Game Day Gazette
July 2, 2026
Welcome to the “early bird” special! Today marks the start of our summer hours as we set the alarm for thirty minutes ahead to make sure we make it to the ballpark for our 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. start times. Thanks to everyone for helping to make this a smooth transition. The plan is to keep these hours in place until Labor Day. Now back to the games…
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Orange (1-2-0) vs. Green (2-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Orange– fresh off their 10-0 shellacking of Red on Monday and having Bobby Miller in the lineup for the 2nd straight game, Orange had to be feeling good about their chances in this one. They wasted no time in showing they are in it to win it as they rocked P Tom Kelm for nine runs on thirteen hits in the first two frames. Adam Gordon and Terry Thompson started things off with back-to-back singles. Jack Adams laced a double to right center to drive in the first run. Bobby Miller followed with a sharp grounder to 2B that got past Dean and ended up as a two-run double. Steve Kendig drilled a base hit up the middle to score Bobby with the 4th run. Jim Foelker followed with a single. Barry McRee grounded into a fielder’s choice at 3B for the 1st out of the inning. Luther Elmore singled to load the bases, and Jerry Mylius lined a single to right to drive in the 5th run. 2nd – Patrick Schmidt flew out to left center to open the 2nd inning. John Flower drew a walk and scored on Ray Pilgrim’s booming double over my head in left center. Adam reached on an infield single to move Ray to 3B. He scored on Terry’s single to center. Jax followed with his 2nd double of the game to bring Adam across for Orange’s 3rd run. Bobby flew out to left on a nice running catch by Tom Brownfield for the 2nd out. Steve delivered with a base hit to left center to push across the 4th run before Jim was retired to close out the frame.
Green– looking up at a nine-run deficit, Green struggled coming out of the gate in this one. Paul Rubin fouled out to open the inning. Jack Spellman lined a hit to right to reach base. Denny Malloy lined out to 2B Jack Adams and Jack’s snap throwback to 1B apparently beat Jack S. to the base for an inning ending double play. It appeared that Jack did make it back to the base ahead of the throw but I heard later that he reached the orange bag rather than the white one and that is out of play except when a runner is coming from the plate. 2nd – Tom Brownfield flew out to left center to open the 2nd inning. Mickey Poole bounced out to short for the 2nd out. Dean Hector reached on an infield single to extend the inning. Tom Kelm lined a single to center and Robby Vickery looped a base hit to right, scoring Green’s first run. William Powell grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the threat.
End of 2nd Score: Orange 9 Green 1
Third Inning Recap:
Orange– continued to get contributions up and down the lineup as Orange padded their lead with a three-run outburst in the 3rd. Barry and Luther led off with back-to-back singles. Patrick smacked a single to right center to drive in the 1st run. John worked his 2nd walk to load the bases. Ray, staying hot at the plate, ripped a stinging single up the middle to plate two more runs.
Green- finally got untracked and put up a five spot to get back within striking distance. Larry King reached on an infield single to lead off the frame. Gary Coyle followed with a single down the 3B line. Raul DeLeon launched a flyball to left center over Patrick’s head for a two-run triple. Paul lined a single up the middle to bring in Raul with the 3rd run. Jack smacked a double to right to put runners on 2B and 3B. Denny stepped up and drove in both runners with a hard single to left to cap off the five-run frame.
End of 3rd Score: Orange 12 Green 6
Fourth Inning Recap:
Orange– showing no quit, Orange kept pounding the ball as they put up their 2nd five-run inning to extend their lead to eleven runs. Jack led off the inning with a single past 3B. Bobby doubled to left to move Jack to 3B. Steve reached on an infield single to load the bases. Jim proceeded to launch a high fly to deep center that soared over Gary’s head for a crushing grand slam home run. Not satisfied with anything less than the five-run max, Barry and Luther followed with back-to-back singles. Jerry ripped a single down the 3B line to load the bases with nobody out. Patrick drove in the 5th run with a sacrifice fly to right center to end the inning.
Green– P Terry Thompson shut down Green in the 4th to keep the lead at eleven runs. Tom reached on a pop fly single to open the frame. Mickey ground into a 5-4-3 double play started by Adam to dampen Green hopes for a big inning. Dean singled but was erased on Tom K.’s groundball to 3B on another nice defensive play by Adam.
