Game Day Gazette
April 9, 2026
A tale of two very different games marked the action on Thursday. The first game was a barn burner with the two teams combining for forty-three (43) runs on fifty-three (53) hits. The late game featured the first shut out of the season in a low scoring affair with a total of ten runs being scored between the two teams on only seventeen hits.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Red (0-7-0) vs. Green (4-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Red- still searching for their initial win of the season, Red battled throughout this game and probably deserved a better fate in the outcome. Doc Hobar led off this one with a line single to center field. Barry McRee grounded into a fielder’s choice for the first out. John Flowers marked his first game as a regular member of the big Red machine with a base hit to the right side. Ken Brown smacked a double to right center driving in both runners. Terry Watts looped a single to right center to score Ken and Red was quickly up by three runs. Bobby Hawthorne fouled out but Sal Lopez and Mickey Poole picked up the team with back-to-back RBI singles as Red tallied five runs in the 1st inning. 2nd – Mike Mordecai singled leading off the 2nd. Jack Kelly grounded to 1B, Dean Hector made the play to get the out at 1B and his throw to 2B beat Mike to complete the 3U 3-6 double play. Morris Carter ground it to short to end the inning.
Green– shorthanded with Tom Kelm, Denny Malloy and Ken Mockler gone for the game, Green picked up four players from the bucket and these mercenaries contributed mightily throughout the game. Dean Hector led off with a single to rightfield. Jack Spellman flew out to right center for the 1st out. Paul Rubin lined a single to left center and both runners scored on Tom Brownfield’s booming double to dead center. Luis Sanchez (my personal nominee for rookie of the year!) ripped a double to right to score Tom. William Powell lined a shot down the 3B line to score Luis. Rip Wright, returning to the lineup after a brief absence, wasted no time as he ripped the first pitch up the middle for a single. The first of the mercenaries, Bobby Miller, capped off the five-run first with a line single down the right field line. 2nd– The mercenaries jump started the 2nd inning as all three batters reached base. Jack Adams led off with a single, Terry Thompson walked and Phil singled to load the bases. Dean brought in the 1st run with a single up the middle. Jack S. brought in the 2nd run with a sacrifice fly to right center. Paul grounded sharply up the middle and the ball narrowly evaded Patrick Schmidt in the outfield and resulted in a two-run triple. Tom B. finished off Green’s 2nd five-run inning with a ringing single to right center.
End of 2nd Score: Green 10 Red 5
Third Inning Recap:
Red- down by five runs, Red battled back to close the lead to a single run. Their lone mercenary, Patrick Schmidt, led off the 3rd with a single to right center. Doc followed suit with another base hit to the same area. Barry bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. John popped a shallow flyball to right that fell in for a single to drive in Patrick. Ken smacked another two-bagger to right center to score Barry with the 2nd run. Terry W. popped out to 1B for the 2nd out. Bobby Hawthorne came up with the big two-out hit as his single to left scored both John and Ken. The inning closed as Sal popped out to Jack to retire the side.
Green- continued to pound the ball as they put up their 3rd consecutive five-run inning to push the lead to six runs. Luis led off with a drive to CF that looked like it was going to get over John’s head for extra bases. But not so fast my friends, somehow John caught up with the ball and made one of the best catches of this young season for the 1st out. Not to be deterred, the next three batters (William, Rip and Bobby) all reached to load the bases. Jack A. drove in the first two with a single to center. Terry knocked in the 3rd run with a liner to left. Phil’s looping single to right loaded the bases for the top of the lineup. Dean ripped a single to right to drive in the 4th run. Jack S. hit a flyball to right center that was deep enough to bring Terry in from 3B to complete the five-run inning.
End of 3rd Score: Green 15 Red 9
Fourth Inning Recap:
Red– I will admit I may have missed a few details in this frame, but the bottom line is that Red refused to give in and bounced back with a five-run inning of their own to stay within striking distance. Mickey led off the inning with a single. At this point, P Luis Sanchez began to struggle with his control and ended up walking the next three batters (Mike, Morris and Jack) to force in the 1st run. Patrick laced a single to right center to bring in two more runs. Doc finished off the inning with another two-run single to cap off the five-run 4th.
