Game Day Gazette
March 04, 2025
Opening Day of the 2025 season started with some light drizzle but the sun eventually came out marking a glorious start to a new campaign. This season includes the addition of a 5th team as the league has expanded from 57 to 68 players. It also includes the adoption of new team names and colors to honor some of the teams that have gone before us, setting the stage for the senior softball league that we enjoy today. To that end, we asked one of our most senior members, Billy Hill, to throw out the honorary first pitch to start the season. Enough of that, on with the games!
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Sultans (0-0-0) vs. Braves (0-0-0)
The visiting Braves had the first at-bat, and they made the most of it. Bobby Miller led off with a ringing single up the middle (first hit of the 2025 season). Paul Rubin followed with a walk and Doc Hobar single to drive in Bobby for the first run of the season (helps to be the visiting team in the first games to establish all of these firsts!). Tom Brownfield and Keith Kreitman each stroked run scoring singles as the Braves grabbed a quick three run lead. Jim Foelker (new guy #1) singled to move Keith to 3B. Lynn Simpson (new guy #2) had the dubious distinction of making the first out with a fielder’s choice ground out to 2B that scored the runner from 3B. Bob Steckler (new guy #3) singled to score Keith with the 5th run.
Billy Hill led off the 2nd with a single aided by pinch runner Bobby Miller’s blazing speed getting down the line. Dave Berra (new guy #4) started his C league career with a triple over Donnie Janac’s head to score Bobby. Brian Rider singled to score Dave with the 2nd run. Joe Dayoc (new guy #5) struck out and Tom Kelm was retired on a grounder to short for the 2nd out. Bobby singled and Paul’s triple to left center scored two more runs. Doc completed the Braves second five run inning with a line drive single to right as the Braves went up by 10 runs.
Peter Atkins led off the 1st with an infield single. Adam Gordon and Ray Pilgrim had back-to-back singles to bring in the first run. Donnie Janac hit into a fielder’s choice for the first out. Rip Wright singled to extend the inning but Phil Stanch hit into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out. Not sure where the 3rd out came from, but the inning ended with only one run being scored by the Sultans.
Don Roets (back from missing most of last season) crushed a ball that soared over Bobby Miller’s head for a lead off triple. Chris Hurst fouled out, but Ray Saldana came through with an RBI single to score Don with the Sultan’s 2nd run. Jack Kelly took a called third strike for the 2nd out and Lucky popped out to short to end the inning with the Sultans on the short end of a 10-2 score.
Tom B. grounded out to 3B leading off the Braves 3rd inning. Keith then ripped a single to left. Jim F. followed with a drive that found a gap between Peter and Donnie and rolled to the fence, allowing Jim to circle the bases for the first home run of the new season. Lynn singled but was erased on Bob’s fielder’s choice grounder to 2B. Billy lined out to short to close the inning with the Braves up by a 12-2 score.
Jeff Broussard (only new guy on the Sultans) popped out to 2B to open the 3rd inning. Peter doubled and scored on Adam’s single. Ray fouled out for the 2nd out. Donnie hit a ball up the middle that Paul knocked down but could not make the play at 2B to force the runner. Adam tried to advance to 3B but was thrown out on a nice throw by Doc to end the inning with the Sultans trailing 12-3.
The Braves took full control of the game in the 4th led by the bottom part of the lineup. Dave, Brian and Joe all singled to quickly load the bases. Tom K. singled to drive in the 1st run of the inning. Bobby drove a ball to right field that was caught for the 1st out but scored the runner from 3B. Paul doubled with a hit that dropped in just in front of Peter to score two more runs. Doc’s single drove in the 5th run as the Braves tool a commanding 17-3 lead into the bottom of the 4th.
The Sultans failed to score in the 4th despite a lead off single by Rip. Phil flew out to CF for the 1st out. Don singled to move Rip to 2B, but Chris grounded out to 2B and Ray S. struck out to end the threat.
Tom B. doubled leading off the Braves half of the 5th and Keith followed with a booming triple to score the 1st run. Jim brough Keith home with a sacrifice fly to center for the 2nd run. Lynn singled by Bob flew out to CF and Billy ground out to 2B to retire the side with the Braves on top by a 19-3 margin.
The Sultans were finally able to put up a crooked number in the 5th as the first three batters all reached base (Jack, Lucky and Jeff). Peter ripped a shot past Doc for a two run double. Adam grounded out to 2B for the first out and Ray was retired for the 2nd. Donnie’s singled scored Peter with the 3rd run before Rip hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning with the Sultans down by a 19-6 score.
The teams flip-flopped and Tom K. shut the door on the Sultans in the buffet, holding them scoreless to seal a resounding 19-6 win for the Braves.
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Pioneers (0-0-0) vs. Keystones (0-0-0)
The visiting Pioneers struck early with three runs in the 1st. Scott Wright (new guy #1) led off with a line single to right but was forced out at 2B on Butch Barber’s ground out to second. Mike Carroll (new guy #2) singled, and Buddy Gaswint (new guy #3) walked to load the bases. Tommy proceeded to walk Trey Wall (new guy #4) to bring in the 1st run of the game. Larry King brought in the 2nd run with a ground out to short and Mickey Poole capped off the scoring with a line shot to center to score the 3rd run of the frame.
