Game Day Gazette
March 5, 2026
Thank goodness the rain held off, and we were able to get a full slate of games on Thursday.
The games were not as competitive as we might like but it’s still very early in the season and
lots can change over the course of our sixty-game season. We also want to welcome two new players to the league. Jim Maloy (another B leaguer) and Luis Sanchez have joined us and will be playing for the Blue and Green teams, respectively as we go forward.
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Green (0-0-0) vs. Blue (0-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Green– season opener for the guys in Green as they had a bye on Monday. Interestingly, no players were drawn from the bucket on Monday, but the Green team ended up drawing four players for this morning’s game. The mercenaries included Ken Brown, Bobby Miller, Jim Foelker and Luis Sanchez (not a bad haul!). Just a reminder that all players are eligible for the draw, just make sure to get your chip in the bucket at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the game. New guys, we need to get you chips on Monday, so you have the chance to get in an extra game as well. Now on to the action!
Dean Hector led off with a ground out to Blue SS Mike Hill, who looked to be fully recovered from last season’s lingering arm injuries. New guy, Jack Spellman (B division call-up) smacked a double to right center to get things rolling for Green. Paul Rubin lined a double to left center to score Bobby Miller (pinch running for Jack) with the 1st run of the game. Tom Brownfield laced a single to left center to drive in Paul with the 2nd run. Ken Mockler (the other B division call-up) grounded sharply to short and Mike was able to turn an inning ending 6-4-3 double play to close out the inning. 2nd– Denny Malloy led off the 2nd with a double to right field. Tom Kelm bounced back to P Raul DeLeon for the 1st out. Raul got Rip Wright to ground out to Mike for the 2nd out. William (“Wild Bill”) Powell came up with a big two-out single as he lined a hit over 3B to score Denny. Ken Brown bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the frame.
Blue- Manager Johnny Neville revamped his lineup for this one and Blue opened the game with three consecutive hits. Don Roets led off with a sharp single to right. Henry Flores reached on a ground single to center and Mike Hill lined a base hit to right to drive in Don with the 1st run for Blue. Donnie Janac lined a ball to right center that Jim Foelker quickly reached and made an accurate throw to Paul Rubin at short to get a force out at 2B for the 1st out. Chris Hurst fouled out for the 2nd out. Dave Berra ended the inning as he bounced one up the middle and Paul turned into a fielder’s choice out at 2B. 2nd– Blue started this inning with three consecutive hits to load the bases with nobody out. Jeff Broussard started things off with a sharp single to left. Tommy DeLeon’s hard grounder to 3B got by Ken Mocker for a single. Raul ripped a single past me at short to load the bases. Johnny Neville made the 1st out as he fouled off the 2nd strike at the plate. Leon Cikota hit a flyball to left that was just deep enough to get the 1st run in with a sacrifice fly. Lucky Hoffman grounded into a fielder’s choice out at 2B to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Green 3 Blue 2
Third Inning Recap:
Green- the offense (helped by the talented group of mercenaries) got cranked up in the 3rd as Green put up five runs on six hits. Newest guy, Luis Sanchez, led off with a ground single to right center. Bobby Miller drilled a double down the left field line to move Luis to 3B. Jim Foelker drove in both runners with a line single to left. Dean followed with a single through the box that Raul was unable to handle. Jack grounded sharply to Mike who made the toss to 2B to get the force for the 1st out. Paul singled up the middle to drive in Jim with Green’s 3rd run. Tom B. continued to swing a hot bat as he lined a single to right center to drive in run number 4. Ken M. finished off the inning with a single to left scoring Paul and completing the five-run inning.
Blue- Alex Valles started the 3rd by grounding one back to P Tom Kelm for the 1st out. Newer guy, Jim Maloy, lined a single to left center and inexplicably tried to stretch the hit into a double. He was easily thrown out on Dean’s relay throw to Paul for the 2nd out. Don followed with a clean single to the right side. Henry grounded a ball up the middle and Paul, showing good range for an old guy, just reached the ball and flipped to Tom for the inning ending force out at 2B.
