Game Day Gazette
September 18, 2025
While I was away… lots of action in the four-game stretch that I missed including two more ties as this is quickly becoming the “kiss your sister” session! The Senators picked up their first two wins and were undefeated in this stretch. The Braves kept on humming by winning two or three games while the Pioneers and Sultans were winless over this four-game period. The Keystones continued to play .500 ball as they have done all season! Special thanks to Johnny Neville for continuing to keep the league stats and sharing that crucial information with me.
Today marked the return to regular starting times but the weather failed to cooperate as the game time temperatures were in the mid-nineties. The warm weather must have contributed to ball flying all over the yard as there was a total of sixty-nine (69) runs scored in the two games.
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Pioneers (2-3-3) vs. Senators (2-4-2)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Pioneers– had to draw four players to complete their roster for this game (Paul Rubin, Bobby Hawthorne, Lucky Hoffman and Morris Carter). Jack Adams led off the contest with a sharp single past 3B. Sal Lopez bounced into a fielder’s choice out at 2B for the 1st out. Mike Carroll ripped a single to right field and Scotty Wright followed with a booming home run to right field to quickly put the Pioneers up by three. Bubba Barnett grounded back to the pitcher for the 2nd out. Tim H. and Chris Hurst followed with back-to-back hits. Paul Rubin lined an RBI single to left center to bring in the 4th run. 2nd– Morris Carter opened the 2nd with a groundball to 2B but the throw to Greg Lloyd at 1B was low and Paul was able to get to 2B pinch running for Morris. Jack flew out to right for the 1st out. Sal fouled out but Mike came through with a line single to center to drive in the only run of the frame.
Senators- the Senators drew three (3) players this morning from the bucket including Ken Brown, Donnie Janac and Barry McRee. Despite the influx of talent, the Senators were held scoreless in the 1st two frames by Pioneer’s ace hurler, Sal Lopez. Henry Flores and Terry Watts opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Raul DeLeon lined a shot to left field and Bobby made a nice running catch for the 1st out. Jerry Mylius grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Will Scheerer singled to right to load the bases. Sal was able to get Roger Geras on a groundout to 1B to end the scoreless inning. 2nd– Greg Lloyd led off the 2nd with a clean single up the middle. He was forced out at 2B on Rick Parker’s grounder to short. Ken Brown singled and Donnie Janc followed with a line drive hit to center to drive in the Senators first run of the game. Barry McRee fouled out and Henry bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Pioneers 5 Senators 1
Third Inning Recap:
Pioneers- Raul retired the 1st two batters in the inning before Chris lined a single to left center. Paul followed with a double to drive in Chris with the 1st run. Bobby hit a groundball to 3B, and Paul was a little too aggressive (didn’t wait for Jerry to actually make the throw to 1B) and was tagged out to end the inning.
Senators- the first three batters (Terry, Raul and Jerry) all reached on singles to produce the 1st run. Sal got Will and Roger on groundball outs before walking Greg to load the bases. Rick smacked a grounder to 3N that Tim fielded cleanly and stepped on the bag to close out the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Pioneers 6 Senators 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- Raul shut down the Pioneers in the 4th holding them to a single hit. Lucky bounced out to short to get things started and Morris went down swinging, Jack lined a base hit to left but Sal was retired on a nice running catch by Barry in left field.
Senators– finally got their bats going on the way to a five-run inning to take the lead in this one. Ken and Donnie opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Barry grounded to short, and Jack made the unassisted put out at 2B for the 1st out. Henry singled to load the bases. Terry followed with his 3rd hot of the game to drive in Ken. Raul smoked the next offering from Sal with a drive over Bubba’s head in straight away center for a bases clearing three run triple. He scored on the 5th run on Jerry sacrifice fly to right field.
End of 4th Score: Senators 6 Pioneers 6
Fifth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- Mike and Scotty led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Bubba went down swinging and Tim was retired on a groundball to Chris at 1B for the 2nd out. The Pioneers staged a two-out rally as the next four batters (Chris, Paul, Bobby and Lucky) all singled to push four runs across as the Pioneers regained the lead.
Senators– continued to scrap and fight as they put up three runs to stay in this one. Will and Greg singled around fielder choice groundout by Roger and Rick. The Senators staged their own two-out rally as Ken and Donnie delivered clutch RBI singles to put up a three spot and tie the game heading into the open inning.
