Game Day Gazette
October 9, 2025
Another beautiful morning at the ballpark! It is such a privilege and a pleasure to be able to play senior softball with such a great group of guys. Count us as very lucky!
Welcoming Jim Aaron back from his summer break in Taos, New Mexico! His presence was felt immediately in both of today’s games.
Game 1 8:00 a.m. Sultans (1-0-0) vs. Senators (0-1-0)
First & Second Inning Recap:
Sultans-looking to build on Monday’s resounding victory over the Braves, the Sultans were stymied in the 1st and held scoreless by Senator’s hurler Greg Lloyd. Donnie Janac opened the game with a single past 2B. Gary Coyle grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Peter Atkins laced a single to left to put runners on 1B and 2B. Ray Pilgrim hit a high chopper to short, and Jim Aaron started an inning ending 6-4-3, double play. 2nd– Sultans got their bats going in the 2nd as Jeff Broussard started things with a sharp single past 2B. Phil Stanch followed with a well-placed drive to RF for a single. Don Roets continued to stay hot at the plate with a sharp single to right center to bring in the 1st run. Adam Gordon went down on strikes for the 1st out. Lucky Hoffman smacked a single to left to drive in the 2nd run for the Sultans. Jack Kelly followed with a liner to right to bring in Phil with the 3rd run. Paul Rubin (lone mercenary for the Sultans) popped a single to left to bring in the 4th run. The inning ended abruptly as Donnie hit a hard grounder to short and Jim made a 6U 6-3 double play to retire the side.
Senators– Terry Thompson led off with a line single to left center. Henry Flores and Raul DeLeon followed with back-to-back hits to bring in the 1st run. Terry Watts lined a shot down the right field line to drive in two more runs for the Senators. Greg Lloyd bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Jerry Mylius singled up the middle ahead of Roger Geras grounder back to the pitcher. Jim Aaron, in his first at-bat since rejoining the league, hit a ground smash up the middle that Adam gloved and made the put out at 2B to end the inning. 2nd– Patrick Schmidt ground out to short to start the inning. Lynn Simpson and Jack Adams followed with back-to-back hits and the inning was looking promising. Terry T. reached on a pop fly single to right to load the bases. Henry grounded up the middle and Jeff, moving quickly to his left, made a great stop on the ball. His momentum seemed to carry him to the base as he proceeded to make a 4U 4-3 double play to end the inning.
End of 2nd Score: Sultans 4 Senators 3
Third Inning Recap:
Sultans- Gary drew a walk to lead off the inning. Peter followed with a prodigious drive to left center that went over Patrick’s head as Peter cruised around the bases for a two-run inside the park home run. Ray singled but was forced out at 2B on Jeff’s bouncer to 2B. Phil walked, and Don blasted a drive to CF that gapped the outfielders and resulted in a two-run triple. Adam lined a single to left to score Don and complete the Sultans five-run inning.
Senators– Ray came in to pitch for the Sultans and was able to retire the side without giving up a hit. Raul flew out to Phil in right center to open the inning. Terry W. walked but was forced out at 2B on Greg’s grounder to short. Jerry singled but Ray was able to get Roger to bounce back to the mound for the final out.
End of 3rd Score: Sultans 9 Senators 3
Fourth Inning Recap:
Sultans– Lucky started the 4th with an infield single. Jack Adams drilled a ball between 2B and 3B and Jim made a great backhand stab and completed the throw to 2B to get the force on Lucky. Paul singled to left to put runners on 1B and 2B. Donnie grounded into a fielder’s choice at 2B. Gary laced a single to left center to drive in the 1st run. Peter continued his monster day at the plate with his 2nd inside the park home run as his blast to left center brought in three more runs. Ray flew out to CF to end the inning.
Senators-Jim led off the 4th with a double down the left field line. Patrick was retired on groundball to 3B for the 1st out. Lynn singled to move Jim to 3B. Jack knocked in the 1st run with a base hit to left. Terry T. completed his perfect 3-3 day at the plate with a single to load the bases. Henry lifted a high fly to CF to bring home the 2nd run of the frame. Ray was able to get Raul to ground into a fielder’s choice to close out the inning.