End of 3rd Score: Green 8 Blue 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Green– Green added three more runs in the 4th backed by six consecutive singles. Denny flew out to left to open the inning. The next three batters (Tom K., Rip and William) all reached on singles through the 5/6 hole to push across the 1st run. Ken B. single to right center to drive in the 2nd run, Luis’ single should have scored Wild Bill with the 3rd run but somebody forgot to tell him he need to run through the line and not to home plate and he was called out for the 2nd out. Bobby smacked a single to right center to Ken with the 3rd run before Jim popped out to 1B to end the inning.
Blue– Mike led off the inning with a single to left center. He was retired on Donnie’s groundball to 3B as Ken M. threw to Tom B. for the force at 2B. Chris single up the middle on a ball just out of Paul’s reach. Dave Berra lined out to Jim in right center for the 2nd out and Chris’ pinch runner ventured too far off the base and Jim threw to Tom B. who fired back to 1B to complete the inning ending 9-4-3 double play (is it just me or does Jim always seem to be in the right place at the right time well at least for today!
End of 4th Score: Green 11 Blue 2
Fifth Inning Recap:
Green-the Greenies tacked on three more runs to pretty much put this one away. Dean walked to start the inning. Jack continued his hard-luck day at the plate as he ripped a hot shot to Mike, who cleanly gloved the ball and flipped to Jeff to complete the double play just ahead of the speedy Bobby Miller running from home. Paul doubled on a hard shot to 2B that caromed off Jeff’s hand (he was ok). Tom B. completed his perfect day at the plate with another line shot to right center to score Paul. Ken M. lofted a flyball to deep center that fell in for a run-scoring double (the wind was tricky all day in the outfield). Denny singled up the middle, moving Ken to 3B. He scored on Tom K. ground single to the right side. Rip was retired on a comebacker to Raul for the final out.
Blue- Luis Sancez made his C division pitching debut in the bottom of the 5th. Jeff greeted him with a sharp single to left. Luis got Tommy on a ball hit up the middle as he fired to Paul for the force at 2B for the 1st out of the inning. Raul popped up to the catcher for the 2nd out. Johnny grounded into a fielder’s choice out at 2B to retire the side.
End of 5th Score: Green 14 Blue 2
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
At this point, the team flip-flopped and Blue continued at the plate.
Blue- Leon opened the inning with a well-struck line drive that just got over Bobby’s head in CF for a lead-off double. Lucky laced a single to left center to move Leon to 3B. Alex went down on strikes for the 1st out. Jim lofted a sacrifice fly to right to score Leon with the first run. Don lined a ball to right center and “Johhny on the spot” Jim quickly reached the ball and fired to Paul for the force at 2B to end the contest.
Final Score: Green 14 Blue 3
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Red (0-1-0) vs. Gray (1-0-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Red– anxious for revenge after Monday’s beatdown at the hands of this same Gray team, the Red storm came out swinging. Doc Hobar reached on an infield single. Sal Lopez rapped a single through the 5/6 hole to move Doc to 2B. Ken Brown singled sharply in the same spot to bring in Doc with the game’s first run. Terry Watts continued the hit parade with a line drive single to right. Bobby Hawthorne fouled out but Mickey Poole stepped up and lined a single to left to drive in two runs. Terry scored Red’s 4th run on Gene Nelson’s sacrifice fly to CF. David Kruse went down swinging to retire the side. 2nd– The bottom of Red’s lineup failed to generate much offense in the 2nd. Mike Mordecai and Larry King each hit grounders to 3B and Scott Wright, showing off a strong arm, was able to throw them out as Ray Pllgrim quickly got two outs. Barry McRee lined a single up the middle and moved to 3B on Doc’s opposite field single. The rally ended as Sal grounded to Tim Coles at short and he got the force at 2B to retire the side.
