Press Release

–FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—

May 8, 2025 (Liberty Park Arena)

The forecasted rain never appeared but the grass was wet with dew on a foggy morning. Masters Blue and Red played the opener; Bobby Watkins was practicing throws from third to Glenn Little, who was early and already had his shoes on, when umpire Mike Jackson called for the teams to take the field. Red pitcher Jim Anderson sauntered to the mound in his stylish Skechers and Blue’s Mark Lilla hit the first pitch. The Red infield came to play and got the next two batters with good throws from second and third. Lilla scored on Ken Sransky’s hit but Jim struck out the next batter, holding Blue to one run. Red’s first two batters made outs and fans started to get nervous. Then Mike Madden hit a homer and Royce O’Donnell followed him with another one and fans breathed easier. Glenn Little got a hit, Bob Slanovits and Bobby Watkins walked and John Woychak drove in two more runs with a single. The game was on.

Blue scored five in the top of the second on hits by Holly Whitmire, Dick Baguley, Sid Hilton, Rick Erdimer, Pete Manown and Mark Lilla. Red kept pace with hits by Dale McWhorter, Rel Underwood, Mike Madden’s three RBI triple, Glenn Little, Bob Slanovits, and Royce’s second home run (just a single in the scorebook). Terry Lewis demonstrated how slippery the wet grass was by slipping and skidding akimbo in right center field. Fortunately, he got right up. Then Terry started a string of hits in the Blue third. Terry, David Brasfield, Cecil Kwong, Ken Sransky, JD Lille, Holly Whitmire, and Dick Baguley got eight consecutive hits but could only turn them into three runs due to some errant base running. Red kept up their offensive onslaught with five runs capped by Rel’s three-run double. Rel muttered when he realized he wouldn’t have had to run to second as he had driven in the fifth run. Red 14, Blue 9 after three.

Both teams scored five in the fourth. Blue’s Mark Lilla and David Brasfield each hit two-run doubles and Ken Sransky drove in the fifth run, not bothering to run to second having learned from Rel. Little Glenn, Bob Slanovits, Bobby Watkins, David Richey and Jim Anderson each drove in a run for Red while Terry once again showed his “sliding akimbo” form in the outfield. Red 19, Blue 14 after four.

Then Jim Anderson single-handedly blanked Blue in the fifth. He pirouetted under a popup and made the catch for the first out, gave up another hit to Holly, struck out the next batter and fielded a grounder to get the last batter at first. The crowd erupted. Red hitters stayed hot as Harold Hagler led off with a double down the line. Rel, Glenn, Bobby, and John Woychak drove in the five runs to extend the Red lead to 24 to 14. Red held Blue to one in the sixth and then scored two on Harold Hagler’s third hit, and Dale McWhorter’s bizarre double where the veteran travel team player failed to run on what he thought was a routine grounder, then started and stopped again as the infielder fumbled the ball, then finally decided to run when the infielder made a bad throw to first and Dale ended up on second base. Rel drove them both in. Dale pointed out that it was all part of his strategy to confuse the Blue team.

Blue went into the open seventh needing 11 to tie. The Red team, having lost two games where they were ahead by double digits in the last inning, were uneasy. Jim felt the pressure and walked two batters (only his third and fourth walks of the game) and JD and Holly drove the walkers in. But Jim stopped a Cecil Kwong rocket (it was a matter of self-preservation) and threw him out at first, Bob Slanovits and John Woychak combined for a forceout at second, and Glenn caught a popup at first to hold Blue to two and end the game, Red 26, Blue 17.

Blue hitters were 28 for 45 with four walks for a .622 team batting average and a .653 on-base percentage. Mark Lilla and Holly Whitmire were both 4 for 4 and Ken Sransky was 3 for 3 with a walk. Red hitters were 34 for 44 with two walks for a .767 team batting average and a .787 on-base percentage. Royce and John Woychak were 4 for 4 and  Rel Underwood and Mike Madden were 4 for 5 with 6 RBIs and 4 RBIs respectively. RASSA welcomed Dinah Sewell to the league.

