Game Day Gazette
June 26, 2025
Thankfully we were able to play today’s games! We were informed by the city on Wednesday that the fields would not be playable after heavy rains, but we pushed back (thanks to B league President, Anthony Galindo for his support) and they agreed to wait until Thursday morning to make the final call. Again, thanks to our man on the scene (Greg Lloyd), we had insight as to the real conditions of the fields and he worked with the grounds crew to make sure Krieg #2 would be available for our scheduled start time on Thursday.
Roster changes- The Pioneers (Blue team) have been severely shorthanded over the last month as they currently have three players on injured reserve, one player that left the league and two that are rarely able to play due to personal or family issues. As a result, they have had to draw at least five players in four of the last five games. To solidify the Pioneer’s roster, the following players will be assigned to their team:
Alex Valles- moving from Keystones to Pioneers
Curt Ashmos- moving from the Senators to Pioneers
Chris Hurst- moving from Sultans to the Pioneers
We know these transitions are never easy and it’s something we don’t like to do but we appreciate these players’ willingness to go with the flow and hopefully this will be good for all the teams impacted.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Keystones (0-1-0) vs. Braves (1-0-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Keystones– leadoff hitter, Mike Hill, started things off with a line single to right. John Flowers hit into a force play at 2B for the 1st out. Bobby Hawthorne singled and Ken Brown followed with a run-scoring double to right to put the Keystones on the board. Barry McRee smacked a single up the middle to drive in two more runs. Tommy DeLeon and Margarito Canava had back-to-back singles to load the bases. Robby Vickery slashed a line drive to right to two runners and complete the Keystones five-run 1st inning.2nd– P Tom Kelm retired leadoff hitter Greg Tolander to start the 2nd inning. Morris Carter singled and his pinch runner came around to score on Gary Coyle’s double to right center. Mike H. singled to drive in Gary with the 2nd run of the inning. John bounced into a fielder’s choice out at 2B for the 2nd out. Bobby legged out an infield hit (pulling a calf muscle and having to leave the game in. Ken drilled a single up the middle to score John with the 3rd run before Barry ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
Braves- Doc Hobar flew out to CF leading off for the Braves. Bobby Miller singled up the middle (first non-extra base hit in recent memory!). Paul Rubin blasted a two-strike pitch from Tommy DeLeon over the new Keystones left fielder, Jeff Broussard, for a two-run inside the park homer. Tom Brownfield and Jim Foelker both popped out to Ken Brown at shortstop to close out the inning. 2nd– Tom Kelm led off the Braves 2nd inning with a line shot to left. Lynn Simpson followed with a base hit to right center. Dave Berra ground into a 6-4-3 double play and it looked like the Braves were going to be playing from behind in this one. Earl King, happy to be back on the field, started the Braves two-out rally with a sharp single over 2B. Joe Dayoc ripped a single over short and Ray Pilgrim followed with an RBI single to CF. Doc singled to drive in the 3rd run and Bobby crushed a ball down the right field line for a two-run triple to tie the game at 7-7. There was a little confusion as to the score and Paul took his at bat with the 5th run on 3B. After reviewing the scorebook, Dave correctly identified that the 5th run had already been scored, and order was restored! However, there was another snafu as the Keystones were only given credit for two runs in the 2nd on the official scoreboard, but they actually scored three and should have been ahead after the 1st two innings were completed.
End of 2nd Score: Keystones 8 Braves 7
Third Inning Recap:
Keystones- Tom Kelm retired Tommy to open the 3rd. Margarito went down swinging for the 2nd out. Robby and Greg had back-to-back singles, but Morris went down looking on a pitch that nicked the back corner of the plate for a called strike to retire the side.
Braves– Paul led off the 3rd with a single up the middle and moved to 2B on Tom B.’s sacrifice fly to left. Jim singled to score Paul with the 1st run in the frame. Tom K. followed with another line single to left. Lynn ripped a ball to right field that skipped past the fielders and looked to be an easy inside the park home run. But not so fast my friend as Lynn stumbled coming around 3B and had to settle for a two-run triple. Dave brought him home with a well-struck double to right center. Tommy was able to get both Earl and Joe to ground out to short and stem any further damage.