End of 5th Score: Pioneers 10 Senators 10
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Pioneers- broke this one open as the “men in Blue” put up eight runs in the buffet. Jack started things off with a single to left center. Sal and Mike followed with base hits to bring in the 1st run. Scott (currently the hottest hitter in the league!) followed with yet another drive to deep right field for a two-run triple. Bubba lined out to Raul for the 1st out. Tim and Chris rapped back-to-back singles to score Scott. Paul lined a ball down the left field line for a three-run inside the park homer to put the Pioneers up by seven. Bobby and Lucky followed with singles to keep the ball rolling. Morris singled to load the bases but Sal unselfish action to run from the plate put him in a precarious position since he was due to bat after the next hitter. I had the bright idea to pinch run for Lucky at 2B to clear the way for Sal’s path given that he needed to score or would be called out if he was left on base. Jack popped a ball over 2B and from my perspective, it looked like Ken had a chance to make the catch. He was unable to do so, and Sal was running hard all the way from 1B and passed me on the base path as I had held up waiting to see if the ball would be caught. Long story short, both Sal and I were ruled out for an inning ending double play. Lesson learned, know where you are on the batting lineup before you make yourself available to pinch run!
Senators- the scrappy Orangemen continued to fight as they tried to overcome a eight-run deficit in the buffet. I did not capture the details as we made a quick transition to the next game due to this one running fifteen minutes past the scheduled completion time. The Senators managed to put up four runs in the buffet but fell short as the Pioneer’s moved their record to 3-3-3.
Final Score: Pioneers 18 Senators 14
Game 2 9:00 a.m. Sultans (3-2-3) vs. Braves (5-3-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Sultans– Donnie Janac singled to lead things off. Peter Atkins flew out to deep center as the Braves deployed the 4-1 defense with John playing shallow and Patrick deep in left center. Ray Pilgrim and Jeff Broussard singled to load the bases. Jack Kelly grounded to Tommy DeLeon at 1B, and he attempted to get the runner at 2B. Doc Hobar alertly covered 1B and Paul Rubin’s throw to 1B beat Jack by a few steps for the 2nd out. Donnie was able to score the 1st run on the play. Lucky Hoffman singled to load the bases. Jack Adams hit a sinking liner to CF and Patrick Schmidt made a great running catch to save at least two runs and end the inning. 2nd– the Sultans did not mess around in the 2nd. Aided by five mercenaries (Jack Adams, Scott Wright, Henry Flores, Chris Hurst and Will Scheerer), the Sultans sent nine men to the plate, and all had singles to push across five big runs and grab an early six-run lead.
Braves-the Braves also drew five players out of the bucket (Raul DeLeon, Patrick Schmidt, John Flowers, Tommy DeLeon and Johnny Neville). Doc Hobar led off the frame with a single. Paul Rubin followed with a sharp single to left. Dave Berra ground out to short for the 1st out. Jim Foelker picked up an RBI with a line single to CF. Tom Kelm knocked on the 2nd run with a line drive hit to left. Billy Hill went down on strikes for the 2nd out. Raul DeLeon and Patrick delivered run-scoring singles to complete the Braves four-run inning. 2nd– Johnny Neville led off the 2nd with a single. Doc ground out to 3B for the 1st out. Paul singled to move the pinch runner to 2B and he moved to 3B on Paul’s single. Dave drove him home with a base hit, but Paul was thrown out attempting to advance to 2B on a nice throw from Peter Atkins to Ray at 3B.
End of 2nd Score: Sultans 6 Braves 5
Third Inning Recap:
Sultans- extended their lead with a four-run outburst in the inning. Jack led off the inning with a groundball to the right side and pinch runner Peter Atkins easily beat the throw to 1B. Somehow, the ball got loose in the infield and Peter scampered to 3B to complete Jack’s leadoff “triple”. The next three batters (Lucky, Jack Adams and Scott) all stroked doubles to put three runs on the board. Henry singled to move Scott to 3B, and he scored on Chris’ line shot between 3B and short for the 4th run. Tom Kelm was able to retire the next three batters to avoid any further damage.
Braves– matched the Sultan’s four run inning to keep this at a one-run game. The first five batters reached bases as singles by Tom, Billy, Patrick and John produced two runs. Tommy D. hit into a 4-6-3 double play as Patrick scored from 3B on the play. Johnny followed with a double off the 3B bag, but Doc grounded back to the pitcher to end the threat.
