D'backs make it a dozen

The Arizona Diamondbacks get their 12th win in April as they skip by the Marlins in Miami today 9-5 and finish the first month of the season with a 12-11 record. Rookie Patrick Corbin gets the win as he moves into the Diamondbacks' pitching rotation.

The D'backs got a home run blast from Justin Upton -- a two run shot in the fourth inning, which traveled 404 feet into the left field bleachers. The D'backs  led 7-0 at that  point and then cruised the rest of way to finish one game over .500 for the month.

Arizona opens a three-game series at Washington tomorrow evening.

Blackbirds to face Washington, Yankees on Thursday

The Yankees just may be the team to beat in the 38-and-over Mountain Division of the Tucson Mens Senior Baseball League. The Blackbirds will find out if they have the team capable of derailing the hot-hitting Yankees this Thursday at Reid Park. More than likely, the Blackbirds (1-3) will go up against the Yankees' ace Butch Washington who will carry a 3-1 record into Thursday's game.

Washington has pitched just about every inning in the Yankees first four games and he certainly helps his own cause when he's not on the mound. Washington is 7 for 14 at the plate and is one of the main reasons the Yankees have scored 62 runs in four games. The Yankees won last week 32-2 over the Diamondbacks for their third win, while the Blackbirds won their first game of the season with a 12-3 win over the Beantown Bombers.

D'backs hope to close out April with a win

It's been a so-so month of April for our Arizona Diamondbacks. The D'backs will try to close out the month with a victory tomorrow and a series win over the Marlins in Miami. A win tomorrow would give the Diamondbacks 12 wins in April to go along with 11 losses. Arizona won its second game over the Marlins today with an 8-4 win, thanks in part to a strong performance from Wade Miley, who pitched six and 1/3 innings of one-hit ball to improve his record to 3-0 on the season.

Wildcats take time off from Pac-12 race, but bats stay hot

The Arizona Wildcats took time off from the Pac-12 race this weekend, but their bats stayed hot as they swept Tennessee State in a three-game series. Arizona will host conference leader Oregon, which now holds a half a game lead over the hot-hitting Wildcats in a three-game series at Hi Corbett Field, beginning on  Friday.

The Wildcats, who set a season high with 25 hits on Friday, hit .504 as a team against Tennessee  State and racked up 65 base hits, including 22 for extra bases in the series. The Wildcats will carry a .338 team batting average into the series with the Ducks, who knocked off California in a three game series over the weekend.

Blackbirds pick up first Tucson MSBL win

The Mountain Blackbirds collected 12 hits - including three triples and two doubles - as they routed the Beantown Bombers 12-3 last night at Reid Park in a Tucson MSBL game. It was the first win of the season for the Blackbirds, who once again received an exceptional performance from right hander Hector Iglecias.

Iglecias struck out nine and helped himself at the plate with three hits - including a triple. Newcomer Sean Rollins also tripled as did Sean Flynn, while David Delk and Paul Smith added to the Blackbirds' extra base out put with two key doubles in the middle innings -- Delk's blast split the gap in left center field and Smith's hit was of the opposite field variety, a screamer over the bag at third base.

The Blackbirds had their best defensive effort of the season, and offensively, they scored  most of their runs with two-out, banging out 12 hits to increase their team batting average, after four games, to a respectable .333.  The Blackbirds Allen Gillespie continues to take it on the chin for the team. He was hit by pitch again last night, one of four errant throws by the Bombers' pitching staff. Gillespie has been hit by a pitch three times this season and leads the team in that category. Seven times this season a Blackbirds player has been hit by a pitch.

The Blackbirds will take a 1-3 record into next Thursday's game against the Mountain Yankees.

Price watch: As for the old timer, I went 1 for 4 last night, but did reach base for the second time in my final at bat when I ripped a pitch through the legs of the first baseman. An unearned run scored on the play. I'm now 4 for 16 on the season. Still batting a cool .250.

