Sunday, May 31, 2015

Diamondbacks finish 2-4 on latest road trip



Arizona Diamondbacks



The Arizona Diamondbacks finish 2-4 during their latest road trip -- including a 7-6 loss in 17 innings to the Brewers today in Milwaukee.

Paul Goldschmidt set a club record by reaching base seven times during the marathon game with three hits and four walks. Goldy hit a solo shot in the first inning and Mark Trumbo homered in the eighth. 

The Diamondbacks, who started the road trip with three losses in St. Louis, were hoping for a sweep in Milwaukee but Martin Maldonado hit a walk off homer in the bottom of the 17th to win it for the Brewers.

Next up: The Diamondbacks (23-26) return home to face the Atlanta Braves, beginning on Monday night.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Golden State takes on Cleveland for NBA title



NBA Finals


As expected, the Warriors and my man Steve Kerr, the first year coach of Golden State, wins the Western Conference Championship series with Houston, 4-1, after last night's 104-90 victory in Game 5 over the Rockets in Oakland.

The Warriors stay put and will host Game 1 of NBA Finals on Thursday against Cleveland.

Go get 'em, Steve.


Monday, May 25, 2015

TOTS play on Memorial Day in honor of Servicemen and women


Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball






The Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) played a two-hour, seven-inning game on Memorial Day in honor of our Servicemen and women.

Bob Katz, a former Marine, led the team in a moment of silence at the beginning of the game for our men and women around the world who serve our country everyday.

As for the game, Team Blue beat Team White 14-6.

The big hitter of the day was Team White's right fielder John Misiaszek. John went 3 for 3 today with two doubles and a triple.

Photos: (top) Bob Katz, (bottom) John Misiaszek

Baseball, softball seasons end for Wildcats



The Arizona Wildcats finished the 2015 baseball season 31-24 as they closed out a four-game final home stand at Hi Corbett last night. Arizona split with Abilene Christian to start the home stand and beat Hawaii two games to none over the weekend.

Bobby Dalbec hit his 15th home run and pitched seven strong innings on Sunday to pick up the win, while Scott Kingery went 2 for 5 to finish the season with a .392 average (93 for 237). Both players led the Pac-12 in those two categories.

As expected, the Arizona softball team fell two games to none in the Super Regional in Baton Rouge, as the Wildcat pitching staff couldn't hold the fifth-ranked LSU Tigers at bay.

Arizona finishes 41-20 on the year. Chelsea Goodacre finished the season with 24 home runs and 86 RBI. Goodacre hit 71 home runs and knocked in 239 runs in her career as an Arizona Wildcat.

Kellie Fox finished the season with a .400 batting average (74 for 185), while Hallie Wilson ended up with a .394 average (78 for 198). Katiyana Mauga, who finished the season with a .350 average, led the Wildcats in homers with 26. Mauga and Goodacre combined for 50 homers!

Kerr and Company one win away from NBA Finals


NBA Playoffs

Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors are up 3-0 in the Western Conference Championship Series and can wrap up the title tonight in Houston, while David Blatt, coach of the Cleveland Cavs, can do the same in the Eastern Conference finals tomorrow night in Cleveland.

Two new head coaches, both likely heading for the NBA Finals.

Of course, you know which coach I'm rooting for -- the former Arizona Wildcat Steve Kerrrrrrrrr!

One thing is for sure, both coaches just happen to have the two best players in the NBA -- Steve has Stephen Curry and Blatt has LeBron James.

What a matchup!

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Diamondbacks take 2 of 3 from Cubs


Arizona Diamondbacks

Paul Goldschmidt hit his 12th home run and collected his 38th RBI today as the Diamondbacks beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 and win the three-game series at Chase Field two games to one to pull to within one game of the .500 mark at 21-22.

Jeremy Hellickson goes 6 2/3 innings today to improve to 2-3 on the year. He struck out four and walked one, while allowing just four hits.

