Tucson Aces finish 1-5 at MSBL World Series

2013 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

60-and-over division


It's all over for the 60-and-over Tucson Aces. A complete learning experience for the newly-formed, first-time ever MSBL team. The Aces lost to the Arizona Scorpions today at the Tempe Diablo Sports Complex. It was their sixth game in four days at the 2013 MSBL World Series and the Aces headed home this afternoon tired, exhausted and looking forward to a few days off from baseball.

Each of the six games lasted nine innings or three hours, which ever comes first. During those four days, the Aces were forced to play two doubleheaders with a skeleton crew of pitchers, still two of the hurlers -- Ron Petersen and Jerry Wessels -- each recorded complete games.

Aces manager Pete Peters hopes to return next year with a larger pitching staff. "We were short on pitching and it showed," Peters said. "The lack of pitching made for a tough tournament."

In 12 months, it'll be time for the 2014 MSBL World Series.

Chances are the Aces will be back to try it again. In fact, Ron Petersen, is already thinking ahead, wanting to set the foundation for a 65-and-over team. "I'd like to manage a 65s team next year. I've enjoyed myself. It's been a real kick participating in the senior World Series."

Petersen played in the 60-and-over division and the 70-and-over division during the month of October. "I'd like to take a shot at all three in 2014 -- the 60s, the 65s and the 70s."

So, if there's some of my readers out there who fit into one, two or three of these categories and love to play the game of baseball, well, get in contact with the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) at Udall Park (we play on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m.). Join our local league, get the old leather glove out of the closet and head for the ballpark.

If you have some talent, Mr. Petersen(photo below) just might put you on the right track to stardom and you too, can enjoy the experience of playing baseball in the MSBL World Series.

TOTS player in Greater Akron Hall of Fame

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

I had the pleasure of playing baseball in the first week of the MSBL World Series in Phoenix with teammate Ed Rife, 76, who is also a member and a teammate on the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club which plays three days a week at Udall Park.

Rife was born in Akron, Ohio, and he is somewhat of a baseball legend in the city of Akron.

Check this article out, which I recently discovered on the Internet.


Ed "Eddie" Rife excelled in baseball, basketball and football at Ellet High School, and had a pair of outstanding seasons in baseball and basketball at Compton Junior College before beginning an 18-year class AA League career. Eddie was an excellent defensive player at all the infield spots, was a consistent .300 hitter, and finished his career as an All-Star first baseman. Eddie played with Chester's Diner, Barberton Weather-Seal and champion Krispy Kreme, Borden Auto and Tramonte Black Label teams before closing out his career with the champion Red Peppers. Ed was named to three All-Star teams and provided all his teams with clutch hitting from the left side of the plate. Ed joins his father, Paul Rife, as the second member of the Rife Family to be inducted into The Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame.

My friend and teammate Ed Rife was inducted into the Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987.

Of course, Ed is an Hall of Famer with the TOTS as well!

60-and-over Tucson Aces fail to qualify for playoffs at MSBL World Series

2013 MSBL World Series

60-and-over Tucson Aces

The Tucson Aces (above photo) dropped both ends of a doubleheader today at the Maryvale Sports Complex in Phoenix and failed to qualify for the playoffs at the 2013 MSBL World Series. The Aces lost 19-11 to the Sacramento Solons and in the second game lost to a team from Albuquerque, New Mexico by a score of 17-3.

The Aces have one game remaining in round-robin play as they take on the Arizona Scorpions at  9 a.m. at the Tempe Diablo Sports Complex. The game's outcome could improve the seating in the playoffs for the Scorpions (4-1), but the Aces (1-4) will head home to Tucson tomorrow afternoon, after playing their sixth game in four days.

The Aces will be back in 2014 to try it again.

Game Notes: The Tucson Aces had hoped for a different outcome in their doubleheader in Maryvale, but it wasn't to be. However, there were a few highlights worth noting:

Aces left-hander Ron Petersen went the distance in the first game against Sacramento. He put in a gutsy performance as did right-hander Jerry Wessels in the second game against Albuquerque. Wessels also pitched nine innings without asking for relief in a lopsided game.

Secondly, the Aces turned a record eight double plays in both games. (There were a lot of runners on base!). Second baseman Pigpen Price was involved in all eight.

Thirdly, Petersen drilled a shot down the first baseline in Game 2 of the doubleheader for an inside-the-park home run.

And, last but not least, 84-year-old Billy Heiny (photo below), in his short playing time during the doubleheader, picked up two RBIs on ground outs. Heiny was the oldest participant this week in the MSBL World Series.

Congratulations to the Red Sox

2013 MLB World Series

Well, congratulations are in order for the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox win Game 6 by a score of 6-1 and capture the 2013 World Series tonight in Boston. From last place in 2012 to the MLB World Series title in 2013. Quite a feat.

Tonight  Shane Victorino was the hitting star for Boston with a three-run double and finished the night with four RBIs, while pitcher John Lackey pitched into the seventh inning and picked up the win. Michael Wacha, the young pitching sensation for the Cardinals, was saddled with the loss.

Tucson Aces blow 7-3 lead, fall to Seattle in MSBL World Series

2013 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

60-and-over Tucson Aces


The Tucson Aces took it on the chin today at Goodyear Stadium, spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians, as they fall to 1-2 in round-robin play with a 15-8 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

The Aces had everything going their way early on as  68-year-old Pigpen Price threw the first five innings and led 7-3, but Price ran out of gas in the top of the sixth inning in his first-ever pitching assignment at the MSBL World Series and left the game with one out and runners on first and second.

It was down hill from there as Seattle scored 12 runs in the next three innings to pick up the win. Dennis Crowley, 63, was saddled with the loss, but it was a hand full of infield errors which lead to the Aces' loss, leaving them in a tough spot to make the 60-and-over Cactus division playoffs, slated for Friday morning.

The Aces play a doubleheader on Wednesday and a single game on Thursday, needing to win two of the three games to be in the running.

Today the Aces jumped on Seattle in the second inning and by the fifth had a four-run cushion thanks to timely hits by Bob Daliege, Tim Tolson, Lloyd Barzell, Arnie White, Crowley and Pigpen Price.

In the early innings, outstanding defensive plays were turned in by outfielders Daliege and Tolson and by Barzell at shortstop who teamed up with third baseman Dave Rhoades for an ending-inning double play to snuff a Seattle rally.

The Aces take on the Sacramento Solons and the Palidan Baseball Club from Albuquerque on Wednesday at Maryvale Park. The Aces close out their six-game round-robin schedule on Thursday with a single game at the Tempe Sports Complex against the Arizona Scorpions.

Game notes:

Defensive Player of the Game: Tim Tolson, with his family looking on in the bleachers behind home plate at Goodyear Stadium, made a diving catch in centerfield in the third inning to snuff a Seattle rally. The following inning, Tim made another diving try, but the ball trickled out of his glove. Tolson also had two hits in the game -- including a booming double to the gap in left-center field.

