TOTS players prepare for 2014 MSBL/MABL Word Series

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball


It isn't that far away.

The Phoenix-based 2014 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series is just around the corner. Well, it's actually in mid-October, but the summer is flying by and some of the members of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers who will participate in the prestigious senior extravaganza have just sixty-five days (as of Oct. 13) to fine tune their old baseball skills.

Coaching the 70-and-over Arizona Scorpions again this year will be Jerry Hamelin and managing the 65-and-over Tucson Aces will be Pete Peters.

On the 70-and-over Scorpions roster are TOTS regulars Chico Bigham, Ron Petersen, Jeff Helzel,  Pigpen Price and Arnie White, along with Tony Bonillas, who is a member of the crosstown 60-and-over team, the Arizona Rattlers. The list of out-of-towners on the Scorpions include Tom Barrow (Westcliff, Colorado), Jorge Fuentes (Fajardo, Puerto Rico), Marcos Garcia (Ensenada, Puerto Rico), Spyke Graham (Paradise Valley, Arizona), Don Kladstrup (Paris, France), Dohrman Sinclair (Surprise, Arizona), Tony Contreres (Surprise, Arizona), Phil Webster (Camby, Indiana) and Jay Hayner (Saratoga, New York).

On the 65-and-over Aces roster are TOTS regulars Dave Rhoades, Dennis Crowley, Bob Daliege, George  Gafner (Arizona Rattlers), Brian Reilly, Tim Tolson and Joe Opocensky. The two out-of-towners on this year's roster will include Reece Wellman (Delaware, Maryland) and Jorge Ponce (El Paso, Texas). Peters will be a player-manager for the Aces.

Playing on both the 65s and the 70s will be Pigpen Price, Ron Petersen, Arnie White and Chico Bigham, barring injuries, or course.

It's a grueling two weeks for the players attempted to play in both divisions. Each team is guaranteed  five games and if they qualify for the playoffs, they could play an additional three games. For the players participating in both weeks that could add up to 16 games during the two-week period.

The Arizona Scorpions tournament opener will be on Sunday, Oct. 19. The Tucson Aces will be begin play on Saturday, Oct. 25.