Game Day Gazette
May 14, 2026
It seems like we were just here as the C division resumed play just two days after Tuesday’s slate of games. Temperatures were on the rise as we approaches 90 degrees by the end of the morning. Two hard-fought, close games this morning proving you never know what’s going to happen in the best reality show, not on TV!
Nice surprise visit from a beloved old-timer as Greg Lloyd stopped by to catch up with some old teammates and reminisce about the good old days (last reason!). Great to see Greg and wish him well in his non-softball activities!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Gray (4-1-0) vs. Green (2-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Gray- The Pleasant Valley Road bullies wasted no time is demonstrating their dominance in the league so far this season (record of 14-3 coming into today’s game). Over the first two innings, they marched fourteen (14) batters to the plate making no outs and putting up ten runs! Thankfully, I don’t recall all the details but here’s my best shot… Scott Wright led off with a looping single to left center. Mike Carroll and Peter Atkins followed with ground singles to load the bases. Gary Coyle hit a roller past 2nd base and with the grass still wet, it took some time for me to get to the ball as two runners scored. Ray Pilgrim lined a two-run single to left. Lynn Simpson and Phil Stanch followed with line singles to right to bring in the 5th run. 2nd – P Tom Kelm had some control issues in the 2nd as he walked two of the first three batters to load the bases. Mercenary Jim Foelker singled to bring in two runs. Scott picked up his 2nd hit with a line shot to right, Mike yanked a single to right to score the 3rd run. Peter lined a double to center that was almost caught by Jack Adams (employing a new defensive strategy against Peter) but ended up with two more runs scoring to give Gray an early ten run advantage.
Green– new leadoff hitter, Luis Sanchez, laced a single to right center to start the frame. Paul Rubin grounded into a fielder’s choice out at 2B for the 1st out. Jack Spellman ripped a double to right center to put runners on 2B and 3B. Ken Mockler drilled a single up the middle to get Green on the board with two runs. Tom Brownfield followed with a drive to left center that was caught by Lynn for the 2nd out. Denny Malloy walked and Tom Kelm reached on an infield single to load the bases. Mickey Poole grounded to short and Scott fired to 3B to get the force and end the inning. 2nd – Rip Wright walked to open the 2nd. Larry King fouled out ahead of Jack Adams double to right center. Adam Gordon went down swinging for the 2nd out. Luis lined a ball to right, but Jim F. easily made the catch to retire the side.
End of 2nd Score: Gray 10 Green 2
Third Inning Recap:
Gray– Green manager, Tom Kelm, made some defensive changes heading into the 3rd as he moved Tom B. to 1B, Luis to pitcher and he took over 2B. These moves by Green’s crafty skipper proved to be huge as the game went on. Gary Coyle led off the 3rd and was retired for one of the few times this season on a foul out. Ray followed with an absolute bomb to center that I initially thought I had a chance to run down but the ball kept carrying for a double off the fence. Lynn smacked a single to right to move Ray to 3B. One of the next two batters (Phil or Jeff) reached and drove in the only run while the other hit into a fielder’s choice. Margarito went down looking on a perfect pitch from Luis to retire the side.
Green- leading off, I dribbled a ball about four feet in front of the plate. I was able to beat the throw as the ball sailed wide of the bag. I never stopped running and pulled into 3B with a “little league” triple. Jack grounded out to 2B as the run came in. Ken and Tom B, followed with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Denny fouled out but Tom K. delivered an RBI single to score Ken with the 2nd run. Mickey lined a ball to right center that had extra bases written all over it but Phil appeared to come out of nowhere to make a spectacular catch to same at least two runs.
End of 3rd Score: Gray 11 Green 4
Fourth Inning Recap:
Gray– continued to add on runs as they scored two more in the 4th. Larry and Jim opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Scott laced an RBI single to right for the 1st run. Mike grounded to 3B and Adam beat the runner to the bag for the 1st out. Peter popped a ball to right center and Jack almost made a miraculous catch, but it fell in for an RBI single. Gary bounced out to 3B for the 2nd out and Ray was retired on a sharply hit grounder to Tom K. at 2B to end the inning.