Best experience and the "big kick" of the game: Pigpen Price in his first start ever as a pitcher in five years of play at the MSBL World Series, struck out three and walked three and gave up just seven hits in five innings against Seattle.

"I was nervous in the first inning, but the umpire was kind to me on an inside pitch and called Seattle's leadoff batter out for my first ever strikeout at the MSBL World Series," Price said, after the game. "Oh, what a kick, I'm ready to do it again. It was an experience I'll never forget."

All-around player of the game: Bob Daliege did it on defense and offense during the game against Seattle. He hit the ball with authority, made a hand full of tough catches in left field, battling the sun and the spacious confines of Goodyear Stadium. Daliege's hustle through out the game is a testament to what the Tucson Aces are all about -- proving without a doubt a 60-plus year old can still play America's favorite pastime and enjoy every minute of the experience.

Infield play of the day: Shortstop Lloyd Barzell and third-sacker Dave Rhoades teamed up for an ending-inning double play. Barzell caught the line drive in the second inning and threw to Rhoades in time to nip the Seattle runner and end the inning. Barzell wasn't a happy camper later in the game when he tried to score from second on Tolson's double to the gap in left-center. The home plate umpire called him out for missing third base. "I didn't miss the bag," Barzell said, after the game. The umpire on the field agreed, but was overruled by the home plate umpire.

Gutsy play of the day: First baseman Mike Taylor, playing with a sore hamstring, singled to left in the seventh inning for his first hit of the World Series. Taylor hobbled to first and awaited a pinch-runner. He was pleased with his effort. "It hurt (the hamstring) and it took me a while to get to first base."

Hard luck story of the game: The hard luck story of the game goes to lefty Dennis Crowley, who took over for Pigpen Price in the sixth inning. With the Aces up 7-4, Crowley fell victim to a hand full of defensive lapses and a couple of mental errors by his teammates as Seattle scored 11 runs in the final three innings. "It was tough out there," said Crowley, who is the top hitter for the Aces after three games. "We'll go after them tomorrow."

Thought of the day: The Tucson Aces are playing in their first ever MSBL World Series with a team comprised mostly of players from the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club. With one win under their belt, the Aces still have a chance to turn it around. Another win or two may get them in the playoffs. A hand full of players are already nursing injuries and it is only the halfway point of the round-robin games.

One thing that is evident after three games, is the "closeness" of the 14 players. One of the hardest things to do in building an MSBL World Series team is finding the right mix of players who give it their all game after game and at the same time have each others back as they struggle to build a competitive team to compete against the "best old guys in the game" at the senior World Series. Players come from all over the country, and the world for that matter, to play in this annual, prestigious baseball tournament.

The Tucson Aces can now say they are an MSBL World Series team and this year will be a learning experience and God willing and the creeks don't run dry, the Aces will be back year after year until they get that World Series ring.

Go get 'em, Aces!

Arizona Wildcats get basketball exhibition game out of the way

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


The exhibition game for Sean Miller and the Arizona Wildcats is out of the way.

As expected Arizona wins at McKale last night 84-52 over Augustana.

One things is for sure. The Wildcats have their point guard in T.J. McConnell.

McConnell dishes out eight of the teams 21 assists and knocked down 5 of 6 shots for 12 points.

It was a productive night for McConnell and I have a feeling there is plenty more to come from that young man.

Can't wait for the regular season to get started.

Go get 'em, Wildcats!

Tucson Aces open MSBL World Series with a split of a doubleheader

2013 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

60-and-over Tucson Aces


The Tucson Aces split a doubleheader today during the first day of play in the 60-and-over division of the  Men's Senior Baseball League World Series, held at Papago Park Baseball Complex in Phoenix.

The Aces won the opener 10-5 over Team America as right-handers Arnie White and Jerry Wessels combined their pitching efforts in the nine-inning game. White hurled the first five innings and picked up the win, while Wessels pitched the final four and picked up the save.

Dennis Crowley and Pigpen Price led the Aces' hitting attack against Team America. Crowley went 3 for 4 and Price went 3 for 5.

In the second game, it was a different story as the Salt Lake City/Kansas City Dodgers moved to 2-0 in the World Series with an 18-3 win over the Aces. The Aces collected just five hits in the second game as Ted Davis, Lloyd Barzell, Dennis Crowley, Bob Daliege and Pigpen Price hit safely.

Barzell started and was saddled with the loss, while Wessels pitched four innings and the oldest pitcher in the senior World Series, 84-year-old Billy Heiny, hurled the last inning for the Aces.

The Aces will have it a little easier tomorrow when they play a single game inside the confines of Goodyear Stadium against the 60-and-over Seattle Mariners. Game time is set for 10 AM.

Game 5 in the books

2013 MLB World Series


Jon Lester bested Adam Wainwright for the second time in the MLB World Series as the Red Sox take Game 5 in St. Louis tonight by a score of 3-1 and head back to Boston with a 3-2 series lead.

David Ortiz collected another three hits to lead Boston tonight, while Roy Holliday hit s solo shot for the Cardinals. Lester pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits, while Wainwright went seven innings and is now 0-2 in the series. Wainwright allowed eight hits and all three runs.

John Lackey will take the mound on Wednesday for the Red Sox, while the Cardinals will counter with Michael Wacha.

Good morning! It's a great day for baseball

2013 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

60-and-over Tucson Aces


Good morning! It's a great day for baseball.

Our 60-and-over team, the Tucson Aces, take the field this morning and open play in the Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL) World Series with a doubleheader at Papago Park in Tempe, the spring training home of the Oakland Athletics.

For most of the players on the Aces, it'll be their first go-around at the 2013 senior world series, but three players -- yours truly, Ron Petersen and Arnie White -- it'll be their second week at the prestigious tournament. The trio played in the 70-and-over division on Oct. 14 thru Oct. 21 (six games in six days) and now the trio is on the 14-man roster of the 60-and-over Aces and will play six games in four days -- including doubleheaders today and Wednesday.

The rest of the roster for the Aces include in no particular order Billy Heiny, Tim Tolson, Dennis Crowley, Bob Daliege, Jerry Wessels, Pete Peters, Jeff Rein, Mike Taylor, Ted Davis, Dave Rhoades and Lloyd Barzell.

The Aces take on Team America in the first game of the doubleheader. So, it's off to the ballpark at 7:30 -- 2 1/2 hours before game time.

Wish us luck!

Team Priceless gets a win

UPC Hood Fantasy Football League

Team Priceless


My Team Priceless improved to 5-3 on the season with a 94-84 fantasy win this week in the UPC Hood Fantasy Football League.

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees led my fantasy team this week with 332 yards through the air and five touchdown passes as the Saints beat Buffalo, 35-14. His performance accounted for 43 of my 94 fantasy points.

Nice to get a win after three straight losses.