End of 4th Score: Sultans 13 Senators 5
Fifth “Open” Inning Recap:
Sultans– failed to extend their lead as Greg held them scoreless in the buffet. Jeff led off inning with a single. Phil flew out to right and Don bounced into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Adam ended the inning with a groundout to short.
Senators- down by eight, the Senators battled in the open inning but came up short. Terry W. led off with a single. He was retired on Greg’s fielder’s choice grounder to short. Jerry singled but Roger was retired for the 2nd out. Jim smoked a drive to right center for a bases clearing three-run double. Patrick drove in the 4th run with a line single to left. Jack K. was able to get Lynn to ground out to end the game for the Sultans 2nd win in the session.
Final Score: Sultans 13 Senators 9
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Keystones (1-0-0) vs. Pioneers (0-0-0)
Kudos to the Pioneers as eleven (11) of their players showed up for the game today. This may have been the first time that Jack Adams or his designee have not had to draw any players from the bucket. Nice to look out and see nothing but Blue jerseys in the field!
On the flip side, the Keystones missing several key players due to injuries and out-of-town tournaments, drew four players including Jim Aaron, Bobby Miller, Tom Kelm and Denny Malloy.
First & Second Inning Recap:
Keystones– John Flowers led off the game with a line single to right. Patrick Schmidt followed with line drive to right that included a couple of overthrown ball. John attempted to score from 1B and was gunned down at the plate for the 1st out as Patrick ended up on 3B. Mike Mordecai walked, and Tommy DeLeon smacked a single to left to score Patrick for the Keystones 1st run. Margarito Canava grounded to short to retire the side. 2nd– Johnny Neville grounded out to 3B to start the frame. Jim Aaron ripped a single but was forced out at 2B on Denny Malloy hit into a fielder’s choice. Bobby Miller lined a drive to right for a run-scoring double. Tom Kelm bounced out to 3B to end the inning.
Pioneers-Jack Adams and Sal Lopez opened the game with back-to-back singles. Butch Barber fouled out for the 1st out. Scott Wright hit a sizzling grounder past 1B for an RBI single. Gene Nelson popped out to 3B and Mike Carroll ground into an inning ending force at 2B. 2nd– Tim H. led off the 2nd with a single to left. Bubba grounded sharply to 2B Bobby M. flipped to Jim to complete the 4-6-3 double play. Alex Valles started a two-out rally with a ground single up the middle. Chris Hurst ripped a liner over the infield to put runners on 1B and 2B. Larry King came through with a soft liner over short to bring in Alex to tie the score.
End of 2nd Score: Keystones 2 Pioneers 2
Third Inning Recap:
Keystones- took command of this game with the 1st of two back-to-back five-run innings. John walked to start the frame and Patrick and Mike M. followed with hits to load the bases. Bobby Hawthorne drilled a double down the left field line to score two more runs and the Keystones were off and running. Tommy singled to bring in Mike and Margarito’s base hit brought Bobby in with the 4th run. Johnny put a ribbon on this five-run outburst with a sharp single through the 5/6 hole to give the Keystones a five-run lead.
Pioneers- Jack grounded to short to start the inning. Sal continued to rake as he hit a shot to left for a single. The Keystones turned their 2nd double play in as many innings as Butch grounded to 2B and Bobby M., and Jim turned an inning ending 4-6-3 twin killing.
End of 3rd Score: Keystones 7 Pioneers 2
Fourth Inning Recap:
Keystones– the mercenaries came up big in the 4th. Jim led off with a single and moved to 3B on Denny’s double to right. Bobby M. smacked a two-base hit to score both runners. Tom flew out to left for the 1st out, but John singled to bring Bobby around to score. Patrick fouled out on a nice play by Alex for the 2nd out. The next three batters (Mike M., Bobby H. and Tommy) all had singles to drive in two more runs and extend the Keystones lead to ten runs. .