Diamondbacks home stand not a good one

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he Arizona Diamondbacks dug themselves a little hole on their recently completed 10-game home stand. The D'backs will pack their bags tonight and head for Miami with an under .500 record at 9 wins and 10 losses. Arizona won just three of its last 10 games at Chase Field and let's hope a change of scenery will get them back on the right track. Dropping back-to-back-to back series to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies is certainly an early season downer and the Diamondbacks, after a sub par April thus far, will need to take care of business in Miami the next few days and then post some wins in May.

If they don't, it's going to be a long, hot summer.

Wildcats win 2 of 3 in Seattle

The Arizona Wildcats won 2 of 3 over the weekend in Seattle, but come home after losing to the Washington Huskies today in the final game of the series, 6-5, in 12 innings. Fortunately, the UCLA Bruins and the Oregon Ducks also lost today, allowing the Wildcats to hold on to first place in the Pac-12 race with a 12-6 record. The loss today dropped the Arizona Wildcats overall record to 26-13 on the season.

The Wildcats head home and prepare for a non-conference three-game series against East Tennessee State. The series begins on Friday evening at 6 p.m. at Hi Corbett Field.

Grand slam by Parra gets D'backs a much-needed win

Gerardo Parra blasted a grand slam home run in the bottom of the second inning today as the Arizona Diamondbacks got back into the win column after a five game losing streak. The D'backs bested Atlanta 6-4 at Chase Field as right hander Ian Kennedy improved to 3-0 on the season. The Diamondbacks are now 8-8 as they prepare for a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Centerfield Royals win Battle of the Bats Tourney

My grandson, Jadon, and his Centerfield Royals' teammates walked off with the championship trophy in the 12-and-under Battle of the Bats Tournament this afternoon at the Sport Park Complex. The Royals, who have a habit of finishing in second place in recent tournaments involving the top 12 year old ball players in Tucson, won it all this weekend after scoring 33 runs on Sunday with wins over the Scorpions (10-8), The Stealth (12-4) and Chuys Rockets in the finale, 11-8.

Down 7-4, the Royals battled back and took the lead in the final inning. They snuffed out a Rockets' rally in the bottom of the inning as they turned a double play with the bases loaded to end the game and secure the championship trophy.

Congrats, to Jadon and the Centerfield Royals!

Photo: Taken recently of Jadon relaxing on the bench and enjoying a rare day off from the playing field.

Blackbirds rally falls short, again

38-and-over Tucson MSBL baseball

The Mountain Blackbirds dropped their third game of the season last night at Reid Park, losing 7-5 to the Mountain Braves. For the third game in a row the Blackbirds battled back from a deficit and to make things even worse the Braves sent in their hard-throwing reliever,  Billy Vega, to the mound to close the show.

With one out and down 7-3, the Blackbirds battled Vega as Danny Price singled down the right field line and Steve Badart reached on a error to set the table for Mike Price. who then drilled a shot over the third base bag to plate two runs and brought the tying run to the plate. With two out,  the Blackbirds' hot-hitting Hector Iglecias stepped to the plate. Iglecias fought off some tough pitches from Vega, but eventually struck out swinging to end the game.

After three games, Mike Price leads the Blackbirds (0-3) in hitting with a .625 average, while Sean Flynn is second on the club, batting an even .500. Eglecias is third with a .461 average. Iglecias (0-2) leads the Blackbirds' pitching staff with 21 strike outs. The Blackbirds take on the Beantown Bombers next Thursday as the Tucson MSBL heads into its fourth week of play.

Price watch: As for the old timer, I went 1 for 4 last night and scored a run. After three games, I'm 3 for 12 (.250)  with two runs scored and an RBI. Below video: Not one of my better at bats as I popped to short.


 

Blackbirds looking for their first win Thursday night

The Mountain Blackbirds will have their hands full Thursday night as they tangle with the  Mountain Braves at Reid Park in a 38-and-over Tucson Mens Senior Baseball League (TMSBL) game. Game time is set for 7 p.m. The Braves, 1-1 on the season, will take a team batting average of .400  into the encounter with the winless Blackbirds, who will be out to turn the tables on the Braves.

