Spring 2026 AL Games Summaries
January 27
First softball games since the Seahawks clinched a berth to the Superbowl. The best game was the last one, followed by the middle one with the first one being a snoozer. As such, we'll start with the third game. Here's the report:
Bibianos 15, Armed Forces 14
Roger Piazza's bottom of the seventh single scored Alan Kniager from second to complete a come-from behind win for Bibiano's. There was never much separation in this one until Armed Forces put up 4 in the top of the sixth to take a 5-run lead. Bibs would answer with two so the seventh inning began with a 3 run lead. AF went down quickly in the top, but after Bibs saw 2 of the first three batters make outs, AF looked safe. John Galles then tripled to right, his fifth hit, followed by a Kniager double, also his fifth hit, that tied the game allowing Piazza to knock in the winning run. Bibianos, now 2-1, had 5/5 days from the aforementioned duo , with John also getting a double and Alan ending up with two doubles and a triple. Arne Kvarnberg and Tim Ely were 3/4. Armed Forces, still winless, found a 4/4 day, including a double from Jeff Smarr, while both Lynn McAdam and Mark Dudzik were 3/3. Mark Richter was 3/4 and Joedy Pack was 2/3 with a double.
Peace Smoke Shop 17, Timber Creek 12
Peace Smoke Shop scored 4 runs in four of the first five innings as they jumped to a 17-4 lead. Timber Creek did manage to put up a pair of 4's in the fifth and seventh, but all that did was make the score more respectable. Smoke's first seven batters were a combined 21/24 while adding 3 walks. Individually, Dave Rachau was 4/4 with a double, Mark Dudzik 3/3 with a walk and double, winning pitcher Bob Strawser was 2/2 with two walks, while Steve Glaviano, Bill Mathews, Ron Barrio, Craig Josz and Mark McGehee were 3/4 with Glaviano getting a double and triple. Timber Creek saw 4/4 days from both Keith Zelhofer (2b,3b,) and Dennis Zafferano (2 2b's,) Also, Bill Mann was 2/2 with a walk, Dave Price 2/2, while John Hinson was 2/3 with a walk.
Kingers Medicare 12, Reynolds Rangers 2 (six innings)
Kingers Medicare came into this game having won their first two games with a plus 11 differential, while Reynolds Rangers, also unbeaten, was at plus 6. Meddicare finished it at plus 23, 22 more than the second place Bibianos who are at plus 1 after their one run victory. Reynolds Rangers did a reasonable job in holding Kingers to only 12 runs. Sadly, they, themselves, only scored two runs, both in the second innings. Kingers, meanwhile, put up eight runs through five and then put up 4 in the home sixth to mercy rule the Rangers 12-2. Kingers, the only unbeaten team at 3-0, had 5 doubles between Les Strueby, Doc Doxtader and Mike Ickes with Les getting 3 while Doc and Mike each had one. Lori Alexander was 3/3 with a walk, Strueby and Ickes 3/4, with Pat Moran and Randy May going 2/3. For the Rangers, now at 2-1, Randy Searcy was 3/3, while Sky Soom and Tom Reynolds were 2/3.
Play resumes Friday, featuring a 3-1 vs 2-1 game, a pair of 2-1's and the other game between a couple of teams seeking their first win. (I bet one of them gets it.)
January 20
Opening day for the Spring Session. The deck has been shuffled. How will it all play out? Well, if today’s games are any indication, it’s going to be another fight to the finish. Three games decided by a total of 4 runs. And even an extra inning affair right out of the gate. Here’s the highlights:
Peace Smoke Shop 17, Bibiano’s 16
Ron Wiebold’s base hit scored Mark McGehee giving Peace Smoke Shop an extra inning walk-off victory. Peace Smoke Shop was ahead comfortably most of the game, leading 11-3 after three and 15-8 after six before Bibiano’s scored 7 runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game. Peace had a chance to win it in regulation but left the tying run stranded at second. In the top of the eighth, Bibiano’s did plate the “ghost” runner from second, but that wasn’t enough and Peace came away victorious. Wiebold, whose hit made him 4/4 on the day was joined at 4/4 by Bob Hamilton. Dave Rachau was 4/5 with a double, two others were 3/4: Craig Josz (3/4, 3b, bb,) and Mark Richter ( 3 /4 , 2b, bb.) McGehee and Ron Barrio were 3/5. For Bibianos, Arne Kvarnberg was 4/4, John Galles 4/5 with two doubles and a triple, Jeff Smarr and Alan Kniager were 3/5 and Roger Piazza was 2/4 with a walk.
Kingers Medicare 12, Armed Forces 10
Both teams came out firing with each scoring the max 4, Armed Forces while making no outs and Kingers only one. Armed Forces got what would end up being their only lead of the game when they scored 3 in the third to go up 7-6. They would only score one more as Kingers pulled ahead with a 4-spot in the fifth and led by two going into the open inning. Medicare would then put up 2 in the top of the inning, leaving the Forces chasing four. They did plate two and had the tying run on, but a well hit ball was caught by left fielder Tony Willett to seal the victory for Kingers. Mike Ickes didn’t miss a beat, going 5/5 with a double, Tom Nadel was 3/4, Greg Bradley and Mark Maynard 2 /3 with a walk, winning pitcher Doc Doxtader 3/5 while Les Strueby had two doubles. For Armed Forces, the top of the lineup was strong with leadoff Don Parker going 4/4 with a double, Joedy Pack 3/3 with a double, Pete Laufer 3 /4 with two doubles, Lynn McAdam 2/3 with a walk. Mike Adair also went 2/3.
Reynolds Rangers 19, Timber Creek 18
Jack Smith’s single scored Doc Doxtader with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh giving Reynolds Rangers a come from behind win in the opener for both teams. Creek was ahead 17-12 heading into the bottom of the sixth and after the Rangers scored 4, had a one lead as the seventh began. TC scored one to increase the lead to two, but the Rangers would answer with three and get the victory. Lots of offense in this one. For the Rangers, Steve Starr took over where he left off last session going 4/4 with a double, Vernell King was 3/3 with a walk, Mark Richter 3 /4 with a walk and a double, Rich Brinkman, Dave Burton, winning pitcher Jimmy Alexander and Randy Searcy were 3/4 with Searcy getting a double, Smith 3/5 with a double and Doxtader subbing mid-game and going 2/3. For Timber Creek, Bill Mann was 5/5 with two doubles, super-sub George Fairbanks 4/4 with a double and a triple, Pete Bell 4/5 and Dave Price 4/5 and John Hinson 3/5.
Play resumes Friday. This writer will be gone watching the NFC championship game in Seattle. Have fun!