Game Day Gazette
May 8, 2025
Heavy rains earlier in the week forced a move to Krieg #2 and it is amazing how much a change in venue can impact the game. The distance between the bases is 70 feet at Krieg #2 vs. 65 feet at our home field and this leads to many more infield outs and double plays. In addition, the outfield fences are deeper at Krieg #2 leading to more extra base hits and inside the park home runs. Also, the sun is directly in the first baseman’s eyes in the early games at field #2 so this impacts the games as well. The good news is that we were able to play the games and that is what it is all about!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Braves (1-1-0) vs. Senators (0-2-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Braves– missing five players including their manager, Tom Kelm, the Braves stumbled out of the gate in this one. Leadoff hitter, Paul Rubin, opened the game with a weak groundball to P Raul DeLeon for the 1st out. Lynn Simpson followed suit by hitting a comebacker to Raul fro out #2. Jim Foelker popped out to 3B to retire the side. 2nd– things did not get much better for the Braves in the 2nd as Raul shut them down for the 2nd straight inning. Joe Dayoc flew out to Terry Thompson in left for the first out. Brian Rider was retired on a groundball to Raul and Dave Berra made the final out of the scoreless 2nd on a grounder to shortstop.
Senators- quickly took control of this one with a four-run outburst in the inning. The first three batters (Terry Thompson, Greg Lloyd and Raul DeLeon) hit their way on base to manufacture the Senators’ first run. Tim Coles then proceeded to blast a shot to deep left center and his pinch runner (Peter Atkins) was able to circle the bases for a three run inside the park home run. Braves mercenary pitcher, Tommy DeLeon, retired Henry Flores, Jerry Mylius and Will Scheerer to avoid any further damage. 2nd– the first two batters (Terry Watts and Rick Parker) reached base. Roger Geras grounded into a force out at 3B for the 1st out. Peter Atkins singled but Rick was called out at home for running to the plate rather than the outside run line. Terry T. singled but Tommy retired Greg on a comebacker to end the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Senators 4 Braves 0
Third Inning Recap:
Braves– Billy Hill opened the 3rd with a yet another groundball to the pitcher (four up to this point). At this point the mercenaries and got the Braves back in the game. Tommy DeLeon walked followed by singles from Mickey Poole and Jack Adams to load the bases. Mike “Hit Man” Hill crushed a drive to right center for a bases clearing three-run triple. Paul brought Mike in with a sacrifice fly to left center for the 4th run. Lynn ripped a double to right center but was stranded as Jim popped out to shortstop to retire the side.
Senators- Raul and Tim had back-to-back hits leading off the 3rd. Henry Flores cranked a long fly ball over Jim’s head in CF for a two-run double but was thrown out at 3B trying to stretch it to a triple. Jerry singled but Tommy got Will to ground out to 2B and Terry W. to fly out to right to close out the frame.
End of 3rd Score: Senators 6 Braves 4
Fourth Inning Recap:
Braves- Joe and Brian were retired on groundouts to open the inning but the Braves staged a two-out rally to grab the lead in this game. Dave delivered with a two-out single. Billy Hill followed with a base hit. Tommy and Mickey had back-to-back hits to drive in the 1st run of the inning. Jack smacked a double to right center to bring in two more runs. With runners on 2B and 3B, Mike H. grounded a ball to shortstop. Jack started towards t 3B but stopped and got himself into a rundown. Mickey scampered home while this was going on for the 4th run before Jack was called out at 3B.
Senators- put up two runs in the 4th to tie the score. Rick led off with a single but was forced out at 2B on Roger’s groundout. Peter singled to put runners on 1B and 2B. Terry T. flew out to CF for the 2nd out, but Greg laced a double down the right field line to drive in two big runs. Raul ended the inning on a deep flyball to center field.
End of 4th Score: Senators 8 Braves 8
Fifth Inning Recap:
Braves– inning started out on a promising note as Paul led off with a single and moved to 2B on Lynn’s base hit. Jim doubled to drive in Paul with Lynn stopping at 3B. Raul avoided any further damage by retiring the next three batters (Joe, Brian and Dave) and stranding the runners in scoring position while holding the Braves to a single run.
Pioneers- the game turned on the 5th as the Senators put up five runs on seven hits to seemingly put the game out of reach. Tim led off with a single and Henry followed with a base hit to right center. Tommy retired Jerry and Will on fielder’s choice groundouts to 2B and was one out from getting out of the inning. However, the Senators staged their own two-out rally as the next five hitters (Terry W., Rick, Roger, Peter and Terry T.) all reached base as the Senators put up five big runs to take a commanding 13-9 lead.
End of 5th Score: Senators 13 Braves 9
Sixth Inning Recap:
Braves- needing four runs to tie the game, Billy drew a leadoff walk. Tommy singled but Mickey was finally retired on a fielder’s choice groundout to 3B. Jack singled to drive in the 1st run of the inning, but Mike Hill flew out to right center for the 2nd out. Paul and Lynn kept the Braves’ faint hopes alive with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Jim hit a squib shot towards 2B and in a somewhat questionable call (I was safe!) by umpire Patrick Schmidt, yours truly was called out at 2B to end the game. Great win for the Senators as they finally got in the win column for the session.