The Blackbirds pitching staff will have to put the clamps on Rick Urcadez and Jay Good, two of the top hitters for the Braves. Good has knocked in seven runs in two games, while Urcadez leads the team with a .857 batting average. The Blackbirds have a team batting average of .338. but, according to manager Robin Badart, the bats are smoldering and have yet to catch fire, after consecutive losses to the Red Sox, 11-6, and the Phillies, 7-6. Sean Flynn leads the  Blackbirds with four runs batted in, while Tom Bolen has knocked in three of the Blackbirds' 12 runs.

Not a very good start to the home stand

The Arizona Diamondbacks dropped another one run affair today at Chase Field. The Pittsburgh Pirates win 2-1 and take two of three from the D'backs. The Diamondbacks open a four-game series tomorrow against the Braves and follow up with a three-game series with the Philladelphia Phillies to complete the 10-game home stand. If the Diamondbacks could win four of those seven, that would be a plus.

They certainly will have their work cut out for them. Go get 'em, D'backs!

Cats fall in rankings

The Arizona Wildcats need to regroup and get back on the winning track. After suffering their first series loss to UCLA last weekend, the Wildcats found themselves on the short end of the stick again on Tuesday losing 12-8 in Tempe to the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Luckily, the loss doesn't count toward the Pac-12 standings and the Wildcats (24-12 overall, 10-5 in the conference) remain in a first place with the Bruins and the Oregon Ducks. Arizona dropped to 13th in the country this week. Washington isn't exactly lighting up the scoreboard, but are 19-15 this season, with just five wins in the Pac-12 race to go along with their seven losses.

Come on 'Cats, let's put the pedal to the metal in Seattle.

Young, Upton battle injuries

The Arizona Diamondbacks will go for win No. 8 on the young season this afternoon at Chase Field, but they may be without their top hitter, Chris Young. Young crashed into the left centerfield wall last night in the Diamondbacks' loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates and now has a shoulder injury.

Not good news for the Diamondbacks and their starting center fielder who was leading the club with a .410 average and 13 RBI. With right fielder Justin Upton already out with a thumb injury, Mr. Gerardo Parra is moving around the outfield like a pinball.  Daniel Hudson  (1-0) will try to right the ship today as the Diamondbacks (7-4), who are two games behind the NL West leading LA Dodgers, go after a series win in the rubber game matchup with the Pirates.

Cahill pitches gem despite Colorado weather

Trevor Cahill battled the rain, the gusty winds and the Colorado Rockies' lineup en route to a  5-2 win today in Denver. Cahill pitched 7 1/3 innings and picked up his first victory as a starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks.

The victory improved the Arizona Diamondbacks record to 6-3 and they head home for a 10-game home stand. Once again, it was Chris Young providing the big blow with a two-run homer in the first inning. He also singled in a run in the third.

Way to go Diamondbacks.

Wildcats lose 2 of 3 to Bruins

The Arizona Wildcats lost 2 of 3 over the weekend to UCLA and find themselves in a three-way tie with the Bruins and the Oregon Ducks for first place in the Pac-12 Conference. Arizona falls to 24-11 on the season and 10-5 in the Pac-12.

UCLA dropped the series opener on Friday 4-3, but bounced back with a 15-3 win over the Wildcats on Saturday and followed up on Sunday with a 6-2 win. It was the first weekend series loss for the Wildcats. Arizona travels to Tempe on Tuesday for an encounter with the Arizona State Sun Devils, before heading for Washington and a three-games series next weekend against the Huskies.

Braats first-week leader in fantasy baseball league

Weekend Fantasy Baseball League


I didn't fare to well in my first week as a member of the Weekend Baseball League (WBL). My top fantasy point leaders turned out to be Evan Longoria, Troy Tulowitski  and Kelly Johnson. The trio combined for 83 points.  And I did receive 20 fantasy points from my number one pitcher Roy Halliday, who actually went 2-0 last week, but only one of his victories counted toward my totals. Team Braats leads the league after the first week with 268 points. My team, the Blackbirds, are in ninth place with just 217 points.

