Arizona Wildcats sweep Alabama State

The Arizona Wildcats (28-14) took a nice little break from the rigors of Pac-12 play and came away with a sweep of Alabama State over the weekend, including an 18-3 win in the final game of the three-game series today at Hi Corbett Field.

Johnny Field banged out three hits -- including a home run today and Brandon Dixon had a career-high five hits as the Wildcats slapped 22 hits around Hi Corbett this afternoon. Kevin Newman, Scott Kingery and Joseph Maggie added to the onslaught with three hits apiece.

Tyler Crawford gets the win today to move to 5-1 on the season. Crawford goes six innings and Cody Moffett pitched three shutout innings.

Field and Dixon are just one percentage point apart in a friendly battle for the best batting average. Field is batting a hefty .391, while Dixon is at .390.

Arizona, 9-9 in the Pac-12 Conference, take on Arizona State on Tuesday night before returning to conference play next weekend at Hi Corbett Field against Washington.

How about those Diamondbacks?

The Arizona Diamondbacks get a strong outing from Patrick Corbin (3-0) and move into a first-place tie in the NL West with the Rockies as they beat Colorado in the final game of the four-game series 4-2 at Chase Field today.

Arizona wins three of the four games to pull even with the Rockies. Both teams sport identical 15-10 records. Corbin allows nine hits, but just two runs today as he strikes out five Rockies and doesn't walk a batter in 6.2 innings. The bullpen comes on to shutdown the Rockies as Matt Reynolds, Heath Bell and J.J. Putz allow just one hit the rest of the way.

Geraldo Parra goes 2 for 4 today, including a triple and lifts his season batting average to .320.

The San Francisco Giants (13-12) head to Chase Field and begin a three-game series with the Diamondbacks tomorrow night.

Cody! Cody!

Make that 6-0 in extra-inning wins!

Cody Ross hit a towering fly ball to center field in the bottom of the 10th inning tonight at Chase Field as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Colorado 3-2 to pull within one game of the Rockies in the National League West Division.

The fly ball eventually landed in the glove of Rockies' center fielder Dexter Fowler, but the damage was done as the sacrifice fly allowed A.J. Pollock to scamper home from third base with the winning run.

Pollock was a busy dude in this one, going 3 for 5 with a home run, two runs scored and one run batted in. He singled in the 10th inning, stole second and then reached third on a Rockies' error.

Arizona moves to 14-10 on the season, while the Rockies fall to 15-9. J.J. Putz (2-0) gets the win in relief, while Edgmer Escalona (1-1) is saddled with the loss.

Up 2-1 in the four-game series, Arizona goes after the series win tomorrow when they send Pat Corbin (2-0) to the mound.

Who's gonna fill their shoes?

I woke up this morning humming...not singing.

There is one thing I can't do and that is sing!

But I admire those men and women that do. In fact, I'm mesmerized by them.

The music world lost another Country Music Hall of Famer on Friday. George Jones passed away at the age of 81.

Who's gonna fill his shoes?

The song "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" is going through my head at this very moment as I peck away at my laptop. If we all could sing like George Jones what a wonderful world this would be.

Who's gonna fill their shoes? They're all gone now. Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Lefty Frizzell, Hank Thompson, Marty Robbins, Bob Wills,  Elvis, Patsy Cline, June Carter Cash, and Tammy Wynette...just to name a few.

The list below contains some of the all-time greats who have blessed this world with their talent and have left us with a tune or two, or hundreds in some cases, of which we will all remember as we continue to walk this Earth.

Rest in Peace, George Jones. You won't be forgotten.

The list:

Roy Acuff
Rex Allen
Stringbean Akeman
Eddy Arnold
Chet Atkins
Bobby Austin
Gene Autry
Hoyt Axton
Molly Bee
Johnny Bond
Albert Brumley
Jethro Burns
Carl Butler
Pearl Butler
Archie Campbell
Henson Cargill
Johnny Cash
June Carter Cash
Ray Charles
Vassar Clements
Patsy Cline
Cowboy Copas
Skeeter Davis
Alton Delmore
Rabon Delmore
John Denver
Big Al Downing
Roy Drusky
David Dudley
Johnny Duncan
Freddy Fender
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Lester Flatt
Red Foley
Lefty Frizzell
Don Gibson
Vern Gosdin
Hawkshaw Hawkins
Homer Haynes
Goldie Hill
Doyle Holly
Johnny Horton
David Houston
Harlan Howard
Tommy Jackson
Waylon Jennings
Grandpa Jones
Royce Kendall
Hank Locklin
Ira Louvin
Uncle Dave Macon
Jimmy Martin
Monty Matthews
Dale McBride
Roger Miller
Bill Monroe
George Morgan
Buck Owens
Johnny Paycheck
Minnie Pearl
Carl Perkins
Webb Pierce
Gene Pitney
Elvis Presley
Eddie Rabbitt
Boots Randolph
Jerry Reed
Del Reeves
Jim Reeves
Charlie Rich
Don Rich
Tex Ritter
Marty Robbins
Jimmie Rodgers
Roy Rogers
Johnny Russell
Dan Seals
Sammi Smith
Red Sovine
Hank Snow
Lew DeWitt
Wynn Stewart
Mel Street
Hank Thompson
Mel Travis
Ernest Tubb
Conway Twitty
Townes Van Zandt
Billy Walker
Charlie Walker
Porter Wagoner
Dottie West
Doyle Wilburn
Teddy Wilburn
Bob Wills
Hank Williams I
Boxcar Willie
Sheb Wooley
Tammy Wynette
Faron Young

What a list.