Arizona opens a three-game series in St. Louis on Monday.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of playing baseball with the TOTS


Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball








The Good, the Bad and the Ugly on the baseball diamond.

Team Blue finished on the short end of the stick on Friday morning at Udall Park as Team White prevailed, 11-7, in a 60-and-over baseball game.

Outfielder Bob Daliege, 66, supplied the GOOD, while 89-year-old first baseman Floyd Lance was involved in the BAD and UGLY trying to field an errant throw. See above photos by Conrad Royksund.

Diamondbacks slip into 3rd place in NL West


Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks make it five in a row and slip into third place in the NL West with a 5-4 victory in 13 innings over the Chicago Cubs last night at Chase Field.

After a four-game sweep in Miami, the Diamondbacks get a game-winning hit in the bottom of the 13th from Nick Ahmed and improve to 20-21 on the season and are now five games out of first place in the NL West, behind LA and San Francisco.

Of course, it took a two-run blast to tie the game in the 10th inning by Paul Goldschmidt, his 11th homer and 35th RBI of the year.

The Cubs-Diamondbacks continue with the three-game series this weekend. Two more wins over the Cubs and the Diamondbacks could find themselves a game over the .500 mark.

Go, Diamondbacks!

Friday, May 22, 2015

Kerr and Company keeps on winning


NBA Playoffs


Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors won again last night 99-98 in a thriller and go up 2-0 in the Western Conference finals.

That makes Kerr, the former Arizona Wildcat, within two wins of the NBA finals in his first year as the head coach of the Warriors.

Kerr's records so far:

Regular season   67-15

First round NBA playoffs  4-0

Second round   4-2

Western Conference finals, up 2-0

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Diamondbacks should stay in Miami for a few weeks



Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks (19-21) swept the Marlins in Miami four games to none -- including a 6-1 win on Wednesday as Chase Anderson (1-1) gets his first victory of the year and a 7-6 win today, scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth on two singles, a walk and a bobbled bunt.

The D'backs will take a win any way they can get it.

Arizona returns home to host the Chicago Cubs in a three-game series, starting on Friday night. Josh Collmenter (3-5) will get the start for the Diamondbacks.

Monday, May 18, 2015

60-plus right-handers toss back-to-back gems



Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball










Two hard throwing right-handers tossed back-to-back gems for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers  as 72-year-old Doc Thompson struck out 11 batters during an 8-3 win on Friday morning and 66-year-old Bob Daliege hurled a four-hitter and did not allow an earned run in a 10-1 victory Monday morning at Udall Park.

Photos: (top photo) Doc Thompson, (bottom photo) Bob Daliege.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Gophers put a scare into Wildcats, but Arizona advances to the Super Regional


Arizona Wildcats Softball


The University of Minnesota's softball team put a scare into the Wildcats not once but twice at Rita Hillenbrand Stadium today but in the end Arizona survives and heads to next week's Super Regional in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Arizona, after losing the first game today to the Gophers 5-2, came back to win the championship game of the Tucson Regional 7-6 in eight innings. With the score tied 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Chelsea Suitos tripled and Kellie Fox drilled an RBI-single to left -- her third hit of the game -- to send the Wildcats and their fans home happy.

Arizona (41-18) had lost the first game of the day to the Gophers --thanks to a grand slam homer in the bottom of the seventh inning by Page Palkovich, and were forced into a second game to decide the regional champion. This time the Wildcats were the home team and they came from behind to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh on Chelsea Goodacre's 24th home run of the year and went on to win the Tucson Regional in the eighth.

NBA Final Four


NBA Playoffs


The Houston Rockets beat the LA Clippers 113-100 in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals today in Houston to advance to the conference finals and will take on the Golden State Warriors, beginning on Tuesday in Oakland, while the Cleveland Cavs will journey to Atlanta for the first game of the Eastern Conference finals against the Hawks on Wednesday night.

James Harden poured in 31 points to lead the Rockets tonight.

So there you have it.

Coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors, who just happen to have another former Arizona player on their roster, Andre Iguodala, will go up against Houston with a roster which includes former Arizona players Jason Terry and Nick Johnson.

As a bonus, add Luke Walton to the mix. The former Arizona player is currently an assistant coach under Kerr for the Golden State Warriors.

I know which playoffs I'm going to watch!

Fourth-ranked Bruins sweep Wildcats


Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The fourth-ranked UCLA Bruins took all three games from the Arizona Wildcats this weekend in Los Angeles, 1-0, 6-0 and 5-3. It was the final Pac-12 series for the Wildcats as they finish 12-18 in the conference and fall to 28-23 overall.

The Wildcats will come home and close out their season at Hi Corbett Field with non-conference games against Abilene Christian and Hawaii. Four more games and Andy Lopez and the Wildcats can look toward the 2016 season.

As for Scott Kingery, the Wildcats top hitter, he will try to collect a few more hits down the stretch and finish above the .400 mark in batting. Kingery is batting .402 with 88 hits in 219 trips to the plate. Kingery has played in 50 of the Wildcats 51 games.

Phillies sweep Diamondbacks


Arizona Diamondbacks

Not a very good start to a road trip.

The Arizona Diamondbacks (15-21) lose all three games in Philly, 7-5, 4-3 and 6-0 today in the final game of the three-game series.

It's on to Miami.

Come on, D'backs!

Wildcats one win away from Super Regional


Arizona Wildcats Softball


The University of Arizona women's softball team is in a good spot at the Tucson Regional.

The Wildcats beat Minnesota 5-1 yesterday to go 2-0 in the regional and will take on Minnesota, a 2-0 winner over New Mexico State last night, at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Gophers will have to beat the Wildcats twice to move on to the super regional.

Katiyana Mauga hit her 26th home run of the season to help the Wildcats beat the Gophers. Trish Parks went the distance on the mound and improved to 15-5.

Arizona is 40-17 on the season, while Minnesota heads into play today with a 48-10 record.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Wildcats beat St. John's, 4-2


Arizona Wildcats Softball


It took a while but the Arizona Wildcats (39-17) found the home run ball just in time tonight and beat St. John's 4-2 in the first round of the Tucson Regional at Rita Hillenbrand Stadium.

Hallie Wilson, Chelsea Goodacre and Lauren Young homered for the Wildcats, who were down 1-0 in the fifth inning, while Michelle Floyd (18-12) went the distance and picked up the win on the mound.

The Wildcats will face Minnesota, (47-9) -- a 10-2 winner earlier today over New Mexico State -- at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Hillenbrand.

Go, Wildcats!

Kerr and the Warriors advance to the Western Conference Finals


NBA Playoffs


Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors beat the Grizzlies in Memphis tonight 108-95 and win the Western Conference semi finals 4-2 to advance to the championship series and will take on the winner of the matchup on Sunday in Houston between the LA Clippers and the Rockets. That series is all knotted up at 3-3.

Stephan Curry led the Warriors tonight with 32 points.

Of course, the Eastern Conference final is already set with the Atlanta Hawks hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night in the first game of the seven-game series.

Go get 'em, Steve.

Mr. Kerr, the Arizona Wildcat, has the Warriors just four wins away from the NBA Championship series and a shot at the title.

Bookemdanosports reaches 2,300 in posts



Bookemdanosports has reached 2,300 posts.

Thanks to all my readers for hanging in there since my initial post during the month of July/2009.

Hard to believe. Boy, how time slips away!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Diamondbacks head for Philly


Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks (15-18) lost 2 of 3 to the Washington Nationals and now head for Philadelphia (13-23) and open a three-game series with the Phillies on Friday.

The Phillies are in last place in the NL East and the Diamondbacks are clinging to fourth place in the NL West -- just 2 1/2 games above the Colorado Rockies.