The results:

1.  Braats   268  2. Money 4 Nothing   255  3. Desperados   240   4. Wicked Bats   237  5. Batter Up   234   6. Bronx Bombers   229   7. Born Losers   228   8. Italy's Finest   225   9. Blackbirds   217   10. Mungo and  Sons   211   11. Rebels   209   12. Ballers 193

Injury bug hits the Blackbirds

38-and-over baseball at Reid Park


Despite fielding a team with four injured players, the Mountain Blackbirds of the Tucson Men's Senior Baseball League battled back from a 7-2 deficit last night at Reid Park before losing to the Phillies, 7-6.

With just two weeks gone in the regular season, the Blackbirds wasted an outing from righthander Hector Iglecias who went the distance, striking out 15 of 21 batters. Unfortunately, the Phillies picked up a run on two hits in the first inning and added six more in the middle innings before the Blackbirds' bats woke up. The Blackbirds fought back in the bottom of the seventh inning, and  thanks to a bases-clearing single to right center by Tom Bolen pulled within a run and then came right back in the bottom of the eighth as they loaded the bases with consecutive singles from Allen Gillespie, Danny Price and Alex Oropeza.

But with two out, Rick Rochon ripped a shot back to the mound. The ball bounced off the glove of the Phillies' reliever Bill Gardner and into the glove of the Phillies' shortstop who then nipped Rochon at first base to end the game. The Blackbirds return to action next Thursday at Reid Park and take on the Braves. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Price watch:  I went 2 for 4 and drove in a run against the Phillies. Currently 2 for 8 with a run scored and an RBI, with two games in the books as a member of the Mountain Blackbirds. My son, Michael, missed last night's action, but hopes to return next week.

Legendary high school baseball coach speaks at TOTS' Luncheon

Ted Fowler played baseball for Tucson High School and the University of Arizona more than 60 years ago and he coached high school baseball in the state of Arizona for close to 40 years -- his last coaching duty was in 1989.  Now 82 years of age, Fowler has taken to the podium. Although it a slow walk for him from his seat to the microphone, it is certainly worth the wait for the folks in the audience, who are eventually  treated to the pleasure of his company for 45 minutes or so as he talks baseball  --  the sport he obviously loves and a sport in which he has spent a lifetime mentoring many young ball players who were  lucky enough to cross paths with him.

Fowler, who was a  former teammate of long-time Tucson Old Timers'  (TOTS)  club member  Brad Tolson at Tucson High School, the University of Arizona and even the Minot Mallards -- a 1950s semi-pro team out of Minot, N.D.,  spoke at the TOTS'  luncheon today  inside the  Copper Room at  the  Randolph Park Golf Center.   Fowler said he has coached over 800 games in his forty years of work and he said he enjoyed every minute of it.  Fowler, who has gone through his share of knee and hip surgeries, still loves to share his experiences with others and jumped at the chance when asked by Tolson to speak at the TOTS annual luncheon.

According to Tolson, Coach Fowler had a lot more to say. "The stories are endless and I wish we could have had more time to listen to him," Tolson said, just moments after his old friend had left the podium.

Tolson and Fowler go back a long way. They were teammates in  the ManDak League in 1951, the same year that Sachel Page caused quite a stir when he was invited to pitch a few games in the semi-pro league. Fowler, who spent many years coaching the Jackrabbits at Mesa High School,  retired from coaching 22 years ago, after a stint as head coach at Eagar's Round Valley High School. Fowler ended his talk with a few words of wisdom. The words were authored by the legendary collegiate basketball coach Jim Valvano at  the 1993 ESPY Awards.

The  former North Carolina State basketball coach said at the time, "There are three things you should try to do each day ... "If you laugh, you think and you cry, that's a full day."  Today was a good day at the TOTS' luncheon. Coach Fowler certainly made us think and recall the days of old. We certainly laughed and there may have been a tear or two shed as we listened to the gentleman from Phoenix share his memories of baseball and what the sport means to him.