Of course, there are so many more who are still with us today...still crooning away...still taking us away from our aches and our pains for three minutes at a time. I often wonder where they are tonight as they bellow out their tunes, whether they are singing at a small, tucked-away tavern in the Ozarks or whether they are in concert somewhere across this great nation of ours.

As I continue to peck away, another song enters my head. The performer: Ronnie Milsap. The song: "Lost in the 50s, Again". That's me. I can't sing, but I sure can listen.

There were only winners in TOTS' game at Udall

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

The final score in the TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN) game of the week, 5-5.

Yes, another seven-inning deadlock. There were no losers today and a lot of winners.

TOTS Team Blue sent three pitchers to the mound this morning as Doc Thompson threw the first five innings, Pigpen Price pitched the sixth and Billy Heiny came on the seventh to pitch a shutout inning.

TOTS Team White countered with Lloyd Barzell, who went the distance today, giving up two runs in the fourth and three in the sixth inning.

Thompson pitched well in his first start of the year, allowing just three runs through five innings. Price allowed two runs in his one inning of work.

The big hitter for Team Blue was Pete Peters with two booming doubles, while Team White's Ron Carlson and Carl Brutovsky supplied the big blows for their team with three hits apiece.

Photos: Ron Carlson (top photo) and Carl Brutovsky (bottom photo) combine for six hits today at Udall Park.

Diamondbacks living on the edge

The Arizona Diamondbacks are making a habit of relinquishing the lead in the ninth inning and sending the game into extra innings, but for the second day in a row they figured out a way to eventually  pull out  the win.

After knocking off the Giants 6-4 in 11 innings on Tuesday night in San Francisco, the Diamondbacks' David Hernandez gives up a home run today to the Giants in the bottom of the ninth to deadlock the game at 2-2.

But in the top of the 10th-inning, pinch-hitter Wil Nieves knocks in the game-winner for the Diamondbacks on a sacrifice fly to beat the Giants, 3-2, and Arizona wins the three-game series, 2 games to 3.

Hernandez, despite giving up the home run, gets the victory today to improve to 1-1, while Matt Reynolds gets the save, his second of the season. The Diamondbacks improve to 12-9 and complete the nine-game road trip at 4-5.

Arizona returns home to face Colorado, the National League Western Division leader, on Thursday night. The Rockies improve to 14-7 today with a 6-5 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Crowley tosses 5-hitter, Tolson injured

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

Dennis Crowley, a 63-year-old left hander, tossed a five-hit shutout today at Udall Park as Team Blue beat Team White 5-0 in a 60-and-over senior circuit baseball game.

Team White lost its top hitter Tim Tolson in the bottom of the fifth inning when he injured his bicep muscle on a two-strike pitch from Crowley. The ball sailed inside and, according to Tolson, he heard a pop as he took an awkward swing at the ball. Tolson, who leads the senior baseball club in batting average and in home runs, will be out indefinitely.

Tolson tried to get Team White on the board in the first inning when he drilled a shot to the center field fence. Team Blue's center fielder Jeff Rein got his glove on the ball, but the ball bounced free and Tolson ended up on second with a double. Unfortunately, for Team White, Tolson was left stranded at second, which turned out to be the norm in Team White's battle today with Team Blue.

The TOTS will be back in action on Friday.  Game time is set for 8:30 AM.

Photos:  Top: Dennis Crowley, Bottom: Tim Tolson.

TOTS Footnote: Check out: There is No Joy in Mudville at: www.smokesound.blogspot.com by Conrad Royksund.

Aces fall to Rattlers at Mission Manor

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

The 60-and-over Aces have had the Arizona Rattlers' number in recent games. The Aces have played great defense and come up of with key hits to take down the south side seniors. But yesterday at Mission Manor Park the visiting Aces couldn't get the job done -- defensively or offensively.

The result: A 6-5 loss to the Rattlers. All six runs by the Rattlers were unearned as a hand full of throwing errors proved costly and the bats remained silent all the way through to the seventh and final inning.

In the top of the seventh, the Aces loaded the bases and had a chance to pull out the win, but two strike outs and a pop up to third base left the runners stranded and the Aces headed home with their first loss to the 60-and-over Rattlers in over two months.

Right hander Lloyd Barzell put in a gutsy performance on the mound for the Aces, going all seven innings while walking just three batters.

"We didn't play our best," Barzell said. "And there were a few calls that didn't go our way."

The south side team had the edge in this one. The two team will collide again in two weeks. Next time will be in the Aces' neck of the woods -- Udall Park.

