St. Thomas steals its way to a win over the Aces

The St. Thomas Suns from the Virgin Islands went to the running game at Maryvale Stadium today in Phoenix and edged the Tucson Golden Aces, 14-10. The loss left the Aces (65-and-over division) on the outside looking in as far as qualifying for the Mens Senior Baseball League (MSBL) playoffs, which gets underway Saturday in a six-team single elimination affair. The two survivors will meet on Sunday at Maryvale to decide the 65-and-over champion. The Aces will play tomorrow in their fifth and final game of the week as they go up against the Ohio Classics. A victory over the Classics would leave the Aces with a 2-3 record for the series, which would leave them one victory shy of reaching the playoffs.

 

Tucsonan Chico Bigham pitched five innings for the Aces and Brad Buchan from Chatham, New York hurled two innings in relief, but every inning the Suns had runners on the base paths and before the three-hour affair was over, they had stolen 10 bases. Darlin Brinn pitched five innings for the St. Thomas team. Franklin Sewer pitched two innings in relief and coaxed Aces' first baseman, Jeff Helzel, into hitting a two-hopper to second base, which resulted in a game-ending double play in the bottom of the seventh inning. The clock turned out to be the Aces' enemy as well. Due to MSBL rules no inning can start past the three-hour mark. The Aces could have used another couple of at bats, instead they will swing for fun tomorrow with nothing on the line when they take on the Classics at 9 a.m. at Fitch Park in Mesa. After the game, the Aces will pack their bags and head home.

Photo above includes the Aces members from the TOTS, the old timers baseball organization from Tucson Udall Park. Pictured from left to right are: Ed Eckert, Chico Bigham, Floyd Lance, Danny Price, Jerry Hamelin, Arnie White, Dave Rhoades and Jeff Helzel.