Game Day Gazette
March 13,2025
Another beautiful spring day at the ballpark. We were treated to another epic game in the day’s first game and the emergence of another challenger as the Pioneers secured their first victory of the season.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Keystones (2-1-0) vs. Senators (1-1-0)
Today’s early game was another “instant classic” as the two teams battled back and forth throughout the game. After the two teams combined for 43 runs and 60 hits over six innings and one hour and 15 minutes of playing time, we saw the third straight game end in walk-off fashion. Given the sheer volume of scoring, I am going to try and focus on the highlights so as not to make this “recap” any longer than necessary!
First & Second Inning Recap:
Senators- fresh off Monday’s bug win over the Pioneers, the Senators put up eight (8) runs in their first two at-bats. In the opening frame, the first three batters (Greg Lloyd, Denny Malloy and Raul DeLeon) all reached base to score the two runs. It might have been a bigger inning if Terry Watts had not been thrown out at 3B trying to advance on Will’s groundball. Jerry Mylius came up with a big two-out hit to score Curt with the 3rd run. 2nd– it only took six batters to produce five runs in the 2nd with Raul’s three run triple being the big blow as the Orange Crush cruised to an early eight run lead.
Keystones– a sluggish start for the team that was tied with the Sultans for the league’s best record. After Mike Hill opened the inning with a single, Raul got the next three batters to ground balls to the middle infielders that were turned into fielder’s choice outs. 2nd– Keystones found their stride in the 2nd and cut the Senators lead in half with their own four run inning. The first four batters reached base (Tommy DeLeon, Mike Mordecai, Bobby Hawthorne and Robby Vickery) to score the 1st run. Raul retired the next two batters, but Greg Tolander dribbled a ball to short and the throw to 3B to get the force and end the inning was wide and two runners scored. Johnny Neville singled to right to drive in the 4th run of the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Senators 8 Keystones 4
Third Inning Recap:
Senators- the Senators were unable to build on their four run lead as Tommy shut them down on a hit by Will Scheerer.
Keystones- things turned around quickly as the Keystones scored five runs to take the lead and the momentum in the game. Mike Hill opened the inning with a single but was forced out on John’s grounder to 2B. Ken Brown followed with a two-run “homer” which included at least two errant throws brought on by Ken’s speed and his daring base running. The next five hitters (Patrick Schmidt, Tommy, Mike, Bobby and Robby) all had hits to bring in three more runs as the Keystones grabbed the lead.
End of 3rd Score: Keystones 9 Senators 8
Fourth Inning Recap:
Senators- Tommy continued his mastery over the Senator batters (on his birthday no less!) as he pitched his 2nd consecutive no run one hit inning.
Keystones- failed to build on their lead as some aggressive base running kept them from scoring. Barry led off the inning with a double. Margarito hit a groundball to 2B but pinch runner, Ken, managed to beat the throw to 1B. However, Barry tried to advance to 3B on the play and Greg made a strong throw to Ray to cut down the runner for the 1st out. Raul retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.
End of 4th Score: Keystones 9 Senators 8
Fifth Inning Recap:
Senators- finally got back in the scoring column with two runs in the inning. Donnie led off with a hard shot to 1B and Bobby made an excellent stop and beat Donnie to the base for the 1st out. Raul singled and Terry followed with a triple down the right field line for the 1st run. Curt drove in Terry from 3B on an RBI single to plate the Senators 2nd run of the inning.
Keystones- now down by a run, the “Kops” responded with a five-run inning-run eruption keyed by doubles from John, Ken and Mike. Robby and Barry also contributed BI singles to lead the Keystones to a five-run inning.
End of 5th Score: Keystones 14 Senators 10
Sixth Inning Recap:
Senators- coming into the buffet trailing by four runs the Senators came out swinging. Terry sand Rick had back-to-back singles to open the inning. Gary was retired on a flyball to deep left for the 1st out. Ray, Greg and Denny followed with singles to load the bases. Raul hit a soaring drive to left field, that Patrick narrowly missed tracking down, foe a bases clearing triple. Back-to-back doubles by Terry and Curt produced the 7th run of the inning. Henry flew out for the 2nd out, but Will kept the inning alive with a base hit to right. Batting for the 2nd time in the inning, Jerry and Rick both singled to load the bases. Gary drilled a ball to the base of the fence in left field for Senator’s 2nd three run triple of the inning giving them eleven (11) runs in the inning and a seemingly comfortable 21-14 lead.
Keystones- coming into the home half of the buffet, the Keystones were down by seven (7) runs. Margarito led off with a double and scored on Johnny’s single. After one out, Mike H. completed his perfect 4-4 day at the plate with another hard single up the middle. John’s singled loaded the bases. Ken ripped a two-run double to right and Patrick followed with a booming flyball over the right center fielders head for a three-run homer to get the Keystones within a run of tying the game. Tommy and Mike followed with singles and Bobby finished off the inning with a walk-off two run double as the Keystones came from behind for a dramatic 22-21 victory.
