Game Day Gazette
August 14, 2025
Today’s gazette will be abbreviated as my wife and I headed down to Fredericksburg yesterday afternoon to pick up some wine and do a little tasting so I don’t have the leisurely hours that I can normally devote to doing my write-up, hope you understand!
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Braves (0-1-0) vs. Pioneers (0-0-1)
Game Summary:
It is inconceivable (yes, I know what that word means!) that over the course of six innings in a senior slow pitch softball game, a team could only score four (4) runs! But that is exactly what the anemic Braves accomplished. I give a strong tip of the cap to Pioneer’s pitcher Sal Lopez for his masterful performance on the mound. I remember when Sal came into the league last year and said he was a pitcher, but no one really gave him a chance to prove it. Kudos to manager Jack Adams for believing in him. Sal has become one of the best pitchers in the league and now that he has added the high ball (I can attest to the difficulty in hitting it as the fouled out in two separate at bats) to his repertoire, he is downright nasty!
First & Second Inning Recap:
Braves-Paul Rubin led off with a double to left center and scored the game’s first run on a groundball to short by Lynn Simpson. Ken Brown made the throw to 1B to get the out and I went for 3B on the play. Chris Hurst’ throw was wide, and I kept running and scored. Tom Brownfield smashed a line drive double to left and scored on Jim Foelker’s single. 2nd– John Flower’s bounced out to 2B to open the inning. Barry McRee and Lucky Hoffman followed with back-to-back hits. Johnny Neville popped out to the catcher for the 2nd out. With runners on 1B and 2B, I came up and took a high pitch for a called strike and then barely got my bat on the 2nd pitch as the ball rolled forward in front of the plate but spun back into foul territory for the final out.
Senators- The Pioneers jumped into the lead as they put up three runs in the 1st. Singles by Jack Adams, Scott Wright and Mickey Poole along with a walk to Mike Carroll provided all of the firepower needed to push three across.2nd- Alex Valles lined out to 3B to lead off the inning. Chris Hurst lined a single to left but Ken Brown fouled out on a ball down the right field line for the 2nd out. Donnie Janac led the two-out rally with a single and both he and Chris’ pinch runner scored on Jack Adams’ double. Mike singled but Sal flew out to CF to close out the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Pioneers 5 Braves 2
Third Inning Recap:
Braves- scratched out a run as Lynn Simpson opened the 2nd with a clean single up the middle. After Tom B. and Dave Berra were retired on infield pop ups, Jim Foelker launched a flyball to left center that went over Mickey’s head for a run-scoring double.
Pioneers- Tom Kelm held the Pioneers scoreless in the 3rd. Scott opened the inning with a line single to right. Mickey grounded sharply to short, and I was able to glove the ball and turn a 6U 6-3 double play to quickly get two outs. Tim Heerer walked but Bubba Barnett bounced back to Tom for the final out.
End of 3rd Score: Pioneers 5 Braves 3
Fourth Inning Recap:
Braves- picked up another run on singles by Brian Rider, Barry McRee and Johnny Neville. The Braves lost a chance at a bigger inning when I fouled out for the 2nd time with runners on 1B and 2B (not my best day!) as Sal’s high ball got the best of me.
Pioneers– Tom’s pitching and the Braves defense kept them in the game as the Pioneers failed to score for the 2nd consecutive inning. Alex and Chris led off with back-to-back singles, but Ken hit into a fielder’s choice out at 3B and Donnie and Jack flew out to center and left respectively to end the threat.
End of 4th Score: Pioneers 5 Braves 4
Fifth Inning Recap:
Braves- Lynn popped out to short to open the frame. Tom B. crushed a ball to right center but unfortunately it went right to Mike Carroll’s glove for the 2nd out. Dave singled but Mickey robbed Jim of at least a double with a great running catch to end the inning.
Pioneers- finally got their bats going in the 5th. Mike and Sal started the inning with back-to-back singles. Scotty completed his perfect 3-3 day at the plate with an RBI double to right field. Mickey hit into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out, but Tim singled to drive in the 2nd run. Bubba stroked a line drive to right center and Dave made a great catch to rob Bubba of a hit. Mickey was running all of the way from 2B and crossed the plate but forgot to go back and touch the base (my observation) and was called out to retire the side.
End of 5th Score: Pioneers 7 Braves 4
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Braves- not unsurprisingly, the Braves went down without much of a fight. Mickey made another leaping catch to rob the leadoff man, Tom Kelm, of a base hit. Brian singled but John Flower’s ground into a game ending 4-6-3 double play to put the Braves out of their misery in collecting their 3rd loss in a row!
