Warriors win 3 in a row to capture Western Conference title

The Golden State Warriors win three in a row -- including a 96-88 win in Game 7 tonight over the  Oklahoma City Thunder in Oakland to capture the Western Conference title and advance to the NBA Finals.

It'll be the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Warriors for all the marbles, just like in 2015.

Congrats, to the Warriors and to their head coach and former Arizona Wildcat Steve Kerr on a job well done. And also to assistant coach Luke Walton and to Andre Iguodala, who played 43 minutes tonight for the Warriors and scored seven points.

Arizona selected for postseason play

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The Arizona Wildcats (38-20) will open play Friday at 11 a.m. at the Lafayette, Louisiana regional against Sam Houston State. The other teams in the regional include Princeton and the host team, Lafayette-Louisiana.

The last time the Wildcats reached the postseason was in 2012. Arizona won it all that year with a 10-0 postseason run.  This will mark the 38th appearance in the NCAA Tournament by the Wildcats.

Good luck, Wildcats!

Wildcats finish regular season 38-20

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The Arizona Wildcats win all three games in Hawaii to finish the regular season with an overall record of 38-20 and now await word on postseason play.

The Wildcats capped off the three-game series in Hawaii with a 5-3 win on Saturday. Zach Gibbons finished the regular season with 84 hits, while Cody Ramer ended up with 83. Gibbons ended up with a .385 batting average,  while Ramer finished at .356.

Team Blue 10 Team White 5

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Ted Davis went 4 for 4 and drove in six runs as Team Blue broke open a close game with a four-run seventh inning to topple Team White 10-5 today at Udall Park.

Team White held a 4-3 lead after the first inning of play, but Team Blue battled back and held a slim 6-5 lead, heading into the seventh, but three hard hit balls from Tim Tolson, Doc Thompson and Davis knocked in four insurance runs to put the game away.

Lloyd Barzell pitched all seven innings for Team White and was saddled with the loss, while Thompson pitched five innings for Team Blue to pick up the win and Bob Royer hurled the final two innings and was credited with the save.

Dennis Crowley went 3 for 4 for Team White.

It was the final game of the month for the Tucson Old Timers as they take a break on Monday, due to Memorial Day. The TOTS will be back in action on Wednesday, June 1.

Diamondbacks limp home with a 21-28 record

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks return home with a 21-28 record.

The Diamondbacks win 2 of 3 in St. Louis, but lose all three games in Pittsburgh and now face the San Diego Padres in a three-game series at Chase Field, followed by a four-game series ( 2 at Chase, 2 in Houston) against the Astros.

Arizona's record at home is a dismal 7-17.

I'm looking for something good to report when it comes to the Diamondbacks. Right now, it's all bad news.

Hawaii awaits the Wildcats

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The Arizona Wildcats (35-20), fresh off a couple of non-conference wins over Abilene Christian (12-1, 8-3), will spend the next few days in Hawaii. What a way to end the regular season!

The three game series gets underway on Friday. After that the Wildcats will head back home and await word on postseason play.

As far as season statistics go, Arizona maintains a team batting average of .287 after 55 games and the top three producers, heading into the Hawaii series, include Zach Gibbons, Cody Ramer and Ryan Aguilar.

Gibbons holds the top average at .365 with 74 hits in 203 at bats, while Ramer has the most hits on the team with 78 hits in 218 at bats, a .358 average. As for Aguilar, he's not too far behind with 70 hits in 217 at bats, a .323 average.

The top RBI man after 55 games is Aguilar with 41, while Gibbons is second in the run-producing category with 36. Ramer and Bobby Dalbec are tied for third with 33 runs-batted-in.

The 35 wins by the Wildcats is the most wins by a Wildcat team since 2012, which just happens to by the last time Arizona made the postseason.

The Wildcats are on a three-game winning streak and a sweep on the Islands certainly could help their cause and their hopes to extend the season.

Steele leads Team Blue to 8-4 win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Mike Steele, 68, loves to play the game of baseball. Unfortunately work gets in the way and keeps him off the ball diamond.

But it's late spring. The end of May. Time for some baseball for Mr. Steele.

A full-time elementary school teacher, Steele has locked the door of his classroom and is back in action with the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS).

Today, Mike went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs to lead Team Blue to an 8-4 win over Team White at Udall Park.

"It feels good to be back playing," Steele said, following the game today. "I miss playing and being around the guys."

Despite being a little rusty, Steele strapped on the catching gear and caught all seven innings behind the plate and felt right at home when he stepped into the batter's box.

Steele and the rest of the TOTS will be back in action on Friday at Udall Park with a 9 a.m. game.

Photo: Mike Steele

Team Blue wins slugfest

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team Blue held on for 12-10 win today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) game.

Tim Tolson led the way for Team Blue with four hits in four trips to the plate and four RBI, while Team White lost the game despite an impressive performance from Doc Thompson, who went four for five and drove in a game-high six runs.