Final Score: Keystones 22 Senators 21
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Pioneers (0-2-0) vs. Braves (1-1-0)
I want to thank my teammate Brian Rider for keeping score in this game while I was playing. I also apologize if I don’t have quite as much detail in this reporting for as anyone who keeps score of a ballgame knows, we all do it a little differently. Thanks, Brian.
First & Second Inning Recap:
Braves- Bobby Miller led off the game with a single. Scott Wright made a nice stop on a hard-hit ball to 2B by Paul Rubin and got the force at 2B for the 1st out. Doc popped out for the 2nd out. Keith’s single put runners on the corners and Tom Brownfield delivered the big blow with triple to score both runners. 2nd– Lynn Simpson led off the inning with a double and scored on Joe Dayoc’s base hit as the Braves were held to one run in the frame.
Pioneers- still looking for their 1st win of the young season, the Pioneers started slowly but once they got going, there was no stopping them. Scott Wright led of the 1st with a triple to center and he scored on Jack Adams groundout for the only run of the inning. 2nd– Bubba Barnett flew out to open the 2nd. However, the next four batters (Sal Lopez, Donnie Janac, Will Scheerer and Scott) all reached base with singles to score the 1st run. Jack’s double brought in two more runners and Mike Carroll finished off the scoring with an opposite field two-run single to give the Pioneers a five-run inning and the lead.
End of 2nd Score: Pioneers 6 Braves 3
Third Inning Recap:
Braves- Bobby doubled leading off the 3rd and scored on Paul’s single to left. Doc singled and Keith came through with a two run double to give the Braves three runs and tie the score at 6-6.
Pioneers- the suddenly hot hitting Pioneers put up their 2nd consecutive five-run inning in the 3rd. It took only six batters to accomplish this feat. Butch Barber and Gene Nelson had back-to-back hits to lead off the inning. Larry King singled in the 1st run. Mickey Poole and Bubba followed with their own run scoring singles to push across two more runs. Sal then smacked a double to left that got by Lynn and allowed two more runs to score and gave the Pioneers their five-run inning.
End of 3rd Score: Pioneers 11 Braves 6
Fourth Inning Recap:
Braves- down by five, the Braves bounced back in the 4th to tie the score. Dave Berra led off with a single and scored after consecutive hits by Joe and Billy Hill. Tom Kelm’s single brought in the 2nd run of the inning. Bobby completed his perfect 3-3 day at the plate with an RBI single. Sal lost his control briefly and walked Paul and Doc to force in the 4th run and Tom B. singled to drive in the 5th run and tie the game at 11-11.
Pioneers- continued to pound the ball in the 4th and put up their 3rd consecutive five-run inning. Donnie singled to open the inning but was forced out at 2B on Will’s groundout. Scott, Jack and Mike followed with clean base hits to put two more runs on the board. Butch then crushed a ball to right center that went to the fence on one hop for a bases clearing triple and yet another five-run inning for the Pioneers.
End of 4th Score: Pioneers 16 Braves 11
Fifth Inning Recap:
Braves- trailing by five heading into the buffet, the Braves were not able to mount much of an attack. Jim Foelker opened the inning with a single (note to all players, do not assume any ball is going to be caught, run out every play from the plate!) Lynn followed with a groundball to short. Jack fielded the ball and made the throw to 2B for the force. Scott attempted to make the relay to 1B for the potential double play, but Lynn was standing on the base making it impossible for Scott to make the throw. As a result, the runner from the plate was called out for interference at 2B and the double play was recorded. (see safety tip #2 below). Dave Berra hit a grounder to Sal for the final out as the Pioneers secured their 1st win of the season.
Final Score: Pioneers 16 Braves 11
Important safety tip #2 – the “run-through” lanes at 2B and 3B are in place for the safety of the runner and the fielder. We do not want runners to think they need to slide to avoid the tag or get down to avoid the relay throw. If you think there is going to be a play at the base, you must use the run-through lanes! If you go to the base and make any contact with or interfere with the fielder, you will be called out. Please refer to the C league rules on the ASSL website for more information.
Session #1 Standings:
Keystones 3-1-0
Sultans 2-1-0
Braves 1-2-0
Senators 1-2-0
Pioneers 1-2-0
Next Games: Monday March 17, 2025
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Pioneers (1-2-0) vs. Sultans (2-1-0)
Can the Pioneers make it two in a row, or will the Sultans jump into the lead with the Keystones, who are on a bye this week?
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Braves (1-2-0) vs. Senators (1-2-0)
Will St. Patrick’s Day bring good luck to those wearing the Green (Braves) and snap their two-game skid or will the Senators push the Braves into the cellar?
Keystones will have a bye for Game 4 so their players will have priority in the draw.