Game Day Gazette
August 7, 2025
We found out on Wednesday that one of our fellow Austin Senior Softball players, James Chavana (last played in B league in 2023) had unexpectedly passed away. James was one of the nicest guys I have ever met and was a great player and a great teammate. We never know when our time on this earth will come to an end, but we need to appreciate every day that we get a chance to come out here and play softball. I know sometimes we get upset about something that happens on the field or simply making an out, but we are all very lucky to be healthy enough to play this game that we love so much. Ok back to the games.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Pioneers (2-8-0) vs. Keystones (5-5-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Pioneers- looking to extend their two-game win streak, the Pioneers were slow out of the gate in this one (bye day impact?). Jack Adams led off with a clean single to left. Mike Carroll ripped a single to right center to move Jack to 3B. Sal Lopez bounced to 3B, and Margarito Canava made the relay to get the force at 2B for the 1st out as Jack crossed the plate with the 1st Pioneer’s run. Scott Wright drilled a hard grounder to 1B, and Robby Vickery made a great stop to knock down the ball and beat Scott to the base for the 2nd out. Tim Heerer followed with an infield hit as Sal moved to 3B. Alex Valles hit a sharp grounder up the middle and Mike Mordecai made a spectacular play as he rolled over and tossed the ball to Mike Hill for the force at 2B to retire the side. 2nd– Larry King opened the inning with a ground single through the 5/6 hole. Chris Hurst popped out to short, and Bubba Barnett was retired for the 2nd out. Bobby Miller lined a single to right, but Ray Pilgrim flew out to Patrick Schmidt to end the inning.
Keystones-big question was what version of the Big Red Machine would show up for today’s game. The team that scored 19 runs to manhandle the Braves last week or the team that could only scratch out four runs against Ray Pilgrim and the Sultans on Monday. The answer came quickly with back-to-back five-run innings as the Keystones quickly seized control of this one. They sent up eight batters in the 1st inning and everyone reached base on singles that were sprayed all over the field. Mike Hill and Patrick Schmidt set the table for Ken Brown’s RBI single for the 1st run. Barry McRee laced a single to left to score Patrick with the 2nd run. Tommy DeLeon’s single past the shortstop scored Ken with the 3rd run. Mike Mordecai singled up the middle to load the bases. Margarito Canava looped a fly to left that fell in front of Ray Pilgrim for an RBI single. Robby Vickery capped off the five-run outburst with a line single to right. 2nd- same song, second verse but the Keystones made two outs in route to their 2nd five-run inning. Greg Tolander led off with an infield single. He was forced out at 2B on Johnny Neville’s grounder to short. Donnie Janac and Mike H. had back-to-back hits to bring in the 1st run. Patrick flew out to CF for the 2nd out. Ken (welcome addition back to the lineup!) hit a sinking liner to right center, that Mike Carroll narrowly missed, for a two-run double. Barry grounded to short but Jack’s throw to 1B sailed over Larry’s head, allowing Ken to score from 2B. Tommy walked, and Mike M. reached on an infield hit. The Pioneers went home on the play, but it was wide and Barry scored the 5th run.
End of 2nd Score: Keystones 10 Pioneers 1
Third Inning Recap:
Pioneers- bounced back with a couple of runs in a rally that was cut short by another great defensive play by the Keystones dynamic middle infield duo (Mike H. and Mike M.). Jack and Mike C. led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Sal reached on a ground ball hit just out of Mike H.’s reach to load the bases. Scotty followed with a line-shot up the middle to drive in two runs. Tim hit a looping flyball to short left center that looked to drop in for a base hit. Mike H. was somehow able to track the ball down and make an unbelievable catch for the out. Sal was already moving to 3B on the hit so he was easily thrown out at 2B to complete the double play. Alex and Larry followed with singles to load the bases but Tommy was able to get Chris to ground out to 3B to end the inning.
