Game Day Gazette
May 5, 2025
Nice to be back after being out last week trying to play through the constant rain up in Grapevine for the SSUSA Texas state tournament. Congrats to the Austin Wizards for taking the championship for the 65 AA group. Their team includes C league players Alex Valles, Raul DeLeon and Henry Flores. Way to go, guys!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Sultans (1-1-0) vs. Pioneers (1-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Sultans– opened the game with four consecutive hits that produced three runs. Phil Stanch led off with a single and Donnie Janac followed with a line single up the middle. Peter Atkins doubled on a short fly to right to score Phil with the Sultans 1st run. Ray Pilgrim doubled to left center, scoring Donnie and Peter to stake the Sultans to an early three-run lead. P Sal Lopez righted the ship and retired the next three batters (Chris Hurst, Don Roets and Jeff Broussard) to limit any further scoring. 2nd– Adam Gordon singled leading off the 2nd and the next six batters all reached base as the Sultans put up five runs in the inning. Chris H. singled and Lucky Hoffman walked to load the bases. Jack Kelly lifted a flyball to shallow right field for an RBI single. Phil ripped a hit to right center to drive in the 2nd run. Donnie drove in two with his line single to center and Peter completed the scoring with an RBI single to score Phil with the 5th run of the frame.
Pioneers- answered back with four runs in the 1st. Scott Wright singled to start the inning and moved to 2B on Jack Adams base hit. Mike Carrroll lined a single to right scoring Scott with the Pioneers 1st run. Butch Barber ground into a fielder’s choice out to the right-side allowing Jack to come home with the 2nd run. Larry King’s infield hit loaded the bases. Mickey Poole and Sal Lopez followed with back-to-back run scoring singles to close the Sultan’s lead to four runs. Jack Kelly was able to retire Bubba Barnett and Art Monzingo to prevent any further scoring. 2nd– Pioneers drew the only two mercenaries (Paul Rubin and Raul DeLeon) for the game and Paul opened the 2nd with a single to left center. Raul grounded to the pitcher for the 1st out of the inning. Scott popped out to 2B and Jack flew out to center as the Pioneers failed to score in the 2nd inning.
End of 2nd Score: Sultans 8 Pioneers 4
Third Inning Recap:
Sultans– Ray ripped a single up the middle leading off the 3rd. Chris V. grounded into a fielder’s choice at 2B for the 1st out. Don singled to put runners on 1B and 2B. Jeff lined out to P Sal Lopez and Don was caught off 1B and called out when he ran into Larry King at IB for an inning ending double play.
Pioneers- stormed back with a five-run inning to take their 1st lead of the day. Mike led off with a single and moved to 2B on Butch’s single. Larry hit a low line-drive to Adam at SS for the 1st out. Unfortunately, Mike ventured a little too far off 2B and could not get back ahead of Adam’s throw to avoid the double play. Mickey and Sal went back-to-back again with base hits to score Butch for the 1st run. Bubba’s single loaded the bases and Art knocked in the 2nd run with a single to right. Paul doubled to bring in two more runs. Raul completed the scoring with a sharp single to bring in Art with the 5th run of the inning. run.
End of 3rd Score: Pioneers 9 Sultans 8
Sultans- responded with their won five run inning to grab a 13-9 lead. Adam flew out to CF to open the frame, but the next six Sultan batters reached base. Chris H. doubled and moved to 3B on Lucky’s hit. Jack singled to drive in the 1st run. Phil’s single drove in Lucky and Donnie followed with a double to score two more runs. Peter finished off the inning with a single scoring Donnie with the 5th run.
Pioneers- Jack Kelly shut down the “old-timers” without a run in the 4th. Scott ground out to IB to open the inning and Jack popped out to 3B for the 2nd out. Mike and Butch had back-to-back singles, but Larry lined out to 3B to end the inning.
End of 4th Score: Sultans 13 Pioneers 9
Fifth Inning Recap:
Sultans- continuing an interesting trend of five run innings flowed by shutout innings, the Sultans failed to score in the 5th. Ray led off with a single and moved to 2B on Chris V.’s base hit. Don ground into a 5U 5-4 double play started by Raul at 3B and there were quickly two outs in the inning. Jeff singled to right, but Adam flew out to left on a nice running catch by Art to end the inning.
