Game Day Gazette
October 26, 2026
Great day of celebration at the ball park! Along with our B league friends, Austin Senior Softball celebrated our annual end of year luncheon with yummy food provided by Lupe Tortilla. Many thanks to Terry Thompson for coordinated this event. We had a great turnout with several former players including Buck Gardner, Buster Good and Jerry Callen joining in the fun.
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Game 1: Orange (1-3-1) vs. Gray (3-2-0) 8:00 a.m. 10/26/26 |
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange |
5 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gray |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
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Starting pitchers-Orange- Terry Thompson; Gray- Mike Carroll |
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Mercenaries: Orange- Jack Spellman and Mickey Poole |
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Gray- Patrick Schmidt and Lucky Hoffman |
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Home Plate Umpire-Terry Watts and Ken Brown on the bases |
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First & Second Inning Recap:
Orange- welcomed Bobby Miller back into the lineup and that addition seemed to energize the Orangemen as they played one of their best games of the season. Adam Gordon opened the game with a hustling double on a ball hit to left center. Terry Thompson laced a ball to left center to move Adam to 3B. He scored on Jack Adams single down the 3B line. Bobby Miller unselfishly drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Steve Kendig made Gray pay the price as he ripped a bases clearing three-run double to center. Barry McRee slapped a single to left to bring in Steve with the fifth run. 2nd – P Mike Carroll settled down in the 2nd and held Orange without a run to keep this one from getting out of hand. Bubba Barnett ground out to 2B leading off the frame. Jerry Myllius lined a single to right before Rick Parker went down on strikes. Jack Spellman ended the inning with a bouncer back to Mike for the final out.
Gray- Scott Wright flew out to left center to open the inning for Gray. Jeff Broussard and Louie Caputo followed with back-to-back singles to get things rolling for Gray. Ray Pilgrim grounded into a fielder’s choice out at 2B for the 2nd out. Mike Carroll’s single down the 1B line brought in the first run for Gray. Larry Coons grounded out to short to retire the side.. 2nd– P Terry Thompson continued to befuddle the Gray hitters as he gave up a lone hit and no runs in the 2nd. Art Monzingo lined one back to Terry to start the inning. David Safely ripped a single to right to get on base but Terry retired Roger Geras on a comebacker and Patrick Schmidt on a grounder to short to close out the frame
End of 2nd Score: Orange 5 Gray 1
3rd Inning Recap:
Orange- Mickey Poole led off the 3rd with a ringing single up the middle. He was erased on Adam’s fielder’s choice grounder to short. Terry’s single put runners on 1B and 2B. Jack Adams bounced out to Scott at short for the 2nd out. Bobby lined a hard double to right scoring both runners. Steve reached on an infield single when 1B Louie Caputo lost the ball in the sun. Barry ground out to short to end the frame leaving runners stranded on the corners as Orange extended their lead to six runs.
Gray– Lucky Hoffman lined a single to left center to open the 3rd inning. Scott grounded sharply to 2B, and Bobby made a nice play on the ball to get the force at 2B for the 1st out. Jeff drilled a ball up the middle for a run scoring double to put Gray on the board, Louie reached on an infield single with Jeff advancing to 3B. He scored as Bobby was unable to handle Ray’s grounder to 2B. Mike walked to load the bases with only one out. Larry grounded to Adam and he was able to get the force at 3B with Louie scoring the 3rd run on the play. Art bounced out to 2B to close out the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Orange 7 Gray 4
Fourth Inning Recap:
Orange– picked up another run to extend their lead to four runs. Bubba and Jerry led off with back-to-back singles up the middle. Bubba’s courtesy runner reached 3B on Jerry’s hit and scored on Rick’s fielder’s choice groundout to 3B. Jack Spellman flew out to left center for the 2nd out. Mickey jumped on an outside pitch and drove it to right for a single but was erased on Scott’s fielder’s choice grounder to Ray at 3B.
