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.