Green– with the lead down to one run, Green responded with their fourth five-run inning of the game. Paul led off with a double to left center on a cheap hit off the end of the bat. Tom B. continued to rake as his sharp single up the middle to bring Paul in with the first run. Luis reached on an infield single. P Sal Lopez retired the next two batters, and it looked like Red might get out of the inning. Green’s hired guns did not cooperate. Bobby doubled to right to bring in the 2nd run and Jack A. followed with a two-run single to left. Terry loaded the bases with a single to left center and Phil brought in the 5th run with a sharp single through the right side.
End of 4th Score: Green 20 Red 14
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Red- chasing six runs, Red came out on fire in the buffet. Terry Thompson came in for relief in the open inning but the change in pitchers did not slow down the Red storm. Barry, John and Ken all reached to load the bases with nobody out. Terry W. drove in the 1st run with a single to right center. Bobby H. followed with a single to left to bring in two more runs. Sal slapped a ball to left center, but Paul was playing on the line and his throw to Jack at 3B beat the runner from 2B by a step to get the first out. Mickey got his 3rd hit of the day to load the bases yet again. Mike hit a ball sharply up the middle to drive in Bobby H. but Bobby M. quickly pounced on the ball and fired to 3B to force out the runner for the 2nd out of the inning. Jack K. launched a ball to right field for an RBI single as Red continued to attack. Morris lined a single up the middle to drive in another run to tie the game. Patrick completed his perfect 3-3 day with a run-scoring single to give Red the lead. Doc grounded one back to Terry for the final out.
Green- with the top of the order looming, Green only needed one run to tie and two to escape with the victory. Dean drew a walk to open the inning and Bobby M. entered the game as a pinch runner. Jack S. launched a ball over John’s head for a double and Bobby easily scored ahead of him to tie the game. Paul hit a slow roller up the middle that was just out of Doc’s reach for a walk-off single as Green narrowly defeated Red. Tip of the cap to Red as they continue to fight but come up just short. I know it’s just a matter of time before they break into the win column!
Final Score: Green 22 Red 21
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Gray (7-2-0) vs. Blue (3-4-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Gray– after losing a heartbreaker to this same Blue squad, Gray was clearly seeking to avenge that upset loss. Gray greatly benefitted from the return of Tim Coles to the starting lineup for today’s game. Scott Wright led off the game with a sharp single to center field. Mike Carroll drew a walk, but Peter Atkins was retired on a comebacker to the pitcher for the first out. Tim Coles followed with a majestic drive to center that Jim Maloy almost made a play on. Tim chugged around the bases, refusing to stop until he touched them all resulting in a three -run home run. Ray Pilgrim ripped a single to left but was forced out at 2B on Lynn Simpson’s grounder to short. Phil hit a smash up the middle, but Raul made a great play to spear the line drive to retire the side. 2nd– P Raul DeLeon continued to be vexed by the longball in the 2nd. Margarito Canava led off with a single to center but was forced out on Larry Coon’s grounder to short. New guy, Nick Roberts, went down swinging and it looked like Raul might get out of the inning. Ken Brown had other ideas as he laced a perfectly placed ball down the right field line and circled the bases for a two-run home run. Scott and Mike followed with back-to-back singles, but Raul got Peter on a pop up to short to retire the side.
Blue-little controversy before Blue took their turn at bat. Blue had twelve players show up for today’s game, yet they drew Bobby Miller as the priority player out of the bucket. Not sure how this happened but in retrospect, Blue should not have drawn anyone, and Gray should have taken Bobby as their only pick out of the bucket (although Ken Brown was a pretty sweet consolation prize). I would ask all players to arrive at the ball park at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of your game AND let your manager or his designee know you are there. We did offer to let Gray select another player since Blue was playing with thirteen, but they opted to stick with their existing lineup. Don Roets led off the inning with a single to center field. Henry Flores launched a deep flyball to left center that was over Lynn’s head but Peter Atkins, playing the free safety position like an all-pro, ranged to his left and caught the ball for the 1st out. Mike Hill grounded to 3B and Scott’s throw to 2B barely beat Don to the base for the force at 2B. Jim Maloy grounded out to short to end the inning. 2nd– P Ray Pilgrim set down the Blue man group without a hit in the 2nd. Donnie Janac bounced back to Ray for the 1st out. Jeff Broussard drew a walk but was forced out at 2B on Chris Hurst’s groundball to short. Raul DeLeon, back in the lineup after being out for a few weeks, grounded sharply to Tim at short and he made the play to 1B to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Gray 5 Blue 0
Third Inning Recap:
Gray- Tim led off the 2nd with a hard-hit single to left center. Ray bounced one back to Raul and he fired to 2B to get the lead runner. Mike Hill completed the 1-6-3 double play to quickly get two outs. Lynn and Phil followed with back-to-back singles but Raul wriggled his way out of the jam by getting Margarito to pop out to short.