Arizona is still reeling from the loss on Wednesday to the Nationals -- a game which saw some guy named Michael Taylor hit a grand slam in the ninth to beat the Diamondbacks 9-6 and give Addison Reed  (0-2) his second blown save of the year.

Here's hoping for a better outcome in Philadelphia.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Daliege hits his first inside-the-park homer with the TOTS


Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball






Bob Daliege, 66, is one of the top hitters on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club. Daliege, a member of the TOTS since 2010, is known more as a pull hitter, but today at Udall Park he went 3 for 5 -- including an opposite-field, inside-the-park home run.

"That's my first homer with the TOTS," Daliege said, after the game. "I have yet to hit one over the fence, but it's not for the lack of trying."

Daliege was the only bright spot for Team Blue today as they score just three runs against Team White and lose, 11-3. Daliege's shot down the first baseline accounted for two of the runs.

Chico Bigham, 76, was the big hitter for Team White today. Bigham went 4 for 5 and knocked in six runs.

The TOTS will be back at Udall Park on Friday for their third game of the week.

Photos: (top photo) Bob Daliege, (bottom photo) Chico Bigham.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Aces knock off Rattlers,10-4


Southwest Senior Baseball League

60-and-over Baseball

Tucson Aces






The 60-and-over Tucson Aces visited the Arizona Rattlers at Mission Manor Park this morning and came away with a 10-4 victory.

The Aces collected 19 hits in the game, spearheaded by a 4-for-4 performance from Tim Tolson, three hits apiece from Pete Peters and Lloyd Barzell, while four players, Doc Thompson, Brian Reilly, Joe Opocensky and Pigpen Price, all went 2 for 4.

Barzell had the big hit of the day with a booming triple to the gap in left center, while Thompson knocked in the most runs on the day with four.

On the mound, it was the hard-throwing right-hander Thompson, who threw six shutout innings, walking just two batters while allowing only four runs in the bottom of the third inning.

"We played a very good ball game both offensively and defensively," said Aces manager Jerry Hamelin. "We had one bad inning in the third and Doc kept them from scoring the rest of the way."

Thompson, who recently returned to the club, following a knee operation, is slowly returning to form and kept the Rattlers guessing, mixing in his fastball, slider and a roundhouse curve ball.

The "Play of the Day" a relay throw from left fielder Bob Daliege to shortstop Barzell to Price at second base in the fourth inning when the Rattlers' runner tried to stretch a single into a double.

Photos: (top photo) Thunder Tim Tolson, a 4 for 4 day with 2 RBI against the Rattlers today, while (bottom photo) Lloyd "Baby Bull" Barzell went 3 for 4 -- including a booming triple.




Sunday, May 10, 2015

Wildcats close out Pac-12 schedule at UCLA


Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The University of Arizona baseball team lost 2 of 3 to Washington at Hi Corbett Field over the weekend and will close out its Pac-12 regular-season schedule at UCLA with a three-game series in Los Angeles next weekend.

The Wildcats won the opener 8-6 on Friday over the Huskies, lost 9-4 on Saturday and 3-2 on Mother's Day.

Scott Kingery continues to lead the Wildcats in hitting with an impressive .418 average (87 hits in 208 at bats).

Arizona falls to 28-20 overall and 13-15 in the Pac-12.

Arizona Softball finishes regular season 38-17, 13-11 Pac-12


Arizona Wildcats Softball



The University of Arizona softball team ended the regular season with a 38-17 overall record and a 13-11 record in the Pac-12 Conference. They await word later this evening as to where they're heading in the postseason. The Wildcats may have a shot at hosting a regional tournament at Hillenbrand Stadium.

One thing is for sure, the Wildcats can hit. Arizona hit 98 home runs during the regular season -- 25 off the bat of Katiyana Mauga and 22 from Chelsea Goodacre. The Wildcats batted .360 as a team in the 55 games played with Kellie Fox leading the way with an impressive .405 batting average.

Softball Update:  Fresh of the press -- Arizona draws St. Johns in regional opener and the regional will be played at Hillenbrand Stadium this weekend. New Mexico State and Minnesota will round out the four teams in the Tucson Regional.


