–FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—
June 17, 2025 (Liberty Park Sports Complex)
It should have been hot and muggy but it wasn’t. Clouds held the sun in check and a breeze came up and RASSA enjoyed one more mild day before the Alabama summer descends on us with its layer of heat and humidity. League leaders Orange and Sky Blue, tied for first place, played the opener and league followers, Red and Blue, tied for last place, played the late game. Sky Blue started slow, scoring just one run in each of the first two innings while Orange had a three-run second inning to take the lead, 3 to 2. Then Sky Blue got untracked and scored 4 in the third and five each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Orange couldn’t keep up and Sky Blue led 21 to 11 after six innings and took the field confidently in the seventh. But Orange started to hit and Sky Blue couldn’t stop them. Nine Orange batters reached base before Sky Blue got the first out, and Sky Blue was clinging to a 21 to 19 lead with two runners on base when they finally got the third out on a force play at second.
Sky Blue batters were 31 for 40 with 3 walks for a .775 team batting average and a .791 on-base percentage (that’ll win most games). Chuck Killough was 4 for 4 with a home run and Rel Underwood and Jim Anderson also had 4 for 4 days at the plate. Royce O’Donnell was 3 for 3 with a walk and Rick Erdimer was 2 for 2 with two walks. Orange hitters were 24 for 43 with 4 walks for a .558 team batting average and a .596 on-base percentage. Ken Sransky was 2 for 2 with 2 walks and 2 home runs. Scott Wadsworth also hit a homer.
Red and Blue faced off in the late game. Red has struggled with a hitting slump for the past two weeks and stayed mired in it, scoring only 3 runs in the first five innings. Blue fared a little better and led 8 to 3 after five. Then Red got going and scored five in the sixth on hits by Dale McWhorter and Rel Underwood, and RBI hits by Ken Sransky, Earl Dunn, Joey Johnson and Bob Newton, to tie the game at 8. Blue came back with 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth on hits by Brian G, Sid Hilton, Hootie Ingram and Cecil Kwong. Red needed 4 in the seventh to stay in the game but only got one, and Blue won 12 to 9.
Blue batters were 23 for 30 for a .767 team batting average. Cecil Kwong, Bobby Watkins, Brian G and Sid Hilton were all 3 for 3. Red batters were 17 for 30 for a .567 batting average. Ken Sransky and Mike Madden were both 3 for 3. Neither pitcher (Brian G for Blue and Earl Dunn for Red) walked a single batter.
Between games RASSA said goodbye to Ed Girard who served as League Commissioner for most of RASSA’s existence. His drive and energy have allowed RASSA to grow and thrive. He is moving to the Atlanta area to be closer to his family. We appreciate all he did for the league over the years and wish him and his family well. You can now blame Ed for all the RASSA rules you don’t like.