–FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—
June 12, 2025 (Liberty Park Sports Complex)
The sun peeked in and out of partly cloudy skies and the temperature and humidity were up. Players argued about whether a hit ball travels farther in dry air or humid air and they concluded it depends on how you hit it. Bobby Watkins strode to the mound for Orange feeling good but Blue scored 3 runs on him. JD Lille led off with a hit for Blue and Cecil Kwong, David Ferguson, Beth Moore, and Sid Hilton followed with a string of hits. Then JD went to the mound and shut out Orange. The second inning was the opposite. Orange’s Jim Hill finally arrived to shut out Blue aided by a Ken Sransky to Buddy Cannon double play and then scored 3 on hits by Jim Hill, Buddy Cannon, Lisa Phipps and Harmon Turner. Orange 3, Blue 3 after two.
Orange’s defense tightened holding Blue to one run in each of the third and fourth innings. Blue allowed Orange 4 runs in the third on a string of hits by Mark Lilla, Mike Madden, Ken Sransky, Ron Oliver, Gary Singleton, Jim Hill and Harold Easterwood, but Blue blanked them in the fourth. Orange 7, Blue 5 after four.
Both teams scored 3 in the fifth. Blue’s came on hits by JD, David Brasfield, Cecil Kwong, David Ferguson and Sid Hilton. Orange’s were on hits by Ken Sransky, Ron Oliver, Gary Singleton, and Buddy Cannon’s two-RBI double. The sixth inning was the turning point in the game. Orange shut out Blue in the top of the inning and then scored 4 in their half when Harmon Turner led off with a double followed by hits by Bobby Watkins, Mike Madden, Ken Sransky, Ron Oliver, and a sacrifice fly by Gary Singleton. That left the score at Orange 14, Blue 8 after six innings. Blue needed 6 to keep the game going but only got 3 in the seventh on hits by Rick Erdimer, JD, David Brasfield, and a two-RBI double by David Ferguson. Orange won, 14 to 11.
Orange hitters were 22 for 39 with two walks for a .564 team batting average and a .585 on-base percentage. Ron Oliver was 4 for 4 and Ken Sransky was 3 for 3 with a walk. Blue hitters were 24 for 43 with one walk for a .558 team batting average and a .568 on-base percentage.
The late game pitted Red against Sky Blue, but it turned out to be a pittance as Sky Blue took a 19 to 4 lead after 6 innings. Red only scored one run in the first five innings; Jim Anderson led off the third inning with a hit and Dennis Horne’s hit moved him to second. Dale McWhorter drove him in with a single. Sky Blue built a 19 to 1 lead with 5 in the first featuring RBI hits by Royce O’Donnell, Chuck Killough, Rod Ellis and Rick Erdimer; one in the second on hits by Ron Oliver and Bobby Watkins and an RBI fielder’s choice; three in the third on hits by Royce, Chuck, Harold Easterwood and Dave Johnson; five in the fourth on hits by Pete Manown, Bobby, Larry Enzweiler, Carlos Davis, Royce, Chuck and Harold; and five in the fifth on hits by Rod Ellis, Ron Oliver, Pete Manown, Bobby, Larry, Carlos and Royce.
Red finally scored three runs in the top of the sixth on hits by David Ferguson, Mike Richards, Joey Johnson, and John Woychak, and shut out Sky Blue in the bottom of the inning, but by then it was too late. Jim Anderson led off the seventh inning with his third hit of the game, but his hit was the only one. Sky Blue 19, Red 4.
Sky Blue hitters were 27 for 39 with three walks for a .692 team batting average and a .714 on-base percentage. Royce O’Donnell and Chuck Killough were both 4 for 4 and Bobby Watkins was 3 for 3 plus a walk. Red hitters were 15 for 36 with one walk for a .417 team batting average and a .432 on-base percentage. David Ferguson and Jim Anderson were 3 for 3.
Handsome Herb shook his head after the game. “We’ve won some and lost some but we’ve been hitting well all season long. I don’t know what happened today. I might have to start having curfews and bed checks on the nights before the games. Bob Newton had a tough day at third base. He had cataracts removed in both eyes recently and said between the two eyes, something smelled.”
Umpire Mike Jackson reacted when Carlos yelled about a call. Carlos was undaunted. “Who are ya gonna believe? Me or your own eyes?” Pete Manown and Dennis Horne were discussing various afflictions. Pete said “My doctor told me if I started jogging I’d add years to my life. He was right. I’ve only been doing it a few days now and I feel 10 years older already.”