Game Day Gazette
June 5, 2025
Just want to take a moment to give a shout out to our “grounds crew”. Greg Lloyd and Bruce Barnett arrive early on every game day to make sure everything is ready for the games to be played. As both were out on Thursday, I became acutely aware of what they do, and I am so happy they are willing to provide this service to the league. Thank you both!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Pioneers (5-3-0) vs. Keystones (3-4-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Pioneers continue to struggle with injuries and other player absences and as a result, had to draw five players from the bucket this morning to field a full team. This is not sustainable and your board of directors is currently working on a solution that will hopefully be fair to all of the teams in the league.
Pioneers-leadoff hitter, Scott Wright, continues to up his power game as he put it on display with a booming triple to start the game. Sal Lopez singled to score Scott with the 1st run of the game. Mike Carroll followed with a line drive double to right putting runners on 2B and 3B. Gene Nelson singled to bring in both runners and quickly stake the Pioneers to a three-run lead. Mickey Poole and Larry King had back-to-back singles to load the bases for the first of the Pioneer’s mercenaries. Raul DeLeon delivered with a two-run single to complete the five-run 1st inning. 2nd– Henry Flores led off the 2nd on a hard grounder down the 3B line. Ken Brwon made an excellent back hand stop and his throw to 1B beat Henry for the 1st out of the game. Donnie Janac, Jim Aaron and Jeff Broussard (remaining three mercenaries) all singled to load the bases. P Tommy DeLeon walked Scott to force in the 1st run. Sal drove in Jim with a solid single to left. Mike C. roped a line drive to CF that Patrick Schmidt put away for the 2nd out as the runner from 3B scored on the play. Gene singled in the 4th run and Mickey wrapped up the scoring with an RBI single to left. It seemed that every batter for the Pioneers hit the ball hard (even the outs were impressive!) on their way to a ten-run outburst to open the game.
Keystones- not to be outdone by his counterpart for the Pioneers, Keystones leadoff man, Mike Hill, drove the 1st pitch over the right fielder’s head for a triple. John Flower grounded to the pitcher for the 1st out of the inning. Patrick Schmidt slapped a single to right center scoring Mike with the 1st run. Ken Brown followed with a pop fly over 3B and with his incredible speed and base running acumen, turned the hit into a run scoring triple. Bobby Hawthorne laced a double to drive in Ken with the 3rd run. Tommy DeLeon moved him to 3B with a single to right and he scored on Margarito Canava’s base hit to left. Robby Vickery then flew out to Mickey Poole in right for the 2nd out. Greg Tolander reached on an infield hit but Sal made a great defensive play on Johnny Neville’s infield pop fly to get pinch runner Ken Brwon at 1B to retire the side (Sal grabbed the ball just before it was going to go foul and whirled around and made a strong throw to 1B to beat Ken!). 2nd– Morris Carter opened the 2nd by grounding out to 2B. Jim Aaron followed with a solo homer that left he yard in right center. Mike H. was retired on a short fly to right as 2B Jeff Broussard made an outstanding over the shoulder catch for the 2nd out. John and Patrick had back-to-back singles, but the rally ended on Ken’s long fly to left center that Scott was able to run down for the final out.
End of 2nd Score: Pioneers 10 Keystones 5
Third Inning Recap:
Pioneers-in what should have been a bigger inning, the Pioneers added two more runs in the 2nd. Larry opened the inning with a pop fly out to 3B. Raul smacked a double to LF and scored on Henry’s triple to CF. Donnie picked up the 3rd consecutive extra base hit with a double to drive in Henry with the 2nd run. Jim popped out to short for the 2nd out and Scott fouled out to retire the side.
Keystones- P Sal Lopez started a run of three consecutive shutout innings by shutting the Keystones down in the 3rd. Bobby popped out to 3B leading off the frame. Tommy lined a single to right, but Margarito flew out to CF for the 2nd out. Robby reached base on a walk but Greg lined out to short to end the inning.
End of 3rd Score: Pioneers 12 Keystones 5
Fourth Inning Recap:
Pioneers- Sal grounded out to 3B to lead off the 4th. Mike C., Gene and Mickey all singled to load the bases with one out. Tommy was able to get Larry on a pop up to Morris behind the plate and retired Raul on a pop fly to 3B to complete the scoreless inning.