Aces edge Rattlers at Udall Park

60-and-over baseball

The 60-and-over Aces came up with three runs in the bottom of the 7th inning today at Tucson Udall Park and edged the Arizona Rattlers, 11-10.   Dennis Crowley doubled  down the third-base line with the bases loaded to plate two runs to even the score  and Bob Daliege  followed with the game winner when he singled to left center to score Crowley. Reliever Ted Davis, the Aces fourth pitcher of the day, hurled the last two innings and picked up the victory, while the Rattlers' reliever Tom Barrow was saddled with the loss. Davis battled back from bases-loaded jams in both the top of the 6th and the top of the 7th inning to pick up the win. Once again, the Aces jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the early innings, but the Ratters battled back and held the lead 10-8 going into the 7th and final inning. The Aces have now won two of their last  three games from their crosstown rivals.

Price watch: As for me, I went 3 for 4 today, drove in a couple of runs and scored twice. Although, each time I reached base I needed a runner, as I continue to nurse the heel injury. I played well on the field, handling my first five chances, but I did bobble a ball in the top of the 7th inning, which allowed the Ratters to eventually score twice and take the lead.

I finally found the strike zone...

The boys of summer at Udall Park

Hobbling around with an injured right heel, I decided to take the mound today instead of my usual spot at third base in a Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball game. And,  for the first time in a long while I found the strike zone,  as I struck out four, walked three and allowed just one run in a 3-1 win.

I allowed six scattered hits en route to my first pitching win of the year. My right arm got stronger as each inning went by. One of these days I'd like to take the field without any injuries, but at 66, I guess it all comes with the territory. With four more games scheduled for the week -- one tomorrow with the 60-and-over Aces, one on Thursday with the 38-and-over Blackbirds and TOTS' games on Wednesday and Friday, I guess I'll just have to wait and see what I feel like when I get up each morning. Hats off to my catcher today, 63-year-old  Bob Dialege, who caught my offerings superbly for seven innings.

And the Masters title goes to... Bubba!

Bubba Watson won the Masters today at Augusta with a two-hole sudden death playoff win over  Louis Oosthuizen with a recovery shot on the final hole, which was about as unbelieveable as Oosthuizen's double eagle earlier in the day. So, the green jacket goes to Bubba. Congrats, Mr. Watson.

The recent winners at the Masters:

2012   Bubba Watson
2011   Charl Schwartzel
2010   Phil Mickelson
2009   Angel Cabrera
2008   Trevor Immelman

D'backs do it the hard way, but they're 3-0!

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he Arizona Diamondbacks did it the hard way, but they're 3-0 after a sweep of the San Francisco Giants this weekend at Chase Field. Down 6-0 in Game 3, the D'backs came roaring back and escape today with a 7-6 win, thanks to the hitting of reserve first baseman Lyle Overbay, who went 3 for 4, including a home run to go along with his three RBI, while Wade Miley came on in relief of Josh Collmenter in the fourth inning to pitch four consecutive shutout innings en route to his first victory of the season.

 Congrats, D'backs. Keep it up.

Wildcats have their hittin' shoes on

The Arizona Wildcats bats are hot.

The Wildcats will carry a .331 team batting average into their next Pac-12 Conference series with the UCLA Bruins, set for April 13-15 at Hi Corbett Field. Alex Mejia leads the way with an impressive .380 average. Teammates Robert Refsynder and Seth Mejias-Breen are right on his heals, batting .376 and .368, respectively.

A good rule of thumb: If you have a team that can stay above the .300 mark chances are you will win a lot of ball games. I'd say .331 is very good with 32 games in the books. If the 'Cats are still above .300 after say 64 games, I'd say we have ourselves a winner.

Arizona in sole possession of first place in Pac-12 race

Despite a couple of losses in Utah this week -- one  to Utah Valley in Orem on Wednesday and the other in Game 2 of a three-game series over the weekend at Utah  in Salt Lake City, the 4th-ranked  Arizona Wildcats return home in sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 Conference standings.