Final Score: Pioneers 7 Braves 4
Game 2 9:00 a.m. Senators (0-0-1) vs. Keystones (1-0-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Senators– failed to score in the 1st as both runners that reached base (singles by Henry Flores and Tim Coles) were wiped out on fielder’s choice groundball to the Mike Hill and Mike Mordecai duo. 2nd– Rick Parker and Roger Geras had back-to back single after one out to spearhead the Senators two-run inning. Paul Rubin flew out to left center on a nice play by John Flowers for the 2nd out. Jeff Broussard and Tom Kelm came through with back-to-back RBI singles to get the Pioneers on the board.
Keystones- the 1st three batters (Mike Hill, John Flowers and Ken Brown) all reached on singles to put up the 1st run. Tommy DeLeon’s single loaded the bases and Mike Mordecai drove in the 2nd run with a base hit to left. Senator’s pitcher Terry Thompson retired Margarito Canava on a fielder’s choice and got Robby Vickery to pop out to 2B to end the inning. 2nd– Keystones went three up and three down in the 2nd to keep the score at 2-2.
End of 2nd Score: Senators 2 Keystones 2
Third Inning Recap:
Senators– added two more runs in the inning. Terry T. bounced out to 3B on a nice play by Margarito for the 1st out. Henry singled but was forced out at 2B on Denny Malloy’s groundout. Tim hit a sky-high pop up to short CF that dropped in for an RBI double. He scored on Terry Watts line single to right.
Keystones- the top of the order came through again as Mike H., John and Ken all singled to plate the 1st run of the frame. Barry bounced into a fielder’s choice, but Tommy delivered again with an RBI single to tie the score. Mike Mordecai followed with a flyball to shallow left that Paul made a running catch on to end the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Senators 4 Keystones 4
Fourth Inning Recap:
Senators- added two more runs as the mercenaries staged a rally after two outs in the frame. Paul, Jeff, Tom and Lucky all singled to put two runs on the board.
Keystones- failed to score in the inning despite a couple of hits by Greg Tolander and Robby Vickery as they trailed by two runs after four innings.
End of 4th Score: Senators 6 Keystones 4
Fifth Inning Recap:
Senators- seemingly broke this one open with a five-run outburst to extend their lead to seven runs. Henry singled and Denny walked. Tim drove a ball to deep left field for the 1st out. Terry W. and Will singled to drive in the 1st run. Rick Parker smacked a double to left center to bring in two more runs. Roger went down swinging but Paul’s hard grounder to short skipped past Mike H. and allowed two more runs to score.
Keystones- Donnie led off the inning with a single. The top of the order then did their thing as Mike H., John and Ken all singled (combined 9-9 for the game) to account for the first two runs of the frame. After Barry and Tommy were retired, Mike M. singled in the 3rd run to end the scoring and put the Keystones back in the game.
End of 5th Score: Senators 11 Keystones 7
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
I apologize for missing most of the detail in the final inning as I am covering for Jack Kelly as interim manager for the Gray team in B league and was a little distracted!
Senators- highlights or more appropriately low lights, the Senators failed to score in the inning and Tim Coles hurt his hamstring running the bases and had to leave the game.
Keystones– things did not look good for the Keystones as they trailed by four and had the bottom of the lineup coming up in the open inning. But this is why you play the game as the Keystones used a combination of infield hits, walks and ball ricocheting off fielders to score five runs to steal this one from the Senators by a final score of 12-11.
Final Score: Keystones 12 Senators 11
Session Four Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 4th Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Sultans |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
13 |
12 |
1 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0.000 |
13 |
13 |
0 |
0.50 |
|
Senators |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0.000 |
13 |
13 |
0 |
0.50 |
|
Keystones |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.50 |
|
Braves |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0.000 |
12 |
13 |
-1 |
1.00 |
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
23 |
12 |
0 |
0.657 |
484 |
371 |
113 |
– |
|
Keystones |
16 |
17 |
0 |
0.485 |
394 |
398 |
-4 |
6.00 |
|
Senators |
15 |
17 |
1 |
0.455 |
388 |
417 |
-29 |
6.50 |
|
Pioneers |
15 |
18 |
1 |
0.441 |
352 |
385 |
-33 |
7.00 |
|
Sultans |
14 |
19 |
0 |
0.424 |
364 |
411 |
-47 |
8.00 |
Schedule for August 18, 2025
Game 1 8:00 a.m. (H) Keystones (1-0-0) vs. (V) Sultans (1-0-0)
Game 2 9:00 a.m. (H) Senators (0-1-1) vs. (V) Braves (0-2-0)
Pioneers have a bye on Monday so their players will have priority in the draw.