End of 3rd Score: Braves 11 Keystones 8
Fourth Inning Recap:
Keystones– came out slugging in the 4th, putting up five runs to regain the lead in this one. The first three batters (Gary, Mike and John) all doubled to quickly produce two runs. Jack singled and Ken tripled on a low liner to CF that I attempted to short hop but missed completely as two more runs scored. Barry bounced back to the pitcher for the 1st out, but Ken was able to score from 3B on Tommy’s shallow fly to right for the 5th run of the frame.
Braves- bounced back with their own five run inning to regain their three-run margin. Ray led off with a single and moved to 2B on Doc’s hit. Bobby singled to right to drive in the 1st run. Paul hit a comebacker to Tommy for the 1st out with both runners advancing. Tom B. came through with a hard-hit ground single to left to score both runners. Jim’s single moved Tom to 2B and he scored on Tom K.’s well placed line single to left. Lynn wrapped up the scoring with an RBI single bringing in the Braves 5th run of the inning.
End of 4th Score: Braves 16 Keystones 13
Fifth (Open) Inning Recap:
Keystones– heading into the buffet, Keystones needed three runs to tie and four to take the lead. Tom Kelm pitched a masterful inning to hold the Keystones scoreless and secure the win for the Braves. Margarito struck out to open the inning. Robby singled but Tom struck out Greg for the 2nd out. Morris walked but Gary lined out to Jim in left field for the final out.
Final Score: Braves 16 Keystones 13
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Senators (1-1-0) vs. Pioneers (0-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Senators- The incomparable Terry Thompson opened this one with a smooth single to left. Henry Flores lined out to 3B and there was some confusion as to whether 3B Tim Herer made a clean catch or trapped the ball. This put Terry in a tough position on the base paths. Turns out, Tim made the catch, and he relayed the throw to 1B to complete the double play. Not dismayed by the twin killing, Raul sparked the Senator’s two-out rally with a single up the middle. Tim Coles singled, and Dean Hector ripped a liner over short to drive in the 1st run of the game. Greg Lloyd and Terry Watts drew back-to-back walks to force in one run and load the bases for Will Scheerer. Will responded with a line drive hit over 2B to drive in two big runs and stake the Senators to an early four run lead. 2nd-Jim Aaron led off the 2nd with a sharp single to left. Ken Brown followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Terry T. singled to score Jim and move Ken to 3B. Henry ground into a 6-4-3 double play as Ken scored the 2nd run of the inning. Raul DeLeon flew out to Peter Atkins (nice to see him back on the field) for the final out of the frame.
Pioneers- Scott Wright continued his recent spell of bad luck at the plate as he was retired on a sharp grounder to 2B on a nice play by Jim Aaron. Jack Adams lined out to 3B for the 2nd out. Mike Carroll got the Pioneers 1st hit to start a rally of their own. A single by Sal Lopez and a walk to Mickey Poole loaded the bases. Larry King popped a ball in the infield that couldn’t be caught and somehow resulted in a two-run single. Tim Herer grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. 2nd– P Raul DeLeon shut down the Pioneers in order in the 2nd. Peter Atkins popped out to short for the 1st out. Lucky Hoffman and Mike Hill both ground out to Tim Coles at SS to end the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Senators 6 Pioneers 2
Third Inning Recap:
Senators– Tim led off the inning with a two bagger and easily scored on Dean’s triple that gapped the outfielders in left (seems like he is getting the hang of this “slow” pitch stuff!). Greg singled to drive him in with the 2nd run. Terry W. flew out to right for the 1st out. Will hit one back to Sal, who got the force at 2B for the 2nd out. Roger ended the frame with a groundball to 2B.
Pioneers– kept the margin to four runs as the Pioneers put up two runs in the 3rd. John Flowers led off with a sharp single to right. Scott was retired on a groundball to 1B as Greg practicing some of his best dance moves beat him to the base by a step for the 1st out. Jack ripped a double to score John with the Pioneer’s 1st run. Mike singled to bring in Jack with run number two. Sal grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Mickey lined a single to his favorite spot just over short, but Raul got Larry to hit a grounder to him for the final out.
End of 3rd Score: Senators 8 Pioneers 4
Fourth Inning Recap:
Senators– P Sal Lopez shut down the Senators attack in the 4th. Leadoff man, Jim A. lined out to Tim on a hot shot to 3B to kick off the inning. Ken singled ahead of Terry T.’s flyball out to left. Henry grounded to 3B and Tim’s throw beat Ken to 2B for the force to end the frame.
