Game Day Gazette
June 25, 2026
Now that I have had twenty-four hours to reflect on yesterday’s games, I want to start this latest edition of the gazette with a public apology. I let my emotions and my competitive drive get the best of me in the opening games and I want to apologize to the whole league for my poor sportsmanship and behavior! I look forward to Mondays and Thursdays during the season for a chance to get out and play the game that I have loved since childhood (albeit with a large yellow ball vs. a baseball). It is a chance to get out and play, have some fun, get a little exercise and hang out with a great group of guys. Sometimes in the heat of competition, you lose sight of what is important and despite what Vince Lombardi said, winning isn’t everything!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Blue (1-1-0) vs. Green (1-0-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Blue– with Jim Maloy and Daniel Baladez being latest Blue players going out with injuries, Blue had a chance to draw four players from the bucket for today’s games. Ken Brown, Gary Coyle, Ray Pilgrim and Morris Carter joined in the fun and contributed mightily to Blue’s success in this one. Looking to avenge Monday’s loss to the Greenies, Blue came out firing on all cylinders in this contest. Manager Johnny Neville continued to tinker with his lineup as Tommy DeLeon moved back into the leadoff spot for today’s games. He stepped up and laced a single to left center to get things started. Raul DeLeon followed with a sharp single to right. P Tom Kelm’s control issues carried over from Green’s last game as he walked Mike Hill to load the bases and forced in the 1st run on a walk to Henry Flores. Donnie Janac got the 2nd run in as he grounded to short for the first out. Don Roets ripped a single up the middle to drive in the 3rd run. Dave Berra followed with a knock to left center to push across the 4th run. Ken Brown topped off the five-run first with a smash up the middle. 2nd – It looked like more of the same in the 2nd as Gary Coyle led off with a single to center. Ray Pilgrim stroked a ball down the left field line just out of the reach of Ken Mockler for a double. Tom retired Morris Carter on a comebacker for the 1st out. Tommy hit a flyball to center that was deep enough to allow Gary to score from 3B for Blue’s only run of the inning as Raul flew out to center for the final out.
Green– with Jack Spellman enjoying some well-deserved rest on the east coast, manager Tom Kelm put yours truly back in the leadoff spot for today’s tilt. My flyball down the left field line evaded LF Henry Flores resulting in a leadoff double. Tom Kelm followed with a single to left center to put the first run on the board. Ken Mockler flew out to deep center for the 1st out. Dean Hector lined out to Gary at 3B for the 2nd out. Denny Malloy rapped a single to left center but P Tommy DeLeon was able to get Mickey Poole to ground into a fielder’s choice to retire the side. 2nd – Robbie Vickery returned to the lineup for the 1st time this season (welcome back!) and proceeded to ground out to Mike Hill at short. Larry King grounded out to 1B with Ray making the unassisted putout for the 2nd out. Tommy finished off the scoreless 2nd by getting William Powell to fly out to left to end the frame.
End of 2nd Score: Blue 6 Green 1
Third Inning Recap:
Blue– looking to build on their five-run lead, Blue managed to put up another run in the 3rd. Mike and Henry led off with back-to-back singles. Donnie was retired on a nice play by Larry on his pop fly to 1B. Don drilled a single to right to bring in Mike’s pinch runner (Ken Brown) for the 1st run. P Tom K. avoided any further damage by striking out Dave and getting Ken on a hard shot back to the mound to retire the side.
Green- with nine of their own players showing up for today’s game, manager Tom K. only had to draw two from the bucket as Jack Adams and Barry McRee joined the Green team as mercenaries. Jack flew out to center leading off the 3rd inning. Barry reached on a pop fly single to left. Paul grounded a single up the middle to keep things rolling. Tom flew out to right center for the 2nd out. Ken M. came through with a big two-out single up the middle to drive in Barry. With the outfielders respecting Ken’s power and playing deep, I was also able to score from 1B on the hit to close the gap to four runs. Dean rapped a single to left to put runners on 1B and 2B. Ken B. made the defensive play of the game as he ranged far to his left to snag Denny’s line dive that was headed to the left center gap for a likely bases clearing double. Dang those mercenaries!
