd– Bubba Barnett popped out to 1B to open the inning. Bobby Miller flew out to CF on a nice catch by John Flowers. Tom Kelm singled but Lucky Hoffman bounced out to the pitcher for the final out of the inning.
Senators-Terry Thompson led off with a single but was forced out at 2B on Greg’s fielder’s choice groundout. Terry Watts drew a walk but was forced out at 2B on Raul DeLeon’s grounder to 2B. Curt Ashmos flew out to CF to end the scoreless 1st inning for the Senators. ng off the game. 2nd-Will Scheerer opened the 2nd with a groundout to 2B. Jerry Mylius singled just ahead of Henry Flores’ lineout to SS. Roger Geras’ groundball to 1B got past Sal Lopez for a single. Peter Atkins (mercenary) laced a double to left center to score two runs. John Flowers (mercenary) singled to drive in Peter with the 3rd run.
End of 2nd Score: Pioneers 3 Senators 3
Third Inning Recap:
Pioneers– Scott led off the 3rd with a sharp single to right center. Jack followed with a single down the left field line. Mike C. hit a hard grounder to 1B, and Greg made a strong throw to 2B to get the force for the 1st out. Butch singled to bring in Scott with the 1st run. Larry ‘s single loaded the bases for Mickey. He came through with a clutch hit, driving a ball up the middle to bring in two more runs. Raul retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Senators– tallied two runs in what could have been a much bigger inning to keep the game close. Greg led off with a single and moved to 3B on Terry W.’s double down the right field line. Raul’s single brought in both runners. Curt followed with another single to put runners on 1B and 2B. Will popped up a ball along the 1B line that looked catchable but dropped in. P Sal made a strong defensive play to whirl around and whip a throw to 3B to get the force and the 1st out of the inning. The next batter, Terry W., hit a comebacker and Sal again went to 3B for the force and the 2nd out. Henry singles to load the bases but Roger grounded out to 1B to end the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Pioneers 6 Senators 5
Fourth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- Bobby singled to start the inning and moved to 3B on a flyball by Tom K. Henry almost made a great catch on but ultimately bobbled and could not hold on to. Lucky fouled out and Scott bounced out to the pitcher for the 2nd out as Bobby crossed the plate with the 1st run. Jack followed with an RBI hit up the middle to drive in the 2nd run. Mike C. lined out to P Raul for the final out.
Senators– bounced back with a big five-run inning to take the lead. Peter led off the inning with a double to right center and scored on John’s hit to right. Terry T. and Greg had back-to-back singles to load the bases. Terry W. came up big with a two-RBI single to right. Raul’s single knocked in the 4th run and Curt finished off the inning with an RBI single to score Terry
End of 4th Score: Senators 10 Pioneers 8
Fifth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- came back with their own five-run inning to reclaim the lead. Butch opened the frame with a line single to right. Larry fouled out but the next five batters (Mickey, Sal, Bubba, Bobby and Tom K.) all had singles leading to a five-run outburst and a three-run lead for the Pioneers.
Senators– see saw game as the teams continued to battle and the lead went back and forth. The Senators put up two runs in the 5th to close the gap to a single run. Singles by Will, Jerry and Henry loaded the bases with no one out. Roger hit a line shot over 2B for an apparent RBI single, but umpire Johnny Neville had called time out after being struck by a ball on the previous play, so the hit did not count. Roger then bounced out to P Sal who threw home for the force and the 1st out. Peter singled to drive in two more runs and get the Senators within one run of the lead. John lined a shot to 2B and Tom K. ranged to his right to make the catch and fired the throw to 1B to get Peter for the double play to end the frame.
End of 5th Score: Pioneers 13 Senators 12
Sixth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- added two more runs to extend their lead to three. After Lucky fouled out, Scott launched a majestic drive down the right field line that would have been an easy inside the park homerun, but he was held at 2B due to a nagging injury. Jack singled to drive in Scott’s pinch runner with the 1st run. Mike grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Butch then drilled a ball over Henry’s head for a triple to score Mike. Larry lined out to the pitcher to retire the side.
Senators– needed three runs to tie the game but could not get anything started in their final at bat. Terry T. flew out to medium deep CF for the 1st out. Greg and Terry W. singled to give some hope to the Senator’s cause, but Raul was retired on a nice catch by Scott on a flyball to deep right center. The game ended with Curt grounding out to 2B as the Pioneers took the lead in the Session #2 standings.
Final Score: Pioneers 15 Senators 12
2nd Session Standings:
By virtue of their win over the Senators, the Pioneers moved their record to 3-1-0 and took over sole possession of first place in the Session #2 standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 2nd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Pioneers |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0.750 |
54 |
47 |
7 |
– |
|
Braves |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
41 |
31 |
10 |
1.00 |
|
Sultans |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
51 |
48 |
3 |
0.50 |
|
Keystones |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
39 |
49 |
-10 |
1.00 |
|
Senators |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0.250 |
50 |
60 |
-10 |
2.00 |
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
11 |
5 |
0 |
0.688 |
212 |
155 |
57 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
9 |
7 |
0 |
0.563 |
185 |
191 |
-6 |
2.00 |
|
Keystones |
7 |
9 |
0 |
0.438 |
194 |
204 |
-10 |
4.00 |
|
Senators |
7 |
9 |
0 |
0.438 |
209 |
218 |
-9 |
4.00 |
|
Sultans |
6 |
10 |
0 |
0.375 |
193 |
225 |
-32 |
4.50 |
The Braves continue to lead in the season long standings, but the Pioneers are only two games behind and playing their best ball of the season.
Next Games: Thursday May 15, 2025
The race remains tightly contested and any one of the five teams has a chance to emerge as the Session #2 champs based on the action thus far in the session. Stay tuned.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. (H) Pioneers (3-1-0) vs. (V) Keystones (2-2-0)
Game 2 9:30 a.m. (H) Braves (2-2-0) vs. (V) Sultans (2-2-0)
The Senators will have a bye on Thursday, and their players will have priority in the draw.
Paul Rubin