Gomes blast in 6th inning ties series

2013 MLB World Series


Boston's Johnny Gomes blasted a three-run homer over the left field fence in the sixth inning and the Red Sox beat the Cardinals 4-2 in St. Louis tonight to tie the 2013 World Series at two games apiece.

Gomes was 0 for 9 in the series before his round-tripper. David Ortiz went 3 for 3 to help the Red Sox turn the tables on the Cardinals, after last night's bottom-of-the- ninth fiasco won by St. Louis, due to an obstruction call at third base, which allowed the winning run to score and sent the fans at Busch Stadium into a frenzy.

Tonight, it was the Red Sox turn.

Last night's game ends with an obstruction call, tonight's game ends with a pickoff at first base.

Wow! The series is heating up.

Wild play in bottom of the 9th inning leads to 5-4 win for the Cardinals in Game 3 of World Series

2013 MLB World Series

An obstruction call on Boston third baseman Will Middlebrooks ends a wild finish in the bottom of the 9th inning at St. Louis tonight as the Cardinals take a 2-1 edge in the 2013 World Series with a 5-4 win.

What a crazy play!

With one out, Boston's second baseman Dustin Pedroia plays in on the grass in hopes of cutting down the runner at home. He does just that! Pedroia dives for the ground ball off the bat of Jon Jay and his throw home nails Yavier Molina, but Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia throws to third in an attempt to get the sliding Allen Craig. The ball gets by Middlebrooks and the two players get tangled up at third as the ball bounces down the third baseline. Craig gets untangled and rushes to the plate. The throw from outfielder Daniel Nava is in time to get Craig, but the home plate umpire calls Craig safe and Middlebrooks for obstruction.  Cardinals win!

St. Louis reliever Trevor Rosenthal gets the win, while Boston reliever Brandon Workman is saddled with the loss. Matt Holliday had two hits and three RBIs for the Cardinals.

Carey, Denker roll in Boulder

Arizona Wildcats Football


B.J. Denker threw for 265 yards and rushed for 192, while Ka'Deem Carey rambles for 119 yards and four touchdowns as the Arizona Wildcats improve to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Pac-12 with a 44-20 win in Boulder over the Colorado Buffaloes.

Arizona amassed 405 yards on the ground as Coach Rich Rodriguez is finally getting the balance on offense that he is looking for. Denker completed 21 of 32 passes and a touchdown. Kicker Jake Smith booted three field goals and was successful on five extra points to complete the scoring. The Wildcats totaled 670 yards on the night.

By the way, my prediction on a previous post was 45-21. Pretty darn close!

A heavy weekend of sports is upon us

With the end of October upon us, it is time for Halloween and a steady stream on some TV channels of scary movies, but it also time for a busy week in sports. Today the Tucson sports fans will focus  on running back Ka'Deem Carey and the Arizona Wildcats as they take on the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder.

Carey should run wild and by the end of the day the headlines should read: Carey Cruises in a land where the Buffalo Roam. On paper, Arizona should win this one going away, but this is a Pac-12 game and the Wildcats are far from home. My prediction: Arizona 45, Colorado 21.

As for Carey, who rushed for 366 yards against Colorado last year at Arizona Stadium, he'll probably take a gander at the article in the local paper this morning and see that a high school kid (Sean Fitzsimmons) rushed for 516 yards last night for Empire High School.

I wouldn't be surprised if Carey has his sights on such a number this afternoon. But, more importantly the Wildcats need to take care of business, win the game, and move to 5-2 on the season.

Other college games today include: Alabama and Tennessee, Oregon and UCLA, Florida State and North Carolina State, Ohio State and Penn State, Stanford and Oregon State (just to name a few).

And then there's the MLB World Series as Boston takes on the Cardinals in St. Louis with the series tied at 1-1. This will be an important game for both teams as the winner goes up 2-1 and gets the upper hand. Joe Kelly gets the start for the Cardinals, while Jake Peavy takes the mound for the Red Sox.

Of course, on Monday night local fans will get a glimpse of the Arizona Wildcats basketball team as they begin what could be a Final Four run as they play host to Augustana in an exhibition game. The game should be a real eye-opener and the fans should leave McKale late Monday saying, "Oh, what a team."

As for yours truly, I'll be heading for Phoenix on Sunday, check into the hotel, and prepare, along with my Tucson Aces teammates, as we await a doubleheader on Monday morning at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

I will try to improve on my performance from last week in which I played for the Arizona Scorpions in the 70-and-over division of the series. The MSBL is in its 26th year and over 330 teams and 3,000 players compete in the senior event, held this year from October 14 thru November 2.

This week the 60-and-over division will go at it and the Tucson Aces, comprised mostly of members from the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club, will battle in the eight-team Cactus division which includes the Aussies from Australia, the Paladin Baseball Club from Albuquerque, the Arizona Scorpions, the Sacramento Solons, the Salt Lake/Kansas City Dodgers, Team America from the Wisconsin area, the Seattle Mariners and, of course, the Tucson Aces.

This week, I'll be nursing some injuries, including lower back pain, a foot injury, problems in both thumb joints and a sore rib (just to name a few ailments). The schedule this week is rough with two doubleheaders in three days and a total of six round-robin games in four days. The playoffs for the 60-and-over Cactus division begins on Friday with the championship game on Saturday, the final day of the senior World Series.

Cardinals even World Series with 4-2 win

2013 MLB World Series


The young pitching staff of the St. Louis Cardinals held off the Boston Red Sox 4-2 tonight at Fenway Park to even the World Series at one game apiece.

The Red Sox could muster up just three hits off the St. Louis starter Michael Wacha through six innings and then had trouble figuring out the offerings of relievers Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal. Martinez pitches two innings and allowed just one hit, while striking out three and Rosenthal comes on in the ninth to strike out the side for the save.

David Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to give the Red Sox a 2-1 lead, but the Cardinals rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to hand Boston its first World Series loss since 2004. Carlos Beltran had two hits and an RBI for St. Louis.

The series continues in St. Louis on Saturday as Joe Kelly takes the mound for the Cardinals and Jake Peavy for the Red Sox.

Cardinals stumble out of the gate in World Series opener

2013 MLB World Series


The St. Louis Cardinals are a very good defensive team, but they didn't show it tonight at Fenway Park in Boston as three costly errors led to an 8-1 win for the Boston Red Sox in the 2013 World Series opener.

Jon Lester cruised to an easy win as he hurled 7 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking just one batter. Adam Wainwright pitched the first five innings for St. Louis and gave up five runs -- three of which were unearned.

David Ortiz homered for Boston in the seventh inning. The ball traveled 408 feet. Matt Holliday homered in the top of the ninth inning for the Cardinals.

Game 2 will be in Boston tomorrow night as St. Louis sends Michael Wacha to the mound to face John Lackey.