Above photo: Lloyd Barzell, 62, hurls complete-game against the Arizona Rattlers and allows no earned runs in seven innings.

Wildcats lose series at Stanford

Despite a grand slam home run by Riley Moore, Arizona falls to Stanford 12-8 today in Palo Alto and lose 2 of 3 to the Cardinal to drop to 9-9 in Pac-12 play and 25-14 overall.

The Wildcats return home for three non-conference games at Hi Corbett Field against Alabama State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Diamondbacks hand Rockies their 1st home loss

The Arizona Diamondbacks (10-8) hand the Rockies (13-5) their first home loss of the season with a 5-4 victory over Colorado today at Coors Field.

Arizona heads to San Francisco for a three-game series with the Giants as they continue on the nine-game road trip. The Diamondbacks are 2-4 on the current road swing, winning only the getaway games at Yankee Stadium and now Coors Field.

The D'backs score two runs in the top of the ninth today to pick up the win. Heath Bell (2-0) gets the win in relief and J.J. Putz grabs the save. Didi Gregorius started the ninth-inning rally with a single, went to third on a double by A.J. Pollock and scored the tying run on a ground out. Geraldo Parra's sacrifice fly, later in the inning, scored Pollock with the go-ahead run.

Putz worked out of a jam in the bottom of the ninth as Arizona picks up its 10th win of season.

Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in 12 to salvage 1 of 3

Cody Ross singled in a run and Eric Chavez followed with a bases-clearing double as the Arizona Diamondbacks scored four runs in the top of the 12th inning and beat New York 6-2 at Yankee Stadium tonight.

Heath Bell (1-0) gets the win in relief as the Diamondbacks salvage the final game of the three-game series with the Yankees.

Shortstop Didi Gregorius, in his first at bat as a Diamondback, homered to right field on the first pitch off Phil Hughes in the third inning to give Arizona an early 1-0 lead. With the Diamondbacks up 2-1 in the bottom of the  ninth, J.J. Putz blew the save, sending the game into extra innings.

At 9-6, Arizona heads for Colorado and a three-game series with the Rockies.

Hittin' the little yellow ball

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball


A bucket of baseballs aren't cheap. For a senior ball club like the TOTS, well, every penny counts. For years now, members of the Tucson Old Timers at Udall Park have been ripping the leather off a little yellow ball -- called a Wilson A1030. The balls are cheaper by the dozen, compared to other more well-known brands and they last a while... and for a 60-and-over ball player, they are easier to see...and find.

Now, I'm not trying to sell the product. Just sayin'. Since 2008, I've been trying to pick up the rotation on the yellow ball, so much so that when I see the more familiar white, red-stitched ball coming at me it kind of throws my timing off.

Not to say that a soon to be 68-year-old has any timing left.

But one thing is for sure, when it comes time to chase a long and errant foul ball which finds its way into the desert...those "old yellow" balls are definitely easier to spot (see above photo).

Photo credit: Photo taken by TOTS baseball fan Conrad Royksund.

Arizona 10 Arizona State 9

The Arizona Wildcats came from behind, scoring eight runs in their last three at-bats, to beat Arizona State 10-9 tonight at Hi Corbett Field.

Down 8-2 early, the Wildcats battled back in a game that lasted three hours and 42 minutes as Augey Bill (4-0) gets the win in relief and Mathew Troupe gets the save as Arizona improves to 24-12 and have won 9 of the their last 10 games.

Scott Kingery doubled in the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth inning in front of a crowd of 5,400, including 21 members of the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball team along with a dozen friends and family members.

The Wildcats head for Stanford next week for a three-game series with the Cardinal.

The good old days in Tucson

My buddy, Jim Oby -- a long time Tucson resident like me, found these photos of Tucson in the 60s...take a gander at the prices.

Wow! Those were the good times!

Diamondbacks' 9-game road trip begins with the Yankees

Will see what the 2013 Arizona Diamondbacks are made of as they embark on a nine-game road trip, beginning with the New York Yankees (6-5) tonight in the Big Apple.

What is the Big Apple, anyway? A sports writer in New York coined the phrase back in the 1920s. At that time it was more about horse racing than anything else, but now everything associated with New York -- Broadway plays to baseball, will find the catchy name attached to it.

One thing is for sure the 8-4 Diamondbacks need to take a bite out of the Big Apple, the YANKEES, that is, over the next three days. In 2001, the Diamondbacks won the World Series and not only took a big bite out of the Yankees, but threw away the core.

Love to see a good showing in New York by the Arizona Diamondbacks, starting tonight as Brandon McCarthy (0-1) takes the mound against the Yankees' Ivan Nova (0-1).

The TOTS - The Early Years

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball


My "golden years" are not just around the corner. I guess they're HERE! As a member of the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS), I'm entering my "sixth season" on the senior baseball club.

I've battled through a heart attack, hamstring pulls, a fractured heel, a torn abductor muscle and now I'm battling arthritis in both my glove hand and my throwing hand. As I rounded first base today, I glanced over at our first-sacker, 87-year-old Floyd Lance. I straightened the brim of my cap and said, "Floyd, I don't think I'll make it as a TOT through my 70s, much less into my 80s."