Keystones- continued to rake as the Keystones put up their 3rd five-run inning of the game. The first three batters (Margarito, Robby and Greg) all reached to load the bases. Johnny popped a flyball down the right field line to drive in two runs. Donnie bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Mike H. singled to right center to bring Greg home with the 3rd run. Patrick went down swinging for the 2nd out. Ken blooped a short fly to right that fell in for an RBI double and he scored the final run on Barry’s hit to left.
End of 3rd Score: Keystones 15 Pioneers 3
Fourth Inning Recap:
Pioneers– Bubba went down on strikes leading off the 4th. Bobby and Ray followed with back-to-back singles. Jack singled down the 3B line to drive in Bobby with the 1st run. Mike C. and Sal both grounded out to short to retire the side.
Keystones- Tommy led off the frame with a ringing double to right center but Sal was able to retire the next three batters to keep the Keystones lead at 11 runs.
End of 4th Score: Keystones 15 Pioneers 4
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Pioneers- the inning got off to a promising start as Scotty led off with a sharp single up the middle. Tim drew a walk to put runners on 1B and 2B. Alex crushed a flyball to left center that sailed over Patrick’s head for a two-run double. Larry went down on strikes and Chris flew out to CF. Bubba singled to extend the game but Bobby lined out to Robby at 1B to close out this commanding win for the Keystones.
Final Score: Keystones 15 Pioneers 6
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Braves (8-3-) vs. Sultans (5-5-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Braves-having clinched the session title with their win over the Senators on Monday, the Braves appeared to have lost the sense of urgency that they displayed in destroying the Senators. Despite that, they came out with guns blazing as the first eight batters reached base in their five-run 1st inning. Paul Rubin led off with a base on balls as Ray Pilgrim struggled to find the strike zone. Bobby Miller ripped a shot to right center to put runners on 2B and 3B. Tom Brownfield smashed a line drive to left center for a two-run double. Lynn Simpson and Dave Berra followed with back-to-back singles to bring in the 3rd run. Billy Hill singled to drive in the 4th run and mercenary, Terry Thompson brought home the final run with a sharply hit ball to left. 2nd– Jack Adams fouled out to open the 2nd inning. Scott Wright singled but was erased on Morris Carter’s groundball to short. Paul started the Braves two-out rally with a line single to left center. Bobby’s single loaded the bases and the big man, Tom B., came through again with a line single to left bringing in two more runs. Lynn bounced out to 2B for the final out of the inning.
Sultans- hoping to build on Monday’s impressive take down of the Keystones, the Sultans struggled against mercenary pitcher, Terry Thompson in the early going. Phil Stanch led off with a clean single to right. Donnie Janac grounded to Bobby Miller at short and he turned a 6U 6-3 double play to get two quick outs. Gary Coyle singled but Peter was retired to close out the inning. 2nd– Ray Pilgrim flew out to CF on a nice catch by Lynn for the 1st out. Jeff Broussard and Adam Gordon followed with back-to-back singles. Luther Elmore ground out to short as both runners advanced. Ken Brown smacked a double to right center to bring in both runners. Patrick Schmidt singled but Terry was able to retire Barry McRee on a comebacker to the mound to end the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Braves 7 Sultans 2
Third Inning Recap:
Braves- P Ray Pilgrim shut down the Braves on four pitches in the inning. Dave popped out to 2B, Tom K. lined out to 3B, and Billy went down swinging in what may have been the fastest inning on record in terms of elapsed time!
Sultans– momentum clearly shifted to the “Royals” in the 3rd as they paraded eight batters to the plate, scored five runs and never made an out. Phil, Donnie and Gary opened the frame with singles to load the bases with nobody out. Peter drove in the 1st run with a line single to right center. Ray followed with a screaming line drive to right (yes, I did use the term right field and Ray Pilgrim in the same sentence!) that found a gap and rolled to the fence for a baes clearing three run double. Jeff singled to move Ray to 3B and Adam beat out an infield hit to load the bases. Luther delivered with a line single up the middle to drive in Ray with the Sultan’s 5th run of the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Sultans 7 Braves 7
Fourth Inning Recap:
Braves-Terry led off the 4th with a short fly to left that fell in for a base hit. He was forced out at 2B on Jack’s slow roller to short. Scott slashed a single past the mound to put runners on 1B and 2B. Morris fouled out for the 2nd out. Paul doubled to left center on a ball that caromed off Peter’s leg on his attempted shoestring catch. Bobby singled to left to drive in two more runs. Tom B. just got under the ball on his fly out to left to end the inning.