Arizona Scorpions had no trouble getting the wood on the ball at the MSBL World Series

2013 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Arizona Scorpions


The final MSBL World Series batting statistics for the 70-and-over Arizona Scorpions, which were released today by Scorpions' manager Jerry Hamelin, show the team, despite its 2-4 record at the senior world series last week, did hit the ball with authority.

In the six games, the Scorpions banged out 83 hits in 224 official at bats for a team batting average of .371. That's an average of a shade under 14 hits a game. Not too shabby. The Scorpions averaged a shade under eight runs a game as well. Unfortunately, time and time again, the Scorpions couldn't get the key hit, or the key run, when they needed it.

"We could have won this thing (the World Series)," Hamelin said, in retrospect during an interview this afternoon. "There wasn't much difference between all the teams. In our case, it wasn't the pitching or the hitting that led to our 2-4 record (and a tie for fifth place), but it was a combination of too many mental errors and the fact too many umpiring calls went against us."

The Scorpions did make the playoffs, despite the three losses during pool play and Hamelin was proud of the team for their efforts -- especially on Friday when they qualified for the playoffs by beating the San Diego Mudcats, 12-11.

"The Mudcats' game was stressful. It came down to the wire. We were up one run with just one out and a runner on third in the bottom of the ninth and we got out of there with a win and knocked the Mudcuts out, Hamelin said. "Our opening game win over Australia was a another nail-biter. We held on for an 11-8 win, the only team to beat the Aussies (4-2) during round-robin play."

As for the individual batting statistics among the Tucson players at the MSBL World Series last week, it was Arnie White leading the way with an 8 for 11 performance for a .727 batting average, while Ed Rife had a great tournament as well, going 6 for 14 and a .429 average). Other top performances included Pigpen Price ( 7 for 18, a .389 average), Eddie Eckert (8 for 19, a .421 average), Jeff Helzel (6 for 15, a 400 average), Ron Petersen (7 for 22, a .318 average), Chico Bigham (6 for 21, a .286 average), and Hamelin, who batted just four times during the week and collected three hits for a .750 average. The lone player on the Scorpions' roster from south Tucson, Tony Bonilla (a member of the 60-and-over Arizona Rattlers), went 6 for 20 in the six games for a .300 average.

The eight members of the Scorpions, who also play for the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS),  are back home, resting their tired muscles. Three of the players, Petersen, White and Price will return to Phoenix next Monday (Oct. 28) to play for the 60-and-over Tucson Aces. The Aces 14-man roster includes 13 players from the TOTS and one player from the cross-town 60-and-over team, the Arizona Rattlers.

The Rattlers' player is Jerry Wessels. The 13 members of the TOTS include Bob Daliege, Dennis Crowley, Ted Davis, Pete Peters (player-manager), Tim Tolson, Dave Rhoades, Lloyd Barzell, Jeff Rein, Mike Taylor, Billy Heiny, along with Petersen, Price and White.

Being a fantasy football owner can be downright frustrating

UPC Hood Fantasy Football League

Team Priceless


Being a fantasy football owner can be downright frustrating.

Case in point. Take a look at my predicament on Monday Night Football.

My team, Team Priceless, locked horns with the UPC Hood Fantasy Football's first place team, Three Feet Right. I was without Drew Brees this week, as luck would have it Brees and the New Orleans Saints were on a bye. I was forced to use New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. My opponent had Minnesota running back Adrain Peterson.

So, what happens? The Giants win a boring game 23-7. Peterson does absolutely nothing and Manning is content to take the air out of the ball in the second half. The result in fantasy points: Three Feet Right 77, Team Priceless 75.

I was literally tearing what little hair I have left out of my head. My, goodness. Can't Manning try to gain a first down through the air in the fourth quarter to keep a drive going? Heck, no!

The two-point win keeps Three Feet Right in first place at 6-1, while Team Priceless falls to 4-3.

Oh, the agony of defeat!

Solons take 70-and-over MSBL title

2013 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over division


The Sacramento Solons beat the South Dakota Rushmores 10-3 at Tempe Diablo Stadium this morning to win the 70-and-over division of the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

The Solons won seven games and tied one at the senior World Series -- including a 16-7 win in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday morning over the Arizona Scorpions (2-4), a team which included eight members from the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club.

Congrats, Solons. What a week!

As for me (Pigpen Price), my body is sore after six games in six days at the MSBL World Series, but I'll mend quick as I return to the World Series a week from Monday to play alongside my Tucson Aces teammates as we compete in the 60-and-over division.

The Aces, comprised totally of players from the Tucson Old Timers baseball club, will play six games in four days at the World Series -- including doubleheaders on Monday (Oct. 28) and Wednesday (Oct 30).

Wow! Get out the Miracle Blue Ice...I'm gonna need it.

Following taken from MSBL National Website:

70+ Division Championship  Game - Sacramento Solons 10 vs South Dakota Rushmores 3
Darlin Brin allowed no earned runs over seven innings, and his teammates combined for 18 hits as the Sacramento Solons defeated the South Dakota Rushmores 10-3 for the 70-and-over title. Harry Hart and Dave Sutherland had four hits each for the Solons who finished the tour- nament undefeated. Harvey Austin had three hits in a losing cause for the Rushmores. The Rushmores have appeared in every 70-and-over championship game since the division was formed in 2009, but have never won the title outright. 

Arizona and Utah get physical

Arizona Wildcats Football


Make no mistake about it the Utah Utes are a physical football team.

It was a battle in the trenches tonight at Arizona Stadium, but somehow, someway the Wildcats defensive line bends but does not break as they went up against Utah's offensive front line for 60 minutes en route to a 35-24 Pac-12 win.

Arizona (4-2 overall, 1-2 in the Pac-12) had their own wrecking crew in running back Ka'Deem Carey.  It was evident, despite a fourth-quarter fumble, that Carey was the "Big Man" for the job as he carried the ball time and time again for a career-high 40 carries and 236 rushing yards.

By the way, one of Carey's 40 carries came at a critical time (1:30 left on the game clock) when he rushed up the middle for 44 yards and his first touchdown, giving the Wildcats a much-needed Pac-12 win.

Utah falls to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in Pac-12 play. A week ago the Utes stun Stanford. Tonight the Wildcats stun the Utes.

Way to go, Carey and the Wildcats!

It'll be the Red Sox and Cardinals at the Big Dance

Finally, we have our 2013 MLB World Series opponents -- the St. Louis Cardinals took care of of the LA Dodgers 9-0 last night to capture the NLCS 4-2 and tonight it was the Boston Red Sox disposing of the Detroit Tigers 5-2 to win the ALCS in six games.

It'll all get started on Wednesday night in Boston as the Red Sox will entertain the visiting Cardinals.

70-and-over Scorpions eliminated from MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Arizona Scorpions


The Arizona Scorpions, with a roster including eight players from the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club, were eliminated from the 2013 MSBL/MALB World Series after a 16-7 loss today to the Sacramento Solons.