Green– got themselves back into this one with a five-run outburst in the 4th. Rip grounded to 3B to start the inning. Larry lined a single down the 3B line to reach. Jack A. lined out to short and things were looking bleak for the Green Goblins. Adam came through with a clean single through the 5/5 hole. Luis singled to bring in the 1st run. Paul looped a single down the left field line to drive in the 2nd run. Jack S., Ken and Tom B. followed with run-scoring singles as Green completed its first five run inning of the game.
End of 4th Score: Gray 13 Green 9
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Gray-with their lead now down to only four runs, Gray needed to put up some runs in the buffet to keep Green at a comfortable distance. Lynn opened the frame with his third single in as many at bats for the game. Phil lined a ball to right center and Lynn had to hold up to make sure the ball was not going to be caught. It dropped in and Jack A. made a strong throw to 2B to get the force and the 1st out. Jeff popped out to short for the 2nd out. Margarito lined a single to left to keep the inning going. Larry squibbed a ball to 2B, and Jack S. made a good play to corral the ball and step on 2B for the inning ending force out.
Green-chasing four to tie and five to win, Green staged an improbable comeback in this one. Denny got things off on the right foot with a double to left center. Tom K. hit a hard grounder in the 5/6 hole that Scott was able to reach but Tom/s runner from the plate (me) just beat the throw to 1B for an infield hit. Mickey stepped up and lined a single to left to score Denny and move me to 3B. Rip grounded to 1B and Mike C. got the force at 2B as the run scored from 3B to narrow Gray’s lead to two runs. Larry grounded to 3B and Gary got the force at 2B for the 2nd out. Larry opted to pass on a pinch runner as Jack Adams came up to bat. Jack lined a ball to center and Peter tried to make a shoestring catch, but the ball skipped under his glove and rolled to the fence. Larry was off with the crack of the bat and somehow managed to stay ahead of Jack as he rounded the baes for a dramatic game tying two-run homerun. But this one was far from over. Adam used his speed to reach on an infield single to the left side. Luis hit a rocket to right field and when Jim struggled to pick up the ball, Adam raced around the bases and scored on Luis’ walk off double to give Green the win. What a ball game!
Final Score: Green 14 Gray 13
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Blue (1-4-0) vs. Red (2-3-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Blue-Don Roets opened the game with a groundout to Ken Brown at short. Mike Hill reached on an infield single and scored on Tim Coles triple to right field. Raul DeLeon rapped a single up the middle to score Tim as Blue jumped out to an early two-run lead. Tommy DeLeon bounced into a fielder’s choice out at 2B ahead of Henry’s single to left. Donnie Janac lined a ball to left field, but Bobby Hawthorne had him played perfectly and made a nice running catch to end the inning. 2nd– Dave Berra led off the 2nd with a line single to left. He was forced out at 2B on Johnny Neville’s grounder to 2B. Daniel Baladez did likewise as he bounced out to Doc for the 2nd out. Mercenary, Scott Wright, hit a ball deep to right center and this time, Phil Stanch could not make a circus catch and Scott cruised into 3B with an RBI triple. Ray Pilgrim, Blue’s other mercenary, singled to left to bring in Scott with the 2nd run. Don grounded into a fielder’s choice to retire the side.
Red- Doc Hobar drove the 1st pitch to left center but Don was right there and made the catch for the 1st out. Patrick Schmidt singled to right center and scored on John Flower’s double to right. Ken Brown lined out to 2B on a nice play by Raul. Terry Watts grounded one to Raul and he made the throw to 1B to get the final out. 2nd– Bobby Hawthorne and Sal Lopez opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Mike Mordecai drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Morris Carter went down swinging for the first out. Mercenary, Terry Thompson lifted a flyball to left center that was deep enough to score the run from 3B. Phil Stanch popped a ball to shallow right field and Raul made a nice running catch to end the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Blue 4 Red 2
Third Inning Recap:
Blue- Mike laced a single to right center to open the frame, He moved to 3B on Tim’s double to left center. Raul ripped a single up the middle to score both runners. Tommy lined out to Doc at 2B for the first out. Henry grounded to 3B and Mike got the force at 2B for the 2nd out. Donnie and Dave followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. P Terry Thompson was able to retire Johnny on a groundball to 2B to end the frame.
Red- P Tommy DeLeon shut down the Red attack in the 3rd, holding them scoreless despite allowing a couple of hits. Barry McRee singled to start the inning but was erased on Doc’s grounder to short. Patrick singled to put runners on 1B and 2B. John lined a ball to Tommy, and his quick reaction allowed him to make the catch. Patrick’s momentum took him off 1B and Tommy’s throw beat him to the bag for an inning ending double play.
