Game Day Gazette
March 19, 2026
With the return of warmer temperatures, we were back in action on Thursday. Due to a scheduling snafu by the city, we moved back to the friendly confines of K3 for the day but alas none of the big-time sluggers were able to leave the yard. We welcomed a returning fixture in the C division scene as John Flowers made his season debut and Daniel Baladez is the latest B leaguer to see the light and join in the fun with the old guys!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Red (0-3-0) vs. Orange (2-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Red-looking to notch their first win of the season, Red came out on fire as they put up five runs in the first inning. Doc Hobar started things off with a line single to CF. Butch Barber followed with a double to right center and Red quickly had runners on 2B and 3B with nobody out. Sal ripped a single to left to score Doc with Red’s first run. Ken Brown lifted a fly to right that was deep enough to score Butch. Terry Watts drew a walk to keep things rolling. Jack Kelly smacked a line single to right to load the bases. Mike Mordecai worked a walk to force in the 3rd run of the frame. Larry King completed the five-run outburst with a sharp two-run single to left. 2nd– Barry McRee bounced back to P Terry Thompson to start the 2nd. Morris Carter went down on strikes for the 2nd out. Mercenaries, Paul Rubin and John Flowers had back-to-back singles to turn over the lineup, but Terry got Doc to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the threat.
Orange– Adam led off the inning with a single but the next two batters (Terry Thompson and Jack Adams) hit into fielder’s choice groundouts and there were quickly two outs. Bobby Miller started a two-run rally with a single. Steve Kendig followed with a double to left center to drive in the first two runs of the game. Jim Foelker followed with a booming drive to dead-center that soared over John Flower’s head for a triple. Jerry Mylius drove him in with a single to right for the 4th run. Bubba Barnett singled but Jack Kelly retired Rick of a grounder to 3B to end the inning. 2nd– Orange drew two players from the bucket (Jim Aaron and Danile Baladez) and they immediately contributed leading off the 2nd. Jim reached on a hard-hit grounder to short and Daniel skied a double over Butch’s head in left field for an RBI double in his first C league at-bat! Adam walked and Terry T. followed with a single to bring in the 2nd run. Jack flew out to left on a nice running catch by Terry W. for the 1st out. Bobby smacked a triple to right to drive in two more runs. Steve finished off Orange’s five-run second inning with a single to left.
End of 2nd Score: Orange 9 Red 5
Third Inning Recap:
Red– After Butch opened the inning with an out, Sal reached on a hard-hit ball to left. Ken followed with a double to right center, and it looked like Red was poised for a big inning. Terry W. lined a single to right to score Sal as Ken moved to 3B on the play. Jack K. bounced back to the pitcher, but Ken was able to scamper home on the play for Red’s 2nd run. Mike was retired for the final out of the frame.
Orange- Like the 1st inning, Orange quickly had two outs before staging a big rally to put up five more runs to go up by a touchdown (14-7). Jim F. grounded to short to start the inning, Jerry and Bubba had back-to-back singles to get things cooking. Rick Parker grounded a ball in the 5/6 hole and somehow, Ken was able to glove it and fire a throw to 3B that beat Jerry by a step for the 2nd out. Jim A. followed with a smash double to right center to drive in two runs. Daniel reached on a pop fly to short left that allowed Jim A. to score the 3rd run. Adam singled to put runners on 1B and 2B. Terry T. and Jack A. had back-to back RBI singles to left to bring in two more runs and stake Orange to a seven-run lead.
End of 3rd Score: Orange 14 Red 7
Fourth Inning Recap:
Red– get themselves back into this one with a five-run outburst of their own. Larry led off with a single and moved to 2B on Barry’s base-hit. Morris bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Paul and John had back-to-back singles as Larry came across with the 1st run. Doc stepped up and hammered a ball to right field that gapped the fielder’s and rolled to the fence for a bases-clearing grand slam home run to finish the five-run frame.
Orange– new pitcher Sal Lopez (may have come in to replace Jack K. in the previous inning) shut down the Orange lineup in the 4th. Bobby reached on a pop fly single in front of the plate to get the inning started. Steve completed his perfect 3-3 day at the plate with a single through the 5/6 hole. Jim F. grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Jerry looped a single to right to score Bobby with the only run of the frame, Bubba popped out and Rick lined a shot to shallow left that Ken was able to spear after a lengthy run to retire the side.
End of 4th Score: Orange 15 Red 12
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Red- chasing three runs, Red came up short in the buffet. Butch went down on strikes to open the inning. Sal singled to complete his perfect day at the plate, but Ken grounded sharply to 2B, and Jack flipped to Jim A. for the force at 2B and more importantly, the 2nd out of the inning. Terry and Jack followed with back-to-back hits to load the bases. Mike drew his 2nd walk of the game to force in a run, and the lead was down to two runs. Larry grounded to Jim A. at short and he flipped to Jack A. for the game-ending force to give Orange its third win of the season.
Final Score: Orange 15 Red 13
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Blue (1-2-0) vs. Gray (3-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Blue– leadoff hitter, Don Roets, drove a ball to deep right center for a triple to open the game. Henry Flores grounded sharply to 3B, but Gary Coyle made the stop and a strong throw to 1B to get the 1st out. Mike Hill did the same thing but this time, Don broke for home on the play to 1B. Mike Carroll made an excellent throw to the plate that beat Don by a half-step for an inning ending double play. 2nd– Leon Cikota led off the 2nd with a pop fly single over 3B. Tommy DeLeon followed with a line shot to 2B. Leon was off with the hit; Tom Brownfield made the catch and tossed his throw to 1B to complete the double play. Chris Hurst and Raul DeLeon followed with back-to-back hits. Jeff Broussard grounded to 1B and Mike C. made the stop and scrambled to the base just ahead of Jeff for the final out.