Keystones– failed to take advantage of the scoreless top of the inning and were quickly put down in the 4th. Johnny led off the inning with a single with Ken Brown running from the plate. Morris line a shot to Sal and he was able to throw back to 1B for the double play as Ken had been off with the pitch. Jim flew out to Scott in deep CF for the final out.
End of 4th Score: Pioneers 12 Keystones 5
Fifth Inning Recap:
Pioneers– added five more runs in the 5th to go up by twelve (12) runs (lots of discussion around the flip flop rule but we opted to let the Pioneers to finish out their last five-run inning). Henry singled to open the inning but was forced out at 2B on Donnie’s fielder’s choice groundout. Jim smacked a high drive to left for a run scoring triple. Jeff drove him home with a line drive hit to right. Scott followed with a two-run inside the park home run on another drive that scaled over the head of the right fielder. Sal singled and scored the 5th run on Mike C.’s booming triple to right center.
Keystones- the top of the lineup failed to put up any runs int the inning. Mike H. led by lining out to Jeff at 2B. John singled but Patrick fouled out for the 2nd out. Ken lined out to Mickey in right to end the third consecutive scoreless inning for the Keystones.
End of 5th Score: Pioneers 17 Keystones 5
Sixth (Open) Inning Recap:
With the Keystones down by 12, the team flip flopped, and the Keystones batted in the buffet or open inning.
Keystones– the open inning started well for the Keystones as the 1st four batters reached base. Bobby, Tommy and Margarito all singled to load the bases. Sal walked Robby to force in the 1st run of the inning. After Monday’s miraculous comeback against the Braves, would the Keystones do it again? Not so fast my friend! Greg hit a groundball to Henry at 3B, and he stepped on the bag for an out and threw home ahead of the speedy Patrick to complete the 5U 5-2 double play. Johnny singled to reload the bases, but Morris hit a grounder to Henry, and he came home to get the final out in a resounding win for the Pioneers!
Final Score: Pioneers 17 Keystones 6
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Braves (4-3-0) vs. Sultans (3-4-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Braves- Doc Hobar went down on strikes on a perfectly placed pitch by Jack Kelly. Bobby Miller, back from his latest softball tournament in Loudon, Tn., wasted no time in reaching 2B on a bloop double to left. He scored on Paul Rubin’s single to left center. Lynn Simpson’s single moved Paul to 2B and he scored on Jim Foelker’s base hit to left. Dave Berra picked up the Braves 5th consecutive hit to score Lynn. Tom Kelm wrapped up the scoring with a line single to left to drive in two more runs and complete the Braves five-run 1st inning. 2nd-P Jack Kelly shut down the bottom of the Braves lineup in the 2nd. Billy Hill flew out to CF to start the inning. Brian Rider and Joe Dayoc followed with groundballs to short that Adam handled for two quick outs to retire the side.
Sultans– Chris Villareal led off with a line shot to right center that Paul hauled in for the 1st out. Ray Pilgrim walked, and Donnie Janac bounced into a force at 2B on a nice play by 3B Dave Berra. Jeff Broussard singled but Adam Gordon hit into another 5-4 force out at 2B on a strong throw from Dave. 2nd-the Sultan’s bats heated up in the 2nd as the first four batters hit their way on base. Singles by Don Roets, Lucky Hoffman and Chris Hurst loaded the bases. Jack Kelly brought in the first run with a hit to right. Tom Kelm walked Ray Saldana to force in the 2nd run of the frame. Mercenary Ken Brown ground into a fielder’s choice with Doc getting an out at home. Chris V. and Ray P. closed out the inning with back-to-back singles to tie the score at 5-5.
End of 2nd Score: Braves 5 Sultans 5
Third Inning Recap:
Dave Berra had to leave the game with an injury and Raul DeLeon replaced him in the lineup. Rather than writhe in pain in the dugout, Dave volunteered to keep the scorebook for the rest of the game so I would know what happened. A great big thank you to Dave and Brian Rider for their assistance in keeping the book updated!
Braves– The Braves lone mercenary, Mike Hill, led off the 2nd with a sharp single to RC. Doc’s single moved Mike to 2B and he scored on Bobby’s 2nd double of the game. Paul bounced a single up the middle to score both runners. Lynn followed with a single to right. Jim drove in the 4th run with a single to left and Raul wrapped up the Braves 2nd five-run inning with a smash single down the left field line.