"Sure you will," said Sir Lance (his nickname, honoring his 14 years as a member of the TOTS and the oldest active club member). "Sure you will, you just need a few more operations. You'll be fine."

Lance should know, he's had his share of operations over the years. And he still keeps coming back. The man has no quit in him. He has said more than once, "I just as soon die on the field."

And so it goes with all the TOTS as they get together for a spirited baseball game every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Udall Park.

There might come a time when I'm forced to give up the game. But as long as there are guys like Sir Lance on our team, I'll keep on plugging.

I admire all the TOTS, past and present. And now that I'm the club historian, I continue to sift through the archives, looking at pictures and faces of men who have come before me. Due to medical issues way beyond their control, a few of the honorary TOTS who are still alive and kicking,  show up and sit in the bleachers every week and cheer us on.

Take for instance, 82-year-old Larry Tagg. Larry sustained a brain injury a few years back and he was forced to retire from the active list, but he still makes the annual luncheon every year and makes all the "dress out" games (every three months we play a game in our full uniform-- followed by a cookout -- all the honorary TOTS and former players are also invited and partake in our yearly Christmas party.

So, like a good historian, I checked up on Mr. Tagg. He was the TOT of the Year in 2000 and the team manager in 2001-02. In 2005, at the age of 74, he played in 63 games, collected 30 hits in 127 at-bats, knocked in 11 runs and batted .236. In 2006, his average slipped to .193, but he did step to the plate 166 times, had 32 hits, walked 25 times and was hit by a pitch four times.

As for his life before the TOTS, well that's a story in itself.

Larry was a service man...and I mean a military service man.

Tagg, who was born and grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, allowed his early "baseball playing" days to be interrupted, by enlisting in the Army in 1948. He returned home after his eight-year stint in the Army and played for some independent baseball teams, traveling around Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska. It wasn't long before he ended up at a small college in Denver and met Donna Gensler. They married, he subsequently joined the Air Force and served as a chaplain for 20 years.

While on active duty, Tagg served in Alaska and Germany and close to home at Davis-Monthan AFB, just to name a few of the bases he was stationed at. He retired from the military in 1976 and eventually made his way to Tucson with his wife, Donna, and his two sons, Philip and Martyn.

And then along came the TOTS.

Larry is just one story amongst the archives...and there are so many more to tell, but my arthritis is getting the best of me.

If the good Lord is willing and the creeks don't run dry, I'll be back on the ball field on Wednesday at Udall Park and back on the trusty old laptop by nightfall.

Below photos: Larry Tagg kneeling in the front row, first player on the left. Floyd Lance is standing in the back row, second player in from the right. Picture taking in 2002. Tagg was 71 at the time, Lance was at the young age of 76. Second photo shows Mr. Tagg (on right) at a recent TOTS game, discussing "the days of old" with another former TOTS player and former teammate, Lee Moser.

Wildcats head home to face ASU

The Arizona baseball team wins 2 of 3 from the Washington State Cougars over the weekend and return home today and will face the Arizona State Sun Devils on Tuesday at Hi Corbett Field. Game time is 6 p.m.

The Wildcats lost the opener of the series in Pullman by a score of  9-5 last Friday, but won on Saturday 6-5 and captured the rubber game 7-3 today behind a complete-game pitching performance from Tyler Crawford. The hard-throwing sophomore needed just 85 pitches to take down the Cougars.

Arizona (23-12 overall and 8-7 in Pac-12 play) banged out 10 hits today, including three hits by second baseman Trent Gilbert.

Brandon Dixon, Johnny Field and Gilbert are in a three-way battle for the top dog in batting on the season for the Wildcats. Dixon carries a .386 batting average into the ASU game on Tuesday, while Field is right behind him at .367 and Gilbert follows at .360. Dixon and Field are tied for the lead in hits with 51 after 35 games, while Gilbert is right behind them at 50. Gilbert is the leader in RBI with 39.

Goldy singles home the game-winner

A.J. Pollock legged out a double and Paul Goldschmidt followed with a single to right to score Pollock with the game-winner in the bottom of the 9th inning today at Chase Field as the Arizona Diamondbacks captured the rubber game and won the three-game series with the LA Dodgers, 2-1.

Trevor Cahill goes 7.1 innings and J.J Putz (1-0) gets the win in relief as the Diamondbacks improve to 8-4. Josh Beckett (0-2) is the losing pitcher as the Dodgers fall to 7-5 on the season.

Great Scott! Adam wins the 77th Masters

Australian Adam Scott wins the 77th Masters today on the second playoff hole, sinking a birdie putt to beat the man from Argentina, Angel Cabrera. Another beautiful Masters comes to an end. Tiger Woods, still reeling from the two-stroke penalty on the 15th hole on Day 2, finishes in a tie for fourth with Mark Leishman. Jason Day hangs on for third.