End of 4th Score: Orange 17 Green 6
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
With Orange holding an eleven (11) run lead, the teams flip flopped and Green remained at the plate for their buffet inning.
Green-with the odds stacked against them, Green said what the heck and proceeded to play freely on their way to an eight-run inning. Robby opened the buffet with a line single to right center. William smoked a single through the 5/6 hole. P Terry T. showed a rare loss of control and walked Larry and Gary to force in the 1st run. Raul singled to center to drive in the 2nd run. Paul’s liner to short caromed off Bobby’s glove for another RBI single. Jack and Denny followed with back-to-back RBI singles to the right side. Tom B. lined a single to right center to plate the 6th run of the inning. Mickey hit a low liner to center that looked like it might drop in for a hit, but Patrick got a good jump on the ball and secured the catch for the 1st out. Dean smacked his 3rd hit of the game to score Jack, and it looked like Green might just be able to pull off a miracle. Tom K. kept the dream alive with another hit to right center to drive in the eighth run. But alas, all good things must come to an end and so it was to be for the Green giants. Robby grounded to short and Bobby started a game ending 6-4-3 double play to secure the win for the Burnt Orange crew!
Final Score: Orange 17 Green 14
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Red (0-2-0) vs. Blue (2-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Red- the enigma that is the Red team’s season continued last Monday as they failed to put up any runs in a ten-run loss to Orange. On paper, this team should be competitive with any other team in the league but that has not been translated to the playing field. Looking to change that narrative, Red was taking on a Blue coming off a bye. Following a similar pattern as the early game, Red stormed out to a commanding lead with a nine-run outburst in the first two frames. Doc Hobar led off with a single to right center. John Flowers found a gap on the right side and slapped a single as Doc moved to 3B. Patrick Schmidt smacked a single up the middle to drive in the 1st run. Ken Brown’s double to right center drove in two more runs and Red was off and going. Gene Nelson, back in the lineup for the 2nd time in as many weeks, drove a ball to deep right center for a triple to easily score Ke, Terry hit one back to the pitcher for the only out as Sal drilled a ball over the third baseman’s head for an RBI single to complete the five-run inning. 2nd– the hit parade continued in the 2nd as Mike Mordecai led off with a single. The next two batters, Jack Kelly and Morris Carter, hit into fielder’s choice outs and it looked like P Tommy DeLeon could escape any further damage. However, Red picked up Bobby Miller and Jim Foelker as mercenaries for this one and they made an immediate impact with back-to-back singles to plate the 1st run. Doc slashed a single to left to push across another run. John popped a ball over 1B that landed in fair territory but had enough spin to push it well across the 1B line for a two-run double. Patrick popped out to 3B to close out the frame.
Blue- like the earlier contest, the home team was down nine runs before they even came to bat. P Jack Kelly was particularly effective in the first two frames as he managed to hold Blue scoreless. Mike Hill led off with a sharp single to right center but was erased on Raul DeLeon’s fielder’s choice groundout. Tim Coles ripped a single to left center to keep things rolling. Tommy De Leon popped out to 3B for the 2nd out. Henry singled to left center to load the bases, but Jack got Don Roets to bounce out to short to retire the side. 2nd– P Jack Kelly shut down the side in order getting Alex Valles and Donnie Janac on groundball outs and Dave Berra on a flyball to left center/
End of 2nd Score: Red 9 Blue 0
Third Inning Recap:
Red- P Tommy DeLeon did his part to keep his team in the game by retiring all three batters he faced in the 3rd. Ken ground out to short, Gene fouled out and Terry bounced out to 2B to complete the 1-2-3 inning.