Pioneers- put up four runs to knot the score at 13-13 after five innings. Three consecutive hits by Mickey, Sal and Bubba loaded the bases. Art hit into a fielder’s choice ground out to 3B but Mickey was able to beat the throw home to avoid the double play. Paul singled to drive in Bubba for the 2nd run but was forced out on Raul’s grounder to SS. Scott followed with drive to deep right center for a two-run triple to tie the score after five.
End of 5th Score: Sultans 13 Pioneers 13
Sixth Inning Recap:
Sultans- lengthy back and forth game and the buffet was no different. The Sultans put up six runs to grab the lead and put pressure on the Pioneers to respond. Chris H. and Lucky opened the inning with back-to-back singles and Jack walked to load the bases. The top of the Sultans lineup took it from there. The fearsome foursome of Phil, Donnie, Peter and Ray went a combined 16 for 16 on the day. Phil singled to drive in two runs and Donnie singled to bring in the 3rd. Peter crushed a ball to left for a two-run triple and Ray capped the scoring with a single to bring in Peter and give the Sultans a six-run lead. Sal did manage to retire the next three batters and limit the damage which proved to be critical in the bottom half of the inning.
Pioneers- chasing six runs, Mike completed his perfect 4-4 day at the plate with a leadoff single. Butch and Larry singled to load the bases. Mickey followed with a two-run single to get the rally going. Sal hit into a fielder’s choice at 3B for the 1st out of the inning, Bubba singled to drive in the 3rd run. Art lined a hit down the right field line to score two more runs to bring the Pioneers within a run of the lead. Paul singled to right to move Art to 2B. Raul followed with the biggest hit of the game as he lined a ball to right center for a walk-off double scoring both Art and Paul to give the Pioneers a thrilling 20-19 victory!
Final Score: Pioneers 20 Sultans 19
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Keystones (1-0-0) vs. Senators (0-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Keystones- Mike Hill doubled to center leading off the game and scored on John Flowers hit to right. Bobby Hawthorne flew out to left for the 1st out. Patrick Schmidt then ground out to the pitcher with John advancing to 2B. He later scored on Tommy DeLeon’s hit to left field as the Keystones settled for two runs in the 1st. 2nd– P Raul DeLeon retired Mike Mordecai on a groundball to SS to open the 2nd. Alex Valles walked and singles by Robby Vickery and Barry McRee loaded the bases. Johnny Neville drove in the 1st run of the inning on a groundball to 1B. Morris Carter lined a shot up the middle to bring Robby home with the 2nd run. Mike H. drilled a shot to right center for a two-run triple before John was retired for the final out of the inning.
Senators-came out slugging as the first five batters reached in route to a five-run 1st inning. Terry Thompson singled in the leadoff spot and Terry Watts followed with a line shot to LF. Raul DeLeon singled to drive in Terry T. with the 1st run. Henry Flores and Greg Lloyd had back-to-back RBI singles for the 2nd and 3rd runs. Jerry Mylius lined out to 2B for the 1st out. Will Scheerer drew a walk and Rick Parker hit into a fielder’s choice out at 3B as the 4th run came across. Mercenary Jack Adams then singled to drive in Will for the 5th run of the frame. 2nd– Ray Pilgrim (mercenary) opened the 2nd with a shot up the middle that got past John in center (losing a shoe in the process!) for a leadoff triple. Scott Wright (3rd mercenary) singled to drive in Ray with the 1st run of the inning. Terry T. singled but Terry W. popped out to SS for the 1st out. Raul drove a ball that hit midway up the center field fence for a two-run double. Henry’s single moved him to 3B and both runners scored on Greg’s single to give the Senators their 2nd five run inning and an early lead.
End of 2nd Score: Senators 10 Keystones 6
Third Inning Recap:
Keystones– the inning started on a promising note as Bobby smoked a ball down the 3B line for a leadoff double. Patrick followed with a flyball to Terry W. for the 1st out. Bobby got too far off 2B and was doubled off on a nice relay from Terry to Scott at 2b. Tommy singled but Margarito Canava lined out to the pitcher to retire the side.
Senators– were able to scratch out a single run on a hit by Will and an RBI double from Jack to extend their lead.
