Diamondbacks take 2 from Rangers

The Arizona Diamondbacks take down the Texas Rangers at Chase Field on Memorial Day, taking the first game of a split doubleheader  5-3 this afternoon and then cap the day off with a walk-off 5-4 win tonight to improve to 30-22 on the season and now hold a 1 1/2 game lead over the second-place San Francisco Giants in the NL West.

What a week of baseball at Chase Field as Arizona wins two of three from the San Diego Padres and then take two games from the Rangers, a team which sent its best pitcher to the mound tonight in hopes of slowing down the streaking Diamondbacks.

After getting six strong innings of shutout ball from Tyler Skaggs (1-0) in the opener, Arizona then sends Trevor Cahill to the mound in the nightcap to face the Rangers' ace, Yu Darvish.

Darvish strikes out 14 and loses! Up 4-2 in the eighth inning, Didi Grigorius smacks a Darvish cutter into the right field seats for a two-run homer to get the Diamondbacks even and then in the bottom of the ninth Cliff Pennington singles home the game winner.

Cahill goes eight innings, allows four runs -- three earned, before giving way to Matt Reynolds, who gets the first two outs in the top of the ninth, followed by Brad Ziegler (2-1), who faces just two batters and ends up with the win.

Darvish allows four runs in  7 2/3 and leaves the game without the decision, while Jason Frasor (0-1) is saddled with the loss, after giving up a double to Miguel Montero in the bottom of the ninth.

Montero scampered home on Pennington's opposite field single, which curled its way down the first baseline and into the right field corner.

Way to go, D'backs!

Arizona Wildcats left out of postseason play

The Arizona Wildcats baseball team will not be around for postseason play.

The Wildcats, the defending NCAA champions, were not among the 64 teams selected this morning to move on to the first round of regional action which commences this weekend at 16 different sites around the country.

Arizona's 34-21 overall record and 15-15 Pac-12 record, just wasn't good enough to get them in, according to the powers-to-be, which selected just four teams from the conference -- Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA and Arizona State.

Corbin 8-0 and counting!

Patrick Corbin becomes the first Diamondbacks left-handed starter to go 8-0 to start a season, Martin Prado had a four-hit day and Eric Chavez hits another two-run homer as the Arizona Diamondbacks (28-22) stay atop the NL West with a 6-5 win today over the San Diego Padres at Chase Field.

Corbin was not at his best today, but let's not get picky. Corbin gives up four runs and gives way to the bullpen in the top of the seventh with one runner on and no outs. Brad Ziegler and Matt Reynolds hold off the Padres until the ninth inning and Heath Bell comes on to close it out for his eighth save of the season.

Are the Arizona Wildcats among the best 64 collegiate baseball teams in the country?

Are the Arizona Wildcats among the best 64 collegiate baseball teams in the country?

We'll find out Monday morning when the teams are announced for the first round of the regionals as postseason play is just days away. The road to Omaha and the NCAA 2013 World Series begins next weekend for the 64 invited guests.

The Wildcats did all they could do this weekend to help their cause as they sweep the USC Trojans, including a 7-1 victory today at Hi Corbett Field.

Arizona bangs out 13 hits today and Tyler Crawford goes the distance for the pitching victory to improve to 7-2 on the season. The Wildcats finish 34-21 overall and 15-15 in Pac-12 play.

Is it enough?

Arizona wins five of its last six games and 10 of its last 18. Hopefully, the regular-season ending spurt will garner the 2012 NCAA national champions a spot in this year's DANCE.

Brandon Dixon, with two more hits today in five trips to the plate, wins the regular-season batting title for the Wildcats and finishes top dog in the Pac 12 as well. Dixon played in all 55 games for the Wildcats and batted an impressive .369. Johnny Field ends up with the second-best average at .347, while Trent Gilbert finishes in third at .344 and Kevin Newman, fourth, at .336.

Crawford's seven wins tops the ball club and Augey Bill (4-1) led the relief pitchers with an ERA of 1.98. Reliever Mathew Troupe finishes the regular season with a 6-2 record and an ERA of 3.29.

Family friend, heralded tennis coach passes away

In recent years, Sue Clark sat across from my mother and played cards. My mother, now 86, was a member of a ladies' card-playing group which gathered once a month. They would shuffle up and deal and enjoy each others company.

