–FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—
August 19, 2025 (Liberty Park Sports Complex)
Orange and Red faced off on a warm morning under a sunny sky. Tom Wasmer hit Earle Dunn’s first pitch to kick off a 5-run first inning. Steve Entrekin drove him in with a triple and Mike Madden drove in Steve with a roller to the pitcher. Ken Sransky followed with a hit that didn’t make it to the pitcher; four-foot grounder or line drive to the fence look the same in the scorebook. Carlos Davis walked, Harold Easterwood got a hit, and Buddy Cannon drove in 3 runs with a triple that he ran out only for the glory. The runs would have scored if he’d stayed on first. Then Red batters started a long, unproductive day on offense. Dale opened up with a hit but got forced out at second. Ron Lentz walked and was forced out at second. Mike Richards then scored from first on a Glenn Little single and Earle Dunn walked, but the inning ended with a fly ball. Orange 5, Red 1, after one inning.
Orange scored 4 more in the second and shut out Red. Orange scored on hits by Scott Wadsworth, Keith Fredrick, Duffy Vanderford, Tom Wasmer, Mike Madden and Ken Sransky. Cecil Kwong singled for Red but a force out and two strikeouts ended the inning. Red’s high-water mark came in the third when they scored 4 on a three-run homer by Mike Richards and another hit by Glenn Little. Orange eked out two runs driven in by Keith Fredrick’s two-run single. Orange 11, Red 5 after three.
Orange kept up the pressure scoring 4 again in the fourth on a lead-off triple by Don Stueckler (Don hooted “Betcha didn’t know I could run that far, didya?”) Tom Wasmer drove Don in but was forced at second. Mike Madden singled, Ken Sransky drove in Steve Entrekin, Jim Hill singled and Carlos drove in Mike and Ken. Red loaded the bases but could only score one run. Cecol Kwong reached on a fielder’s choice and hits by Shelly Johnson and John Woychak loaded the bases. David Brasfield drove in Cecil but a fly ball ended the rally. Red shut out Orange in the fifth and crept up with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning on a hit by Dale McWhorter, an RBI double from Mike Richards and another RBI double by Glenn Little. Orange 15, Red 8 after five innings.
Then Orange poured it on with 5 runs in the sixth. Steve Entrekin, Mike Madden, Ken Sransky, Jim Hill, Carlos Davis, Harold Easterwood and Scott Wadsworth accounted for the runs. Cecil Kwong and Shelly Johnson got hits in the Red sixth, but 6 outs ended the game. Orange 20, Red 8.
Orange hitters were 27 for 42 with 3 walks for a .643 team batting average and a .667 on-base percentage. Ken Sransky was 4 for 4 and Scott Wadsworth was 3 for 3. Red hitters were 18 for 38 with 2 walks for a .474 team batting average and a .500 on-base percentage.
Orange manager Duffy V was smiling. “I was starting to wonder if we’d ever win another game, so this was a welcome win.” Wayne Sheets, the Red manager, took it in stride. “I been doin’ this a long time and every team has its ups and downs. We didn’t hit very well today but, on the other hand, we didn’t field very well either. That’s how it goes.”
The late morning game between Sky Blue and Blue started a little late and by then it was hot and humid under a relentless sun. Neither team scored in the first two innings and Blue didn’t get all the way through its batting order until the third. Sky Blue fared a little better and scored 3 runs in the third. Bobby Watkins led off with a hit, Chuck Killough followed with another, and Royce O’Donnell hit a three-run homer. Blue scored one in the third when Dan Peek led off with a towering double and Rick Erdimer drove him in with a two-out single. Sky Blue 3, Blue 1 after three innings.
Blue shut out Sky Blue in the fourth and scored 2 to tie the game at three. Cecil Kwong singled, Mike Richards doubled, and Buddy Cannon drove them in with a single. Sky Blue took back the lead by scoring 2 in the fifth and holding Blue to one run. Bobby Watkins singled, Chuck Killough doubled, and Royce drove them in with a two-run sacrifice fly to the fence for Sky Blue’s runs. Blue’s run came on hits by Dan Peek and Brian G, a fielder’s choice by Holly Whitmire, and another fielder’s choice by Doug Harper. Sky Blue 5, Blue 4 after five.
Blue shut out Sky Blue in the sixth on three fly balls and then scored 4 runs to take an 8 to 5 lead. David Ferguson doubled, Sid Hilton drove him in with another double, Cecil Kwong drove in Sid with a single. Buddy Cannon drove in Cecil with a triple and David Brasfield drove in Buddy with a double. Sky Blue batted in the open seventh inning needing 3 runs to stay in the game. Keith Fredrick and Harold Hagler hits put runners on second and third base, but David Ferguson ended the game with a running catch of a fly ball behind second. Blue won, 8 to 5.
Blue hitters were 19 for 35 for a .543 team batting average. Cecil Kwong was 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs and Brian G was 2 for 2. Sky Blue hitters were 12 for 32 with one walk for a season-low team batting average of .375 and a .394 on-base percentage. Royce O’Donnell was 2 for 2 with a sacrifice fly and all 5 Sky Blue RBIs.
Blue manager Sid Hilton was happy. “We’re just tryin’ to keep Sky Blue from runnin’ away from the rest of us so today worked out okay. We didn’t waste any offense. I think we’ll need it later in the season.”
Pete Manown wasn’t sure what happened. “Maybe somebody hexed us. Bobby, Chuck, Royce and Keith had 8 of our 12 hits—good thing they came today.” Pete pulled a comb out of his pocket. “I’ve had this comb a long time. I just can’t part with it.”