Game Day Gazette
September 28, 2026
Happy to be back in the friendly confines of Krieg Field after spending the week in Las Vegas at the SSUSA World Championship. Our team, Relentless 70’s, had three tough one-run losses to start the tournament but came back with our best game since I have been part of the team, scoring twenty-five runs in just five innings to post our first victory. The momentum didn’t carry over to the next game as we fell to an outstanding team from Hawaii to finish up the tourney. Thanks to Johnny Neville for keeping the scorebook in my absence. There was some significant movement in the standings as we approach the end of the 4th session (10/1/26) as some teams felt the impact of missing players more strongly than others.
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Game 1: Green (7-4-0) vs. Red (5-6-0) 8:00 a.m. 9/28/26 |
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
Total |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Green |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Red |
4 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
x |
11 |
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Starting pitchers-Green-Luis Sanchez; Red- Sal Lopez |
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Mercenaries: Green- Jim Foelker and Tommy DeLeon |
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Red- Bobby Miller, Dave Berra and Lucky Hoffman |
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Home Plate Umpire- Jack Adams; Greg Tolander on the bases |
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First & Second Inning Recap:
Green- judging by my putrid 1st appearance at the plate, it looked like I left my swing and my money behind in Vegas as I fouled out to open the game. Jack Spellman popped out to 2B and Luis Sanchez popped out to 1B to quietly go down in the first. P Sal Lopez was back on the mound and looked sharp in the early going. 2nd – Denny Malloy slapped a single to right center to break up the no hitter, but Sal retired the next three batters to close out the 2nd. Mickey popped out to 2B as the Green hitters continued to reach for Sal’s short ball. William Powell and Tom Kelm both grounded into fielder’s choice outs to 3B to end the scoreless two inning frame.
Red- took full advantage of Green’s meager output in the top half to jump to an early lead in this contest. Doc Hobar popped out to short to lead off the inning, the next five batters reached base as Red raced out to an early four-run lead. Patrick Schmidt’s flyball to right center just ticked off Jim Foelker’s glove and fell in for a double and he later scored on John Flowers’ single to right. Ken Brown singled up the middle and Bobby Hawthorne drew a walk to load the bases. Butch Barber ripped a two-run single to right center to up the lead to three runs. Sal Lopez hit into a fielder’s choice as Bobby came across with the 4th run. 2nd– Bobby Miller led off the 2nd with a hard single to right center. Dave Berra went down swinging for the 1st out. Lucky Hoffman popped out to short, and it looked like Luis would be able to escape without any further damage, The top of Red’s lineup had other ideas as Doc doubled down the right field line to bring in Bobby with the 1st run. Patrick bounced one back to the pitcher and Luis fielded the ball cleanly but his overhand throw to 1B was high and Patrick was safe. John and Ken followed with back-to-back RBI singles to push Red’s lead to seven runs before Bobby hit into a fielder’s choice to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Red 7 Green 0
3rd Inning Recap:
Green- Robby Vickery grounded out to 2B to open the 3rd. Larry King reached on an infield single to 3B. The mercenaries (Jim Foelker and Tommy DeLeon) put up back-to-back singles to load the bases with one out. Paul knocked in the 1st run with a fielder’s choice grounder to Doc at 2B. Jack hit a short fly to center, and John made a great running catch as he secured the ball while lying flat of his back for the final out.
Red– Butch opened the 3rd with a line single to right center. Sal ripped a drive to left that dropped in front of Mickey to keep things rolling. Morris grounded to Robby at 3B and he stepped on the bag for the 1st out. Bobby Miller’s single loaded the bases with one out. Dave hit a pop fly in front of the pitcher’s mound and home plate umpire Jack Adams called infield fly rule and the batter was out. Luis was unable to make the catch and Sal scored from 3B on the play (had Luis caught the ball, would have been an easy double play). Lucky fouled out to end the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Red 8 Green 1
Fourth Inning Recap:
Green– finally broke through with a three-run outburst as Luis led off with a booming flyball to right that skipped past Lucky and roiled to the fence for an inside the park home run. Denny followed with a hard single to right center. Mickey popped out to Sal for the 1st out. Denny, thinking the ball was going to drop in, took off for 2B and was easily doubled off 1B on the play. William singled to keep the inning alive. Tom Kelm grounded to short and the throw to 1B went awry allowing William to score from 1B and the courtesy runner (me) to advance to 3B. Robby lined a single to right to drive in the 3rd run before Larry hit into a fielder’s choice to retire the side.