The Scorpions, competing in the 70-and-over division, finished with a 2-4 record with wins during the week over Australia and the San Diego Mudcats, while losing to Dodgertown West, the San Diego Padres, Team America and to the Sacramento team in the playoffs.

The Sacramento Solons will play for the 70-and-over MSBL/MALB World Series title Sunday morning at Tempe Diablo Stadium against the South Dakota Rushmores.

As for the Scorpions today, not a lot to write home about. Chico Bigham started for the Scorpions and went five innings, while Arnie White hurled the final two innings. Pigpen Price knocked in three of the seven runs with a three-run double in the sixth inning.

The Solons had a good day to day as they roughed up the Scorpions and then drilled Dodgertown West  15-0 to qualify for the championship game.

Scorpions win! Scorpions win!

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

Arizona Scorpions


The Arizona Scorpions upset the San Diego Mudcats 12-11 at the MSBL World Series today at the Tempe Diablo Sports Complex and in doing so qualified for the playoffs on Saturday morning and will take on the top seed, the Sacramento Solons, at 9 AM at the Papago Sports Complex in Phoenix.

The Scorpions (2-3) will go into the playoffs as the eighth seed. The Solons get the top seed due to their 4-0-1 record after five round robin games.

Today there were a lot of heroes in the Scorpions' win. Lefty Phil Webster from Camby, Indiana pitched eight strong innings and kept the Mudcats off balance with an assortment of pitches -- included a cutter. Right-hander Ed Rife came on in the ninth inning and picked up the save.

Jeff Helzel, Ron Petersen, Pigpen Price, Arnie White, Eddie Eckert, Chico Bigham and Rife (the Tucson boys) all hit safely for the Scorpions. Top defensive plays were turned in by second baseman Tony Bonilla, who made two tough fly ball outs and three assists, and by Price, at third base, who had six assists -- including the last two outs in the bottom of the ninth, which sealed the win.

Scorpions manager Jerry Hamelin (also from Tucson) was a happy camper, after today's win. "The win got us in the playoffs. It hasn't been the best week as things certainly haven't gone our way. But today we got it done and we'll see what happens tomorrow."

Way to go, Scorpions!

Arizona Scorpions fall to Team America 6-4 at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series


Arizona Scorpions


The Arizona Scorpions had two runners on and the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning, but couldn't get the key hit and lose to Team America 6-4 today at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

With the loss the Scorpions fall to 1-3 in round-robin play and have one game left on Friday against the San Diego Mudcats. Game time is set for 9 AM at Field 2 of the Tempe Diablo Complex, training ground of the Los Angeles Angels.

It'll be a must win for the Scorpions with no guarantee they will qualify for the playoffs this weekend even with a victory over the Mudcats.

Against Team America, the Scorpions took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second and led 3-1 after three innings, but could muster up only one run in the next six innings. The Scorpions started Ed Rife and he pitched well through five innings before giving way to Phil Webster. Rife didn't allow an earned run and Webster allowed a lone run, which was also unearned.

Too many errors at key points of the game cost the Scorpions a win today.

Still, the Scorpions, down 6-3, scored a run in the eighth inning and had a chance to win it in the ninth when Don Kladstrup, from France, stepped to the plate with runners at the corners and one out. Kladstrup  hit a hot grounder over the bag at second, but the Team America shortstop flagged the ball down and turned it into a double play to end the game.

Once again not a lot of hits for the Scorpions today. Jeff Helzel for the second day in a row had two hits, as did Arnie White.

Tomorrow it is one last chance for the Scorpions as they battle the Mudcats.

Photos: Arnie White (top) and Jeff Helzel (bottom) were the top two hitters with two hits apiece in the Scorpions' 6-4 loss to Team America today at the MSBL World Series.

70-and-over Scorpions fall to 1-2 in MSBL World Series

The Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Arizona Scorpions

The 70-and-over Arizona Scorpions took on the San Diego Padres, the defending MSBL champions, in  Goodyear this morning and didn't fare too well.

The Padres (2-1) started their ace left-hander Dick Fitzgerald and it was all San Diego in this one as the Scorpions lose, 16-3. San Diego, coming off a 15-0 win on Tuesday over Team America, improved to 2-1 in round-robin play, while the Scorpions fall to 1-2 and need a win on Thursday to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Scorpions will take on Team America (1-2) at the Salt River Sports Complex, the spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies, at 10 AM on Thursday. The Scorpions will complete their round-robin play on Friday with a  9 AM game against the San Diego Mudcats at Field 2 on the Tempe Diablo Complex, the spring training home of the Los Angeles Angels.

One of the few bright spots in today's game was the return of the Scorpions first baseman Jeff Helzel.

Helzel, who pulled a hamstring at first base in the Scorpions' series opener, did not play on Tuesday, but did bat today and in his first trip to the plate burned the Padres' left fielder with the Scorpions' first hit of the game. Unfortunately, due to his injury, Helzel turned a double into a long single.

The Scorpions hard-hitting first baseman found a Fitzgerald fastball to his liking in the top of the second inning and the opposite-field shot to left caught the Padres left fielder by surprise.

Fitzgerald, the top pitcher in the 70-and-over division, has a history of winning games in the MSBL World Series. Fitzgerald and the Padres seem to figure out a way to win the championship year after year. But the classic matchup between the two lefties -- Fitzgerald and Helzel -- in the second inning today was worth the admission. The admission is free by the way...but, still.

"I felt okay," Helzel said. "I can bat the rest of the way (in the World Series), but I won't be able to play the field." Helzel went 1 for 4 today and picked up one of only seven hits by the Scorpions. Tony Contreres and Eddie Eckert had two hits apiece, while Chico Bigham and Arnie White also hit safely.

The Scorpions, who had 36 hits in their first two games, hope to get the wood on the ball tomorrow morning against Team America.

Photo: Jeff Helzel, one of eight players from the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) playing for the Arizona Scorpions at the MSBL World Series this week, had one of the Scorpions' seven hits today in their 16-3 loss to the San Diego Padres. Despite a hamstring injury, Helzel batted today and went 1 for 4.

Scorpions fall to Dodgertown 12-10 at MSBL World Series

MSBL World Series

70-and-over Arizona Scorpions


The Arizona Scorpions closed with a flourish, scoring five runs in their final at bat but fall to Dodgertown West 12-10 in second round action today at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series in Phoenix.

The Scorpions, down 12-5 with two outs in the eighth inning, rally for five runs and had the tying run on first base, but couldn't get the hit they needed and fall to 1-1 at the senior world series.

Playing inside the spacious Tempe Diablo Stadium, catcher Tony Contreres doubled in Ed Rife, who had walked earlier in the wild eighth inning, to pull the Scorpions to within six runs. Jerry Hamelin followed with a single, plating Contreres, and Eddie Eckert knocked in Hamelin with a single up the middle to close the gap to 12-8. Ron Petersen walked, Chico Bigham singled and Pigpen Price  followed with a two-run single to left.