Jackie Robinson, No. 42

I was two years old in 1947 and chances are I was rolling a baseball across the carpet on the living room floor. I didn't know who Jackie Robinson was at the time. I was worried about important things like: when was it time to eat and when could I go out in the backyard and play with my dog, Jack.

I sat back in my theater seat and witnessed the new movie, 42, on Saturday afternoon. I'm 67 now and before I stepped into the hallway of the theater, I already knew of the man who had cut through the racial barrier 66 years ago and transformed, with the help of Branch Rickey, baseball into the game we know today.

A game for all colors, all sizes, all shapes. A game which honors mental toughness along with God-given skills and talent.

Everyone should see 42.

There's one line in the move when Robinson questions Mr. Rickey. The soon to be Rookie of the Year of 1947, asked the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, "Why are you doing this?"

Rickey said there was a time, earlier in his life, when he should have done more to begin to bridge the gap of "equality" in baseball. (I'm paraphrasing here).

But the line which really got me was this.

Rickey talked of a little white boy, probably sitting (this is me paraphrasing, again, and adding a little bit of me at the same time) next to his radio, listening and wishing,  he was the black man who had just crushed a home run over the left field fence at Ebbets Field.

I look up at the stars every now and then, and I say thank you to all the old ballplayers I have admired in my 60-something years on this Earth.

Jackie Robinson...number 42, is at the top of my list.

I love my Dunkin' Donut Shop

I love my Dunkin' Donut Shop.

Not just because of the coffee and an occasional (well, maybe I should say daily routine of a plain, but no frills, donut and coffee), but for the "conversations" I seem to have with the folks who are there for a similar partaking of the above mentioned "simply pleasures" of  life.

At my age, which dangerously approaches the ripe old age of 70 (actually just a few months away from 68), I enjoy rehashing "the old days" with the person, or persons, next to me. Everyone has a story to tell and it seems I'm just the fella who will listen and then, on some occasions, head home, open up the trusty laptop and document the experience I just had with the individual, or individuals, across from me -- or my next victims, if you will.

Case in point: This morning I struck up a conversation with a man and his wife. It all starting out similar to other conversations I've had in the past. The man had a shirt on which mentioned the World Golf Championships (I didn't catch the year). He had a baseball hat on and his sporty sunglasses were attached to the brim.

Turns out, as it usual does, he loves golf (a 4-handicap) and BASEBALL. And has the story goes, he played for coach Ray Adkins at Tucson High School in 1965...back in the days of Eddie Leon.

I, of course, played at Catalina High School and graduated in 1963.

What followed was a constant barrage of names of local athletes from the past who, we either knew, or played alongside of, in the mid 60s.

The gentleman's name is David Byars, but his name had been changed (another story, for maybe another meeting over a cup of coffee), and he was better known in his "playing days" as David Seastrom.

I, of course, invited him to visit one of our Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) games at Udall Park with hopes of maybe getting him to join our 60-and-over baseball club, the oldest senior baseball organization in the country.

As a young boy, Seastrom lived in Marana, Arizona and played baseball alongside the likes of Paul Robinson, Cleo Robinson and Rich Hinton. Of course, my eyes were wide open as I listened attentively to that part of the conversation, because, I too knew of those men, especially, Paul. I went to college with Paul Robinson at Eastern Arizona Junior College. I followed Paul's career after EAJC. He went on to Arizona, played football just one year as a Wildcat, signed with Cincinnati and was the rookie of the year in his first season as a professional running back in the NFL.

Well, I could go on and on. We talked for an hour or so and then we all went our separate ways.

I love my donut shop.

A hacker's dream

I had a dream last night. I was playing golf on a Tuesday morning at the Randolph Park Golf Course in midtown Tucson. I was playing in a foursome. We were slower than molasses, mainly due to the fact the foursome ahead of us was even slower.

On the very next hole, I hooked my drive and was forced to take a drop. I then hit an amazing shot...the first shot all day which actually bounced on the green and rolled to the cup.

A ranger and his golf cart, speeding at full throttle, intercepted me as I walked off the 18th tee. I was heading for the clubhouse and a cool one, anticipating on sitting down and penciling in my final score...my best 18-hole score in years.

"Sorry, Mr. Price," the ranger said. "You've been penalized one stroke for slow play and two strokes for an illegal drop."

I added up my score.

Instead of shooting a sizzling 98, I was assessed a 101.

I proceeded to order a round of drinks for me and my playing partners.

We raised our glasses and I said,"maybe next  time."

Tiger, I feel your pain!

Diamondbacks shutout Dodgers

Good job, Patrick Corbin.

Corbin gets the best of of the Dodgers' heralded hurler Clayton Kershaw as the Arizona Diamondbacks shutout Los Angeles tonight at Chase Field 3-0 in the opener of a three-games series.

Martin Prado goes 2 for 2 and two walks to lead the D'backs offensively as Arizona moves to 7-3 on the season.

Corbin (2-0) goes six innings, allows three hits, while striking out four and walking three. Kershaw falls to 2-1.