Diamondbacks split with Padres


Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks ended up splitting the four-game series with the San Diego Padres at Chase Field.  Thanks to home runs today from A.J. Pollock and Aaron Hill, Arizona earns a 2-1 win over the Padres to salvage the final game. The Diamondbacks won the opener of the series 11-0, but lost the next two games.

J.C. Ramirez (1-0) picked up his first career win in relief of starter Daniel Hudson.

Arizona (14-16) will host the Washington Nationals in a three-game series, which gets underway on Monday with Josh Collmenter (3-3) slated to take the mound for the Diamondbacks.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Diamondbacks on a three-game winning streak



Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks, behind homers by Mark Trumbo and Paul Goldschmidt, rough up the Padres 11-0 at Chase Field last night in the opener of a four-game series.

At the end of the day on Sunday, the Diamondbacks (13-14) just may find themselves above the .500 mark and could leapfrog into second place in the NL West.

The Diamondbacks have won three in a row and if (and it's always a big if for Arizona) they sweep the Padres, a team that's on the down swing, they'd post 16 wins in 30 outings to start the season.

Chip Hale, the new manager with the Diamondbacks, would certainly be happy with such an outcome. And so would the Arizona fans.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Rodriguez hits No. 661


Alex Rodriguez hit his seventh homer of the season and No. 661 in his career today to pass Willie Mays for fourth place on the career home run list as he helped the New York Yankees earn a 4-3 victory over Baltimore.

Next up: Babe Ruth at 714 home runs.


Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Diamondbacks send Rockies to the cellar in the NL West


Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks ended up playing two games today in Colorado.

They won both.

Arizona wins 13-7 and 5-1. Josh Collmenter (3-3) gets the decision in the first game and Robbie Ray (1-0), who was brought up from the minors for a one-game appearance, gets the victory in the nightcap.

Mark Trumbo and Aaron Hill hit home runs in the first game, while Paul Goldschmidt hits his 7th home run of the year in the nightcap.

The Diamondbacks, now 12-14 on the season, head home to better weather and a four-game series with the San Diego Padres. Rubby De La Rosa (2-2) goes after his third win of the season in the opener on Thursday.

Thompson, Tolson tie for the most hits by a TOT in April


Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball











De Lon "Doc" Thompson and Thunder Tim Tolson tied for the most hits by a TOT during the month of April. Both players banged out 24 hits. Tolson had one less at bat, finishing the month with a .615 batting average (24 for 39). Thompson finished at an even .600 (24 for 40).

Tolson had eight doubles, one home run and 23 RBI during the month, while Thompson collected seven doubles, three triples and 20 RBI. Thompson scored 34 runs, while Tolson crossed the plate 22 times.

Congrats to Doc and Tim on a job well done.

Photos: (top) Tim Tolson, (bottom) Doc Thompson


Thompson's 11 consecutive hits may be a modern-day record with the TOTS



Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball




De Lon "Doc" Thompson, 72, had quite the week at the plate from April 27 to May 1 with the TOTS.

In fact, Thompson may have broken the "modern day" record for consecutive hits, going 11 for 11 before grounding into a force out on his 12th at bat.

The club's statistician, Floyd Lance, has been keeping the hitting stats since 2003 and he doesn't recall a player banging out 11 consecutive hits. "I'm pretty sure that's a record," says Lance, who has kept not only monthly but yearly individual hitting records for the club for over 12 years. Between 1968 (the organization's first year) and 2002 individual hitting stats were not kept on a yearly basis.

Records are nothing new for Thompson. He already owns the club's single-season home run record of 19, set in 2006. Thompson, who has been with the TOTS since 2003, has a career batting average of .640 (through 2014).

Getting double digit hits in the same week (club plays just three days a week) is hard to do. The TOTS play on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Udall Park. The norm for plate appearances per game is three, maybe four, plus the fact there are times when each team will field four, five and even six outfielders on occasion (due to a heavy turnout). In short, a hard-hit ball is bound to find a glove...sometimes.