Most of the group is gone now. In fact, my mother, Kathryn, is now the surviving member.

Clark was the youngest member of the group.

Sue passed away Saturday. She was 80.

There was a time when Clark spent her days on a tennis court. She was the head girls' tennis coach at Tucson High School and between 1958-71, Clark led the Badgers to 213 consecutive victories, 11 state championships and one state co-title.

Sue was inducted into the Pima County Hall of Fame in 2000 and was named the Arizona Daily Star's coach of the year in 1967.

Can Corbin make it eight in a row?

Patrick Corbin will go for his eighth win a row at Chase Field today.

If he gets it done the Arizona Diamondbacks would remain in first place in the NL West, win the three-games series with the San Diego Padres and feel pretty good about themselves, heading into the Memorial Day doubleheader on Monday with the visiting Texas Rangers.

Arizona (27-22) will have 50 games in the books after today's outing and Kirk Gibson, along with the front office, should be pleased with the Diamondbacks' efforts so far.

Corbin is certainly doing his job and the rest of the starting rotation of Brandon McCarthy, Wade Miley, Ian Kennedy and Trevor Cahill are settling in rather nicely. At the plate, Arizona currently has four starters hitting above the .300 mark with Didi Gregorius (.340), Eric Chavez (.336), Paul Goldschmidt (.318) and Geraldo Parra (.307), leading the way.

Of course, the San Franciso Giants and the Colorado Rockies aren't going away anytime soon as they both share the NL West top spot with the Diamondbacks. It'll be interesting to see which team gets hot and which team takes a downward turn as the season heads into June and into July when the all star break comes around.

The Diamondbacks' bullpen has received a lot of rest in recent games, due to the quality starts by Corbin and McCarthy, along with gusty performances from Miley, Cahill and Kennedy, but I get the feeling the bullpen will need to step up before the all star break and make a statement by shutting down the opposition in the late innings.

With J.J. Putz on the disabled list, it'll be up to closer Heath Bell and middle relievers like David Hernandez to shine.

Wildcats making some noise

The Arizona Wildcats are making some noise and just may reach the postseason.

They can cap a series sweep this afternoon in the final game of the three-games series at Hi Corbett Field with the USC Trojans.

The first two games are in the books -- a 4-3 win in 10 innings on Friday night and an 18-4 trashing of the Trojans last night.

With a 33-21 overall record and a 14-15 Pac-12 slate. Arizona has now won at least 30 games in seven consecutive seasons. Following today's final regular season game, the Wildcats, the defending national champions,  will sit back and squirm in their seats as they await the postseason pairings on Monday.

Good luck, 'Cats!

Rockies take 2 of 3 from D'backs

It's a three-way tie for first place in the National League West.

The Colorado Rockies take 2 of 3 from the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field -- including a 4-1 win today, and Washington hangs on in extra innings to beat the Giants 2-1 in San Francisco.

That leaves the Diamondbacks, the Rockies and the Giants with identical 26-21 records.

Arizona returns home Friday to face the San Diego Padres in a three-game series, while the Giants stay put and await the Rockies for a three-game series.

After getting another gem from Patrick Corbin (7-0) on Monday night, the Diamondbacks drop back-to-back games to the Rockies, 5-4 on Tuesday night and 4-1 today. The D'backs collect just five hits off the Rockies on Tuesday and today they strung together eight hits, but push just one run across in the fourth inning on a double by Wil Nieves.

TOTS' scorekeeper pays attention to details

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Jim Pagels, 64, has been a member of the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball team since 2009.

Due to health reasons, Jim no longer takes the field, but he's a familiar figure in the dugout. He pays special attention to the details of every game, for he's the TOTS' official scorekeeper and documents every hit, every run and every out.

He does it with a smile on his face. "I really enjoy it," says Pagels. "There's always something going on. No one seems to be off limits, everyone takes a ribbing. It's a lot of fun."

As you can imagine, when a bunch of 60-and-over ball players get together for their brand of baseball, there's bound to be a funny story or two. The TOTS have been around since 1968, and every year you can expect more of the same...as each member takes his verbal shot at one club member, or another.

As for Mr. Pagels, well he definitely knows a lot about detail. Documenting a hit or run in a score book is nothing compared to his work over the years as a printer.