TOTS celebrating its 45th year

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

The Tucson Old Timers, the oldest organization of a senior baseball team in the country, is celebrating its 45th year in 2013. The TOTS are getting a lot of attention from the media outlets lately -- including former Tucson Citizen sports writer Steve Rivera, who recently met with me to discuss the possibility of doing profiles and the life experiences of all the current TOTS.

Rivera is the author of three books and the owner of Steve Rivera Ventures. His latest venture is transforming the life history of an individual, or team, and documenting such in newspaper form on a plaque -- highlighting their accomplishments and life's ups and downs, which all of us go through as we make our way through our brief time on this Earth.

So, sit back all you readers from the TOTS. There's more to come on this venture.

Above is a picture from the archives of one of the TOTS' teams back in 1973.

Photo: From L to R, back row: Joe Gorman (founder), Bert Hough, Al Hall, Cliff Burdick and Charlie Snyder. From L to R, front row: Ray Miller, Pete Paquo, Eldon Cruse, Skip Alexander and Avery Dixon.

The beauty of the Masters

Another Masters is front and center. The beauty of the Masters at the Augusta National keeps me glued to the TV screen. The story lines are endless whether it's the continuing saga of Tiger Woods or the plight of a 14-year-old eighth-grader named Guan Tianlang of China.

Four days of beautiful golf. What it must be like to walk down the fairways at the Masters, hit an approach shot to one of the 18 immaculate greens, stand over an eight-foot putt with the crowd around the green holding their collective breath, ready to let out a roar as the putt falls in the cup for a birdie.

Only a select few get to live such moments in time.

It's certainly worth watching, even for a duffer like me who consistently finds himself in the sand, or behind a mesquite tree, or...well you get the picture.

The 77th Masters...let's tee it up.

D'backs rip Pirates 10-2

A.J. Pollock doubled, hit two home runs and drove in four runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks salvaged  the final game of a three-game series at Chase Field today with a 10-2 shellacking of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Diamondbacks improve to 6-3 on the season.

Wade Miley picked up the win to improve to 2-0 on the year. Miley pitched 6 2/3 innings before giving away to Brad Ziegler and J.J. Putz.

TOTS' 83-year-old hurls shutout

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

Billy Heiny, 83, hurled a shutout at Udall Park today as Team Blue blanked Team White 8-0 in a Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball game.

Heiny, coming off an 8-2 win in his last start in late March, tossed another gem today, only this time no runs crossed the plate as he allowed five hits, struck out one and walked five.

Once again, Heiny (top photo) received a lot of help defensively as Team Blue turned four double plays. Heiny received plenty of punch at the plate from his teammates today, led by 60-year-old Tim Tolson, who went 4-4 with three RBI -- including a home run which sailed over the center field fence in the first inning.

"It's nice to pick up back-to-back wins and I certainly had plenty of help from my teammates today," said Heiny, who turns 84 in August.

The TOTS finish off the week with a game on Friday at 9:30 AM.

Diamondbacks try to salvage one of 3 games from Pirates today

The Pittsburgh Pirates ruined a pretty good start of the season for the Arizona Diamondbacks by winning the first two games of a three-game series at Chase Field on Monday and Tuesday. Today,  Arizona will try to salvage the final game of the series as they send Wade Miley (1-0) to the mound.

The good news: Arizona is in a first-place tie in the National League West with the Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Giants. All three at 5-3. The LA Dodgers are at 4-3 and the San Diego Padres have the only losing record thus far at 2-5.

Go get 'em D'backs!

The year of the home run

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball


As far as home runs go in the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club, they are few and far between. Very seldom is there a blast over the fence at Udall Park and when it does come it usually comes from the youngest member of the TOTS, 60-year-old Thunder Tim Tolson.

Tolson averages a home run or two every 75 at bats. He's a big and strong lefty who pummels the ball to right field -- searing line drives that fall in front of the right fielder or shots that tug the right field line.

There was a time when home runs were aplenty. The year was 2006 and three players on the TOTS were ripping the ball with authority. The three, all three are still active with the club, include Doc Thompson, Chico Bigham and Ron Petersen.

Thompson won the year-long battle of home runs with an amazing total of 19, Bigham hit double figures with 10 and Petersen connected for seven round-trippers.

And take a gander at these stats:

Thompson batted 281 times in 2006, collected 209 hits, knocked in 160 runs and finished the year with a .744 batting average.

Bigham batted 356 times, collected 215 hits, knocked in 163 runs and finished the year with a .604 batting average.

Petersen batted just 167 times on the year, collected 101 hits, knocked in 54 runs and finished the year with a .605 batting average.

Of course, this all happened seven years ago. Thompson was 64, Bigham was 68 and Peterson was a rookie at 60 years of age.

It's obvious the older we get the less productive we are as members of the TOTS. But as we age, singles will still work and there's nothing wrong with a hard hit ball to the gap in left center or right center field.

But the TOTS trio (in photos above) can pump their chests and say there was a time when home runs were aplenty.

Photos:  Doc Thompson (top),  Chico Bigham (middle), Ron Petersen (bottom).

Gone too soon

Tucson Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball


This week we lost one of the youngest members of the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club.

