Game Day Gazette
April 3,2025
Another threat of rain but the games must go on even when the humidity is over 80%. We have been very lucky so far this year as it relates to weather and I’m hoping this will not jinx that! With ten game days already in the books, we are 67% of the way to completing the first session of the 2025 season. Time flies when you are playing ball!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Sultans (3-4-0) vs. Pioneers (4-3-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Pioneers– wasted no time in putting last Monday’s shutout loss to the Braves in the rear-view mirror as the Big Blue exploded for five runs on eight hits in the initial frame. Scott Wright led off the game with a line single to right (stop me if it seems like every game starts this way for the Pioneers, welcome to the league, Scott!) Jack Adams, back from a multi-game absence, stroked a double. Mike Carroll lined an opposite field single to score both runners. Buddy Gaswint smacked a double to right center and Art Monzingo’s single brought in two more runners. Sal Lopez singled but Art was thrown out at 3B for the first out of the inning. Bubba Barnett singled to move Sal to 2B and he then scored on Mickey Poole’s base hit to RF for the 5th run. 2nd–Jack Kelly settled down and held the Pioneers without a run in the 2nd. The only hit was on a groundball to IB by Patrick Schmidt that Lucky Hoffman made a great stop on. However, Patrick’s speed allowed him to narrowly beat Lucky to the base for an infield single.
Sultans– looked a little sluggish after Mondays off day as Sal Lopez retired the first two batters. Gary Coyle delivered a two=out single to start a mini rally for the Sultans. Ray Pilgrim and Adam Gordon followed with back-to-back hits to score the Sultan’s only run of the inning. 2nd– Jack Kelly led off the 2nd with an opposite field single (don’t always trust the scouting report!). Jeff Broussard followed with a line a single to right center. Ray Saldana popped out to the pitcher for the 1st out. Chris Villareal’s single brought in the only run of the inning as the Sultans trailed after two innings.
End of 2nd Score: Pioneers 5 Sultans 2
Third Inning Recap:
Pioneers– the top of the order continued to rake in the 3rd as the Pioneers put up their 2nd five run inning of the game. Jack singled to open the inning. Mike followed with a single and both runners scored on Buddy’s 2nd double of the game. Art was retired on groundball to 2B for the 1st out. The next three batters all reached base as Sal, Bubba and Mickey singled to bring in the 3rd run. Gene Nelson put a bow on the inning with a two run bases loaded single as the Pioneers stretched their lead to nine runs.
Sultans- were unable to push across any runs in the 3rd. After one out, Ray P. singled and Adam walked but Lucky bounced into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Pioneers 10 Sultans 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- continuing an interesting pattern, the Pioneers followed up their 2nd five run inning with their 2nd successive shutout inning. Patrick opened the inning with a fly out to CF on a nice running catch by Buddy. Barry McRee singled but Jack got Scott to popout to Gary at SS for the 2nd out. Jack Adamas singled to extend the inning, but Mike was retired on a nice play by Gary on a sinking liner to SS for the final out.
Sultans- were able to put up three runs in the inning to narrow the Pioneers lead to six runs. Jack K. led off with a single. Jeff, Ray S. and Chris followed with hits to score the 1st run. Phil’s one-out singled plated two additional Sultans. Donnie walked to load the bases but Sal retired Gary on a foul out and Buddy made another fine running catch on Ray’s line drive to deep center for the final out of the inning.
End of 4th Score: Pioneers 10 Sultans 5
Fifth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- if it’s an odd numbered inning, it probably means another five run inning for the Pioneers and that was the case! Buddy led off the inning with his 3rd double of the game and scored on Art’s single. Sal and Mickey singled to load the bases. Gene followed with a bases clearing double giving his five RBIs on the day. Barry singled to move him to 3B, and he scored on Scott’s single for the fifth run.
Sultans- responded with their own five run inning to keep this one in reach. Mike C. came into pitch and was rocked for five runs on seven hits (sorry, Mike!). Adam, Lucky and Jack all had singles to start the inning. Jeff’s single drove in the 1st run. Ray hit into a fielder’s choice but a run did score on the play. Chris singled to load the bases and Bobby Hawthorne followed with an RBI single bringing in two runs. Phil’s single brought in the 5th run
End of 5th Score: Pioneers 15 Sultans 10
Sixth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- rare that we get a full six inning game in but here we are… Pioneers padded their lead with a four-run outburst in the buffet. Jack Adams completed his perfect 4-4 day at the plate with a leadoff single. Mike singled to move Jack to 3B, and Buddy singled him home (completing his own 4-4 perfect day). Art singled and Sal had his 4th hit of the day to drive in two more runs. Bubba hit into a double play groundout for the 1st two outs. Mickey singled for his 4th hit of the day (4th Pioneer player to have a perfect 4-4 day at the plate!). Gene followed with an RBI single (his sixth RBI for the day!) that brought in the 4th and final run of the frame.
Sultans-now down by nine runs, the Sultans went out quietly in the final frame. Sal was back on the hill to close out the game and proceeded to blank the Sultans without a run on one hit as the Pioneers completed their impressive win over the Sultans.