The second game, pitting Orange versus Sky Blue started under a sunny sky with a dry outfield. Sky Blue opened with 4 runs on a Sid Hilton grand slam driving in Bobby Watkins, Rel Underwood, and Royce, all four of them warmed up from the early game. Orange came back with 5 on a hit by Tom Wasmer, a Mark Lilla fielder’s choice, walks by Mike Madden, Ken Sransky, a two-run double by Ron Oliver, a two-run double by Jim Hill, and an RBI single by Harold Easterwood.

Orange held Sky Blue to one run in the top of the second and scored four in the bottom of the inning to open up a 9 to 5 lead. Buddy Cannon, Tom Wasmer, and Mike Madden all singled for Orange and Ken Sransky drove in three runs with a triple. Sky Blue scored four in the top of the third with RBI hits by Sid, Rod Ellis, Desiree Cook and Dan peek. Orange kept up the pressure with five more in the bottom. Ron Oliver, Harold Easterwood, Tom Wasmer, and Mark Lilla got hits and Buddy Cannon and Keith Frederick got walks to account for the runs. Orange 14, Sky Blue 9 after three.

Orange held Sky Blue to two in the fourth and extended their lead with four. Ron Oliver and Harold Easterwood each drove in two runs for Orange. Sky Blue scored three in the fifth. Pete Manown drove in Jerry Anger and Bobby Watkins drove in Pete and Carlos Davis. Orange scored five in the bottom half to extend their lead to 23 to 14.

Time ran out and the sixth inning was the last and open inning. Sky Blue needed 9 runs to stay in the game. Rod Ellis drove in Royce and Jerry Anger drove in Desiree, but that was all Sky Blue could muster and the game ended on a force out at second. Orange 23, Sky Blue 16.

Sky Blue hitters were 26 for 39 with 3 walks for a .667 team batting average and a .690 on-base percentage. Royce had a perfect day with two hits and two walks. Sid drove in 5 runs. Orange hitters were 22 for 29 with 8 walks for a .759 team batting average and an .811 on-base percentage. Mike Madden was 3 for 3 with a walk, Ron Oliver was 3 for 3, and Ken Sransky was 2 for 2 with 2 walks and 6 RBIs.

Orange manager Mike Madden was happy. “I got to play on two winning teams today and it felt good, but I might be too tired for basketball tonight.”

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–FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—

May 1, 2025 (Liberty Park Field)

Dale McWhorter called Handsome Herb from the road and asked if it was raining at the field. “It’s raining cats and dogs out here where I am.” Herb reported that it was cloudy and cool with no rain, perfect for Alabama senior softball, and that Sky Blue and Blue were playing.

Blue’s first seven batters scored five runs capped off by Holly Whitmire’s sharp single. Sky Blue answered with three on a hit by Bobby Watkins, a walk by Carlos Davis, a sacrifice fly by Larry Enzweiler and a two-run homer by Ken Sransky. Bobby got hit in the back of his head as he was running to third, knocking him to the ground and giving him a big lump, but he stayed in the game, pointing to his cap which said he is tough as steel.

Both teams were shut out in the second. Blue scored three in the third on David Brasfield’s hit, Cecil Kwong’s two-run homer, Mike Richards’ triple and Terry Lewis’ RBI single. Then JD Lille, Blue’s pitcher, shut out the top of Sky Blue’s order on one hit. Blue 8, Sky Blue 3 after three.

Rel Underwood drove in Rick Erdimer for Blue’s only run in the fourth and Sky Blue exploded for five runs in their half. Desiree Cook and Glenn Little scored on a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice, and with two outs, Bobby Watkins drove in Harold Hagler and Pete Manown with a double and scored on Carlos’ single to tighten up the game. Blue 9, Sky Blue 8 after four.

Blue came back with four in the top of the fifth. Cecil Kwong singled and David Ferguson drove him in with a double. Sky Blue got two outs but then Holly drove in David with a single, JD got a hit, Rick Erdimer drove in Holly with a single and Sid Hilton drove in JD. Sky Blue’s Enzweiler, Sransky and Rod Ellis loaded the bases to open the bottom of the inning and Desiree drove in two with a sacrifice fly. Glenn Little drove in the third run with a single and Sky Blue loaded the bases again on hits by Keith Frederick and Harold Hagler, but they were stranded by a caught line drive. Blue 13, Sky Blue 11 after five.