Red– with the lead cut in half. Red responded with three runs of their own to keep Green at a safe distance. Doc and Patrick opened the frame with back-to-back singles. John bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Ken looped a single to right center to drive in the 1st run. Bobby H.’s single to left brought John around to score. Butch rapped up a perfect day at the plate with another single to drive in Ken and push the lead back to seven runs.
End of 4th Score: Red 11 Green 4
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Green– the call for the “open inning” seemed to come a bit early (8:40 a.m.) but we played on. Jim led off with a single, but Tommy bounced into a 6U 6-3 double play to put a damper on any chance Green had of staging a comeback. Paul bounced a single over 2B to start the rally. Jack ripped a single to right as I moved to 3B. Luis lined a single to right center to drive in the 1st run. Denny stated hot at the plate wit an RBI single just past shirt. Mickey drilled a base hit down the right field line and it looked like their might be a chance. William singled to load the bases with Tom K. coming to the plate. Tom hit a hard shot up the middle that Sal just got a glove on, but it was enough to slow it down. The ball harmlessly rolled towards the 2B bag and Bobby M. picked it up and stepped on the bag to end the game.
Final Score: Red 11 Green 7
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Game 2: Gray (6-5-0) vs. Orange (6-5-0) 9:00 a.m. 9/28/26 |
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
Total |
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Gray |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
12 |
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Orange |
0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
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Starting pitchers- Gray-Luis Sanchez; Orange-Terry Thompson |
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Mercenaries-Gray- Tim Coles, Paul Rubin, Luis Sanchez and Daniel Baladez |
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Mercenaries-Orange- Jack Spellman and Patrick Schmidt |
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Home Plate Umpire- Morris Carter |
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First & Second Inning Recap:
Gray– Scott Wright, taking over while Peter Atkins recovers from his knee surgery, started this one off with a sharp single to right. Lynn Simpson slapped a single to right to get things rolling. Louie Caputo bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Jeff Broussard worked a walk to load the bases with one out. David Safely took a called 3rd strike on a pitch from Terry Thompson that was close to unhittable. Larry Coons looped a single over 3B to bring in Scott with the 1st run. Art Monzingo, back in the lineup after an extended absence, popped out to 2B to close out the frame.2nd– time for the mercenaries to earn their keep starting with Tim Coles who bombed a drive to left center for a leadoff triple. Paul Rubin drew a walk and Luis Sanchez followed with a single to drive in Tim with the 1st run. Danny Baladez hit into a 6-4-3 double play to throw water on the rally. Scott hit what appeared to be a run-scoring single to left center, but he fell coming out of the box and struggled to get back on his feet. The outfielder (not sure if it was Jack Adams or Barry) never gave up on the play and his relay to short and then to 1B arrived ahead of Scotty for the 3rd out.
Orange-Luis Sanchez was pitching in his 2nd game of the day and looked good as he shut down the Orangemen on one hit in the 1st. Jack Adams flew out to left center to open the game for Orange. Bobby Miller lined a single to right but was left stranded as Tery Thompson flew out to shallow right center and Jim Foelker fouled out to end the inning. 2nd– Barry McRee led off the 2nd with a groundout to short. Adam Gordon and Jerry Mylius followed with back-to-back singles. Bubba Barnett walked to load the bases. Greg Tolander grounded to short as Adam scored from 3B on the play. Jack Spellman dropped in a base hit to right to bring in two more runners to knot the score at 3-3 ahead of Patrick Schmidt’s inning ending fielder’s choice grounder to 2B.
End of 2nd Score: Gray 3 Orange 3
Third Inning Recap:
Gray- was able to scratch out a run despite getting four hit thanks to some excellent defense by Orange 2B Bobby Miller. Lynn singled to start the frame, and he moved to 3B on Louie’s single to center. Jeff grounded a single up the middle to plate Lynn with the 1st run. David hit a groundball just to the right of the 2B base and Bobby scooped it up and stepped on the base for the 1st out. His throw to 3B arrive just ahead of Louie to completed the 4U 4-5 double play. Larry singled up the middle, but Terry was able to get Art to ground out to 2B to end the inning.
Orange- kept pace with Gray by picking up a run of their own in the frame to tie the score at 4-4 on doubles by Bobby Miller and Jim Foelker.
End of 3rd Score: Gray 4 Orange 4
Fourth Inning Recap:
Gray– sent eight men to the plate without making an out as Gray pounded their way to a five-run frame to take control of this game. The mercenaries again led the way as Tim and Paul led off with back-to-back singles. Luis drove in the 1st run with a sharp single to right. Danny lined a single to left center to bring in the 2nd run. Scott loaded the bases with his base knock. Lynne, Louie and Jeff finished things up with consecutive run-scoring singles to key the five-run inning.