With Bigham on third and Price on at first, the hard-hitting left-hander Dohrman Sinclair stepped to the plate. Sinclair who had singled and doubled in his previous at bats, needed to find a gap in order for the Scorpions to tie the game. Sinclair got behind in the count and ended up striking out to end the game.

Price led the Scorpions with a three-hit day, while Petersen, Contreres, Bigham and Sinclair had two hits apiece. After banging out 19 hits in their win over Australia on Monday, the Scorpions added another 17 today, giving them 36 hits in two games.

Bigham started for the Scorpions today and pitched into the sixth inning. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter.

According to Scorpions manager Jerry Hamelin, it wasn't the hitting or the pitching that led to the loss today, but some poor decisions on the base lines and a hand full of errors.

Hamelin said the game was lost in the middle innings when Dodgertown scored three runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, three in the sixth and five runs in the seventh.

"We made some mental errors early on, but we did battle back in the last inning," Hamelin said. "It was a great comeback, but we fell a little short."

Hamelin would be a happy camper if the Scorpions could bounce back and take down the defending 70-and-over MSBL World Series champs, the San Diego Padres, in a 10 AM game at the Goodyear Sports Complex on Wednesday.

Photos below: Pigpen Price (top), Chico Bigham (middle) and Ron Petersen (bottom), three  members of the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club, combined for seven of the 17 hits today at Tempe Diablo Stadium as the 70-and-over Arizona Scorpions fall to Dodgertown West and are now 1-1, heading into the third round on Wednesday at the 2013 MSBL/MALB World Series.

Team Priceless falls to 4-2 in fantasy football league

UPC Hood Fantasy Football League

Team Priceless

My fantasy football team dropped another one this week, losing to the Assassins and drop to 4-2. Team Arps upsets Three Feet Right, handing them their first loss of the season. Three Feet Right and Team Arps are tied at 5-1, leaving Team Priceless one game back in the standings.

Team Priceless lost Dallas running back DeMarco Murray for four to six weeks. My biggest mistake this week was not starting New England running back Stevan Ridley. After a quiet five weeks, Ridley  scores two touchdowns. Go figure!

70-and-over Arizona Scorpions edge Australia 11-8 in 1st round of MSBL World Series

MSBL/MALB World Series

Arizona Scorpions


The Arizona Scorpions edged Australia 11-8 in the first round of the MSBL/MALB World Series this morning at Maryvale Park in Phoenix.

The Scorpions jumped out to a 7-1 lead early on, but relinquished the lead and trailed 8-7 after six innings of play. The Scorpions, with a roster which includes eight players from the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS), plated three runs in the top of the eighth inning and held off the Aussies the rest of the way.

Ed Rife started for the Scorpions and pitched 4 2/3 innings, Arnie White hurled an inning and a third, while Phil Webster, a left hander from Cambry, Indiana, shutdown the Aussies the rest of the way to pick up the win.

Rife helped his own cause with three hits in four plate appearances, while Eddie Eckert went 3 for 4 and Don Kladstrup, from France, went 3 for 3 with an RBI.

Jerry Hamelin went 1 for 3 and drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. The Scorpions had their hitting shoes on as they banged out 19 hits off the Aussie pitching staff.

The Scorpions (1-0) take on Dodgertown West (1-0) at 9 AM on Tuesday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Dodgertown won their opener, edging the New England Red Sox, 11-4.

Photos: Ed Rife (top) and Eddie Eckert (bottom) combine for six of the Scorpions 19 hits in opener of MSBL World Series at Maryvale Park in Phoenix as the Arizona Scorpions beat Australia 11-8.

Rein's walk-off single gives TOTS' Blue a 4-3 win

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Jeff Rein, 61, drilled a shot just inside the third base bag in the bottom of the sixth inning as Team Blue edged Team White 4-3 at Udall Park this morning in a Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball game.

With the score tied at 3-3, Team White right hander Billy Heiny, 84,  gave up a single to start the inning to Pigpen Price, 68,  and Ron Petersen, 68, followed with a line shot to the hole between first and second. First baseman Mike Taylor, 63, lunged for the ball and the ball stuck in the webbing of his glove. Taylor took three steps to his left, tagged the bag and doubled up Price.

It looked like Heiny would get out of the inning unscathed and both teams would have to settle for a tie, but  Pete Peters, 64, drilled a two-out double to left field and Rein (photo above) followed with his game-winning hit.

Dan Lundwall, 68, pitched the first five innings for Team Blue. He gave up just one earned run, while striking out two and walking four. Ed Rife, 76, came on in relief in the top of the sixth and got the win, while Heiny, who went the distance for Team White, was saddled with the loss.

The catch of the day occurred in the fourth inning when Team Blue left fielder Archie Burke, 81, made an over-the-head grab of a liner off the bat of 63-year-old Lloyd Barzell.

The TOTS will be back at Udall Park on Monday morning. Game time 9 AM.

Trojans hang on to beat Wildcats

Arizona Wildcats Football


The Arizona Wildcats dug a hole early and fall 38-31 to the USC Trojans tonight at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

It was all USC in the first half as the Trojans rang up 315 yards of total offense, scored four touchdowns and went to the locker room with a 28-10 lead. But in the second half, the Wildcats come roaring back as quarterback B.J. Denker throws for a career high 363 yards and four touchdowns. Denker completes 28 of 44 passes.

Ka'Deem Carey did his part, especially in the second half, as the Wildcat running back plowed through the Trojan's defensive front and picked up first down after first down. Carey carried the ball 21 times for 138 yards. He caught five passes for 36 yards.

Unfortunately, Carey did not get the ball enough as Denker was forced to go to the air.

Arizona gained 508 yards on the night, while USC finished with 546 yards

Bottom line: My Wildcats fall to 3-2 on the season and 0-2 in the Pac-12.

Come on home, Wildcats. It's time for a Saturday night game at Arizona Stadium.

Verlander, Tigers eliminate Oakland

Justin Verlander was just too much for the Oakland A's to handle.

Verlander allowed Oakland just two hits and Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer as Detroit wins Game 5 of the ALDS 3-0 to eliminate the A's from postseason play.

The Detroit right-hander was perfect through 5 1/3 innings and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning tonight in Oakland. The A's Yoenis Cespedes broke up the no-hitter with a two-out single. Verlander, who struck out 10 and walked one in his eight innings of work, allowed a single by Josh Reddick in the eighth and that was it.

So, it'll be the LA Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS, while Detroit will take on the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS.

I'm still predicting the Boston Red Sox to win it all.

Cardinals advance

The Dodgers are in. The Red Sox are in. And the Cardinals are in.

The Cardinals advance to the NLCS with a convincing 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight in St. Louis. Adam Wainwright tosses a complete game, strikes out six and walks just one batter. Wainwright gets plenty of support from teammates David Freese and Matt Adams as the two Cardinals belt two-run homers to send St. Louis into its third straight NLCS.
 