Rel, Cecil, David Ferguson, Mike Richards got hits in the top of the Blue sixth. Cecil drove in Rel and Mike drove in Cecil. Then with two runners on base and two outs, the lightening warning went off as the sky darkened ominously and the players cleared the field for a half hour by rule. Neither lightening nor rain appeared as players sat and waited. Because of time, the already underway sixth inning was declared the last and open inning. When the game resumed, Holly waited out a walk, only Harold’s second of the game, and JD drove in three runs with a shot to the fence. Sky Blue needed seven runs to tie. Their first three batters got on and scored on Rod Ellis’ three run single. Rod said later he couldn’t go to second because he didn’t know where the Blue team was going to throw the ball. It turned out they threw it all over the place while the Sky Blue players kept running. Rod died on first though on a strikeout and a fielder’s choice. Blue won the attenuated (like that word?) game 18 to 14.

Blue hitters were 25 for 39 with two walks for a .641 batting average and a .658 on- base percentage. Sid Hilton was three for three.

Sky Blue hitters were 17 for 36 with 5 walks for a .548 batting average and a .611 on-base percentage. Bobby Watkins was four for four.

The morningcap game started way late. “I was speeding down the interstate from Cullman through a blinding rainstorm, risking my life to get to the game on time”, Dale muttered. “But playin’ ball is worth it.”

Red led off the game against Orange on hits by Dale and David Ferguson, an RBI double by Mike Richards and a two-run single by Glenn Little. Orange matched them on a single by Tom Wasmer, an RBI double by Mike Madden, an RBI single by Ken Sransky and an RBI single by Gary Singleton.

Red made two quick outs in the top of the second and then scored five on hits by Jim Anderson, Dennis Horne, Dale, Rel, David Ferguson, and a two-run double by Mike Richards. Orange came back with three on hits by Buddy Cannon, Scott, and Tom Wasmer. Dale McWhorter cut down the rally with a reaching backhand catch. The fans went wild.

David Brasfield, Bob Newton, David Richey, Cecil Kwong, Wayne Sheets, and Jim Anderson had six straight hits in the fourth to score four runs. Then Anderson shut out Orange on two hits in the bottom of the third. Red 12, Orange 5 after three.

Red kept right on hitting in the fourth. David Ferguson led off with a home run. Mike Richards hit a triple. Glenn drove in Mike with a single. David Brasfield doubled, and Bob Newton walked to load the bases. David Richey drove in a run with a single and Cecil hit a home run but only drove in two because of the five-run limit. Orange scored three in their half. Scott and Tom Wasmer singled and Mike Madden walked to load the bases. Ken Sransky drove in two with a single and Gary Singleton drove in the third run. But that’s all they could do and the gap got wider. Red 17, Orange 8 after four.

Red kept scoring. Wayne Sheets walked, Jim Anderson hit a double, Dennis Horne walked, Dale drove in a run with a single, Rel drove in another run with a single, David Ferguson loaded the bases and Mike Richards hit a three-run homer. Orange couldn’t answer as Bob Newton scrambled backwards to catch a fly at third and Jim Anderson struck out two to hold them scoreless. Red led 22 to 8, but have proved several times already this season that no lead is safe.

Orange, to prove the point, shut out Red in the top of the sixth and then scored five without making an out. Tom Wasmer walked and Mark Lilla and Mike Madden got hits to load the bases. Ken Sransky drove in a run with a walk, Gary Singleton drove in another with a hit, and Jim Hill drove in three with a single that caused some errant Red throws. Now it was Red 22, Orange 13, with Orange flip-flopping into the open seventh needing 9 to tie. They only got one. Jim Anderson, quick as a cat, made his third pitcher to first assist of the game, and Harmon Turner’s RBI single was the only hit. Red won, 22 to 14.

Red hitters were 26 for 36 with four walks for a .722 team batting average and a .750 on-base percentage. Dale McWhorter, David Ferguson, and David Brasfield were all four for four and Mike Richards and Jim Anderson were both three for three. Mike drove in seven runs.

Orange hitters were 22 for 40 with three walks for a .550 team batting average and a .581 on-base percentage. Tom Wasmer, Mike Madden and Gary Singleton were all three for three.

Handsome Herb breathed a sigh of relief. “We hadn’t won a game on Thursday yet this season even though we averaged over 20 runs a game. Jim Anderson’s new shirt made a huge difference. He pitched a three-walk game, but, more importantly, he hasn’t looked that good in at least 10 years.”