Pioneers- were unable to take advantage of the scoreless top of the inning to cut into the Senator’s lead. Tim H. singled to lead off the frame. Peter followed with a single and things looked promising for the men in Blue. Lucky bounced to short, and Tim made a play to 3B to get the force for the 1st out. Mike H. hit a hard grounder to short, which Tim turned into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning (nice relay from Jim A. to complete the play).
End of 4th Score: Senators 8 Pioneers 4
Fifth Inning Recap:
Senators– extended their lead with a two-run outburst in the 5th. Raul led off with a booming triple to dead center. Tim followed with a sky-high popup that fell in for an RBI double. Dean ground out to short for the 1st out and Greg followed with a tapper to 1B for the 2nd out. Terry W. walked and Will lined a base hit to right center to drive in Tim with the Sens 2nd run but that was all the offense they could muster.
Pioneers- John led off with a single as the Pioneers tried to cut into the Pioneer’s six run lead. Scott fouled out but Jack singled to move John to 3B. Mike hit a blooper to CF that Ken narrowly missed but it fell in for a single to score John from 3B. Sal ended the inning by hitting into a 6-4-3 double play as Tim, Jim and Greg completed their 2nd twin killing in as many innings.
End of 5th Score: Senators 10 Pioneers 5
Sixth (Open) Inning Recap:
Senators– Sal retired the side on three flyball outs to give the Pioneers a chance in the buffet. Jim led off with a drive to deep left center that Peter caught while retreating an changing directions multiple times (not sure any other outfielder in the league would have made this catch!). Ken popped out to 2B, and Terry T. flew out to CF to quickly end the Senator’s half of the inning.
Pioneers- chasing five runs, the Pioneers made a valiant effort but unfortunately came up short. Mickey lined out to right to start the inning. Larry singled but was forced out at 2B on Tim’s grounder to short. Peter tripled on a drive to deep center that Henry was able to get a glove on but could not secure the catch. Lucky ripped a single to left to score Peter and cut the lead to three runs. Mike singled to extend the inning, but Raul got John on a comebacker to end the game as the Senators emerged victoriously by a final score of 10-7.
Final Score: Senators 10 Pioneers 7
Session Three Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 3rd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Sultans |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
20 |
18 |
2 |
– |
|
Braves |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
29 |
16 |
13 |
– |
|
Senators |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0.667 |
27 |
24 |
3 |
0.50 |
|
Keystones |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
19 |
23 |
-4 |
2.00 |
|
Pioneers |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0.000 |
18 |
32 |
-14 |
2.50 |
The Braves moved into a tie with the idle Sultans by virtue of their win over the winless Pioneers. The Senators are lurking in 3rd place in what promised to be a wide-open race for the rest of the session.
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
17 |
6 |
0 |
0.739 |
330 |
238 |
92 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
12 |
12 |
0 |
0.500 |
261 |
270 |
-9 |
5.50 |
|
Senators |
11 |
12 |
0 |
0.478 |
280 |
299 |
-19 |
6.00 |
|
Keystones |
9 |
14 |
0 |
0.391 |
277 |
302 |
-25 |
8.00 |
|
Sultans |
9 |
14 |
0 |
0.391 |
263 |
302 |
-39 |
8.00 |
With the Braves and Pioneers moving in opposite directions, the Braves have stretched their lead to 5.50 games. The Senators are only .50 games behind the Pioneers and the Sultans are now deadlocked with the Keystones for 4th place. Again, the season is less than half over and there is still lots of vacation time and softball tournaments to come that could impact the standings.
Next Games: Monday June 30, 2025
Game 1 8:30 a.m. (H) Senators (2-1-0) vs. (V) Braves (2-0-0)
Game 2 9:30 a.m. (H) Keystones (0-2-0) vs. (V) Sultans (2-0-0)
Pioneers have the bye on Monday so their players will have priority in the draw.
Special Scheduling Note: The C league will have its regularly scheduled games next Thursday July 3rd. The B league will be taking the day off to observe the 4th of July holiday, but we needed one more play date to balance out our schedule. Hopefully this will not interfere with your holiday plans. Thanks.