Pagels (above photo) has been written up in the Arizona Daily Star for his work in the historic town of Tubac as an operator of the old style Washington Hand Press which was used to print Arizona's first newspaper.

At certain times of the year, Jim volunteers his time and provides the visitors at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park with a glimpse into the past. Jim rolls the ink and puts the paper to the metal as he demonstrates what the old Washington Press is still capable of doing -- just like it did back in 1859.

The original press was made of iron and weighs a ton. The press that Jim works on is one of three in the state of Arizona. The other two are in Prescott and Tombstone.

Chances are Jim will continue to be on hand in Tubac from time to time. Dressed in pioneer garb, Jim will "roll the presses" and relive a process which took place over 150 years ago...a process which would eventually take the world of print into the 20th century.

We are now in the 21st century and many say newspapers are quickly becoming a thing of the past. As a former newspaper reporter, I will miss reading the morning paper -- if that day ever comes to pass. If that happens, I'll  have to rethink my mornings and turn to my laptop, or turn on CNN, to get "my fix" on the daily news.

I can always take a trip to Tubac,  see Jim,  and relive the past.

Thank goodness, the TOTS have Jim in the dugout. There's always room for a scorekeeper in baseball. Even that scenario is changing! Score books are slowly becoming a thing of the past as computers are slowly replacing the old way of documenting a baseball game.

Don't worry, Jim. The TOTS would never stand for such a change!

Little Leon and the case of the missing bicycle

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Leon Glasshoffer, 73,  has been playing baseball with the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) for 10 years.

When Leon joined the TOTS, a 60-and-over baseball team that plays America's favorite pastime three days a week at Udall Park, he had just turned 63 and the Providence, Rhode Island native, by his own admission was  "on cloud nine" at the time.

"I've always loved baseball, but I'd been away from the sport for so long, close to 50 years," says Leon. "I was just a young boy in high school the last time I played the game of baseball. Sure, I played some softball over the years, but not baseball."

So, what kept Leon (photo above) away from the game for so long?

Was it work, family? What kept Leon -- a diehard Boston Red Sox fan who grew up idolizing Ted Williams --  from the game of baseball?

According to Glasshoffer, after his high school days, he went on to the University of Rhode Island and received a marketing degree, got married,  and then focused on raising his family, providing them with the better things of life.

He would eventually move his family to California and then to Arizona. His profession: A teddy bear salesman for Russ Berry Toy Company. "I made a very good living at it. Hey, somebody has got to do it."

Of course, Leon sold more than just teddy bears and he worked his way up in the company, eventually becoming a VP of Marketing with Russ Berry.

That explains things, somewhat. But what happened to the young Leon, back in the early 50s? What kept him away from the game of baseball?

"It was very simple," he said. "I lost my transportation."

"It was the first day of practice, " Leon recalls. "We were a poor family. Not a lot of money for extra things. I did have a bicycle and we lived a long way across town. It was a long trip to and from school, but at least I had my bike and could stay after school...and play baseball."

Until his bicycle was stolen, that is.

"I remember telling my folks," Leon said. "It was a sad day. There wasn't enough money to go around. Getting a new bicycle was out of the question. So, I had to get a job and earn the money to replace the bike."

One thing led to another and Leon never made it back to the high school baseball field. He never played competitive baseball again...at least not until the spring of 2003 when he joined the TOTS.

"I thought I had died and gone to Heaven," Leon said in a recent interview as he rehashes the 10 years he's spent as a TOT. "It's been wonderful playing the game of baseball again. The guys are great and I look forward to playing every week."

Leon played in 104 games with the TOTS in 2012. He batted 258 times, scored 29 runs and collected 47 hits.

And by the way, Leon currently lives in Oro Valley. That's about 50 miles round trip to and from Udall Park. But, one thing is for sure, Leon no longer needs a bicycle to get to the ball park.

Arizona Wildcats grabs 3 of 5 from Sun Devils

The Arizona Wildcats beat the Arizona State Sun Devils 7-6 today at Packard Stadium in Tempe and won the Pac-12 three-game series this weekend with their instate rivals. Arizona won three of the five scheduled games with the Sun Devils this season.

The win today improves the Wildcats overall record to 31-21 and their Pac-12 record to 12-15. Will those numbers be good enough to get them in the postseason?