Congrats, Doc.

Photo: Doc Thompson at bat, blasting one of his 11 consecutive hits.


Miguel Urtaza joins TOTS


Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball







Miguel Urtaza, 72, is the newest member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

Urtaza adds an international flavor to the senior ball club. Miguel is from Mexico City and is a former CEO for an international import and export business. Miguel joins John Misiaszek and Denny Leonard as the third member on the TOTS born outside the United States. Misiaszek, 66, has been a member of the TOTS since 2011 and is from London, England, while Leonard, 77, has been a member of the TOTS since 1992 and hails from Edmonton, Alberta.

Miguel officially became a member of the club today and received his TOTS hat in front of his five-year-old grandson, Alex, who sat in the dugout and watched his grandpa perform for seven innings as Team Blue (Miguel's team) beat Team White 14-8.

Photos: (top) Miguel, (bottom) Miguel's grandson, Alex.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

7th-ranked Bruins sweep 16th-ranked Wildcats


Arizona Wildcats Softball


Katiyana Mauga hit her 22nd home run to tie teammate Chelsea Goodacre for the Pac-12 leader in home runs, but Arizona was no match for UCLA as the Bruins beat the Wildcats 15-7 tonight in LA.

Kellie Fox hit a grand slam in the fourth inning for the Wildcats.

UCLA sweeps the three-game series and improves to 44-8, while Arizona falls to 37-15. Arizona is now 12-9 in the Pac-12 Conference, while the Bruins are 18-3.

Kerr and the Warriors are still winning


NBA Playoffs


Coach Steve Kerr and his Golden State Warriors are still winning.

The Warriors opened the Western Conference Semifinals with a 101-86 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies today in Oakland. Stephen Curry pours in 22 points and dishes out seven assists.

Kerr, the former Arizona Wildcat, has coached the Warriors to a 67-15 regular season, a 4-0 record in the first round of the NBA Playoffs and now holds a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series with the Grizzlies.

Go, Steve!


Grandal's 13th-inning homer gives Dodgers a sweep over Diamondbacks


Arizona Diamondbacks


The Dodgers have the Diamondbacks' number, at least this weekend.

The D'backs lose the three-game series at Dodger Stadium, including a 1-0 contest in 13 innings today as Yasmani Grandal homers to left field for a walk-off win for the Dodgers.

The Diamondbacks had nine hits in the game -- including a 3 for 5 effort from Paul Goldschmidt.

Arizona falls to 10-14 and heads for Colorado to begin a three-game series with the Rockies on Monday night.

Arizona takes 2 of 3 at Washington State



Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The Arizona Wildcats take 2 of 3 at Washington State, including a 2-0 win in 11 innings today in Pullman, Washington.  Arizona scored two unearned runs to win it on a dropped fly ball by the Cougars' centerfielder. Kevin Newman and Bobby Dalbec scored on the error.

Dalbec pitched eight shutout innings and Tyger Talley picked up the win in relief.

Arizona is 27-18 overall and 11-13 in the Pac-12 Conference.

Friday, May 1, 2015

Rodriguez ties Willie Mays



Alex Rodriguez hit his sixth homer of the year tonight in Boston to tie Willie Mays for fourth in career home runs with 660. Rodriguez needs 54 home runs to tie Babe Ruth.

TOTS on the run at Udall Park



Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball


The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers are always on the run at Udall Park...well sorta...see below:





Photos by Conrad Royksund

(Top photo) Dennis Crowley beats out a throw to first, (Photo 2) Dave Rhoades heads for third, while Joe Opocensky applies the tag, (Photo 3) Lloyd Barzell get the okay from the base ump David Villasenor and heads home, (Photo 4) shortstop Tim Tolson throws to first as the base runners try to advance -- Pete Peters heads for second and Opocensky heads for third.