–FOR IMMERDIATE RELEASE—
May 19, 2026 (Liberty Park Sports Complex)
Players and fans straggled into the stadium late because the roads were closed for a school carnival. Sky Blue manager Jeff Tyler searched for players to substitute for unexpected no-shows while Sid Hilton’s Blue team was ready to go, showing off their new team banner. Blue batted first and rattled off 5 quick runs on 7 hits highlighted by Sid’s two-run homer. Sky Blue, still settling nerves from their late start, could only answer with 3 runs when Ken Sransky leaped to catch Earle Dunn’s shot toward center, but then shut out Blue in the top of the 2nd. After Sky Blue made two outs in the bottom of the 2nd, they added 4 more runs to take a 7 to 5 lead. Chuck Killough, Cecil Kwong, Ronnie Muro, Scott Wadsworth, and Duffy Vandeford got the hits and runs.
Blue only scored one in the top of the 3rd even though Sid Hilton hit his second shot over the fence. By rule, each player can hit one home run out of the park and subsequent hits over the fence are “dead ball” singles. Mike Richards drove in Edwin Yergen for the Blue run. Sky Blue added 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd on doubles by Jeff Tyler and Earle Dunn, and RBIs by Jerry Bevel and Wayne Sheets. Blue scored 3 in the 4th on hits by Steve Belcher, David Bedwell, and Rel Underwood, and Tom Wasmer’s 3 RBI double, but Sky Blue came back with 4 to maintain their lead. David Bedwell’s 3-run homer was Sky Blue’s big hit. Sky Blue 13, Blue 9, after four innings.
Blue added 2 runs in the 5th to tighten the score. Mike Richards followed Sid Hilton’s hit with a 2-run homer. But Sky Blue’s bats heated up and they put the game away with 5 runs each in the 5th and 6th innings. Earle Dunn, Jerry Bevel and Wayne Sheets started the inning off with hits and Jill Kelley, who had been minding her own business in the stands until Jeff pulled her into the game in the 3rd inning, got her first RASSA hit and scored her first RASSA run. Jerry Bevel, Chuck Killough, Ronnie Muro and Scott Wadsworth got the RBIs. After holding Blue to one run in the top of the 6th on Cece Washingotn’s hit and Brian Gierlatowicz’s triple, Sky Blue scored another 5 on a string of hits by Duffy V, David Bedwell, Jeff Tyler, Earle Dunn, Jerry Bevel, Jill Kelley, and Chuck Killough. Blue was behind by 11 going into the open 7th inning but could only score one, and Sky Blue won 23 to 13.
Sky Blue hitters were 33 for 47 for a .702 team batting average. Chuck Killough was 5 for 5, and Scott Wadsworth and Jerry Bevel were each 4 for 4. Blue hitters were 23 for 40 with 2 walks for a .575 team batting average and a .595 on-base percentage.
The late game matched Red and Green. Red’s first 4 batters scored. Jim Raley, Hootie Ingram, Harold Fincher, and Earle Dunn hit singles and Wayne Graham drove in 2 with a double. Green’s first two batters popped up to the infield. David Ferguson doubled and Jerry Bevel drove him in for Green’s only run. Red added another 4 in the 2nd inning; Ron Oliver and Buddy Cannon got hits, Hootie drove in Ron and Finch drove in Buddy. After Earle Dunn got another hit, Wayne Pike drove in Hootie and Finch. Green scored 3 when their first four batters, Gene Garcia, Cecil Kwong, Mike Madden, and Mark Brannin got hits and Dennis Horne drove in the 3rd run with a sharp single. Red 8, Green 4 after two.
Both teams scored 4 in the 3rd. Wayne Graham, Holly Whetmire, and Ron Oliver led off with hits for Red and Buddy Cannon drove in Wayne. Jim Raley drove in Holly and Mark and Finch drove in the 4th run. Bob Slanovits doubled and David Ferguson singled for Green. Jerry Bevel drove in Bob, Gene Garcia drove in Jerry, Cecil drove in Steve Entrekin, and Mike Madden drove in Gene. Red scored another 4 in the 4th. Wayne Pike and Wayne Graham got hits and Holly drove them both in with a double. Ron Oliver got a hit and Buddy Cannon drove in Holly and Ron. Green started closing the gap with 5 in the bottom of the 4th. Larry Enzweiler walked and Dennis Horne and Don Stueckler got hits. Mark Lilla drove in Larry and Bob Slanovits drove in Larry and Don, David Ferguson singled and Jerry Bevel drove in Bob and David. Red 16, Green 13, after four.
Green held Red to 2 in the 5th. Earle Dunn singled and Pete DiChiarra drove him in with a double. Then Wayne Graham doubled to drive in Pete. Green crept closer by scoring 3 in the bottom of the 5th. Steve Entrekin doubled and Gene Garcia drove him in. Cecil, Mike Madden and Mark Brannin all singled. Larry Enzweiler drove in Cecil with a walk, and Dennis Horne got his second RBI with his third hit. Red 18, Green 16 after five. Red scored 2 more in the 6th. Ron Oliver singled, Jim Raley singled after two outs, Hootie walked and Finch got his 4th and 5th RBIs with his fourth hit. Green made it a one-run game by scoring 3 in the bottom of the sixth and the Green fans went wild. Bob Slanovits led off with a single and David Ferguson followed with a 2-run homer. Steve Entrekin singled and scored on Cecil’s RBI hit. But Green could not capitalize on two chances to tie the game or go ahead.
Wayne Pike and Pete DiChiarra started off the open 7th inning with hits for Red. Wayne Graham drove in Wayne Pike with his 5th hit. A fielder’s choice and a strikeout followed, and a Buddy Cannon RBI hit finished Red’s scoring. Green needed 3 to tie, 4 to win, but they only managed one hit and Red won, 22 to 19.
Red hitters were 34 for 54 with one walk for a .630 team batting average and a .636 on-base percentage. Wayne Graham was 5 for 5. Green hitters were 30 for 46 with 2 walks for a .652 team batting average and a .667 on-base percentage. David Ferguson and Cecil Kwong were both 4 for 4.
Post-game conversations ranged wide. Holly was telling Jim Anderson about her ballroom dancing. Jim said, “When I dance with someone it looks like they’re trying to move a refrigerator.” Handsome Herb was talking about his grandson’s girlfriend. He said, “Sam introduced her to his mother (my daughter) and my daughter’s comment was, You’re so pretty. What’re you doing with my son?” Mark Lilla was talking about swimming in the summer. “I look good in a Speedo, but when I’m sitting down you can’t see it.” Always fun at RASSA ballgames.