Pioneers– fought their way back into the game with a four-run outburst in the 4th. The first five batters all reached base as the Senators tallied three runs. Singles by Scott, Gene, Mike C. and Tim preceded a double by Bubba. Alex flew out to CF for the 1st out. Chris hit a flyball to right that was deep enough to allow the runner from 3B to score. Larry lined out to 3B to retire the side.
End of 4th Score: Keystones 12 Pioneers 6
Fifth Inning Recap:
Keystones- added two more runs in the 5th to pad their lead. Johnny had a one-out single and his pinch runner scored on Jim’s triple to right center. Denny’s base hit brought Jim around with the 2nd run.
Pioneers– Tommy shut down the men in Blue in the 5th as they only managed a single hit. Art led off with a grounder to short. Jack lined out to 2B. Sal capped off his perfect 3-3 day at the plate with a line single to left but Butch bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the frame. With the Pioneers down by eight and getting close to the B league 10:30 start time, home plate umpire, Terry Watts, called for an early flip flop.
End of 5th Score: Keystones 14 Pioneers 6
Sixth “Open” Inning Recap:
Pioneers– the first three batters reached in the buffet to give the Pioneers slim hope at a comeback. Singles by Scott, Gene and Mike brought in the 1st run. But the 3rd double play of the game, this one unassisted by Jim Aaron pretty much put a nail in the coffin on this one. Bubba singled to score Gene with the 2nd run but Alex popped out to short to end the game..
Final Score: Keystones 14 Pioneers 8
Session Five Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 5th Session |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Keystones |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
26 |
16 |
10 |
– |
|
Sultans |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
25 |
15 |
10 |
– |
|
Braves |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0.000 |
6 |
12 |
-6 |
1.50 |
|
Pioneers |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0.000 |
8 |
14 |
-6 |
1.50 |
|
Senators |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0.000 |
17 |
25 |
-8 |
2.00 |
Full Session Standings:
|
|
ASSL C league 2025 Season To-date Standings |
|||||||
|
|
Win |
Loss |
Ties |
Win % |
Scored |
Given up |
Diff. |
Games Behind |
|
Braves |
30 |
16 |
0 |
0.652 |
636 |
515 |
121 |
– |
|
Keystones |
24 |
22 |
0 |
0.522 |
550 |
540 |
10 |
6.00 |
|
Sultans |
19 |
24 |
3 |
0.446 |
528 |
570 |
-42 |
9.50 |
|
Senators |
19 |
24 |
2 |
0.444 |
548 |
579 |
-31 |
9.50 |
|
Pioneers |
18 |
24 |
3 |
0.433 |
458 |
516 |
-58 |
10.00 |
The Keystones win cuts the Braves lead is down to 6.00 games which may be as close as they have been since very early in the season. With today’s bye, the Braves still have eleven games to play in this session while the Keystones are down to just ten. As a result, there is still a chance that the men in Red can put together a long winning streak and steal the title, stay tuned for the latest updates.
On another note, the Sultans moved out of the cellar and into 3rd place in the overall standing with their latest win and remain the hottest team in the league (sorry Keystones!).
News & Notes:
Bobby Fund Burger Cook-out & Reunion- save the date, Bruce will be firing up the grill for the next fund raiser for the Bobby Fund on October 20th. He will be providing the main course but please bring side dishes, desserts, chips etc. to share. This is a bring your own beverage party as well. Great food and fun for a great cause, don’t miss it.
Guys:
Please let us know if you will attend the ASSL Annual Picnic, Oct. 27 (10:45a – 1:00p). Just click the link below to sign up. Please indicate if you are bringing a Guest(s).
Next Monday’s Games:
8:30 a.m. (H) Pioneers (0-1-0) vs. (V) Braves (0-1-0)
9:30 a.m. (H) Keystones (2-0-0) vs. (V) Sultans (2-0-0)
5th session showdown between the two front runners in the late game. Huntsman games for softball start next week so there may be opportunities to play in additional games.
Senators will have a bye, and their players will have priority in the draw.
FYI, I will be out on Monday so no Game Day Gazette.
Have a great weekend and Hook ‘em Horns!
Paul