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!
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