Final Score: Senators 13 Braves 10
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Sultans (1-2-0) vs. Keystones (2-0-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Sultans- pounded out six hits on their way to a four-run first inning. Donnie Janac led off with a single and moved to 3B on Peter Atkins base hit. Ray Pilgrim drove in the 1st run of the game with a sacrifice fly to CF. Chris Villareal grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Gary Coyle smacked a single to left and Jeff Broussard followed with a double to score Chris. Adam Gordon singled to drive in two more runs. Chris Hurst kept things going with a single to left but Tommy DeLeon retired Lucky for the final out. 2nd– Jack Kelly popped out to 1B to open the 2nd inning. Ray Saldana ripped a single in the 5/6 hole to get things going for the Sultans. Donnie singled and Peter drove in the 1st run with a base hit. Ray P. drove in Donnie with a line single to left. Chris V. bounced into a fielder’s choice at 2B allowing Peter to score on the play. Gary ended the inning on a flyball to deep center field.
Keystones-answered back with two runs in each of the first two innings to stay in the game. Mike Hill singled leading off the game. Patrick Schmidt followed with a single. Tommy DeLeon slapped a ball to right to drive in Mike with the Keystones first run. Mike Mordecai ground into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Bobby Hawthorne drilled a shot to left, driving in Patrick with the 2nd run. Robby Vickery lined out to 1B on a nice catch by Chris Hurst. Barry McRee singled to load the bases, but Jack was able to get Margarito Canava to ground out to short to end the inning. 2nd-Johnny Neville drew a walk to lead off the 2nd. Morris Carter went down looking for the 1st out. Gene Nelson (only mercenary in the game!) doubled to put runners on 2B and 3B. Mike Hill followed with a ringing double to right center to score both runners. Patrick flew out to CF and Tommy lined out to the pitcher to close out the frame.
End of 2nd Score: Sultans 7 Keystones 4
Third Inning Recap:
Sultans– Jeff led off the inning with a line shot to CF and moved to 2B on Adam’s shot down the left field line. Chris H. lined a single between SS and 3B to drive in Jeff with the 1st run of the inning. Tommy retired the next three batters (Lucky, Jack and Ray S.) to keep the game close by holding the Sultans to a single run in the inning
Keystones– Jack held the Keystones scoreless in the 2nd with some good defensive support. Mike M. grounded to 3B to start the inning; Bobby followed with another hit to shallow left field. Robby hit a hard grounder to Jeff at 2B and he made a quick throw to 2B for the force and Adam completed the 4-6-3 double play to retire the side.
End of 3rd Score: Sultans 8 Keystones 4
Fourth Inning Recap:
Sultans- stretched their lead to nine runs with a five-run explosion in the 4th. Donnie led off with his 3rd hit in as many at-bats and he scored on Peter’s home run that almost wasn’t. On the previous pitch, Peter took a mighty cut, but the ball landed just in front of the Homeplate area line. Home umpire Jack Adams called it a foul ball and as Peter already had two strikes in this at-bat, he was called out. After much deliberation, it was determined that the ball was indeed in fair territory and Peter got a “do-over” that he used to his full advantage. Ray P. followed with a double and moved to 3B on Chris V/’s single. Gary singled to bring in Ray with the 3rd run of the inning, Jeff made the 1st out but Adam singled to load the bases. Chris H. was retired on a short fly to center for the 2nd out. Lucky then came through with a big two-out double, driving in Chris and Gary, to complete the Sultans five-run inning.
Keystones– combination of good pitching and good defense continued as the Keystones were shut out for the 2nd straight inning. Barry led off with a single, but Margarito flew out to CF for the 1st out. Johnny’s single put runners on 1B and 2B. Morris grounded to Jeff at 2B and he combined with Adam on a nifty 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
End of 4th Score: Sultans 13 Keystones 4
Fifth Inning Recap:
With the Sultans up by nine and the time at 10:23 a.m., the decision was made to go ahead and flip flop and give the Keystones a final at bat.
Keystones- Gene led off with a single but was forced out at 2B on Mike H’s fielder’s choice ground out. Patrick singled but Tommy flew out to right for the 2nd out. Mike M. singled to load the bases but Bobby lined out to 3B for the final out as the Sultans put together their best game of the season and came away with a resounding victory.
Final Score: Sultans 13 Keystones 4
2nd Session Standings:
After four game dates, the Keystones and the Pioneers are tied for the top spot. The resurgent Sultans are only .50 games back while the Braves and the Senators share the cellar but are only a game out of the lead.
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 2nd Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Keystones |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0.667 |
38 |
35 |
3 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0.667 |
39 |
35 |
4 |
– |
|
Sultans |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0.500 |
51 |
48 |
3 |
0.50 |
|
Braves |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0.333 |
27 |
30 |
-3 |
1.00 |
|
Senators |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
38 |
45 |
-7 |
1.00 |
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
10 |
5 |
0 |
0.667 |
198 |
154 |
44 |
– |
|
Pioneers |
8 |
7 |
0 |
0.533 |
170 |
179 |
-9 |
2.00 |
|
Keystones |
7 |
8 |
0 |
0.467 |
193 |
190 |
3 |
3.00 |
|
Senators |
7 |
8 |
0 |
0.467 |
197 |
203 |
-6 |
3.00 |
|
Sultans |
6 |
10 |
0 |
0.375 |
193 |
225 |
-32 |
4.50 |
The Braves continue to lead in the season long standings but the Keystones, Pioneers and the Senators are all closing the gap in what promises to be an exciting race to the finish. Also, don’t count out the Sultans as a Jack Kelly managed team always has a chance to make some noise!
Next Games: Monday May 12, 2025
If the underdogs win both games on Monday, we will have a five-way tie for 1st place with every team having a 2-2-0 record! Talk about competitive balance!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. (H) Keystones (2-1-0) vs. (V) Braves (1-2-0)
Game 2 9:30 a.m. (H) Senators (1-2-0) vs. (V) Pioneers (2-1-0)
The Sultans will have a bye on Monday, and their players will have priority in the draw.
Paul Rubin