2026 Season
Monarchs League’s Best at Halfway Point
August 4, 2026
Grand Park
The 2026 HABL 12 game regular season schedule hit it’s midway point Tuesday, with teams back in action in regular fashion after a two-game set last week.
Monarchs 9, Red Sox 1
On D4, the Monarchs saw their season mark go to 5-1, best in the league, with a 9-1 win over the Red Sox. Steve Powell continued his excellent season on the mound, going 4 innings allowing no runs on 3 hits. Scott Metzinger went 5, allowing just one run. The Red Sox fall to 3-2-1. Next week, the Monarchs will visit the Clowns on D4, while the Red Sox host the Reds on D2.
Clowns 7, Reds 3
On D5, Allen Tunstall had 5 hits to lead an 18-hit attack as the Clowns bested the Reds 7-3. The Clowns even their season mark at 3 and 3 while the Reds fall to 2-1-3. Next week, the Clowns will host the Monarchs on D4, while the Reds visit the Red Sox on D2.
Black Sox 6, Fusion 4
On D2, the Black Sox overcame tremendous pitching by Kent Works and Steve Hicks to notch their first win of the 2026 campaign. Brent Steele was outstanding, going 5 innings allowing one run on 2 hits. Works threw 5 innings allowing 3 runs on 3 hits, but none earned. The Black Sox, now 1-4-1, will visit the Rockies Tuesday on D3, while the 3-2-1 Fusion visit the Cubs on D5.
Rockies 6, Cubs 5
On D3, the Rockies evened their season mark at 3-3, with a 6-5 win over the Cubs. The Cubs drop to 1-5. Tuesday, the Rockies host the Black Sox on D3, as the Cubs host the Fusion on D5.
Monarchs Return to the Top
July 30, 2026
Grand Park
A busy week of baseball for the HABL concluded Thursday, as the eight teams finished the busiest week of the season, playing their second game in three nights.
Monarchs 13, Fusion 0
On D2, the Monarchs and Fusion battled for the Western Division lead. The Monarchs reeled off 13 runs on 15 hits, three coming from both Jody Donaldson and Steve Powell, and a pair from Scott Metzinger and Geoff Woodman. Powell earned the win pitching five innings of scoreless baseball. The Monarchs improved to 4-1, the top record in the league, while the Fusion lose their first game of the season, and now sit a half game back of the M’s at 3-1-1.
Next week the Monarchs host the Red Sox on D4. The Fusion will host the Black Sox on D2.
Reds 14, Rockies 4
On D4, the Reds have come back from three ties to begin the season, with a bit of a vengeance. Tuesday they dispatched the Monarchs 9-5, and on Thursday they took care of a depleted Rockies team 14-4. They improve to 2-0-3 and are tied for the East lead with the Red Sox. The Rockies drop to 2-3.
Next week, the Reds will host the Clowns on D5, while the Rockies venture to D3 to host the Cubs.
Red Sox 9, Black Sox 4
On D3, the Red Sox and Black Sox were locked in a 4-all tie until the bottom of the 6th inning that saw the Red Sox have their first six runners reach base, on their way to a 5-run outburst, and ultimately an 9-4 win. The Red Sox had a balanced 12-hit attack, paced by a pair of hits from both Jay Galbreath and Eric Shaw. Ari Fleischer picked up a 2-out RBI single. Shaw saved a run in the 5th with a diving stop in the hole at shortstop. Tom Peck pitched five solid innings, Rex Basey the final two. Kent Lindeman had three hits for the Black Sox. The Red Sox sit at 3-1-1 tied for the Eastern lead with the Reds.
Tuesday, they will visit the Monarchs on D4. The Black Sox, still in search of their first win of the campaign, are now 0-3-1, and visit the Fusion Tuesday on D2.
Clowns 11, Cubs 1
On D5, the Clowns came back from Tuesday's heartbreaking loss to the Red Sox in the final at bat, to post 11 runs against the Cubs. Guy Vreeman and Tom Nickol kept the Cubs off-balance, holding them to one run on the night. The Clowns improve to 2-3, while the Cubs fall to 1-4.