Boston Red Sox advance

The Boston Red Sox are in good shape.

The Red Sox beat Tampa Bay tonight 3-1 and win the ALDS three games to one and for the first time since 2008 will advance to American League Championship Series.

They can head home and relax. They can rest their starting pitching and their relievers and await their opponent. Oakland and the Tigers are still battling as Detroit gets by the A's 8-6 earlier today, forcing a Game 5 in Oakland on Thursday.

The LA Dodgers are already in as they sit back and watch the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cardinals face off in Game 5 of the NLDS in St. Louis on Wednesday.

There's a couple of big story lines out there with the surprising Pirates still hanging around and the surprising A's, despite their loss to Detroit tonight, still with a shot at making it to the ALCS and an outside shot of making it to the World Series for the first time since 1990.

Billy Beane must be squirming tonight. The movie Moneyball (2011) gave us quite an insight as to how a major league team, with a small bankroll,  can compete against the big boys. The movie centered on the year 2002, the year Oakland established a major league record with 20 wins in a row.

Now they're back, knocking at the door once again in hopes of getting to the "Big Show." A victory in Game 5 over the Tigers and chances are Beane, within minutes after the final pitch has been thrown,  will be rolling on the grass inside the confines of the Oakland Coliseum.

If you've seen Moneyball then you know the scene.

Great baseball movie and great acting by Brad Pitt, who portrayed Billy Beane.

Of course Game 5 on Thursday at the Oakland Coliseum is a far cry from a Hollywood set and the Tigers will have a say in the outcome. But still, it should be a dramatic ending.

Dodgers first to advance

The LA Dodgers move on to the NLCS as they down the Atlanta Braves 4-3 last night in Los Angeles and win the best of five NLDS three games to one. Carl  Crawford hits two home runs and Juan Uribe hits what turns out to be the game-winner with a two-run blast in the eighth inning.

Clayton Kershaw goes six innings and allows two runs on just three hits. Kershaw struck out six and walked one. Brian Wilson picks up the win in relief.

The other three matchups have yet to be decided as Oakland, leading 2-1 in the ALDS, face the Tigers today in Detroit, while the Boston Red Sox, up 2-1 in their series with the Rays, tangle in Tampa Bay.

The St. Louis Cardinals play host to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday as the NLDS is all tied up at two games apiece.

TOTS night game set for Nov. 8

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball


The Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club will display its own brand of "Friday Night Lights" on Nov. 8 at Udall Park.

The baseball club will play under the lights for the first time ever. Known primarily for their early-morning, three-days a week games at Udall Park, the 60-and-over TOTS will play a 6 PM  game. The TOTS will play seven-innings or for two hours, whichever comes first.

There may be a run on night goggles at the local hardware store. The TOTS players range in age from 60 to 88 and are used to playing in direct sunlight. High fly balls will make for an interesting play.

Kidding aside, the game will pit Team Blue against Team White and the starting pitchers for the night game include 63-year-old Lloyd Barzell and 76-year-old Ed Rife. Both pitcher are right handers. Barzell has been a TOT since 2010 and Rife joined the organization in 2000.

Jerry Smarik, 81 and a TOT since 1991, will open the pregame ceremony with his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Smarik (photo below) has been playing the saxophone about as long as he's swung a bat.

Channel 13 will be on hand to record the event and the game is open to the public and there is no charge.  So, be there or be square...and no laughing, please.

Three Feet Right takes over first place in fantasy league

UPC Hood Fantasy Football League

Team Priceless


Three Feet Right, behind the 61 fantasy points from Dallas quarterback Tony Romo on Sunday, find themselves in first place in the UPC Hood Fantasy Football League.

After five weeks of action, Three Feet Right moves to 5-0, while my Team Priceless falls into second place with a 4-1 record and 586 fantasy points. Three Right Right has amassed 632 points and owns a 46-point advantage over Team Priceless, who gets just 23 fantasy points on Sunday from New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees. Romo tosses five TD passes in the Cowboys loss to Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Team Arps, who upended Team Priceless this week, is in third place with its 4-1 record, but has garnered only 532 fantasy points.

The 12-team fantasy league springs back into action on Thursday. Team Priceless takes on the Assassins (3-2) in Week 6.

60-and-over Aces open MSBL World Series with a doubleheader

The 60-and-over Tucson Aces, a team comprised of members of the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club, will open the 2013 MSBL/MALB World Series on October 28 with a doubleheader at Papago Park in Phoenix.

The Aces will face a team called Team America in the first game. Team America plays in the Northeast  Wisconsin MSBL Leagues and has fielded a team in the Phoenix event for more than 17 years. This will be the first all TOTS team to compete in the senior world series.

The Aces will end the day with a game against the SLC/KC Dodgers, a team comprised of players from the Salt Lake City and Kansas City area. The Dodgers have also played many years in the prestigious tournament, which is in its 26th year. Over 3,000 players and 330 teams will compete in Phoenix this year -- including teams from Canada and Australia.

The game against Team America will get underway at 10 AM. The Aces will take on the Dodgers at  2 PM.

The finalized roster for the Aces: Arnie White, Bob Daliege, Danny Price, Dennis Crowley, Ted Davis, Pete Peters, Tim Tolson, Dave Rhoades, Lloyd Barzell, Ron Petersen, Jeff Rein, Mike Taylor, Jerry Wessels and Billy Heiny.

The youngest member of the Aces is 61-year-old Tim Tolson and the oldest member is 84-year-old Billy Heiny. The balance of the roster includes players who range in age from 62 to 69. Arnie White is the second oldest of the group at 71 years of age. White plays for the TOTS during the winter months and spends his summers at his ranch in Montana.

The TOTS play three days a week at Tucson Udall Park. The Aces currently workout on Saturday mornings at Udall in preparation for the MSBL World Series.

The Aces remaining round-robin schedule at the MSBL World Series will include a 10 AM game against Seattle on Tuesday, Oct. 29, a doubleheader on Wednesday, Oct. 30, against the Sacramento Solons at 10AM and Team Palidin at 2 PM. The Aces final game of the round-robin will be against the Arizona Scorpions on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 9 AM.

The Seattle game will be played inside the confines of Goodyear Stadium (spring training home of the Cleveland Indians), while the doubleheader on Wednesday will be played at the annex fields at  Maryvale Park. The Aces-Arizona Scorpions game will be held at one of the annex fields, just west of Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe.

The Aces will have their hands full playing in their first-ever senior world series. The Aces goal is to win enough round-robin games to qualify for the playoffs on Friday, November 1. Of course, the ultimate goal is to win it all and capture the title on Saturday, November  2, at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Bookemdanosports reaches 1600 in posts

This is a special thanks to my readers who have spent the last four years reading my blog.