Gray– P Terry T. continued to dominate on the mound as he shut down Gray in order in the 4th. David ground out to 2B to open the frame. Roger fouled out and Patrick was retired on a nice play by Jack Adams at 1B to retire the side
End of 4th Score: Orange 8 Gray 4
Fifth Inning Recap:
Orange– continued to add to their lead with a couple of runs in the 5th. The first three batters (Terry, Jax and Bobby) all singled to push across the 1st run. Steve bounced one up the middle and P Mike C. gloved and made a strong throw to 2B to start a 1-6-3 double play. Barry was able to leg out an infield hit allowing the runner from 3B to cross the plate with the 2nd run before Jerry hit into a fielder’s choice to end the frame.
Gray– the absence of Lynn Simpson and Gary Coyle was clearly felt by Gray as their struggles at the plate continued. Lucky singled to open the 5th but was forced out at 2B as Scott grounded out to Bobby for the 1st out. Jeff capped off a perfect day at the plate (3-3) with a single through the 5/6 hole. Louie grounded sharply to short with Jack Spellman and Bobby turning an inning ending 6-4-3 double play to retire the side.
End of 5th Score: Orange 10 Gray 4
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Orange– put this one out of reach with a four-run outburst to go up by ten and invoke the flip-flop rule. Rick led off with a clean single to left center. Jack S. doubled to right to drive in the first run. Mickey celebrated his perfect 3-3 day at the plate with an infield single to right that allowed Jack to scamper home with the 2nd run. Adam and Terry followed with back-to-back single to load the bases with nobody out. Jack Adams smacked a single to left center to drive in two runs to put Orange up by ten runs and the teams flip flopped with Gray coming up for their final at bat.
Gray– went down without much of a fight as Terry retired the side to secure the win for the Orangemen. Ray grounded out to 2B, Mike popped out to short, and Larry grounded out to 1B to quietly and quickly end the contest.
Final Score: Orange 14 Gray 4
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Game 2: Blue (1-3-0) vs. Red (3-2-0) 9:00 a.m. 10/26/26 |
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
Total |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blue |
5 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
X |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Red |
5 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
X |
15 |
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Starting pitchers- Blue-Tommy DeLeon; Red- Sal Lopez |
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Mercenaries-Blue- None; Red- Paul Rubin and Ken Mockler |
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Home Plate Umpire- Peter Atkins |
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First & Second Inning Recap:
Blue– could not have gotten off to a better start for Blue as they pounded P Sal Lopez for ten runs on twelve hits in the initial two-inning frame. Tommy DeLeon opened the game with one of his signature hits to the opposite field. Mike Hill lined a ball over 3B to put runners on 1B and 2B, Tim Coles lined a single to center to drive in the 1st run. Don Roets bounced to Doc Hobar and he got the force at 2B for the 1st out. Donnie Janac, after getting some pregame batting tips from Ken Brown, smacked a bases clearing two-run triple to right center. Henry Flores drilled a liner to 3B, and I managed to get a glove on it but could not secure the ball as it fell in for a base hit. Daniel Baladez grounded one to the 5/6 hole and I was able to cut across and make the catch to get the runner at 1B. Playing somewhat out of position at 3B, missed the opportunity to get the out at 2B and the possible double play. Chris Hurst followed with a blast to right center for a double as Henry came across with the 5th run of the inning. 2nd– same song, second verse as Blue continued to rake in the 2nd. Dave Berra led off the frame with a single but was forced out at 2B on Johnny Neville’s grounder to short. Lucky Hoffman hit a hard grounder to 3B that I was able to get a glove on but was unable to make a throw so all runners were safe. Alex Valles single to right to load the bases with only one out. Tommy drove in the 1st run with a line single to right. Mike Hill popped out to 2B for the 2nd out. Tim followed with a majestic drive to left center that went over Patrick’s head for a bases clearing three run double. Don followed with a single to right center scoring Tim with the 5th run.