Tuesday, the Clowns will visit the Reds on D5, and the Cubs travel to meet the Rockies on D3.
Fusion Remain Unbeaten
July 28, 2026
Grand Park
July 28th was the first of two games on the week for the HABL, with more action coming Thursday the 30th.
Fusion 4, Rockies 3
On D6, the Fusion trailed the home Rockies 2-0 after five innings of play, as Jeff Kinder pitched five scoreless for the Rockies. The Fusion broke through with two runs in the top of the 6th. The Rockies answered with one in the bottom of the inning but Fusion added two more in the seventh to secure the 4-3 victory. Phil Colvin had a key hit to give the Fusion a 3-2 lead. The win puts them at 3-0-1 on the season, atop the Western Division by a half game over the Monarchs.
Thursday, the Fusion will host the Monarchs on D2, as the West lead is up for grabs. The Rockies fall to 2-2, a half game back of the East leading Reds and Red Sox. Thursday they will visit the Reds on D4.
Red Sox 2, Clowns 1
On D2, the Red Sox came off the deck to score two in the top of the 7th and held on for a 2-1 win over the Clowns. Mike Pepples and Rex Basey had back-to-back doubles to tie it, followed by the go-ahead RBI on a single by Jay Galbreath to provide the game winner. The Red Sox sit at 2-1-1 tied with the Reds for the East lead, while the Clowns drop to 1-3, two and a half back of the Fusion. Pepples and Basey combined on the hill also, with Pepples going five allowing just one run. Guy Vreeman started for the Clowns, shutting out the Red Sox in five innings of work. Thursday, the Red Sox host the Black Sox on D3, while the Clowns travel to meet the Cubs on D5.
Reds 9, Monarchs 5
On D3, the Reds finally ended their 3-game streak of finishing in a tie. A 9-5 win against the previously unbeaten Monarchs broke the rare streak. Now sitting at an odd 1-0-3, the Reds are tied with the Red Sox atop the Eastern Division. The Monarchs drop their first game of the 2026 season and no take a 3-1 mark into Thursday’s battle for the West lead against the home Fusion on D2. The Reds host the Rockies on D4.
Cubs 8, Black Sox 7
On D5, the Cubs scored four in the first and four in the 6th, to escape with an 8-7 win over the Black Sox. Jamey Warren, Johnny Firari and Steve Kirkpatrick all had multiple hits for the Cubs, with Warren starting both scoring frames with base hits. Kirkpatrick played a sensational game at shortstop, making several impactful plays, including a diving stab of a would be game trying line drive in the 6th off of the bat of Kent Lindeman. Marc Rueffer pitched two scoreless innings for the win, as the Cubs notch their first win and sit at 1-3. Greg Scarpone and Chris Schmidt had 3 hits each for the Sox, who drop to 0-3-1. Sam Testa had a pair of hits including a triple for the Cubs. Thursday the Cubs host the Clowns on D5, while the Black Sox visit the Reds Sox on D3.
HABL at the Quarter Pole
July 14, 2026
Grand Park
After three weeks of the 2026 HABL regular season, two teams remain unbeaten, one has three ties and two remain winless.
Black Sox 5, Reds 5
On D4, the defending champion Reds were trying to remain unbeaten but also find their first win of the '26 campaign. After tying in each of the first two games, they started fast in the first, loading the bases with no one out, but the Black Sox were able to get a double play to limit the damage to two runs. The Sox came back with a run in the first to close it to 2-1. The Reds scored in the 3rd and the 4th to make it 4-1, before the Black Sox put up three of their own in the bottom of the 4th to tie it at 4.
The Sox grabbed their first lead of the game at 5-4 in the 6th and held that lead until the 8th when the Reds pushed across a run to knot it at 5. The Sox had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the inning, with runners at second and third and no one out, Kent Lindeman lifted a pop fly to shallow left that Don Pollard ran down to make a diving catch, doubling off the runner at third. Mike Shadoan retired the next hitter to send it to the 9th even at 5.
Both teams went scoreless in the 9th and 10th and unbelievably, the Reds tie for the third time in three games.