Arizona returns home for one more conference showdown, a three-game series next weekend against the USC Trojans.

Brandon Dixon continues to lead the Wildcats in hitting. After 52 games, Dixon has the team lead in batting average at .370 and is first in RBI with 50. He also has the team lead in hits (74),  in runs scored (54) and home runs (6).

Miami edges D'backs, 2-1

After winning four in a row, the Arizona Diamondbacks drop one today in Miami, falling to the Marlins, 2-1. Arizona (25-19)  heads for Colorado and will send the unbeaten Patrick Corbin (6-0) to the mound Monday night against the Rockies.

The Diamondbacks hold a one-game lead over the Rockies (24-20) and the San Francisco Giants (24-20) in the NL West.

McCarthy tosses gem, Parra homers

Brandon McCarthy goes the distance and Gerardo Parra supplies the punch as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Marlins 1-0 in Miami today.

McCarthy (1-3) allows just three hits in nine innings of work and Parra belts a home run on the first pitch of the game as the Diamondbacks (25-18) take over sole possession of first place in the NL West.

Arizona goes for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon in Miami as the Diamondbacks send Wade Miley (3-2) to the mound to face Ricky Nolasco (2-5).

Diamondbacks pull even with Giants in NL West

The Arizona Diamondbacks (24-18) are back in a first-place tie in the NL West.

Paul Goldschmidt continues his hitting barrage against the pitchers in the major leagues with two more home runs tonight and Eric Chavez follows suit with a solo shot of his own as the Diamondbacks muster up a 16-hit attack and blow away the Marlins in Miami, 9-2.

Arizona's series-opening win over Miami, coupled with San Francisco's 10-9 loss to Colorado, pulls the Diamondbacks even with the Giants. Goldschmidt and Chavez combine for eight hits and six RBI.

The two blasts by Goldy gives him 12 home runs and 35 RBI for the season.

Trevor Cahill (3-4) pitches eight strong innings for the D'backs, allowing five hits and just one earned run. Cahill walks four and strikes out four.

Diamondbacks beat Braves 5-3, finish 4-3 in latest home stand

The Arizona Diamondbacks (23-18) beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 today at Chase Field and complete their seven-game home stand at  4-3.

After knocking off the Braves on Tuesday 2-0 behind seven scoreless innings from Patrick Corbin (6-0), the Diamondbacks come right back today to take the three-game series 2-1,  thanks to three doubles by Paul Goldschmidt and a two-hit, three RBI day from Eric Chavez.

Ian Kennedy (2-3) gets his first win in over a month and the Diamondbacks beat Tim Hudson for the first time ever. Heath Bell pitched the ninth for his sixth save of the season.

The Diamondbacks hit the road and head for Florida and a three-game series with the Marlins. Trevor Cahill (2-4) gets the call on Friday in the series opener with the Marlins.

Justin Upton puts the screws to the Diamondbacks

Justin Upton is back!

He's back all right, but this time in an Atlanta Braves' uniform.

Upton goes 4 for 5, scores twice and drives in two runs as the Braves squash the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight at Chase Field, 10-1. Upton rips two singles, a double and hits his 13th home run of the season as Atlanta takes Game 1 of the three-game series.

Arizona (21-18) will try to regroup tomorrow night when they send Pat Corbin (5-0) to the mound.

The Professor

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

Sometimes I'm in awe of my teammates on the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS), a 60-and-over baseball club which members get together three days at week at Udall Park to play America's favorite pastime.

I'm in awe not so much at the way they go about their business -- hitting, throwing, catching and running down the baseball,  despite the fact their ages range anywhere from 60 to 87, but I have first hand knowledge that many of these men retired from the workforce some 10 to 20 years ago after leaving their mark in their chosen profession.

The TOTS' roster is filled with retired lawyers, judges, teachers, doctors, professors, or in many cases fire fighters, police officers, military officers...well you name it...55 men in all, coming from different walks of life...all of them have left their footprints...their impressions, if you will, in their respective field.

Now, they're on the ball field, going about their business playing a young man's game.

If you corner one of them and ask him, "What did you do for a living?"

Well, be prepared. You're gonna get a lengthy answer.

Take for instance, 75-year-old Mal Zwolinski.