Blue- continued to struggle at the plate as all three batters hit routine flyballs for outs in the inning. Lucky Hoffman and Dave Berra flew out to Peter in center and Leon Citoka flew out to Henry Flores in left field for a very quick 1-2-3 inning.
End of 3rd Score: ray 5 Blue 0
Fourth Inning Recap:
Gray-broke this one open with a five-run outburst in the 4th. Larry singled to left to start the frame and he moved to 2B on Ken’s one-out single to left center. Scott smashed a double down the right field line to drive in a run. Mike followed with a single just inside the 1B line to score two more runs. Peter walked to load the bases. Tim hit a flyball to right that was plenty deep to get the runner home from 3B. Ray drilled a single to left to drive in two more and cap off the five-run inning.
Blue– another three up three down inning for Ray. Daniel Baladez was retired on a humpback liner to short. Bobby Miller grounded one back to Ray for the 2nd out as Blue finally worked their way through the batting order for the first time in the game! Don flew out to right center on a nice catch by Phil to retire the side.
End of 4th Score: Gray 10 Blue 0
Fifth Inning Recap:
Gray– failed to add to their lead despite getting the first two runners (Lynn and Phil) on base to start the inning. Margarito and Larry hit into back-to-back fielder’s choice groundouts before Nick was retired to close out the inning.
Blue– showed a little life at the plate with two hits and a walk but still failed to score in the frame. Henry singled to start the inning. Mike fouled out and Jim M. flew out to CF for the 2nd out. Donnie singled and Jeff drew his 2nd walk in as many at bats to load the bases. However, Ray kept the shut out intact by getting Chris to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
End of 5th Score: Gray 10 Blue 0
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Blue– At this point, the team’s flip flopped and Blue remained at the plate. Now down by ten runs, Blue was just looking for something positive to come out of the buffet. Back-to-back singles by Raul and Lucky leading off the inning gave Blue a glimmer of hope. But Ray shut them down to preserve his gem of a pitching performance. Dave grounded to short for the first out, Leon flew out to Peter (his 5th putout of the day) for the 2nd and Daniel ground into a fielder’s choice at 2B for the final out. Gray is back!
Final Score: Gray 10 Blue 0
Session 1 Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 1st Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
8 |
2 |
0 |
0.800 |
139 |
86 |
53 |
– |
|
Green |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0.714 |
93 |
74 |
19 |
1.50 |
|
Orange |
4 |
3 |
0 |
0.571 |
85 |
75 |
10 |
2.50 |
|
Blue |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0.375 |
60 |
99 |
-39 |
4.00 |
|
Red |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0.000 |
79 |
122 |
-43 |
7.00 |
The first session ends 4/20/26 so there is not much time left for either Green or Orange to catch the front running Gray group.
Next Games: Monday April 13, 2026
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Orange (4-3-0) vs. Blue (3-5-0)
Can Blue flush any thoughts of the 10-0 shellacking by Gray and regain their earlier form to challenge the Orange team?
Gray has umpiring duties for this one.
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Gray (8-2-0) vs. Green (5-2-0)
Green is the only other team that has taken down the mighty Gray team. Last time out, Gray easily thumped Green so who knows what will happen in this one. All will be revealed on Monday!
Orange will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Red will have a bye on Monday so their players (along with the unassigned players) will have priority in the draw.
Weather update:
Storms are predicted to hit all over central Texas this weekend so check your email and the ASSL website for updates on Monday to see if the games will be cancelled.