Sultans- put up their 2nd consecutive five-run inning to take the lead for the first time in the game. Ken led off the inning by grounding out to Bobby at shortstop. Patrick and Barry followed with singles to set the table for the top of the lineup. Phil had his 3rd hit of the day to drive in Patrick. Donnie smacked a hard grounder up the middle for an RBI single. Gary crushed a drive to left field that went well over Jack’s head for a two-run triple. Peter hit a deep fly ball to left that allowed Gary to tag up and score the 5th run easily.
End of 4th Score: Sultans 12 Braves 10
Fifth Inning Recap:
Braves- Lynn and Dave singled to start the 5th as the Braves found themselves trailing for the first time. Tom K. and Billy each made solid contact, but both were retired on flyouts to center and left field, respectively. Terry loaded the bases with his 3rd hit of the game. Jack followed with a line single to left to score two runners and tie the score. Scott popped up to short to end the frame.
Sultans- continued their impressive hitting as they posted their 3rd five-run inning of the game. They sandwiched five singles and Ken’s two-run double around a single out to produce the five runs. Phil finished off a perfect 4-4 day at the plate with an RBI single to drive in the 5th run of the inning.
End of 5th Score: Sultans 17 Braves 12
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Braves- chasing five but with the top of the order looming, the Braves were confident heading into the open inning. Morris singled to start the inning. Paul bounced into a fielder’s choice out at 2B for the 1st out. Bobby fouled out as his drive down the left field line drifted foul for the 3rd strike. Tom B. hit one back to Ray for the final out as the Sultans came away with an impressive 17-12 victory.
Final Score: Sultans 17 Braves 12
Session Three Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 3rd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
8 |
4 |
0 |
0.667 |
167 |
129 |
38 |
– |
|
Senators |
6 |
5 |
0 |
0.545 |
111 |
117 |
-6 |
1.50 |
|
Keystones |
6 |
5 |
0 |
0.545 |
124 |
108 |
16 |
1.50 |
|
Sultans |
6 |
5 |
0 |
0.545 |
108 |
115 |
-7 |
1.50 |
|
Pioneers |
2 |
9 |
0 |
0.182 |
89 |
130 |
-41 |
5.50 |
Braves extra game due to higher number of rain outs occurring on their bye dates. The Braves only ended up winning the session by 1.50 as three teams tied for 2nd place. This bodes well for a highly contested stretch run as any of these teams have shown they can beat the Braves.
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
23 |
10 |
0 |
0.697 |
468 |
351 |
117 |
– |
|
Senators |
15 |
16 |
0 |
0.484 |
364 |
392 |
-28 |
7.00 |
|
Keystones |
15 |
17 |
0 |
0.469 |
382 |
387 |
-5 |
7.50 |
|
Pioneers |
14 |
18 |
0 |
0.438 |
332 |
368 |
-36 |
8.50 |
|
Sultans |
13 |
19 |
0 |
0.406 |
351 |
399 |
-48 |
9.50 |
Assuming no rainouts, there are twenty-four (24) games left to be played in the season, so it is still wide open as far as the run for the shirts!
Schedule for August 11, 2025
NEW START TIMES BEGIN ON MONDAY AUGUST 11TH. FIRST GAME AT 8:00 A.M.; SECOND GAME AT 9:00 A.M.
Please note that game times starting on Monday 8/11/25 will be thirty (30) minutes earlier than the current times. Please try to be at the field at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
Game 1 8:00 a.m. (H) Senators (0-0-0) vs. (V) Pioneers (0-0-0)
Game 2 9:00 a.m. (H) Braves (0-0-0) vs. (V) Sultans (0-0-0)
Keystones have a bye on Monday so their players will have priority in the draw.