Scott Golden was 2-2 with 3 walks and 2 runs scored for the Reds. Ryan Easterhaus tripled and singled and drove in a run. Shadoan came on the 4th to work the Reds out of a 2-on/no-out jam, pitching five innings allowing just one run. Greg Scarpone had 3 hits in 4 at bats for the Sox.
Monarchs 4, Cubs 0
On D6, the Monarchs blanked the Cubs 4-0 in a well-pitched game on both sides. Neither team was able to score through seven innings, with starters Steve Powell for the M’s and Marc Rueffer for the Cubs both going five scoreless. The Monarchs broke through in the 8th with three, then added a run in the 9th to win it 4-0. Scott Metzinger pitched four scoreless in relief for the Monarchs. The Cubs scattered 11 hits but couldn’t push one across. Jamey Warren, Johnnie Firari, Steve Kirkpatrick, Sam Testa and Rudy Hernandez each had two hits in the loss.
Fusion 7, Clowns 5
On D8, the Fusion stayed unbeaten as well, defeating the Clowns 7-5. The Clowns led 3-1 after 5, before the Fusion scored four in the top of the 6th to take a 5-3 advantage. The Clowns tied it at 5 in the 8th, but the Fusion came back with 2 in the 9th on a double by Chris Kania. Kania had 2 hits, along with James Harter and Neal Ziliak who both posted a pair of singles.
Rockies 9, Red Sox 6
On D5, the Rockies grabbed back the Eastern Division lead, defeating the Red Sox 9-6. Jeff Kinder pitched 5 innings allowing 2 runs to get the win.
Monarchs and Red Sox Grab Divisional Leads
July 7, 2026
Grand Park
Monarchs 8, Black Sox 7
On D5, the Monarchs scored runs in the second, 4th and 5th to take a 3-0 lead against the visiting Black Sox, before the Sox posted 3 runs in the 5th to tie the game at 4. The Monarchs grabbed the lead back in the 6th at 4-3 before the Sox tied it again in the 7th. The Monarchs came back with 2 in the seventh to make it 6-4, but the Black Sox managed 3 in the 8th to go up 7-6. But the Monarchs grabbed the lead back with 2 in the 8th to go up 8-7 and that was the final. Steve Powell was terrific, pitching 4 and 2 thirds innings, allowing no runs on 3 hits. Brent Steele started for the Sox, allowing an unearned run in 3 innings. Joel Seitz had 3 hits for the M’s, while Jeremy Heoppner added 2 including a double. Greg Scarpone had a p[air of hits for the Sox with a double, and Ben Kruzynski drive in two with a 1 for 2 night at the plate. Tim Berry collected an RBI single in the loss. Ray Moistner was 1 for 2 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Red Sox 11, Cubs 6
Over on D4, the Red Sox Got strong pitching from Mike Pepples, Tom Peck and Rex Basey, and they pulled away from the Cubs for an 11-6 win. The game was tied at 4 after 5, but the Sox put up 3 in the 6th and 4 more in the 8th. Peck contributed at the plate with a 2 run inside the park home run. Shawn Conaway pitched 5 solid innings for the Cubs, while Steve Kirkpatrick collected 3 hits in 4 at bats at the plate, driving in 2. Jamey Warren and Marc Rueffer each had two hits in the loss.
Clowns 16, Rockies 6
On D2, the Clowns bounced back after a rough opening week against the Monarchs with a 16-6 win over the Rockies. Allen Tunstall led a 19-hit attack for the Clowns, going 4 for 5 on the night. Craig Carns drove in 4 runs. A close game early fell towards the C’s after exploding for 9 in the seventh inning. Starter Guy Vreeman surrendered just 2 runs in five innings. The Rockies had 13 hits of their own, behind a 3-4 night for Jeff Kinder, and 2 hits from John Simpson.