Blue- got its own contribution from their mercenaries (Scott Wright and Dean Hector) in the 3rd as Scott and Dean opened with back-to-back singles. Mike flew out to right for the 1st out. Raul slapped a single through the 5/6 hole to bring in the 1st run of the game for Blue. Tim drilled a base hit up the middle to drive in the 2nd run. Tommy flew out to right center on a nice running catch by Gene. Henry followed with a single to left. It looked like Raul was going to be able to score from 2B but the throw from left field (can’t recall but I think Sal was playing the position) went to 3B and beat Tim to the base by a couple of steps. Unfortunately for Blue, he was called out at 3B before Raul crossed the line so no run scored (some confusion ensued as the scoreboard showed three runs based on Johnny’s call out to the home plate umpire)
End of 3rd Score: Red 9 Blue 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Red –quickly got back on track with a five-run inning to pretty much put this one out of reach. Sal led off the 4th with a drive over the left fielder’s head for his 1st home run of the season. Mike singled but Jack grounded to 3B and Tim got the force at 2B for the 1st out. Morris was retired for the 2nd out. Bobby and Jim came through again with a couple of singles to drive in the 2nd run. Doc’s single to center scored Bobby with the 3rd run. John completed a perfect 3-3 day at the plate with an RBI single as Red marched on! Patrick lined an opposite field base hit to bring Doc in to score and put a bow on Red’s 2nd five-run inning of the game.
Blue- not to be out down, Blue responded with a five-run outburst in their half of the 4th. Don led off the inning with a single to left center. Alex lined out to short but the next five batters reached base. Singles by Donnie, Dave, Scott and Dean put tow runs on the board, Mike drove in the 3rd run with a line single to right center. Raul popped out to 3B for the 2nd out and it looked like Jack might get out of this without any further damage. Tim hit a high flyball to center and Jim went back and then up before employing his patented “stabber” move to attempt the catch. The ball popped up and it looked like he or Patrick, standing nearby, might be able to grab the ball on the rebound but it fell to the ground as two more runners scored to complete the five-run inning.
End of 4th Score: Red 14 Blue 7
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Red– ahead by a touchdown, Red was unable to extend their lead in the buffet. Ken fouled out to open the frame. Gene bounced back to the pitcher and there were quickly two down. Terry W. managed to draw a walk and Sal picked up his 3rd hit in as many at-bats to keep things going. Tommy proceeded to get Mike to ground out to short to retire the side.
Blue-down by seven, Blue did not give up and out up three runs in the open inning. Tommy walked to start the frame. Henry fouled out for the 1st out. Don looped a double down the right field line to put runners at 2B and 3B. Alex followed with a drive to right center for a two-run double. Dave popped out to short for the 2nd out. Scott ripped a ball past the first basemen for an RBI single to close the gap to four runs. Dean hit a flyball to shallow left center for the final out.
Final Score: Red 14 Blue 10
Current Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 3rd Session Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0.750 |
41 |
35 |
6 |
– |
|
Orange |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
38 |
33 |
5 |
1.00 |
|
Blue |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
44 |
49 |
-5 |
1.00 |
|
Green |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
61 |
55 |
6 |
1.00 |
|
Red |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0.250 |
26 |
38 |
-12 |
2.00 |
Gray now leads the three teams tied for 2nd by a full game with Red only two games back in this tight race.
Season-to-date Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 Season to-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
18 |
8 |
1 |
0.667 |
321 |
258 |
57 |
– |
|
Green |
14 |
8 |
0 |
0.636 |
301 |
227 |
68 |
2.00 |
|
Orange |
11 |
11 |
1 |
0.478 |
244 |
220 |
19 |
5.00 |
|
Blue |
9 |
13 |
0 |
0.409 |
178 |
269 |
-86 |
7.00 |
|
Red |
5 |
17 |
0 |
0.227 |
194 |
264 |
-58 |
12.00 |
Do not count out Green, Orange or Blue as there are lots of games to be played. Red needs to go on a hot streak to make up some ground.
Next Games: Monday July 6, 2026
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Orange (2-2-0) vs. Red (1-3-0)
Both teams coming off big wins on Monday. Can Orange keep the momentum and become a viable threat for the session and season long title? Or will Red use Thursday’s win as a springboard to get on a roll and extend their win streak? All will be revealed on Monday.
Gray has umpiring duties for this one.
Game 2 9:00 a.m. Gray (3-1-0) vs. Blue (2-2-0)
Blue has a chance to move into a tie for the session lead with a win. Gray is looking to reestablish themselves as the team to beat in this league.
Orange will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Green will have a bye on Monday so their players will have priority in the draw.