Final Score: Pioneers 19 Sultans 10
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Senators (2-5-0) vs. Braves (5-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Braves- flying high after their dominating 14-0 victory over the Pioneers on Monday (according to ASSL historian, Johnny Neville, this may have been the first actual shutout in league history!), the Braves quickly came back to earth with a dismal performance on Thursday. Lynn Simpson fouled out leading off the inning. Bobby Miller doubled and moved to 3B on Paul Rubin’s single up the middle off Raul DeLeon’s glove. Tom Brownfield singled to score Bobby as Paul moved to 3B and later scored on Tom Kelm’s sacrifice fly to left field for the 2nd run of the inning. 2nd– Raul shut down the Braves in order in the 2nd on two groundball outs and a strike out.
Senators- looking up at the league leaders from their current place in the cellar, the Senators did not play like a last place team and put up five runs in the opening frame. Terry Thompson led off with a line drive single to left that got under Patrick’s glove for a leadoff triple. Denny Malloy blasted a “true” triple to right center for the 1st run. Jerry Mylius knocked in Denny for the Senator’s 2nd run. Raul DeLeon single moved Jerry to 2B and he scored on Kurt Ashmos’ hit to left field. Henry popped out to shortstop for the 2nd out. Greg Lloyd ripped a shot to right field for a triple that scored two more runs as the Senators grabbed an early 5-2 lead. 2nd– Roger Geras looped a double to right to start the inning and his pinch runner scored on Ken Brown’s double for the Senators only run of the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Senators 6 Braves 2
Third Inning Recap:
Braves- an inning that was loaded with possibilities quickly turned with some questionable base running by the Braves. Jim Foelker singled with one out and was forced out at 2B on Patrick’s fielder’s choice grounder to SS. Lynn stroked a single to right center and Patrick was thrown out at 3B on an extremely close play at the bag. Lynn tried to advance to 2B on the play and Kurt’s throw to the base beat him for an inning ending double play (and no runs for the Braves!)
Senators- Jerry and Raul opened the inning with back-to-back doubles for the 1st run. Terry Watts ripped a shot to center field for an RBI triple and the Senator’s 2nd run. Kurt singled to score Terry with the 3rd run. Ken’s triple scored the 4th run as the Senators grabbed an eight-run lead after three innings.
End of 3rd Score: Senators 10 Braves 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Braves- scratched out three runs to cut the Senators lead down to five runs. Bobby led off with an inside the park home run and there was hope on the Braves side. Paul doubled and Tom B. drove him home with a double. Tom Kelm’s two-base hit scored Tom with the 3rd run of the inning. Earl King (welcome back!) hit a grounder between 1B and 2B and took off for the base but forgot that Paul was running from the plate and was called out once he passed the “commitment “line for the 1st out. Raul retired Dave and Brian to avoid any further damage.
Senators– Earl retired the Senators in order in the 4th inning, getting Donnie and Terry T. to ground out to Tom B. at 3B (excellent throws to Joe Dayoc at 1B). Denny hit a line drive to Tom K. at 2B for the final out of the inning.
End of 4th Score: Senators 10 Braves 5
Fifth Inning Recap:
Braves- somehow the ball got dropped between Brain Rider and me (thank you Brian for your help!) so I have no details for the Braves 5th inning other than they failed to score!
Senators– singles by Raul, Terry W. and Kurt loaded the bases with one out. Henry came up big with a triple to clear the bases as the Senators jumped to an eight-run lead.
End of 5th Score: Senators 13 Braves 5
Sixth Inning Recap:
Braves- Down by eight and the heart of the Braves order coming up, there was still some hope for the visitors. Unfortunately, Raul had other ideas in mind, and he quickly dispatched the Braves hitters in order. Bobby and Paul both grounded back to the pitcher and Tom B. popped out to 1B as Greg Lloyd made a nice catch to end the game.
Final Score: Senators 13 Braves 5
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
5 |
3 |
0 |
0.625 |
103 |
82 |
21 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
5 |
3 |
0 |
0.625 |
90 |
90 |
0 |
– |
|
Keystones |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0.500 |
113 |
107 |
6 |
1.00 |
|
Senators |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0.375 |
104 |
106 |
-2 |
2.00 |
|
Sultans |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0.375 |
97 |
122 |
-25 |
2.00 |
Each team has now played the other teams twice and only two games separate the leaders from the cellar dwellers. This should not be a surprise as this sems to be the pattern every year.
Next Games: Monday April 7, 2025
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Sultans (3-5-0) vs. Braves (5-3-0)
Can the Braves bounce back from Thursday’s loss to maintain their place atop the C league standings or will the Sultans rise up and knock off the Braves and further tighten the overall league standings.
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Keystones (4-4-0) vs. Pioneers (5-3-0)
Game of the day with the resurgent Pioneers taking on the powerful Keystones. A win by the Keystones coupled with a loss by the Braves in the early game would result in a three-way tie for the overall lead.
The Senators will have a bye on Monday and their players will have priority in the draw.