84-year-old batting a blistering .545 at MSBL

Floyd Lance, 84, who plays regularly with the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) at Udall Park three days a week, is the oldest player on the Arizona Diamondbacks, a 70-and-over team that finds themselves just one win away from the championship game at the Mens Senior League Baseball (MSBL) World Series,which concludes this Saturday in Phoenix.

Lance, who has played for the TOTS for 10 years, is batting a hefty .545 with six hits in 11 at bats after four round robin games at the World Series. Another member of the TOTS, 80-year-old Billy Heiny, is playing well defensively this week for the Diamondbacks. Besides his catching chores, Heiny pitched three innings today without allowing an earned run as the Arizona Diamondbacks lost for the second time in the tournament to San Diego. The San Diego team is sporting a 4-0 record and is a cinch to make the title game on Saturday.

Lance and Billy will take the field tomorrow as the Arizona Diamondbacks take on South Dakota with the winner advancing to the final.The Arizona Diamondbacks have beaten a Philadelphia squad 19-9 and own a 9-8 victory over South Dakota earlier in the tournament. A win tomorrow would give Floyd and Billy's team a 3-2 record and would allow them to meet San Diego for the third time in the tournament."Our problem is that we're out of pitchers. We have our work cut out for us," says Lance. "But we are having fun and that's what counts." Lance adds, "If we lose tomorrow we'll be heading home." Billy and Floyd will be back at Udall Park on Monday, on their home field, playing with the TOTS.

MSBL Update: The Arizona Diamondback were eliminated from the MSBL 70-and-over tournament Friday afternoon (Nov. 6) after dropping a 13-7 decision to South Dakota at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Floyd Lance and Billy Heiny return home without a trophy or a ring. But, the good thing is: there is always next year.