End of 3rd Score: Senators 11 Keystones 6
Fourth Inning Recap:
Keystones- put up three runs in the 4th to narrow the Senators lead to two runs. Mike M. led off with a single but was forced out at 2B on Alex’s grounder to short. Robby walked and Barry singled to load the bases. Johnny drove in the 1st run on a line drive that just got over Scott’s outstretched glove at 2B (White Men Can’t Jump Part Deux?). Morris drove in two runs with a base hit over 2B before Raul was able to retire Mike H. and John to keep the lead at two runs.
Senators– Terry T. led off the 4th with his 3rd hot of the dat. Terry W. then ground into a 6-4-3 double play for the first wo outs of the frame. Raul made the final out on a deep fly to center field to end the scoreless inning.
End of 4th Score: Senators 11 Keystones 9
Fifth Inning Recap:
Keystones- grabbed the lead with a five-run outburst in the 5th. Bobby and Patrick opened the inning with back-to-back doubles. After Tommy lined out to 2B for the 1st out, Margarito smacked a flyball over Jerry’s head for a two-run triple. Mike M. singled to score Margarito. Alex followed with a double to left to put runners on 2B and 3B. Robby singled to bring in both runners and complete the Keystones five-run inning.
Senators- Tommy was able to record his 2nd consecutive shutout inning despite three hits in the frame by the Senators. Henry lined out to short to open the inning and Greg popped out to 2B for the 2nd out. Jerry, Will and Rick all singled to load the bases but Jack popped out to 1B to end the threat.
End of 5th Score: Keystones 14 Senators 11
Sixth Inning Recap:
Keystones- extended their lead with a six-run outburst in the buffet inning. Barry led off with a single and moved to 2B on Johnny’s walk. Morris picked up his 3rd hit of the game to drive in Barry. Mike H. had his 3rd extra base hit of the game as he drove in two with a ringing double to right center. John’s single scored Mike with the 4th run, Bobby followed with a single, but Raul was able to retire Pat and Tommy. Margarito launched a two-out high flyball that again went over Jerry’s head in left center for a two-run double to give the Keystones six runs and a nine-run lead heading into the bottom half of the inning.
Senators- bounced back with their own six run inning but it was not enough to overcome the Keystones’ big lead. The first seven batters reached bases for the Senators. Ray completed his perfect 3-3 day with a leadoff single. Scott followed with a single and Terry T. and Terry w. provided back-to-back hits to bring in the 1st run. Raul singled down the left field line to bring in two more runs. Henry drove in another run with a shot over Alex’s head in left field. Jerry singled to score Henry with the sixth run but Tommy was able to retire Will and Rick to end the game and secure the win for the Keystones.
Final Score: Keystones 20 Senators 16
2nd Session Standings:
After three game dates, the Keystones hold a slim lead over the Pioneers. The first session champ, Braves, are in 3rd place with the Sultans and Senators battling for 4th place.
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 2nd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Keystones |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
34 |
22 |
12 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0.667 |
39 |
35 |
4 |
0.50 |
|
Braves |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0.500 |
17 |
17 |
0 |
1.00 |
|
Sultans |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0.333 |
38 |
44 |
-6 |
1.50 |
|
Senators |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
25 |
35 |
-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 |
10 |
4 |
0 |
0.714 |
188 |
141 |
47 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
8 |
7 |
0 |
0.533 |
170 |
179 |
-9 |
2.50 |
|
Keystones |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0.500 |
189 |
177 |
12 |
3.00 |
|
Senators |
6 |
8 |
0 |
0.429 |
184 |
193 |
-9 |
4.00 |
|
Sultans |
5 |
10 |
0 |
0.333 |
180 |
221 |
-41 |
5.50 |
The Braves still hold a lead in the season to-date standings, but both the Keystones and the Pioneers are closing the gap in what promises to be an exciting race to the finish.
Next Games: Thursday May 8, 2025
Based on the amount of rain that we have seen over the last few days, I am not sure if there will be time for the fields at Krieg to drive but we will see.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. (H) Senators (0-2-0) vs. (V) Braves (1-1-0)
Game 2 9:30 a.m. (H) Keystones (2-0-0) vs. (V) Sultans (1-2-0)
The Pioneers will have a bye on Thursday, and their players will have priority in the draw.
Paul Rubin