Bookemdanosports has reached 1,600 posts. Wow! I didn't think I had that much to say. But it has been fun, pecking away at my trusty old laptop, discussing everything from 60-and-over baseball, to Arizona football, basketball and baseball. You name it and I'll talk about it. Whether it's the professional teams like the Arizona Cardinals, the Phoenix Suns, the Coyotes, the Diamondbacks...or the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club, everything is fair game.

My blog focuses mainly on the old-time ball player -- the senior athlete who still competes on one ball field or another, in one sport or another, with one common goal: the love of the game.

With October comes the MLB World Series,  more NCAA football and a new Arizona Wildcats basketball season. There's a lot to look forward to in the coming months. As for the TOTS -- the oldest-running baseball team in the country with players ranging in age from 60 to 88 -- they'll continue to play at Udall Park three days a week, enjoying America's favorite pastime.

Many of the TOTS will be heading for Phoenix in mid-October to compete in the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series. This year will be the 26th year of the MSBL World Series as players from all over the country, and the world, compete for titles in the 18-and-over division and all the way up to 75-and-over. More than 3, 000 players will be on hand and 330 teams -- including teams from Australia and the Virgin Islands.

Bookemdanosports will be there, covering the 60-and-over Tucson Aces and the 70-and-over Arizona Scorpions. The Aces will field a team at the event and the entire Aces roster will consist of players from the TOTS, while eight members of the TOTS will play for the 70-and-over Arizona Scorpions.

There's a lot of sports out there to write about. I'll try to continue to do my part.

Thanks again, readers. It's been a fun ride and "we've only just begun." Oops, I'm showing my age. I think the Carpenters made a hit out of that one, back in 1970.

It's down to eight

The Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians are eliminated. Not what the state of Ohio was looking for.

The Pittsburgh Pirates knock off the Reds 6-2 on Tuesday night and Tampa Bay blanks the Indians 4-0 tonight as the MLB wild card games are now history.

Eight teams remain as the Rays advance to play the Boston Red Sox, while the Oakland A's prepare to do battle with the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS. In the NLDS the Pirates will take on the St. Louis Cardinals, while the LA Dodgers lock horns with the Atlanta Braves.

The Cardinals will host the Pirates and the Atlanta Braves will entertain the visiting Dodgers on  Thursday afternoon as the best-of-five series gets underway. The Red Sox will open at home against the Rays on Friday, while the A's will host the Tigers in a best-of-five showdown.

The Indians go quietly and my postseason favorite is out of the running. I was pulling for Terry Francona and the surprising Indians, but they left too many runners on base tonight. Those one-game wild card games are tough, but it does make for an exciting three hours of prime time television.

I'm sticking with the Red Sox to win it all, but what do I know? I figured the Reds would beat the Pirates and the Indians would take down the Rays. Should I venture a guess as to the final four teams? Well, you already know one, the Red Sox. Which teams are joining them? It'll be Detroit, the LA Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals.

We'll know in a few days whether I'm right or wrong. Luckily, I'm not placing any bets.

 

Barzell top TOT performer in September

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Lloyd Barzell, 63, out-hit, out-scored and out-pitched his Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) teammates during the month of September. The latest stats show Barzell with 22 hits in 33 at bats for a hefty .667 batting average. Barzell, who played in all 11 games during the month of September, scored 18 runs and knocked in 13 runs.

Other top producers for the month include Pete Peters (15 for 28, a .536 average, he also scored 13 runs and knocked in 12 runs), Chico Bigham (13 for 29, a .448 average), Ted Davis (11 for 19, a .579 average), Brian Reilly (10 for 22, a .400 average), Pigpen Price (11 for 27, a .407 average) and Ron Petersen (9 for 23, a .391 average).

Jesse Ochoa also swung a hot bat, but only played in five games during the month of September. Ochoa went 10 for 12 for a smoldering .833 average. Dan Lundwall played in six games and went 8 for 17 for a .471 clip, while Tim Tolson played in just seven games, but went 8 for 20, a .400 average.

Barzell (above photo) was the top pitcher for the month. The hard-throwing right-hander won four games, lost one and was involved in two games which ended up a tie.

Other statistical leaders include 76-year-old Bob Katz, who led the club in walks with 11, while Peters and Tolson led in doubles with three apiece. In the 80-and-over group it was Billy Heiny, 84, and Floyd Lance, 88, leading the way. Heiny went 5 for 25 and played in 10 games -- a .200 average, while Lance played in five games and went 5 for 11, a .455 average.

The TOTS are heading into fall play as the long, hot summer is behind them.

Go, TOTS!

TOTS' trio fine tunes pitching arms for MSBL World Series

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Three pitchers for the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS), who will pitch in the 70-and-over division at the MSBL World Series in Phoenix on Oct 14-20, fine tuned their pitching arms this morning as all three allowed a total of just three runs on 10 hits in a six-inning 60-and-over baseball game at Udall Park.

Team Blue won the game 2-1 as 76-year-old right hander Ed Rife pitched the first three innings and got the win, while 75-year-old Chico Bigham came on in relief and hurled three shutout innings. Sixty-eight year old Ron Petersen pitched all six innings for Team White, allowing two runs on just four hits.

Rife allowed just four hits and Bigham allowed two hits in arguably the best defensive game of the summer. Both teams turned in fine plays, highlighted by a running catch by Team Blue center fielder Dave Rhoades, 69, and by Team Blue second baseman Mike Taylor, 61, who made an over-the-shoulder grab to snuff a Team White rally.

Team Blue scored all their runs in the top of the first inning on a two-run single by 66-year-old Ron Carlson, while Team White scored a single run in the bottom of the second inning as 67-year-old Ed Seelbinder doubled, Carl Brutovsky,77, bunted Seelbinder to third and 88-year-old Floyd Lance knocked in the run on a groundout to second.

The TOTS will be back at it on Friday morning. Game time 9 AM.

Photos: (top) Ed Rife, (middle) Chico Bigham, (bottom) Ron Petersen.

Let the playoffs begin

And then there were 10.

After 162 games (163 in some cases) we are down to 10 MLB teams still in the running for the grand prize -- a World Series championship.

Two more will fall by the wayside in the next 48 hours as the Wild Card title games (if you will) get underway as the Reds and the Pirates tangle today, followed on Wednesday with the Rays-Indians matchup.

It's tough to pick a winner this year. The New York Yankees are history and the Texas Rangers bit the dust last night. The Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants gave up the ship a month ago.

So, which team will win it all?

My guess: the Boston Red Sox. My heart says: the Cleveland Indians. I guess it's because of all those years of spring training in Tucson and for the fact former University of Arizona standout Terry Francona is the Cleveland manager. The Indians get my vote this year. But, as I have said all year long, watch out for the Atlanta Braves.

I assume Brad Pitt will be cheering on the Oakland A's. As for the LA Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals, it is hard to count them out. As for the Detroit Tigers, hats off to former D'back Max Scherzer, but I don't think it's the year of the Tiger.

Seriously, it is hard to pick a winner out of all of the above. One thing is for sure, it'll be an interesting postseason.