Sultans– Donnie led off the 3rd with a line shot up the middle for a single. Jeff, confounding the scouting report on him) stroked a ball to CF for a run scoring double. Adam followed with a double of his own to score the runner from 2B. Don’s single brought Adam around to score the Sultan’s 3rd run. Lucky ground out to the new 3B Raul and he threw to 2B to get the force. The runner from 1B did not “run through” and Doc did not attempt to complete the play with a relay to 1B, but it was ruled interference on the runner for the 2nd out. Chris H. then flew out to left to retire the side.
End of 3rd Score: Braves 10 Sultans 8
Fourth Inning Recap:
Braves-continued to rake at the plate with their 3rd five-run inning of the game. Tom K. led off with a sharp single through the 5/6 hole. Billy Hill followed with a double to drive in Tom’s pinch runner. Brian grounded out to 2B for the 1st out. Joe singled to drive in the 2nd run. Mike and Doc had back-to-back hits to load the bases. Bobby, running hard out of the box, doubled for the 3rd time in the game to drive in two runs. Paul finished off the inning with a drive to left center to score Doc with the 5th run.
Sultans-Tom K. held the Sultans scoreless in the 4th. Jack led off the inning with a single past 1B, but the next two batters (Ray S. and Ken) hit into fielder’s choice groundouts to Raul at 3B (lots of hot corner activity in this one!). Chris V. doubled with two outs to put runners on 2B and 3B, but Tom retired Ray P. on a flyball to CF to end the threat.
End of 3rd Score: Braves 15 Sultans 8
Fifth Inning Recap:
Braves-Lynn singled to start the inning and smartly moved to 2B on Jim Foelker’s flyball out to CF. Raul doubled to bring in the 1st run and scored on Tom’s two base hit to left. Billy’s single moved the runner to 3B, and he scored on Brian’s infield groundout. Joe singled and Mike drove in the 4th run with a hard single to right. Doc completed the Braves 4th five-run inning with a base hit to score Joe.
Sultans-Donnie led off the 5th with another clean single up the middle. Jeff had his 3rd hot of the game and Adam followed with a base hit to score the 1st run of the inning. Don hit a sacrifice fly to right center for the 1st out as the runner from 3B scored the 2nd run. Lucky flew out to LF for the 2nd out. Chris H. drew a walk, but Jack popped out to 2B to end the inning.
End of 5th Score: Braves 20 Sultans 10
At this point, the teams agreed to an early flip flop and the Sultans had their final at-bat.
Sixth (Open) Inning Recap:
Sultans-Ray S. fouled out to start the inning. Ken ripped a double to right field. Chris V. was retired on a comebacker to Tom for the 2nd out. Ray P. lined a single to bring in Ken for the 1st run. Donnie then lined out to Mike H. at short for the final out of the game.
Final Score: Braves 20 Sultans 11
2nd Session Standings:
Wins by the Pioneers and the Braves created a little more separation for the front runners vs. the rest of the pack but lots of games yet to be played.
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 2nd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Pioneers |
6 |
3 |
0 |
0.667 |
112 |
94 |
18 |
– |
|
Braves |
5 |
3 |
0 |
0.625 |
114 |
88 |
26 |
0.50 |
|
Senators |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0.429 |
85 |
101 |
-16 |
1.50 |
|
Sultans |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0.375 |
94 |
98 |
-4 |
2.50 |
|
Keystones |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0.375 |
94 |
118 |
-24 |
2.50 |
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
14 |
6 |
0 |
0.700 |
285 |
212 |
73 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
12 |
9 |
0 |
0.571 |
243 |
238 |
5 |
2.50 |
|
Senators |
9 |
10 |
0 |
0.474 |
244 |
259 |
-15 |
4.00 |
|
Keystones |
8 |
12 |
0 |
0.400 |
249 |
273 |
-24 |
6.00 |
|
Sultans |
7 |
13 |
0 |
0.350 |
236 |
275 |
-39 |
7.00 |
Next Games: Monday June 9, 2025
Game 1 8:30 a.m. (H) Sultans (3-5-0) vs. (V) Senators (3-4-0)
Game 2 9:30 a.m. (H) Braves (5-3-0) vs. (V) Pioneers (6-3-0)
Keystones have the bye on Monday so their players will have priority in the draw.