End of 3rd Score: Blue 7 Green 3
Fourth Inning Recap:
Blue– Gary led off the 4th with a single to left. Ray followed with a sharp grounder to short that went under my glove as I attempted to make a backhand stop on the play. The ball rolled into shallow left field but surprisingly Gary did not attempt to advance to 3B. It turns out that Dean accidentally tripped him, so he was awarded 3B on the inference call by umpire Jim Foelker (good call!). Morris walked to load the bases with nobody out. The first run scored as Tommy ground into a fielder’s choice out at 2B. Raul bounced out to 2B (4-6) allowing the 2nd run to score. Mike hit a flyball to right and William made a nice running catch for the 3rd and final out.
Green– down by six and looking like this one was going to slip away, Green stormed back with a five-run inning to make this a one-run game. Mickey ground out to short to open the inning. Robbie got his first hit with a blooper to right field. Larry grounded to 3B and Gary fired to 2B to get the force for the 2nd out. William smacked a single through the 5/6 hole to keep the inning going. Jack lined an RBI single to right to drive in the 1st run. Barry’s single scored William from 2B. Paul launched a drive down the left field line that skipped past Henry and rolled towards the fence. Both runners scored easily but my journey was a different matter. I slowed down coming into 3B satisfied with a triple but the base coach (don’t remember who) was signally me to keep going. I strained my quad a couple of weeks ago and have been running gingerly since but decided to go for it (big mistake). Morris was standing on the plate, and the noise level was rising as the throw was incoming, so I tried to find that extra gear and somehow beat the throw to the plate (reaggravating the injury)
End of 4th Score: Blue 9 Green 8
Fifth Inning Recap:
Blue– P Tom K. did a good job of shutting down Blue’s offense to keep the lead at one run. Henry led off with a single but was forced out at 2B on Donnie’s grounder to 3B. Don singled for his third time in as many at bats to put runners on 1B and 2B. Dave grounded to short and I threw to 3B to get the force. Mickey was a little late getting to the bag but eventually shuffled his way onto the base to get the force and the 2nd out. The play happened just in front of Blue’s bench, and they claimed that Mickey never touched the bag. Home plate umpire Bruce Barnett called the runner out and checked with Jim F. to see if he had a better view of the play. Jim agreed and called the runner out much to the dismay of the men in Blue (did I mention that Tim Coles had joined the team at this point and was particularly vocal in his disagreement with the call!). Ken B. hit another shot up the middle that caromed off Tom’s glove, and he was able to recover and made the throw to 1B to end the frame, whew!
Green– unable to muster any offense despite having the heart of the lineup due to bat. Tom K. flew out to right center to open the frame. Ken M. singled but was erased on Dean’s fielder’s choice groundout to short. Denny bounced out to 2B to quickly end the scoreless 4th inning for Green leaving Blue with a tenuous one-run lead.
End of 5th Score: Blue 9 Green 8
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Blue– ok so here’s where it really gets fun! Clinging to a one-run lead, Blue bounced back to put up four runs to take a five-run lead in their half of the buffet. Gary completed his perfect 3-3 day at the plate with a leadoff single. Tim Coles, now in the lineup replacing Ray, hit a sky-high pop up behind short that fell in for a single. Morris was retired for the 1st out. Tommy slapped a single to right to load the bases. Raul stroked a line shot to right center to drive in the first two runs of the inning. Mike’s single to right brought in the 3rd run. Henry ripped a single down the left field line to push across the 4th run. Ken B. then came in to run for Mike Hill at 2B. Unbeknownst to anyone other than Ken and umpire Jim F., Ken checked with Jim on the number of outs and both parties agreed that there were two outs. However, there was only one out and that would prove significant after the next play. Donnie popped out to me at short and I made the catch. Ken took off on the hit, and I flipped the ball to Dean at 2B to get the inning ending double play. All of us know that Ken is the best baserunner in the league and he would not have made such a rookie mistake on a play that was happening right in front of him. Conversations ensued and Jim F. confirmed that he erroneously told Ken there were two outs, so Ken was allowed to go back to 2B and play ensure or did it? Somehow, Johnny Neville got it in his head that this should be a dead ball and the play, including Donnie’s pop out, should not have counted. I’m not going to get into rule interpretation here, but I think we did the right thing by not calling Ken out since he relied on Jim as to the correct number of outs. However, Donnie’s at bat had nothing to do with that conversation and it made no sense to me or the rest of the free world why he should get a do over. Johnny continued to argue the point with new home plate umpire Steve Kendig, and I was trying to get my two cents in so we could move on. Somehow the game decided to move on, and Tom made his pitch to Don while all the arguing was ongoing. I cried foul as we were not ready to play and letting my frustration boil over, I grabbed the ball and fired it towards home plate. I apologize for this childish behavior and will commit to acting more like a 70-year-old than a three-year-old going forward. Now back to the game… Don came back to the plate and proceeded to ground out to 2B to end the inning (sorry about costing you a hit on that one!). Whew!