Joel Blutfield passed away on April 3, 2013, losing his battle to cancer at the age of 63.

Services were held today at the Brings Broadway Chapel. It was a full house as family members, friends, colleagues and Joel's former students took to the podium to speak of their love for a man who spent 33 years in the teaching profession, 32 of them with the Tucson Unified School District.

We've all heard the words before that one person can make a difference in the lives of many. Two men, now in the prime of their lives, walked up to the podium today and talked about what Joel Blutfield meant to them when they were just fifth graders at Corbett Elementary School.

Joel certainly had an impact on their lives as he did with his teammates on the TOTS. He will be missed.

The spokesperson for the TOTS, Dennis Crowley, said in his emotional moments at the podium. "Joel wasn't the best ball player on the team, nor was he the fastest runner. In fact, Joel was told more than once after reaching safely to first base on a hit. "Way to go, Joel. Way to stretch a double into a single."

Joel certainly stretched his short stay on this Earth into a home run.

Photo: Joel Blutfield

Louisville 82 Michigan 76

Louisville wins its third NCAA men's basketball title tonight with a hard-fought 82-76 win over Michigan in Atlanta.

The Cardinals (35-5) get 18 points from Peyton Siva and 22 points from Luke Hancock, while Trey Burke poured in 24 points for the Wolverines (31-8).

Congrats, to Louisville. Now we can focus on next year...2014...the year of the Wildcat...the Arizona Wildcats!

Pigpen Price hurls 6-hitter

Tucson Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Pigpen Price battled 15 mph wind gusts for seven innings, allowing just six hits and came away with a 12-4 win in a Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball game at Udall Park this morning.

Price, 67, pitched for Team Blue and received outstanding support at the plate and on the field from teammates Dennis Crowley, Jeff Rein, Ron Petersen, Dave Rhoades and Ted Davis as all five collected two hits apiece and were a thorn in the side of Team White's 63-year-old right hander Lloyd Barzell.

Battling control problems for most of the game, Price walked eight batters and struck out one, but his teammates came up with key plays every time Team White threatened to score.

"I was having control problems but I kept on plugging," said Price, who won a pitching victory for the first time in April and just the second time this year.

The TOTS hit the field two more times this week -- on Wednesday and Friday. It would be okay with me if the wind went elsewhere.

Photo: Pigpen Price

Arizona Wildcats win 2nd Pac-12 series

The Arizona Wildcats made it a three-game sweep of the California Golden Bears with a 5-4 win today at Hi Corbett Field. The victory evens the Wildcats' Pac-12 season at 6-6 as they now have won back-to-back series after losing their first six games to open conference play. With the sweep, Arizona moves its overall record to 21-11.

Arizona heads for Pullman, Washington next week and a three-game series with the Washington State  Cougars on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Wildcats will return home for a single game on April 16 to face their instate rival, Arizona State.

Diamondbacks capture 3-game series at Milwaukee

Cliff Pennington doubled and Eric Hinske followed with a booming two-run homer to center field off Brewers reliever John Axford in the top of the 11th inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Milwaukee 8-7 today in Milwaukee to capture all three games of the weekend series.

The Diamondbacks (5-1) received six innings from starter Ian Kennedy and once again went to the bullpen to hold off the Brewers. Arizona banged out 14 hits in today's game, three of them from Paul Goldschmidt and another three from Aaron Hill, ending up with 36 hits in the series. The Diamondbacks now have 71 hits on the season -- a franchise record to start the season.

Leading 6-4 in the ninth inning, J.J. Putz came on to close out the game, but allowed three hits and two runs before striking out  Rickie Weeks and Alex Gonzalez to send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, Milwaukee reliever John Axford served up a couple of fastballs to Goldschmidt and Jason Kubel. Goldy's ball was caught at the warning track in left center and Kubel's blast was hit to the warning track in left. With two outs, Eric Chavez struck out for the third out.

Lefty Tony Sipp came on to pitch the bottom of the 10th for the D'backs. Sipp set the Brewers down 1-2-3, striking out two batters,  and the game headed into the 11th inning, setting up the Pennington and Hinske show.

Heath Bell came on in the bottom of the 11th and allowed a run, but the Brewers' Kyle Lohse struck out looking to end the game, giving the Diamondbacks their fifth win of the season. Arizona, at  5-1, is tied with Atlanta for the best record in baseball. If the Colorado Rockies (4-1) hold on to beat the San Diego Padres today, they will join Arizona and Atlanta. The Rockies are up 4-1 in the 7th inning.

Way to go, Diamondbacks!

Diamondbacks take opener in Milwaukee

The Arizona Diamondbacks (3-1) got six strong innings from Wade Miley and beat the Brewers 3-1 in Milwaukee tonight in the opener of a three-game series. Miley struck out eight, walked one and allowed five hits. J.J Putz picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Paul Goldschmidt knocked in a run in the fourth inning and the Diamondbacks picked up two runs on a  wild pitch in the seventh inning.

The series continues tomorrow as Patrick Corbin takes the mound for the Diamondbacks.