A TOT since 2006, Mal spent his "working days" as an educator.

His life started out rather quietly. A hard-throwing pitcher in high school, Mal won 19 games in his prep career.  His next stop, the University of New Hampshire. That made a lot of sense, since Mal was born and raised in Winchester, NH. He received his "first" degree in 1959, but that was just the beginning. He went on to Yale University and another degree in 1961. And his education didn't end there as Mal moved West, to Tucson, and received yet another degree at the University of Arizona in 1965.

But this time, Mal stayed put -- for close to 40 years!  His field of expertise: Forestry. He became a professor at Arizona and went on to become an expert on the ecological effects of fire.

Mal's title: associate director of the University of Arizona's School of Renewable Natural Resources.

Wow! I could run around the bases by the time I was able to blurt out Mal's professional moniker.

And if that wasn't enough, Zwolinski (photo above) served his country along the way by spending nine years in the Army Reserve. That's another story in itself.

Mal has certainly left an impression on me.

The next time I'm hanging out in the dugout with The Professor,  I may have another question or two. I'm sure there's a lot more to the story of Mal Zwolinski.

Wildcats continue slide

The Arizona Wildcats lost again today at UCLA. The Bruins win 12-5 and sweep the three-game Pac-12 series. The Wildcats fall to 29-20 and 10-14 in conference play.

Not exactly what coach Andy Lopez and the Wildcats had hoped for this weekend.

The Wildcats' team batting average dips to an even .300 for the season. Brandon Dixon continues to lead Arizona in batting with a .367 average. Johnny Field is second at .351.

Diamondbacks split four-game series with Phillies

Brandon McCarthy throws eight shutout innings, allows seven hits, doesn't walk a batter and leaves the game after throwing just 88 pitches at Chase Field this afternoon.

Did he really need relief?

With a 2-0 lead, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson pulls McCarthy and brings on Heath Bell in the top of the ninth inning. Bell, with three straight saves to his credit since replacing J.J. Putz as the Arizona closer, allows the Phillies to score two runs on four hits to tie the game.

With a blown save in the books, the Diamondbacks lose the game in the 10th inning as Matt Reynolds fails to come through, allowing four hits and another two runs and the Philadelphia Phillies escape with a 4-2 win and a split in the four-game series.

Arizona falls to 21-17 and prepare for a three-games series with the Atlanta Braves.

Pistol Pete Peters top overall hitter for TOTS in April

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

Pete Peters, a 64-year-old from Fairfield, Iowa, may have secretly crafted his baseball bat down on the farm -- much like Roy Hobbs did in the movie, The Natural. On second thought, the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) use aluminum bats.

But the bat he uses when he steps into the batter's box in a TOTS' game seems to be working.

Peters, who joined the TOTS in 2011, is quickly becoming one of the club's top hitters. During the month of April, Pete played in 11 games and tied for the team lead in hits with 22. Sixty-year-old Tim Tolson also had 22 hits in 35 plate appearances. Peters (photo above) went 22 for 32 for a healthy .688 batting average, while Tolson finished second at .629.

Doc Thompson, 70, had the best start in April, hitting safely in six of his eight plate appearances with six RBI --a blistering .750 average, but injuries and other commitments kept the Roland, Iowa native off the ball field for most of the month -- leaving him way short of the minimum official at bats needed to stay among the leaders.

The top 12 hitters (minimum of 15 at bats) for the month of April include: 1. Peter Peters (.688), 2. Tim Tolson (.629), 3. Jeff Rein (.607), 4. Bob Daliege (.563), 5. Dennis Crowley (.533), 6. Pigpen Price (.529), 7. Dave Rhoades (.529), 8. Chico Bigham (.500) 9. Ron Petersen (.500), 10. Dick Ducklow (.481), 11. Ted Davis (.469), 12. Jesse Ochoa (.464).

Tolson led the club in RBI with 19 and home runs with two. Rein led in runs scored with 23.

Hey, Diamondbacks! Whatever you're doing, keep it up

The Arizona Diamondbacks have it going their way, at the moment. So, whatever you're doing, D'backs...keep it up. Arizona has put the Phillies away two nights in a row at Chase Field with a 2-1 win on Thursday and a 3-2 victory on Friday. Can the D'backs win the final two games of the four-game series with the Phillies? Let's hope so.