Tommy settled down and the retired Pioneers in order in the 2nd as Gene and Art were both retired on groundball outs to Keystone’s new shortstop, Mike Hill. Jack Adams flew out to John Flowers who made on a nice catch on what should have been a routine play for the final out.
The Keystones responded with three runs in the bottom of the 1st. Mike Hill (new guy #1) flew out to right filed on a nice running catch by Art Monzingo. John Flowers singled, and Ken Brown lined a ball to right field where Art made his 2nd nice catch of the game for the 2nd out. Patrick Schmidt sparked a two-out rally with a singled. Tommy DeLeon then laced a shot over the center fielder’s head for a triple to score two runs (Ken Brown sprinting around the bases as Tommy’s pinch runner). Mike Mordecai singled to score Ken to even the game at 3-3.
Barry McRee led off the 2nd with a single and moved to 3B on Margarito Canava’s double. Johnny Neville scored Barry on a ground out to 1B with Margarito advancing to 3B. He was able to score on Morris Carter’s groundball to short for the 2nd run. Mike Hill ignited a two-out rally with a line single. John followed with a triple that Art was almost able to bring in for his third outstanding catch of the game. Ken followed with a shot up the middle that Sal Lopez knocked down but was unable to make the play at 1B. Patrick’s opposite field double brought in two more runners and staked the Keystones to an early 8-3 lead.
The Pioneers struck back with five runs of their own in the 3rd to knot the score at 8-8. Bubba Barnett walked to start the inning. Scott and Butch followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Mike Carroll scored the runner from 3B on a fielder’s choice groundout. Buddy, finally getting a pitch to hit, singled in the 2nd run. Trey walked for the 2nd time to load the bases again. Larry hit a blooper between 3B and SS that fell in for a hit and scored two runners. Mickey flew out to center on a nice running catch for the 2nd out. Sal laced a single to bring in the 5th run and tie the score heading into the bottom of the 3rd.
The Keystones struck back with five runs in their half of the 3rd to reclaim their five-run lead. Tommy led off by flying out to Art in right field. Mike M. walked followed by hits from Bobby Hawthorne and Robby Vickery to load the bases. Barry brought in the 1st run with a sacrifice fly to CF. Margarito smacked his 2nd double to drive in two more runs. Johnny followed with a double to right to score the runner from 2B. Morris singled to put runners on the corners and Mike H. finished off the inning with a hard single up the middle to score the 5th run.
The Pioneers failed to score in the 4th. Gene Nelson flew out to center to start the inning. Art singled but was erased on a 5-4 fielder’s choice groundout by Jack. Bubba ended the inning with a flyball to RC that Mike Carroll brought in with a nice shoestring catch for the final out.
The Keystones extended their lead to 15-8 with two more runs in the 4th. John completed his perfect 3-3 day at the plate with a lead off single. Ken followed with another line shot up the middle with a similar result as the previous at-bat. Sal was able to knock the ball down and it caromed towards first, but Ken was easily able to beat it out for another hit. Patrick lined out to short for the 1st out. Tommy singled to load the bases and Sal walked Mike M. to force in the 1st run of the inning. Bobby H. brought in the 2nd run on a fielder’s choice groundout to 3B.
Trailing by seven runs, the Pioneers could only manage to scratch across a single run in the 5th. Scott doubled leading off and moved to 3B on Butch’s groundout to 2B. Scott scored on Mike C’s groundout to 1B to narrow the lead to 15-9.
Sal shut down the Keystones in order in the 5th striking out Barry, getting Margarito to fly out CF and striking out Johnny to give the Pioneers a little hope heading into the buffet.
Larry popped out to SS leading off the Pioneer’s last chance inning. Mickey walked and Sal fouled out for the 2nd out. Gene double to right to put runners on 2B and 3B but the game ended as Art grounded to 2B and the Keystones emerged victorious by a final score of 15-9.
Next Games:
Home teams listed first
Game 1 8:30 a.m. Braves (1-0-0) vs. Keystones (1-0-0)
Early season matchup of the two Week 1 winning teams to see which team can take an early lead on the competition.
Game 2 9:30 a.m. Senators (0-0-0) vs. Sultans (0-1-0)
The Senators will be taking the field for the first time after Monday’s bye and the Sultans will look to rebound after their loss to the Braves.
Pioneers will have a bye for Game 2 so their players will have priority in the draw.
Other news and notes:
Earl King is out of the hospital and recovering at home after a recent bout with pneumonia. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers for Earl’s recovery.
If you have not paid your $90.00 registration fee, please do so as soon as possible. If you are paying by check or cash, please give your payment to our treasurer, Greg Tolander at the field.
Great first game, looks like beautiful weather on Thursday so see you then.
Paul Rubin