Grandson leads Wilson JHS Wranglers to victory in season opener

My grandson, Jadon Price, caught, played second base and hit a booming double to lead the Wilson Wranglers to an 8-2 win over Marana at the Marana Field yesterday.

Wilson is off to a good start and would like to duplicate what Jadon, the quarterback of the Wranglers, and his teammates did in football this season -- go undefeated.

Way to go, Jadon!

Photo: Jadon at bat.

Diamondbacks capture 1st series of the year the hard way

The Arizona Diamondbacks captured their first three-game series of the 2013 season the hard way. After splitting the first two games with St. Louis at Chase Field, the Diamondbacks win the rubber game this morning. Yes, this morning!

The game goes 16 innings with Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Pennington providing the game-winner on a single which scored Jason Kubel from second base. Five hours and 32 minutes, the longest home game in the history of the Diamondbacks as far as elapsed time and tied for the longest at home in terms  of innings.

Josh Collmenter (1-0) gest the win in relief as he goes five innings, allowing four hits and just one run. My man Paul Goldschmidt hits a two-run homer as does Martin Prado. Geraldo Parra, batting an even .500 to start the season, singled, tripled and homered.

87-year-old ball player makes the plays of the day

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

Eighty-seven year old Floyd Lance was in the right place at the right time at Udall Park today as he snagged what looked to be the play of the day in the fourth inning of a Tucson Old Timers' game by making an over-the-shoulder catch in center field to take a double away from 62-year-old power-hitter Ted Davis.

Playing for Team Blue and normally a first baseman, Lance rotated positions with the rest of the team today as the manager decided to rotate all the fielders in each inning.

"I haven't played outfield in years," Lance said, following the game. "I guess I was in the right place at the right time and I extended my left arm as far as I could to make the catch."

It didn't end there.

The 6 foot, five inch first-sacker, who is the oldest active player on the TOTS, then duplicated the same feat in the fifth inning. Only this time, Lance was playing left field and he back-handed a line drive, which was tailing away from him.

And in the seventh inning, Lance did it again. This time while playing second base. Floyd turned a hard hit one-hopper into an easy out at first base. Once again, the ball was tailing away from him as he took three steps to his left and then made a perfect throw to first.

"I guess it was my day," said the smiling ball player.

Photo: Sir Floyd Lance

TOTS footnote: Despite Lance's heroics, Team Blue lost 10-6  to Team White today. Eighty-three year old Billy Heiny pitched all seven innings for Team White and picked up the victory, while 67-year-old right hander Ron Petersen was saddled with the loss.

Former University of Arizona baseball coach to be guest speaker at TOTS' luncheon

Former University of Arizona baseball coach Jerry Stitt will be the guest speaker at the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) annual luncheon to be held Thursday, April 11, at the Claim Jumper on East Broadway, just one block west of Alvernon Way.

The luncheon will begin at 11:30 AM and Stitt, who coached at Arizona from 1997 to 2001, while compiling a won-loss record of 157-124, will speak to the group of 60-and-over baseball players, their wives and guests of the TOTS, an organization which has been in existence for 45 years.

Since 1968, the TOTS have been honored with guest speakers over the years, including such UofA greats Jerry Kindall, Mike Candrea, Dick Tomey, Ed Vosberg and current Arizona baseball coach Andy Lopez.

Stitt spoke at the TOTS' luncheon back in 1997. The former Wildcat outfielder (1966-68) and a lifetime .326 hitter in his playing days with the Wildcats, stepped down as the UofA coach in 2001 at the age of 54.

Photo: Coach Stitt, back in the day.

Finally, the Final Four!

Finally, the Final Four!

As for my bracket predictions, they are out the window. Not one single team I picked made the NCAA Final Four. So, it's on to Atlanta for Louisville, Wichita State, Syracuse and Michigan.

My overall percentage turned out to be a dismal 60 percent on the correct side. I guess I wasn't the only one, and I'm sure there were many sports fanatics nationally who picked the above four teams.

Just for fun, I'll pick Louisville to win it all. All of a sudden, that seems to be a no-brainer. But there is still two games to be played. The way this tournament has unfolded, I wouldn't be surprised at a SHOCKER! Wichita State could pull the upset.

Next year my Wildcats will be there. My Arizona Wildcats, that is.

Opening Day

A new major league baseball season is upon us. The Arizona Diamondbacks take on the St. Louis Cardinals tonight at Chase Field. Ian Kennedy gets the starting nod. I look for first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to have an excellent season. Goldschmidt will bat in the middle of a Diamondbacks' lineup, which includes Geraldo Parra (RF), Jason Kubel (LF) and A.J. Pollack in center. Speedster Adam Eaton will begin the season on the injured list for six weeks. Newcomer Martin Prado will be at third base, Aaron Hill will return at second and Cliff Pennington will get the start at shortstop tonight, while catcher Miguel Montero will handle Kennedy's offerings.

Outfielder Cody Ross and infielder Willie Bloomquist begin the season on the 15-day disabled list.

One hundred and sixty two games to go. Go get 'em, Diamondbacks!