Red-looking up at a ten-run deficit, Red got busy and put up nine runs of their own to get right back into this slugfest. Doc Hobar used his speed to beat out an infield hit to lead off for Red. John Flowers worked a walk and Patrick Schmidt did likewise to load the bases with nobody out. Ken Brown drove in the 1st run with a sacrifice fly to center field. Bobby Hawthorne lined a single to left to bring in the 2nd run. Terry Watts banged a single up the middle to reload the bases. Mike Mordecai’s single to right plated Patrick with Red’s 3rd run. Gene Nelson forced in the 4th run with P Tommy DeLeon’s 4th walk of the inning, Sal Lopez rifled a single down the left field line to bring in the 5th run. 2nd– Paul Rubin reached on an infield single to open the 2nd. Ken Mockler crushed a ball to right center but Dave Berra read it perfectly and extended his glove at the last second to rob Ken of extra bases. Doc drove one to the gap in right center for an RBI triple. John could not keep the ball in fair territory and fouled out for the 2nd out. Patrick drilled a single to left center to score Doc for Red’s 2nd run. Ken followed with a laser shot to right that skipped past the fielders allowing Ken to leisurely cruise around the bases for a two-run homer. Bobby and Terry kept things rolling with back-to-back singles before Mike popped out to 1B to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Blue 10 Red 9
Third Inning Recap:
Blue- P Sal Lopez put an end to the scoring onslaught as he held Blue to a leadoff hit by Donnie in the 3rd inning, Sal retired Henry on a flyball to left, Daniel on a pop fly to 1B and Chris on a flyball to shallow center to escape the inning unscathed.
Red- Gene smacked a single to right to open the 3rd. Sal smoked a liner down the 3B line but Tim Coles made a fine backhand stab for the 1st out. Paul singled up the middle to move Gene to 3B, and he scored on Ken’s base hit to right center. Paul scored on Doc’s flyball to center for the 2nd run before John flew out to right to end the frame.
End of 3rd Score: Red 11 Blue 10
Fourth Inning Recap:
Blue– took back the lead with a four-run outburst keyed by Mike Hill’s bases clearing triple. Dave and Johnny opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Lucky was retired on a pop fly to 3B for the 1st out. Alex grounded into a fielder’s choice with Ken throwing to Paul to get the force at 3B. Tommy singled to right to load the bases, Mike hitting a sinking liner to center that John just missed as the ball rolled to the fence for the afore-mentioned bases clearing triple. Tim hit another bomb to left center for a triple to bring Mike in with the 4th run. Don hit a flyball to deep right center, but Gene was well positioned to make the catch for the final out.
Red- P Tommy D. retired the Red batters to protect Blue’s three-run lead. The first two batters (Patrick and Ken) were retired on flyball to Dave in right center. Bobby hit a grounder to short, and Ken made the throw to 1B in plenty of time to get the 3rd out.
End of 4th Score: Blue 14 Red 11
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Blue– unable to add on to their lead despite a leadoff single by Donnie to complete his perfect day at the plate (3-3). Sal retired both Henry and Daniel on flyball to Bobby in left for the first two outs. Donnie tagged up on both outs to smartly get to 3B. Chris hit a grounder between short and 3B and I was able to field it and make the throw to 1B and leave Donnie stranded as the side was retired.
Red– chasing three runs, Red mounted a furious rally that culminated in a walk-off win for the big Red Machine. Terry led off with a single to right center. Mike fouled out for the 1st out. Gene singled to right as Terry reached 3B on the hit. Sal hit a flyball to right that was deep enough to get the runner home from 3B to cut the lead to two runs. Paul doubled to left center to put runners on 2B and 3B. Ken rocketed a single to left center to drive in both runners and tie the game at 14-14. Doc looped a ball down the right field line, and it kicked into fair territory. Paul (courtesy runner for Ken) was off with the hit and rounded the bases before the ball was even picked up for a walk-off win for Red. More importantly, the victory lifted Red out of the cellar for the first time since week 1 of the season, Congrats!