End of 3rd Score: Blue 6 Red 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Blue- continued their streak of two-run innings in the 4th. Daniel led off with a single and moved to 3B on Scott’s double to right center. Ray grounded out to short for the 1st out as the runners were unable to advance. Don came up with a big hit as he singled to right center to drive in both runners. Mike grounded to Ken and he started a 6-4-3 double play to wrap up the inning.
Red- unable to generate any offense as Tommy got his 2nd consecutive shutout inning. Ken led off with a single to CF but was erased as Tim started a 5-4-3 double play to quickly get two outs. Bobby was retired on a grounder to 3B to complete the inning.
End of 4th Score: Blue 8 Red 2
Fifth Inning Recap:
Blue– Tim capped off a perfect day at the plate with a leadoff single to left center. Raul made it 3-3 for the game with another hit to right center and it looked like Blue was off and running. Tommy fouled out for the 1st out of the inning. Henry ground into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Donnie came through with a big RBI single on a liner to left center before Dave lined out to short to end the inning.
Red– was able to break Tommy’s scoreless streak and push across a run in the 5th. Sal and Mike Mordecai led off with back-to-back singles. Morris went down swinging, but Terry T. delivered an RBI single with a pop fly down the 3B line. Phil fouled out and Barry hit into a fielder’s choice to short circuit the rally for the Red Storm.
End of 5th Score: Blue 9 Red 3
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Blue– up by six runs and looking to add on, Blue failed to put up a run for the first time in any inning of this game. Johnny reached on a leadoff single, but his pinch runner was forced out at 2B on Daniel’s grounder to Doc. Scott flew out to right field on a nice catch by Barry. Ray singled to keep the inning alive, but Don flew out to center to end the threat.
Red— chasing six runs, Red’s bats finally started to show some life. Doc and Patrick singled to open the frame. John drove in the 1st run with a single to right. Ken popped a ball just beyond the reach of the first baseman and with his speed, turned it into an RBI double. Terry W. lined out to Tommy D. on another fine defensive play for the 1st out. Bobby singled on a roller through the 5/6 hole to drive in John. Sal followed with a flyball to left that was deep enough to score Ken as Red narrowed the lead to two runs. Mike M. grounded to 3B and Tim made the throw to 2B to force out Bobby to end the comeback as Blue held on for a hard-fought 9-7 win.
Final Score: Blue 9 Red 7
Current Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 2nd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0.667 |
67 |
57 |
10 |
– |
|
Orange |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0.600 |
49 |
39 |
10 |
0.50 |
|
Green |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
64 |
49 |
15 |
0.50 |
|
Red |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0.333 |
58 |
59 |
-1 |
2.00 |
|
Blue |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0.333 |
41 |
75 |
-34 |
2.00 |
Things tightened up considerably with Green’s upset win vs. Gray. Both Orange and Green remain in striking distance of the front running Gray squad.
Season-to-date Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season to-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Gray |
14 |
4 |
0 |
0.778 |
226 |
156 |
70 |
– |
|
Green |
9 |
5 |
0 |
0.643 |
182 |
139 |
43 |
3.00 |
|
Orange |
8 |
6 |
0 |
0.571 |
153 |
129 |
24 |
4.00 |
|
Blue |
5 |
10 |
0 |
0.333 |
101 |
187 |
-86 |
7.50 |
|
Red |
2 |
13 |
0 |
0.133 |
145 |
196 |
-51 |
10.50 |
Green closed the gap to only three games with their win on Thursday. Only trailing by one game in the loss column as Gray has played four more games and that disparity will likely not change as the season progresses.
Next Games: Monday May 18, 2026
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Gray (4-2-0) vs. Orange (3-2-0)
Orange has a chance to prove they are a contender rather than a pretender as they take on the lead leaders.
Blue has umpiring duties for this one.
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Blue (2-4-0) vs. Green (3-2-0)
Basking in the glow of their come from behind win vs. Gray, better not overlook new look Blue with the one-two punch of Tim and Raul driving their offense!
Gray will be taking on the umpire responsibilities in this game.
Red will have a bye on Tuesday so their players (along with the unassigned players) will have priority in the draw.