Gray-wasted no time in getting on the board as the first four hitters all reached base. Mike Carroll opened with a line single to right center. Peter Atkins followed with a double to left center with Mike scoring on the play. Gary Coyle doubled to left to score Peter with the 2nd run. Tim Coles blasted a triple to right center for Gray’s 3rd consecutive extra base hit and a three-run lead. Ray Pilgrim hit a flyball to CF that was deep enough to score Tim from 3B for the 4th run. Lynn Simpson doubled down the 3B line, but Phil Stanch fouled out for the 2nd out. Larry Coons delivered with an RBI single to left to complete the five-run 1st inning. 2nd– Margarito Canava popped out to short to open the 2nd. Mercenary Luis Sanchez singled to right but was erased at 2B as fellow mercenary, Tom Brownfield, grounded out to short. Not to be denied, Gray rallied with four consecutive hits to put up four more runs and quickly take control of this game. Mike singled to right center and Peter loaded the bases with a base hit to left. Gary followed with his 2nd double of the game as his shot this one cleared the bases. Tim lofted a deep flyball to center for a run-scoring double before Ray ended the inning with a flyout to shallow left field.
End of 2nd Score: Gary 9 Blue 0
Third Inning Recap:
Blue- got untracked in the 3rd and put up four runs to stay in the game. Alex Valles drove a ball to deep right center for a leadoff double. Johnny Neville went down on strikes and Dave Berra bounced back to the pitcher for the 2nd out. Jim Maloy doubled to left to score Alex with Blue’s first run of the game. Don smacked a double to left to score Jim and Blue was showing signs of life. Henry and Mike had back-to-back singles to bring in the 3rd run. Len drove in the 4th run with a single over 3B. Tommy kept the inning alive with another looping base hit over Gary’s head at 3B to load the bases. Chris grounded one up the middle, but Tim made the play and stepped on 2B for the inning ending force out.
Gray– when it rains, it pours and Gray continued to feast at the plate. In the 3rd. Lynn and Phill had back-to-back singles to open the inning. New pitcher, Tommy DeLeon, was able to get Larry and Margarito on pop fly outs in the infield and there were quickly two outs. But the inning was far from over as Luis smashed a drive over the right fielder’s head for a three-run home run. Tom reached on a single to turn over the lineup. Mike had his 3rd hit of the contest with a single. Peter followed with a wicked line drive shot to left center for his 2nd double of the game to score Tom. Gary had his 3rd hit, an RBI single to left to score Mike and complete the five-run inning.
End of 3rd Score: Gray 14 Blue 4
Fourth Inning Recap:
Blue-Raul led off with a groundout to 3B on another stellar play by the ageless, Gary Coyle. Jeff and Alex singled and it looked like Blue was poised to add to their run total. center field for a two-run triple. Jerry’s pop up to 2B ended the inning. However, that was not meant to be as Johnny grounded into Blue’s 3rd double play of the game to retire the side.
Gray– Tim, trying to launch one out of the park. Fell just short on his leadoff triple to CF. This hit concluded a 12-12 performance by the first four batters in Gray’s lineup. Ray singled through the 5/6 hole to score Tim with the 1st run. Lynn finished up his perfect day at the plate with a double to left. He scored on Phil’s triple to CF. Tommy was able to retire the next three batters to hold the mighty Gray batters to “only” three runs.
End of 4th Score: Gary 17 Blue 4
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Blue- Dave bounced out to short to open the buffet inning. Jim M. singled but was forced out at 2B on Don’s grounder to short. Henry singled to keep the game alive, and Mike H. singled home the first run. Leon reached on an infield single to load the bases but Tommy grounded back to the pitcher for the final out.
Final Score: Gray 17 Blue 5
Session 1 Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 1st Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0.833 |
80 |
46 |
34 |
– |
|
Orange |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0.750 |
55 |
45 |
10 |
1.00 |
|
Green |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0.667 |
41 |
31 |
10 |
1.50 |
|
Blue |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0.250 |
31 |
55 |
-24 |
3.00 |
|
Red |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0.000 |
28 |
58 |
-30 |
4.00 |
Next Games: Monday March 23, 2026 (Home team is listed first)
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Green (2-1-0) vs. Gray (4-1-0)
Gray will be looking for revenge after Green ruined their hopes for a perfect season the last time these two teams met. Should be a dandy!
Red has umpiring duties for this one
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Red (0-4-0) vs. Blue (1-3-0)
Red is still looking to get in the win column while Blue looks to rebound after suffering a beat down at the hands of the league leading Gray squad on Thursday.
Green will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Orange will have a well-deserved bye on Monday so their players (along with the unassigned players) will have priority in the draw.
Other News & Notes:
The Bobby Fund cookout and fund raiser will be held on Monday. Chef Bruce Barnett will be firing up the grill just before 11:00 to feed the hungry C leaguers and keep going until late in the afternoon for the late arriving B leaguers. This is a great time for all and a chance for you to contribute to help the Bobby Fund continue its mission to help any senior softball players with financial needs. Thanks for your support and special thanks to Bruce and his lovely bride for all they do to make this day special.
Have a great weekend and hope your March Madness brackets aren’t completely blown yet! Hook ‘em Horns! Sweet 16 baby! Good luck to the other Texas teams as well…
Paul