Final Score: Red 15 Blue 14
ASSL C Division 5th Session Standings:
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|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Green |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0.600 |
61 |
47 |
14 |
– |
|
Red |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0.667 |
64 |
55 |
9 |
0.50 |
|
Gray |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0.500 |
61 |
65 |
(4) |
1.00 |
|
Orange |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0.333 |
53 |
68 |
-15 |
1.50 |
|
Blue |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0.000 |
62 |
66 |
-4 |
3.00 |
Red moved into sole possession of 2nd place with their dramatic win over Blue. Orange moved ahead of Blue with their commanding win over Gray and Green continues to hold on to their lead.
Season-to-date Standings:
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|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Green |
28 |
17 |
2 |
0.596 |
590 |
470 |
68 |
– |
|
Gray |
30 |
20 |
2 |
0.577 |
599 |
542 |
57 |
0.50 |
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Orange |
24 |
23 |
2 |
0.490 |
503 |
504 |
19 |
5.00 |
|
Red |
19 |
29 |
0 |
0.396 |
472 |
536 |
-58 |
11.50 |
|
Blue |
18 |
30 |
0 |
0.375 |
448 |
560 |
-86 |
12.50 |
Green’s lead over Gray increased by .50 games with Gray’s loss to Orange. Red is now clear of Blue for the #4 spot with their head-to-head win on Monday. Orange sits clearly in the middle and will likely stay there for the duration of the 2026 season.
Next Games: Thursday October 29, 2026
Note: Moving back to the regular start times for the rest of the season
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Green (3-1-1) vs. Blue (1-4-0)
Can Blue rebound from their heart-breaking loss to Red on Monday and will Green put continued pressure on Gray by winning the early game on Thursday.
Gray will be taking on the umpiring responsibilities in this game
Game 2 9:00 a.m. Gray (3-3-0) vs. Red (4-2-0)
Can Gray bounce back after Thursday’s thrashing at the hands of the Orangemen? Will Lynn or Gary be riding in to rescue Gray and put the spark back in their lineup? Now that Red has finally caught Blue will they continue to play the “spoiler” role and derail Gray’s hopes for the crown?
Green will be taking umpiring the late game on Thursday
Orange will have a bye on Thursday allowing their players to have priority in the draw.
Other News & Notes:
For those note able to make the luncheon or the C league update prior to the wonderful Mexican food feast, here is what you missed…
· Paul thanked the current board members (Adam Gordon, Greg Tolander, John Flowers and Bobby Hawthorne) for their work this season.
· Paul announced that his two-year term as President will be ending at the end of this season. Bobby Hawthorne will be the President for the 2027 season. Greg has agreed to continue in the treasurer role for another year.
· Adam, Greg and Paul will all be finishing out their three-year terms on the board this year, so we are looking for three new board members for the upcoming season. If you have any interest, please contact Bobby or any other board member, We would like to have the new board set before the end of this season.
· Bobby shared some kind words about yours truly and presented me with a very thick book (772 pages) called The Best American Sports Writing of the Century to help me come up with some new and exciting ways to describe of the action at Krieg Field!
C league end of year awards:
· In a new tradition akin to the ESPY’s without all the glitz, glamour, prestige and monetary gain, I presented the following awards:
o Senior Slugger Award- Tim Coles (.831 batting average)
o Rookie of the Year-
§ B league call up- Jack Spellman
§ New to the league- Luis Sanchez
o Mr. Clutch Award (most RBI’s)- Jim Foelker (72 RBIs)
o Road Runner Award (most runs)- Paul Rubin (75 runs)
o Rickey Henderson Caught Stealing Award- most times thrown out on the base paths- Jim Foelker (too many to count!)
o Eagle Eye awards for most walks- Denny Malloy (19)
o Iron Man Award- Ray Pilgrim as only player not to miss game through the first six months of the season
o Mr. Mercenary Award for most games played- Jim Foelker (33)
o Most valuable mercenary- Jack Adams .864 batting avg. and 41 RBIs over 26 games