Orange- down by five runs, Orange was only able to put up a single run in the 4th. Adam ripped a liner up the middle that Luis was able to snare for the 1st out. Jerry drew a walk, but Greg fouled out and there were quickly two outs. Jack S. came through with a single to right to score Jerry as Patrick lined out to short to end the frame.
End of 4th Score: Gray 9 Orange 5
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Gray- P Terry Thompson retired David on a flyball to right center and Larry on a liner to 3B for two quick outs to start the buffet. Art reached on an infield hit to get things rolling. Tim followed with a base hit to center. I took a mighty swing and the ball somehow ended up about a foot in front of the plate. I was able to beat out the ultimate infield hit to load the bases with two outs. Luis finished off his perfect day at the plate with a double to score two more runs before Danny went down swinging to retire the side.
Orange- Jack Adams lined out to Jeff to open the Orange buffet inning. Bobby ripped a drive to left center that gapped the fielders for a triple. He scored on Terry’s double to left center. Jim blasted a double to the same area to score Terry with Orange’s second run. Barry lined out to Tim at short for the 2nd out. Adam then popped out to short to end the ball game.
Final Score: Gray 12 Orange 7
Current 4th Session Standings:
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ASSL C league 2026 4th Session Final Standings |
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Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
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Green |
7 |
5 |
0 |
0.583 |
147 |
119 |
28 |
– |
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Gray |
7 |
5 |
0 |
0.583 |
148 |
126 |
22 |
– |
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Orange |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0.500 |
112 |
134 |
-22 |
1.00 |
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Red |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0.500 |
146 |
144 |
2 |
1.00 |
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Blue |
4 |
8 |
0 |
0.333 |
103 |
133 |
-30 |
3.00 |
After reeling off six consecutives wins to start the session, Green stumbled to the finish line, losing five of their final six games to barely eek out the rejuvenated Gray squad for the session title. Both teams ended up with 7-5 records but runs allowed has been the historical tie breaker so there you have it. For those scoring at home, sessions titles have no real values other than fleeting bragging rights!
Season-to-date Standings:
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ASSL C league 2026 Season to-date Standings |
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Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
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Gray |
27 |
17 |
2 |
0.587 |
538 |
477 |
57 |
– |
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Green |
24 |
16 |
1 |
0.585 |
517 |
417 |
68 |
1.00 |
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Orange |
22 |
19 |
1 |
0.524 |
443 |
426 |
19 |
3.50 |
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Blue |
16 |
26 |
0 |
0.381 |
376 |
487 |
-86 |
10.00 |
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Red |
15 |
26 |
0 |
0.366 |
402 |
469 |
-58 |
10.50 |
Dang, you leave for a week, and everything goes topsy-turvy! Green was up by two games before LV and now finds itself trailing Gray by a full game. Blue continues to stave off the much-improved Red team and Orange finds itself smack dab in the middle. More exciting action to come!
Next Games: Thursday October 1, 2026
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Blue (4-8-0) vs. Orange (6-6-0)
Can Orange end the session above .500 and stay within striking distance of the leaders? Will Blue be able to build on the bye date and last week’s win over this same Orange team and climb up in the standings?
Green will be taking on the umpiring responsibilities in this game
Game 2 9:00 a.m. Green (7-5-0) vs. Red (6-6-0)
Seems like every time you turn around these two teams are going head-to-head these days. Again, battle for the session lead, bragging rights and a chance for Red to finally move ahead of Blue.
Looks like rain is likely on Thursday but if not all will be revealed!
Blue will be taking umpiring the late game on Monday.
Gray will have a bye on Thursday allowing their players to have priority in the draw.
Other News and Notes:
1. We will be going back to “regular” hours starting next Monday (October 5th) so plan your commute accordingly. In case you forgot, regular games times are 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
2. The annual luncheon catered by Lupe Tortilla will be held on Monday October 26, 2026. We will try to get an earlier start so C leaguers that don’t play in B league will not have to hang around quite as long to get fed. There is no cost for players, but guests will have to pay $25.00. We are also going to have a mini awards ceremony before we eat (think ESPY’s without all the glitz and glamour) so we hope to see you there.
3. Finally, last year Terry Thompson organized a raffle to help support the Central Texas Food Bank. We had such a good response that we are going to do it again with more prizes (Senior softball bat, bat bag, turf shoes and a custom walking stick). Stay tuned for more details from Terry.