It's been nearly six seasons since Arizona has been able to win three in a row over the Phillies.

And at Chase Field, well the Diamondbacks have tried but have yet to win three in a row this season.

But it sure has been a nice little run for the D'backs, winners of five in a row and a chance this weekend to really get the attention of their NL West opponents. Trevor Cahill will take the mound today and Brandon McCarthy will get the nod on Sunday. Good outings by both pitchers and some more timely hitting -- similar to Miguel Montero's go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning in yesterday's ball game, could ignite the D'backs to a sweep.

The Phillies will certainly counter. They'll send Cliff Lee to the mound today and follow up on Sunday with Kyle Kendrick. And will the Phillies' bats stay quiet? Let's hope so. Ryan Howard, for one, is a scary dude. Howard can change things in a hurry for the Phillies, but so far in the series he's hitless. Let's hope he continues to struggle against the Diamondbacks' pitching staff.

However you look at it, the D'backs have had a good week and sit in a first-place tie in the NL West at 21-15 with the San Francisco Giants.

It was just a week ago when the D'backs were in a tailspin and running toward a familiar .500 record.

From a 1-5 slide to a chance at six wins in row, maybe seven.

Go, D'backs!

Goldy keeps on shining!

For the third night in a row, Paul Goldschmidt goes deep, only this time he does it twice with a two-run shot in the sixth inning and a solo shot in the eighth as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 3-2 tonight in Los Angeles.

Four homers in three days for Goldy as the Diamondbacks sweep the three-game series and improve their season record to 19-15.

Wade Miley goes 7 2/3 and picks up the win. Miley allows seven hits, two earned runs, strikes out four and walks none. Heath Bell gets the save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Arizona heads home to face the Philadelphia Phillies in a four-game series at Chase Field.

Goldy on Fire!

Paul Goldschmidt did it again!

Last night, Goldy hits a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium as Arizona knocks off Los Angeles 5-3, setting up a chance for a Diamondbacks' sweep tonight.

Arizona (18-15) will send Wade Miley (2-1) to the mound tonight against Clayton Kershaw (3-2) and you can bet Goldschmidt will be batting third in the lineup for the Diamondbacks.

The young man is on fire since manager Kirk Gibson inserted him in the third spot in the lineup. In his last nine games, Goldy is 16 for 35 with four homers and 11 RBI during that stretch.

The Dodgers with their huge bankroll are now 13-19 and have lost six games in a row and find themselves in last place in the NL West. The Diamondbacks remain 1 1/2 games out of first place. Colorado leads the division with a 19-13 record, while San Francisco sits in second place at 19-14.

Aces slam Old Pueblo Club

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

The last time the 60-and-over Aces took on the Old  Pueblo Club they stranded 14 runners and lost 1-0, but today at Udall Park the Aces banged out 18 hits as everyone in the lineup hit safely en route to an 11-7 win.

A five-run fourth inning extended the Aces' 4-2 lead to 9-2 and they added two insurance runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Old Pueblo Club tried to rally in the top of the seventh when they scored three runs, thanks mainly to three infield errors by the Aces, but with two runners on and two outs, center fielder Dennis Crowley tracked down a hard hit ball to the warning track in left-center field to end the game.

First baseman Jeff Helzel had a three-hit day for the Aces, as did Ted Davis, while Crowley ripped two doubles today -- one down the left field line and another to the gap in left center.

Right hander Arnie White pitched all seven innings for the Aces and picked up the win.

"We played well today," Aces' manager Jerry Hamelin said. "Except for a defensive lapse in the top of the seventh inning, this is."

Wildcats head to UCLA after winning just 1 of 3 against Washington

The Arizona Wildcats, the defending national champions, need wins badly if they hope to make it to the post season. As it stands now, they're on the bubble.

Losing 2 of 3 to Washington at Hi Corbett Field this weekend didn't help their cause as the Wildcats fall to 10-11 in the Pac-12 and 29-17 overall.

The Wildcats win 5-3 today over the Huskies, thanks to a three-run seventh inning. Riley Moore supplied what eventually would turn out to be the game-winner when he lashed a pitch to right field to score two runs and break a 3-3 tie.

And now it's on to UCLA and a three-game series next weekend with the Bruins.