Fusion 9, Reds 9 F/10
HABL regular season rules stipulate a maximum of 10 innings in a game. The Reds have managed to do that twice already, just 2 games into the 2026 campaign. Tuesday on D3, they battled the Fusion to a 9 all tie, one week after tying the Red Sox 5-5. Through 5, the game was tied at 3 all, before the Reds broke through with a 6-run 6th. The Fusion answered with 4 in the bottom of the frame, then a 2 run single by Neal Amburgey in the bottom of the 9th tied the game at 9 all and that is where it ended after a scoreless tenth. Jeff Johson, Mike Shadoan and Donnie Noel pitched for the Reds, while Steve Hicks and Kent Works went 5 each for the Fusion. James Harter was 3 for 5 for the Fusion with a pair driven in.
HABL Season 9 Heats Up
June 30, 2026
Grand Park
Hoosier Adult Baseball opened its ninth season on Tuesday at Grand Park. Temperatures touched 90 degrees at game time, but a summer breeze made things tolerable for the eight teams as the night progressed.
Red Sox 5, Reds 5 F/10
On D2, the 2-time defending champion Reds hosted the Red Sox, as division matchups populated the week one schedule across the board.
It took ten innings to play to a 5-all tie, as the Red Sox totaled 13 hits on the night, scoring in the 7th, 8th and 9th to force the tie. The Reds mustered their 5 runs on 8 hits, and had leads of 1-0, 3-1, and 5-4 in the contest. In a feelgood success story, Red Sox lefty Mike Pepples returned from a broken bone in his pitching arm sustained in last year’s playoffs to allow just one run in three innings of work.
Rockies 14, Black Sox 4
On D3, the other two Eastern division teams squared off, as the Black Sox hosted the Rockies. The visitors jumped on top early behind a 2-run single by John Simpson. They added one in the second, four in the 3rd, and three in the 4th to take a 10-0 lead. On the mound, Jeff Kinder was in mind-season form, retiring the first six batters he faced, getting through three innings without allowing a hit, before Greg Scarpone’s single started a 4-run, 1-out rally for the Sox in the bottom of the 4th inning. Kent Lindeman walked with the bases full, Kent Welch singled home a run, and Todd Larkey drove in two with a double as the Sox showed signs of life, cutting the lead to 10-4. But that is as close as they would get. The Rockies added one in the 5th, one in the 8th and two in the 9th for the final tally. Koawala went 5-for-5 with 3 singles and 2 doubles. Simpson had 2 hits. Randy Kinnett added 3 hits including a triple. Newcomer Eric Decker made his HABL debut pitching 2 innings of scoreless ball, without allowing a hit. Scarpone was 2-for-4 for the Sox. Lindeman was 1-for-3 with a double a walk and an RBI. Chris Schmidt went 2-for-3. Rookie Ben Kruszyinski notched his first HABL hit in the loss.
Monarchs 8, Clowns 3
D4 saw last year’s runner up Clowns at the 4-time champion Monarchs. For the M’s Chad Saalfrank started his second HABL season with an RBI single in the first, on his way to a 4-for-4 evening at the plate, staking the Monarchs to a 1-0 lead. Rod Decker’s single in the third highlighted a run scoring inning taking the early lead to 2-zip. On the mound, the familiar combination of Steve Powell and Scott Metzinger was back. Powell starting, going four innings, allowing no runs on just two hits, with 4 strikeouts. Metzinger went the final five, surrendering 3 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits, with 5 strikeouts and 3 walks. The Monarchs banged out 16 hits, with Geoffrey Woodman collected three hits in three at bats. Craig Carns and Dan Dodd each collected two hits for the Clowns. Todd Stull and Dodd each drove in one run.
Fusion 12, Cubs 7
On D5, the Fusion and Cubs matched up, and it was a tight ballgame most of the way. The Cubs climbed back from a 5-2 deficit in the top of the 8th to tie the game at five, but the Fusion scored seven in the bottom of the inning, taking a 12-5 lead. James Harter started things with a 2-run triple, and was followed by six straight Fusion hits. The Cubs got two of them back in the 9th to make it 12-7 and that was the final. Left-handers Kent Works and Steve Hicks worked 8 of the 9 innings in the win. Chris Kania, Ryan Venturi and Neal Ziliac all doubled. Rookies Steven Kim and Rudy Hernandez shined bright for the Cubs, with Kim going 2-for-4 and Hernandez 3-for-3.