Gray-with Gary Coyle, Art Monzingo and new guy, David Safely out for today’s game, Gray had to draw a couple of players (Bobby Miller and Jim Foelker) to make a strong lineup even stronger! Scott Wright opened the game with a line shot to RF to reach 1B. Peter Atkins followed with a single to left center, but he got a little greedy trying to stretch the hit into a double and was thrown out at 2B for the 1st out. Tim Coyle smacked a double to CF to score Scott with Gray’s 1st run. Ray Pilgrim bounced out to 2B Don Roets for the 2nd out. Phil Stanch looped a double down the right field line to score Tim. Lynn Simpson hit a ball to deep short and Phil tried to advance to 3B on the play. It appeared that Ken’s throw to Mickey had beaten Phil to the bag for an inning ending put out. However, the 2B umpire saw the play differently and after discussion with home plate umpire, Johnny Neville, the call was reversed as Mickey apparently came off the bag. Given new life, the next four batters all reached to complete Gray’s five-run inning. Mike Carroll stroked an RBI single with a shot over 3B, Margarito Canava reached on an infield single, and Larry Coons popped a single over short. Bobby Miller finished off the inning with a line single to left. 2nd– Gray widened their lead with three more runs in the 2nd. Jim Foelker lined a shot to left for a single to start the frame. Scott was retired on a comebacker to P Sal Lopez for the 1st out. Peter singled to score the fleet-footed Jim with the 1st run. Tim continued his early season slugging with a double to right field to drive in Peter. Ray lined a single to CF to score Tim with the 3rd run. Phil and Lynn had back-to-back singles to load the bases. Mike bounced into a 6U 6-3 double play to end the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Gary 8 Red 4
Third Inning Recap:
Red– Ken led off the frame with a single and scored on Terry Watts triple to right center. Terry hit a perfectly placed drive between right and right center. He probably should have been happy with his booming triple but either he or the 3B coach decided his should go for the whole enchilada and unfortunately, he was thrown out at home (nice catch by Larry Coon) for the 1st out. Bobby H. reached on a grounder to 3B, but Mickey hit one back to Ray who threw to 2B for the force and Bobby’s relay to 1B beat Mickey for an inning ending double play.
Gray- six of Gray’s seven batters reached in the 3rd as they pounded their way to another five-run inning. Margarito led off with a clean single to left. Larry singled past 3B as his pinch runner, Ray Pilgrim (yes, that Ray!) cruised into 1B with a single. Bobby singled to load the bases. Jim popped out to short for the 1st out. Scott drilled a ball to CF to bring in two runs. Peter followed suit with a line single to CF to drive in another run. Tim smacked a hard single to left center to drive in both runners and push Gray to an eight-run lead.
End of 3rd Score: Gray 13 Red 5
Fourth Inning Recap:
Red– Ray shut down Red without a hit in the 4th. Gene bounced out to 2B, and David went down on strikes. Mike M. reached on a walk but Larry hit into a fielder’s choice to close out the inning.
Gray– well, the good news for Red is that Gray did not score five runs in the 4th! However, they did put up four to extend their lead. Ray led off with a line single to CF. Phil stroked a single to right center before Lynn popped out to short (great running catch by Ken). Mike knocked in the 1st run with a hard shot to left. Margarito singled to advance the runners and Larry knocked in Phil with the 2nd run. Bobby walked to force in the 3rd run. The 4th run scored on Jim’s ground out to short and Scott ended the inning by grounding out to 2B.
End of 4th Score: Gray 17 Red 5
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Red- Barry and Doc had back-to-back singles to start the buffet. The rally lost some steam as Sal bounced into a 6-4-3 double play. Ken singled to drive in the 1st run. Terry walked and Bobby Hawthorne singled, but Ray got Mickey to ground out to 2B to end the ball game.
Final Score: Gray 17 Red 6
Session 1 Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 1st Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
30 |
11 |
19 |
– |
|
Green |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
14 |
3 |
11 |
0.50 |
|
Orange |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
16 |
11 |
5 |
0.50 |
|
Blue |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
14 |
30 |
-16 |
2.00 |
|
Red |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
11 |
30 |
-19 |
2.00 |
Next Games: Monday March 9, 2026
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Green (1-0-0) vs. Blue (0-2-0)
Rematch of Thursday’s blow out. Let’s see how Green can do without an All-Star group of mercenaries in their lineup.
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Orange (1-0-0) vs. Gray (2-0-0)
Gray looks unbeatable in the early going, let’s see if Orange can put up a fight and make a game out of this one.
All will be revealed on Monday!
Red will have a bye on Monday so their players (along with the unassigned players) will have priority in the draw.
There is a stronger chance of rain this weekend which may impact on our ability to play on Monday. I will try to update you on the status of the games as early as possible. This will come via email, but you can also check the website for updates. Let’s hope the rain stops early on Sunday to give the fields some time to dry off. Have a great weekend!