Lloyd Barzell pitched all seven innings and picked up the win for Team Blue, while Bob Daliege hurled a complete game for Team White in a losing cause.

Wildcats finish 16-14 in the Pac-12

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The Arizona Wildcats (33-20) finish 16-14 in the Pac-12 as they win their final conference game with a 5-4 victory today at Oregon. The Ducks win the first two games of the three-game series, but today the Wildcats received eight strong innings from Nathan Bannister (8-2) to salvage the getaway game.

The Wildcats return home for two games on Tuesday and Wednesday against Abilene Christian before embarking on their final round trip -- a three-game series at Hawaii next weekend.

Diamondbacks take 2 of 3 from Cardinals

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks (21-25) improved to 14-8 on the road with a 7-2 win today in St. Louis over the Cardinals. Arizona gets eight strong innings from Zack Greinke, who allows one run and five hits to improve to 5-3 on the season.

Paul Goldschmidt knocked in two runs and Michael Bourn had three hits in five trips to the plate as the Diamondbacks win the series, 2 games to 1.

Arizona heads for Pittsburgh and a three-game series with the Pirates. Shelby Miller (1-5) takes the mound for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

No down-to-the-wire games this week with the TOTS

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

It was a week of lopsided games at Udall Park this week.

When the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers get together for a competitive game on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, it usual comes down to the final inning before a winner emerges.

But this week the winning team in all three encounters scored a total of 35 runs, while the losers totaled just five runs. Today, Team Blue capped off the week with a 10-2 win over Team White.

Team Blue jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back as right-hander Doc Thompson hurled a shutout for three innings. Thompson went on to pick up the win, allowing one unearned run in the fourth. Lloyd Barzell pitched the final two innings for Team Blue, while lefty Dennis Crowley hurled all seven innings for Team White.

The TOTS will be back in action next week.

Segura, Goldschmidt lead Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks (19-24), fresh off a 2-1 series' win over the Yankees at Chase Field, hit the road again for six games -- three at St. Louis and three in Pittsburgh.

After 43 games, lead off batter Jean Segura and power-hitter Paul Goldschmidt sit atop the Diamondbacks' stats. Segura leads the club with 59 hits and a .335 average, while Goldy, as usual, is the leader in home runs with eight and in runs-batted-in with 23.

As usual, the Diamondbacks are battling once again to reach the .500 mark.

Come on, D'backs. Go get 'em!

Wildcats head for Oregon

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The Arizona Wildcats (32-18, 15-12) lose 2 of 3 to Arizona State at Hi Corbett Field over the weekend, including a 5-1 loss today in the final game of the series.

Still, it was a competitive three-game series and an excellent turnout by the Arizona fans. Over 18,000 fans drifted through the turnstiles -- including a record crowd of 8,067 on Saturday as the Wildcats salvaged a 4-2 win over the Sun Devils.

Zach Gibbons and Cody Ramer are still battling for the top spot among the Wildcat hitters. Gibbons has 70 hits in 181 at bats, while Ramer has 70 hits in 200 at bats. Gibbons has played in 48 games and is batting .387, while Ramer has played in all 50 games and is batting at a .350 clip. The two players have been on base a lot this season, Gibbons has walked 30 times and Ramer had received a free pass 37 times.

Next up: A three-game series next week at Oregon.

Diamondbacks can't win at home

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks (17-23) are in trouble when they're at home.

Case in point: Today at Chase Field, the Diamondbacks lose 2-1 to the Giants and end up being swept by San Francisco, four games to none. Arizona falls to a dismal 5-16 at home.

Next up: the New York Yankees.

Thompson tosses gem

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Hard throwing right-hander Doc Thompson allowed one run in five innings of work and struck out four batters as Team Blue picked up an easy 10-2 win over Team White today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Jesse Ochoa pitched the final two innings for Team Blue, allowing just one run.  Dennis Crowley pitched all seven innings for Team White and was saddled with the loss.

It was a warm one and the temperature was expected to climb over the 100-degree mark by mid afternoon today. Luckily, the TOTS have a new starting time of 9 a.m. in hopes of getting the ball games in and avoid the 100-plus temperatures, which will be a fact a life in Tucson until the middle of October.

The TOTS will play just six innings this summer instead of the normal seven, beginning on Monday, May 16.

Photo: Doc Thompson

Rockies hold on to beat Diamondbacks, 8-7

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks fall to the Rockies 8-7 at Coors Field today and return home after a successful 5-4 road trip. The Diamondbacks almost pulled out the getaway game in Denver, battling back from a 7-1 deficit to tie the game. But in the end, a 6-3 road trip just wasn't in the cards as Nolan Arenado hit a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the win for the Rockies.

Arizona (17-19) will open a four-game series at Chase Field tomorrow night against the San Francisco Giants (17-18).