The regular season is winding down. After the Bruins, Arizona will close out its schedule with a three-game series at Arizona State (May 17-19) and at home May 24, 25 and 26 against the USC Trojans.

Trent Gilbert has taken over the team RBI lead with 45. Brandon Dixon has driven in 43 runs this season, while Johnny Field is sitting at 38. Dixon is the leading hitter after 46 games with a .382 average.

Diamondbacks can't get it done

The Arizona Diamondbacks' bats went silent in the final game of the three-game series today in San Diego.

The only highlight today for the D'backs was the return of Didi Gregorius. Didi homered and singled in three at bats as Arizona heads for LA with a 16-15 record, after losing 2 of 3 at Petco Park. Paul Goldschmidt and Ian Kennedy, both with doubles, added to the Diamondbacks' dismal four-hit attack.

Kennedy falls to 1-3 as he gives up homers to rookie Jedd Gyorko and Will Venable.

Diamondbacks looking to gain series win today against Padres

The Arizona Diamondbacks (16-14) take the field in San Diego this afternoon in hopes of capturing the final game of the three-game series with the Padres and in doing so would gain a series' win. Ian Kennedy (1-2) will take the mound today and face the Padres' starting pitcher Edinson Volquez (2-3).

The D'backs lost on Friday 7-6 to the Padres, but came back last night behind the pitching of Pat Corbin (4-0) to pick up an 8-1 win. Corbin gave the Diamondbacks a strong seven innings, allowing just five hits and one earned run. He struck out seven and walked three and improved his season ERA to an impressive 1.80.

The Padres (12-18) are in last place in the NL West and are six games off the pace. San Francisco and Colorado are still the front-runners in the division, both with identical 18-12 records.

Band of Brothers

I stood in the doorway listening to the nurse who would soon accompany my brother-in-law, Chris, into surgery. I listened attentively as the nurse questioned my sister, "Does he have any shrapnel left in his body? "Yes, I believe so," my sister responded. "There has been times over the years when some have fallen out. I can't say for sure."

I was standing alongside my sister in the doorway of an ICU room at the Veterans Hospital.

Chris was receiving care. Already into his third day of surgery, Chris was being prepped for another go around...another surgery to repair an infectious wound which had been causing him problems for more than four months.

I didn't know Chris back in 1968. But I've learned over the years where he had been during that time frame. He was a member of the Charlie Battery, 7th Battalion, 11th Artillery Division and he was smack dab in the war zone in a battle to hold Fire Support Base Maury 1, a small artillery outpost just northwest of Trang Bang in the Tay Ninh Province.

Chris was there...fighting alongside the members of his unit...serving his country, the United States of America.

I looked around the ICU unit. Doctors, nurses, men and women, were not only taking care of Chris, but many other Vietnam Vets and war veterans, who for one reason or another had found their way to Tucson, to the Veterans Hospital and to the 2nd floor of the huge complex at Ajo and Sixth Avenue.

I quietly, under my breath, thanked him for his years of service to our country and at that very moment I realized he wasn't alone. He had his wife, Sheree, and family members around him, but he also had a Band of Brothers with him in spirit.

Some -- including his commanding officer of the Charley Battery, had made it known through phone calls or text messages that they were thinking about him and wishing him a quick recovery. The sooner the better, as another reunion was in the planning stages for 2014.  Chris had flown to Oklahoma City in 2012 and Las Vegas in 2011 for the yearly reunions to be with the surviving members of Charlie Battery, 7th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery of the 25th Armored Division.

He would miss the 2013 reunion in Reston, Virginia, but knowing my brother-in-law, he will battle his way back and be there, alongside his buddies, at the next one.

The Band of Brothers from Charley Battery, 7th battalion has dwindled in recent years, only a dozen or so remain, but the surviving members will be there for each other...you can count on it.

What a great feeling that must be for Chris. It's no wonder he makes his plans a year in advance as he looks forward to yet another meeting, another reunion with the members of Charley Battery.

God bless, the soldiers who have fought for our country.

The Running of the Kentucky Derby a special day for TOTS' teammate

Richard McAnally will be glued to the television set tomorrow during the running of the 139th Kentucky Derby. He will sit on the edge of his seat,  but not during those exciting final seconds when the horses race to the finish line, instead his focus will be moments later at the winner's circle when the first-place finisher and the winning jockey receive the accolades from the standing-room-only crowd of racing fans.