Green– chasing five runs, Green put up a valiant effort but fell just short in this one. The first three batters (Mickey, Robbie and Larry) all singled to load the bases with nobody out. William drove in the 1st run with a sharp single through the 5/6 hole. Jack’s single to right drove in the 2nd run. Barry was retired on a hump back liner to short for the 1st out. I lined out to Donnie in deep left center to drive in the 3rd run with a sacrifice fly. Tom’s single loaded the bases and Ken drove in the 4th run with a single up the middle. Dean hit a grounder to short and Mike flipped to Raul to get the force at 2B to end this exciting game!
Final Score: Blue 13 Green 12
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Gray (2-0-0) vs. Orange (0-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Gray- looking to keep their perfect record for the session intact, Gray was held to only three runs in the first two innings. Scott Wright led off with a solid single to right, Mike Carroll grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Peter Atkins hot smash to right center got past Raul DeLeon for a single. Gary Coyle (does he ever make an out?) knocked in the first run with a single to left center. Now from the “I couldn’t have done this if I tried department”, Ray Pilgrim hit a routine pop fly to short, and the ball hit the heel of my glove and bounced directly to 2B. Raul happened to be standing on the bag and grabbed the ball to get the force and threw to 1B to complete the inning ending double play. I assure you that I did not miss the ball on purpose although some in the Gray dugout did not believe that to be the case. 2nd– Lynn Simpson and Larry Coons led off the 2nd with back-to-back singles. Margarito Canava was retired on a comebacker to P Terry Thompson for the 1st out. Gray was able to supplement their lineup for today’s game with an outstanding draw that including Tim Coles, Ken Mockler and Don Roets. Tim hit a grounder up the middle that I was somehow able to reach and flip to 2B to get the force for the 2nd out. Ken Mockler lined a singe up the middle to drive in the 1st run. Don Roets hit a wicked line drive that dropped in front of Jim Foelker for an RBI double. Jim bounced back and made a nice running catch of Scott’s drive to right to end the frame.
Orange- P Ray Pilgrim was sharp on the mound and in the field as he dominated the Orange lineup in the first two innings. Terry Thompson grounded out to short to open the inning. Jerry Mylius was retired on a groundball to 2B. Jack Adams drew a walk, but Steve Kendig grounded back to Ray for the final out. 2nd– Jim Foelker fouled out to start eh 2nd. Barry McRee laced a single to center for Orange’s first hit of the contest. Bubba Barnett hit a sharp grounder up the middle and Ray grabbed it and fired to 2nd to start an inning ending 1-6-3 double play.
End of 2nd Score: Gray 3 Orange 0
Third Inning Recap:
Gray- so much for a pitcher’s duel as Gray exploded with five runs in the 3rd to seize control of this game. Mike and Peter opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Gary slapped a single up the middle that drove in Mike. Peter was off with the hit and the throw to the plate beat him but unfortunately Bubba Barnett did not have his foot on the plate, so Peter was safe at home for the 2nd run. Ray drilled a ball to left to drive in Gary with the 3rd run. Lynn went down looking for the only out of the inning. Larry continued to swing a hot bat as he singled to put runners on 1B and 2B. Margarito hit a grounder to 3B that hopped over Jack’s glove to load the bases. Tim Coles followed with a towering pop fly that fell in for a single and allowed both runners to cross the plate to complete Gray’s five-run inning.