Arizona baseball moving on up

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The Arizona Wildcats take on Arizona State in a three-game series at Hi Corbett Field on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Record crowds are expected.

After all, Arizona is now in the thick of things after sweeping Oregon State last week. The Wildcats head into their battle with the Sun Devils, sporting a 31-16 overall record and a 14-10 slate in the Pac-12 Conference.

Zach Gibbons and Cody Ramer continue to swing the hot bats for the Wildcats. Gibbons has a .390 average, while Ramer sits at .360. Ramer has 68 hits on the season to lead the Wildcats, while Gibbons is just one hit behind Ramer at 67.

Go get those Sun Devils!

Diamondbacks make some noise on road trip

Arizona Diamondbacks


Don't look now, but the Arizona Diamondbacks are on a five-game winning streak

And they are on the road!

Disregard the first three games against Miami. Arizona lost all three games to the Marlins to begin the nine-game road trip, but since then a sweep of the Atlanta Braves, followed by back-to-back wins over the Rockies in Colorado.

Win or lose today in the finale at Coors Field, the Diamondbacks can pencil in a successful trip. A win today with Robbie Ray on the mound would complete a 6-3 road trip and even the Diamondbacks' season record at 18-18.

Jean Segura leads the Diamondbacks with a .350 batting average. Segura has 49 hits in 140 trips to the plate and has played in 32 of 35 games.

6-run 7th inning lifts Team Blue to 8-6 win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team Blue scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning and went on to beat Team White 8-6 today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over baseball game.

Trailing 6-2, Team Blue loaded the bases and then received consecutive hits from Tim Tolson, Ron Petersen, Jesse Ochoa, Ron Carlson and Chico Bigham to over take Team White. Ochoa's single to the fence in left-center tied the game at 6-6,  Carlson singled over the head of the shortstop to put Team Blue ahead by one and Bigham followed with another single to left to complete the scoring.

Pete Peters led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a booming double to the gap in left-center, but was left stranded at third base as Team Blue's right-hander Bob Daliege worked his way out of a jam to pick up the win.

Lloyd Barzell pitched all seven innings for Team White and was saddled with the loss. Barzell led the Team White hitters with three hits in four trips to the plate.

The TOTS will be back in action at Udall on Wednesday. Game time 9 a.m.

Photo: Lloyd Barzell went 3 for 4 at Udall Park today to lead Team White. Team Blue won the game with a six-run 7th inning. Barzell went the distance for Team White on the mound, but was saddled with the loss.

Carlson, Peters tie for most hits by a TOT in April

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Ron Carlson and Pete Peters were the top hitters on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) for the month of April. Both players went 19 for 28 and played in eight games during the month -- a healthy .679 batting average.

Jess Ochoa finished the month with a .719 average, but played in just six games, finishing with 15 hits in 21 at bats.

Other top hitters for the month included: Tolson (18 for 32, a .563 average), Lloyd Barzell (17 for 33, a .515 average), Danny Price (16 for 37, a .432 average), Bob Daliege (15 for 23, a .632 average) and Brian Reilly (14 for 22, a .636 average).

Barzell and Tolson finished with the most runs scored at 16, while Tolson was once again the RBI leader for the month with 22.

Dennis Crowley was the big winner on the mound for the month with three wins and only one loss.

Photos: top, Ron Carlson, bottom, Pete Peters.

Team Blue 8 Team White 3

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team Blue right-hander Lloyd Barzell allowed three runs in the first inning and then shutdown Team White the rest of the way today at Udall Park en route to an 8-3 win in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers baseball game.

Joe Opocensky banged out a two-run single in the first inning and Jesse Ochoa followed with an RBI-single to account for all of Team White's runs. Barzell helped his own cause with two triples and was helped out by a booming RBI-double off the right field fence by Tim Tolson.

The TOTS will be back in action at Udall on Wednesday with a 9 a.m start.

Rockies sweep Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks (12-15) were outscored 20-5 by the Rockies in three games at Chase Field over the weekend -- including a 6-3 loss today.

The one bright spot for the Diamondbacks was Brandon Drury, who went 3 for 5 today with a home run -- his fifth of the year.

The Diamondbacks hit the road and will travel to Miami for a three-game series with the Marlins.

Wildcats 28-16, 11-10 in Pac 12

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The Arizona Wildcats return home for a three-game series with Oregon State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Wildcats are 28-16 overall and 11-10 in the Pac-12 as they enter this week's action.

Arizona won just 1 of 3 at USC last week and need to string together some victories down the stretch if they hope to qualify for postseason play.

The Wildcats will follow up their series against the Beavers with another three-game series on May 13-15 at Hi Corbett against Arizona State.

Zach Gibbons and Cody Ramer are battling for the top spot among the Wildcat hitters. Gibbons has 63 hits in 161 at bats for a .391 average, while Ramer has 64 hits in 180 at bats for a .356 average.