Oregon lost to UCLA today and fall to 8-4 in conference play, while the Wildcats with their two wins at Utah -- including a 11-7 win in the series finale today, improve to 9-3 as they head back to Hi Corbett Field, on April 13-15, for a three-game series with the Bruins, who now share second place with Oregon.

The Wildcats improve to 23-9 on the season.

Blackbirds fall to Red Sox in MSBL opener

38-and-over Tucson MSBL

The Mountain Red Sox hitters had their share of dingers and opposite field hits last night at Reid Park and held off the Mountain Blackbirds to win the Tucson MSBL opener, 11-6. The Blackbirds jumped out to an early lead, but the Red Sox came back with key hits in the middle innings and escaped with a victory. The Blackbirds loaded the bases in the top of the eighth inning, but were able to score just one run.

Sean Flynn (3 for 4 and four runs batted in) and Tom Bolen (2 for 3 and a walk) led the Blackbirds offensively, combining for five of the Blackbirds' 12 hits. Hector Iglecias collected three singles in four trips to the plate, while Mike Price legged out two infield hits, but it wasn't quite enough as the Blackbirds are now 0-1, heading into next week's clash with the Phillies.

Price watch: As for the old timer, I went 0-4 and  scored a run. I was also spiked in the second inning and got a nasty cut or two on my right leg and re-injured a nagging, fractured bone spur in my right heel. Not exactly the start I was looking for.

My Fantasy Baseball League gets underway this weekend

My first try at Fantasy Baseball begins this weekend. The sit down draft took place last Sunday and it was quite an experience for yours truly. I didn't exactly make all  the right moves at the draft, but I did end up with a few good players, including the Tampa Bay third baseman  Evan Longoria,  Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, and two of the top pitchers in the majors, the Yankees' CC Sabathia and Phillies' ace Roy Halladay. The league is called the WBL and stands for Weekend Baseball League as 12  teams will tangle through out the summer for the "bragging rights" that go along with the first place prize money.

Wish me luck! 

March stats are out for TOTS

March turned out to be a good month for yours truly as a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club. It's been a while since I've led the team in more than one category. I finished in a tie for first in games played (11), at bats (32) and triples (1), while finishing first in hits with 17, just two more  than speedster Dennis Crowley, who ended up with 15 hits, while leading the team in runs-scored with 13 to go along with his .469 batting average.

I finished the month with a .531 batting average, which was fifth overall, behind Lloyd Barzell (.636), Ron Petersen (.571), Bob Daliege (.571) and Pete Peters (.571). Barzell was the team leader in doubles with six, while two players, Dick Ducklow and Ted Davis, tied for the most RBI with 11 apiece. Joe Aparicio and Bob Katz finished in a tie for the most walks with six, while Doc Thompson led the team in sacrif'ice flies with two.

And now it's on to April and more games on the slate for us old timers.

Arizona reaches No . 4

The Arizona Wildcats baseball team is now No. 4 in the country as they took care of business over the weekend with a three-game sweep of the Stanford Cardinal. Congrats, Wildcats. Arizona will take an overall record of  21-7 into this week's action.

The Wildcats, 7-2 in the Pac-12, will take on Utah Valley in a tune-up game on Wednesday, before opening up a three-game conference series at Utah on Thursday. The  next home series  at Hi Corbett Field is scheduled for Apr 13-15 against the UCLA Bruins.

Jayhawks: "We're not in Kansas, anymore!"

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t's over! We have our NCAA Champion. The Kentucky Wildcats knocked off the Kansas Jayhawks, 67-59, in New Orleans last night to capture the school's eighth national title.

The Jayhawks made a run late in the game, but it wasn't nearly enough as Kentucky held a 41-27 at the end of the first half and rolled to victory behind the 22-point effort from sophomore Doran Lamb.

The Kentucky Wildcats finish with an overall record of 38-2, which is 15 more wins than our own Arizona Wildcats were able to muster.

Congrats, Kentucky.