Orange- finally got on the board with a run in the 3rd. Ken Brown led off with a single and moved to 2B as Paul Rubin drew a walk. Raul DeLeon lined a single to right to score Ken. Tom Kelm lined a ball up the middle that Ray snared just a few inches off the ground. He threw to 1B to completed the double play. Terry T. walked but Jerry grounded to 3B and Gary was able to beat the runner to the base to close out the frame.
End of 3rd Score: Gray 8 Orange 1
Fourth Inning Recap:
Gray –Ken M. and Don led off the 4th with back-to-back singles. Scott was retired on a flyout to right center for the 1st out. Mike bounced to short and Paul just beat down to the base for the force at 2B. Peter popped out to short to end the scoreless inning.
Orange- clawed back with two runs in the 4th. Jack led off with a single to right center. Steve was retired on a flyball to center. Jim ripped a single to left center to keep things rolling. Barry reached on a ball that ended up a few feet in front of the plate to load the bases. Bubba lined a ball down the 1B line to drive in two big runs for the Orangemen. Ken and Paul failed to keep the rally going as each grounded into fielder’s choice outs to close out the frame.
End of 4th Score: Gray 8 Orange 3
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
With the clock approaching 10:30 a.m., Orange manager asked if we could go ahead and move to the buffet even though each side had one more five-run inning to play. Thanks, Bruce, for your good sportsmanship!
Gray– Gary started the open inning with his 3rd hit to complete his perfect game and day at the plate. Ray flew out to center field for the first out. Lynn’s single moved Gary to 2B and he scored on Larry’s base hit to left (completing a perfect 3-3 day!). Margarito hit into a fielder’s choice out at 3B for the 2nd out. Tim hit a long drive down the left field line that drifted foul for the final out.
Orange– Raul lined out to Scott at 2B to start the buffet. Tom K. singled to get a runner on base. Terry T. crushed a ball to left center that soared over Lynn’s head as he lost his footing tracking the ball. This allowed Terry to circle the bases although some questioned sending him home with Orange down by five runs. But all worked out as Terry made it home safely to cut the lead to four runs. Jerry bounced out to Ray for the 2nd out and Ray retired Jack on a grounder to 3B to complete the victory for Gray.
Final Score: Gray 9 Orange 5
Current Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 3rd Session Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
27 |
17 |
10 |
– |
|
Blue |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0.667 |
34 |
35 |
-1 |
1.00 |
|
Green |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0.000 |
29 |
24 |
5 |
1.50 |
|
Red |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
12 |
18 |
-6 |
2.50 |
|
Orange |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
11 |
19 |
-8 |
2.50 |
Season-to-date Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2026 Season to-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
18 |
7 |
1 |
0.692 |
307 |
240 |
57 |
– |
|
Green |
13 |
7 |
0 |
0.650 |
269 |
196 |
68 |
2.50 |
|
Orange |
9 |
11 |
1 |
0.429 |
217 |
206 |
19 |
6.50 |
|
Blue |
9 |
12 |
0 |
0.429 |
168 |
255 |
-86 |
7.50 |
|
Red |
4 |
16 |
0 |
0.200 |
180 |
244 |
-58 |
11.50 |
Gray remains unbeaten in the 3rd session and now holds a two and one-half game lead over Green.
Next Games: Monday June 29, 2026
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Gray (3-0-0) vs. Green (1-1-0)
The two league leaders go head-to-head in this one. Will Gray stay hot and can Green bounce back from their heart-breaking loss to Blue? All will be revealed on Monday.
Red has umpiring duties for this one.
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Red (0-2-0) vs. Orange (0-2-0)
Which team will fight their way out of the cellar and get back in the pennant race?
Gray will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Blue will have a bye on Monday so their players (along with the unassigned players) will have priority in the draw.