For it'll be at that moment when McAnally will reverently look on and pay tribute to his wife of 54 years, Gladys McAnally.

Richard is a teammate of mine on the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball team. We have taken the field together many times over the past six years. He's now 80 years old and due to injuries has, at least for now, stopped putting on the catching gear and no longer sets up shop behind home plate.

There was a time, back in the early 50s, when he was a catcher at the University of Arizona. Of course, that was a long time ago and those memories are tucked away in the back corners of his mind and there are times, when he plays or watches a baseball game, when those thoughts resurface.

But his most cherished moment is not from the baseball diamond, but goes back as far as 1956 when he met Gladys for the first time -- at the Running of the Kentucky Derby. Richard was stationed at Fort Knox and made the trek to the Derby. Gladys was at the race that day. They met. A courtship followed and not long after that they would head to the alter and say their vows.

Gladys passed away in 2011.

Last year,  Richard made one more trek to the Kentucky Derby. Only this time -- with the kindness and the help of Derby officials-- he was allowed to spread her ashes inside the confines of the winner's circle.

Recently, I sat next to Richard in the dugout as he recalled his last trek to the Kentucky Derby and  what that day meant to him...and Gladys.

"I know she's happy," he said. "It was such a special place for us."

I'll make it a point to watch the Kentucky Derby tomorrow.  Not so much to see which horse wins, but just because Richard McAnally (bottom photo) is my friend.

Giants BELT their way to sweep of Diamondbacks

Brandon Belt hit a three-run homer off David Hernandez in the eighth inning last night at Chase Field  as San Francisco comes from behind to beat Arizona 9-6 for a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks' bullpen fails to get the job done, again!

Arizona falls to 15-13 and heads for San Diego with a lot of work to do. The all too familiar .500 record is looming on the horizon. The Diamondbacks received a decent six-inning outing from Brandon McCarthy and compiled 15 hits off the Giants' pitching staff, but the bullpen faltered as Hernandez (1-2) gave up three runs and Heath Bell followed, allowing the Giants two more. Only Matt Reynolds managed a perfect seventh inning when he came on to strike out the side.

Wildcats can't hold off Sun Devils

The Arizona Wildcats couldn't hold off Arizona State last night at Hi Corbett Field.

The Sun Devils win the non conference game 7-5 and salvage a split in the two games with the Wildcats this season. Arizona falls to 28-15, while the Sun Devils improve to 29-12-1.

The two teams will meet for real in Tempe on May 17-19. Next up for the Wildcats: Washington comes to town May 3-5 for a three-game Pac-12 series.

Trent Gilbert banged out four of the Wildcats' eight hits last night, but the team batting leaders, Johnny Field and Brandon Dixon, go for a combined  0 for 8.

Losing is a disease

"Losing is a disease," is a line from the movie, The Natural.

Pop Fisher, the manager of the Knights -- played by the great character actor Wilford Brimley, hires a psychologist to give a locker room talk on losing. What follows is the scene in which the psychologist utters the words, "Losing is a disease...as contagious as bubonic plague."

It is one of the funniest scenes in the movie as Roy Hobbs and the Knights are forced to sit around and squirm in their seats as they listen to the psychologist utter his words of wisdom.

Maybe the Arizona Diamondbacks should hire a doctor or two to whip them into shape, especially after they left the diamond last night at Chase Field, following a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Heartbreaking for starting pitcher Trevor Cahill, that is. Cahill pitches a gem for eight innings. He allows just four hits, walks one and strikes out five, but gives way to J.J. Putz, after relinquishing a lead off single to Angel Pagan in the top of the ninth inning.

Putz comes in and gives up a game-winner to the opposing team as Pablo Sandoval drove a hanging split-finger fastball into the right field seats.

Presto!  Putz records his fourth blown save in nine attempts.

There's losing and then there's losing.

Last night's loss was a tough loss. Do you blame, Gibby? I guess. The buck stops there. Putz earns his money. If he K's the side and wins, he's a hero. If he serves up a home run ball, he's the goat.

When they draft me. I hope it's not as a relief pitcher.

Oh, I forgot. I'm long past the draft status.