End of 3rd Score: Sultans 10 Braves 9
Fourth Inning Recap:
Sultans- put up two more runs in the 4th to grab a three-run lead. Ray, Jeff and Jack singled to load the bases. Lucky and Jack were retired but Scott came through with a double to drive in two runs.
Braves– Paul led off the 4th with a couple of might swings and misses for a strikeout. Dave lined out to 2B ahead of Jim’s single. Tom K. grounded out to 3B to end the scoreless frame.
End of 4th Score: Sultans 12 Braves 9
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
One of wildest finishes that I have seen as the two teams combined for 16 runs!
Sultans-not content with their three-run lead, the Sultans pounded out eight hits on their way to a six-run buffet inning. Chris and Will singled to get things rolling. Donnie laced a single to right center to score the 1st run. Peter ripped a single to left to score the 2nd run. Ray smacked a line single to center to bring in two more runs. Jeff kept the hit parade going with an RBI single to left. Jack hit into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Lucky lined out to LF for the 2nd out. Jack Adams singled to bring in the sixth run. Scott finished up a perfect 4-4 day at the plate with a sizzling grounder up the middle. Henry flew out to right to close out the inning with the Sultans “comfortably” up by nine runs!
Braves- in one of the most unlikely comebacks that I have witnessed, the Braves refused to go down and responded with twelve hits on their way to a ten-run inning and a stunning 19-18 victory. The inning started with Billy popping out to 2B. That would be the last out of the game for the Braves as the next twelve batters all reached base. Raul, Patrick and John singled to load the bases. Tommy lined a single to right to drive in the 1st run. Johnny slapped a single to right field and because all the pinch runners had been used, he had to go on his own to 1B. It was a close play, but he narrowly beat the throw and drove in a run in the process. Doc singled to bring in the 3rd run. Paul doubled to bring in the 4th and 5th runs. Dave and Jim followed with run scoring singles and suddenly the tying run was on 1B. Tom K. ripped a single to left to close the gap to a single run. Billy Hill came through with a huge single to right to score Jim and tie the game. Raul smacked a “walk off” single to left to bring in Tom’s pinch runner with the winning run. What a game!
Final Score: Braves 19 Sultans 18
Session Four Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 4th Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
6 |
3 |
0 |
0.667 |
127 |
117 |
10 |
– |
|
Keystones |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0.500 |
97 |
90 |
7 |
1.50 |
|
Sultans |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0.500 |
116 |
117 |
-1 |
1.50 |
|
Pioneers |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0.500 |
89 |
95 |
-6 |
1.50 |
|
Senators |
2 |
5 |
2 |
0.350 |
125 |
135 |
-10 |
2.50 |
The Braves’ stirring comeback win vs. the Sultans gave them some breathing room as they now hold a 1.50 game lead over three teams.
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
29 |
13 |
0 |
0.690 |
595 |
468 |
127 |
– |
|
Keystones |
19 |
21 |
0 |
0.475 |
479 |
477 |
2 |
9.00 |
|
Senators |
17 |
21 |
2 |
0.451 |
489 |
527 |
-38 |
10.00 |
|
Pioneers |
17 |
21 |
2 |
0.451 |
421 |
463 |
-42 |
10.00 |
|
Sultans |
16 |
22 |
3 |
0.427 |
467 |
516 |
-49 |
11.00 |
News & Notes:
Your editor and writer in chief of this publication will be heading out along with several other C league players for the SSUSA World Championships in Las Vegas next week. There will be no Game Day Gazettes published for either next Monday or Thursday. I will hopefully update the standings using Johnny Neville’s data upon my return.
Special thanks to Bobby Hawthorne and Greg Lloyd for keeping up the notices to the league players on the play vs. cancel vs. delay decisions in my absence. Let’s hope for continued good weather next week.
Given the number of players that will be out next week, there should be ample opportunities to pick up extra games. Please show up especially for the early game so the games can go on.
The board has voted for the C league to continue to participate with the B league in the Lupe Tortilla annual luncheon scheduled for October 27th. Thank you for all your input.
Just a quick reminder that game times will be 8:30 and 9:30 for the rest of the season. The draw times will be 8:15 and 9:15 so be here early if you want a chance to play.
Thanks, and have a great weekend!
Paul