Arizona one win short of CWS title

College World Series


Arizona tried its best to win it all.

It didn't happen.

Ariona wins 49 games during the  2016 season. They needed 50!

Coastal Carolina wins the CWS finale over Arizona 4-3 in Omaha today.

Good job, Wildcats!

Phillies sweep Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks are a dismal 13-28 at home. The Phillies came to town and took three from the Diamondbacks -- including a 9-8 win today at Chase Field in 10 innings.

Only the Atlanta Braves have a worse record at home this season. The poor Braves have posted just 11 wins in their home ball park. My goodness. That's terrible.

The Diamondbacks are 36-45. That's half the regular season. Time flies when you're having fun. Maybe they should get back on the road. Arizona is 23-17 away from Chase Field. Mind boggling.

Next up: San Francisco.

The CWS finale postponed

College World Series


What a bummer!

The Arizona fans will have to wait another day.

The College World Series finale in Omaha will be played sometime on Thursday afternoon...weather permitting that is!

Another day of rest for the pitchers...and the players.

Could be a good thing...or a bad thing.

My money is on the Arizona Wildcats. They've battled through it all in postseason. They'll be up for it.

Go, Wildcats!

Coastal Carolina edges Wildcats, 5-4

College World Series


Tune in tomorrow night. There's one more game to be played at the College World Series in Omaha.

Why?

Because Coastal Carolina holds on to beat Arizona 5-4 tonight to even the championship series, setting up a finale for all the marbles on Wednesday.

Kevin Ginkel pitched seven strong innings for Arizona tonight, allowing two runs and just one earned, but reliever Cameron Ming, who has been stellar during the series, didn't have it tonight as Coastal Carolina scored three runs in the eighth to take a 5-2 lead.

Arizona scored two in the bottom of the eighth, but went 1-2-3 in the ninth, allowing Coastal Carolina to hang around for one more day.

Zach Gibbons had three hits tonight and leads all Division 1 players in hits with 107.

Both teams are now 5-2 at the CWS. The first one to six takes home the hardware as the 2016 NCAA World Series champion.

Go get 'em, Wildcats.

Bookemdanosports reaches 2,700 posts

A big "thank you" goes out to all my readers.

Bookemdansports has reached 2,700 post!

Arizona a victory away from a CWS title

College World Series


JC Cloney tosses a four-hit 3-0 shutout at the College World Series today in Omaha and the Arizona Wildcats blank Coastal Carolina 3-0 to go 1-up in the best-of-three to decide the national collegiate champion for 2016.

Cloney was in command for all nine innings and he got all the runs he needed from the first three batters in the Wildcats' lineup -- Cody Ramer, Zach Gibbons and Ryan Aguilar.

Ramer had two hits, Gibbons contributed one and Aguilar had two of the six hits for the Wildcats (49-22). Aguilar drove in two runs and Gibbons knocked in the other.

Cloney was masterful with three walks and six strikeouts and more importantly a complete game, allowing the Arizona pitching staff to get some much needed rest.

Way to go, Wildcats. Bring home the title tomorrow!

Diamondbacks return home after 7-3 road trip

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks return home to Chase Field after a successful 7-3 road trip.

Arizona (36-42) take four in Philadelphia, split two games with Toronto and then end up in Denver for a crazy four-game series as the Diamondbacks bang out 56 hits in the four games, but win only two from the Rockies.

The 56 hits is a new club record. The previous record was 53 and it happened twice against the Rockies.

It looked like Arizona was heading for an 8-2 road trip, but the Rockies pulled it out in the bottom of the 9th inning today for a 9-7 victory, thanks to a two-run walk-off homer by former Diamondback Mark Reynolds.

Arizona will play host to the Phillies in a three-game series. The first game is scheduled for Monday night as Robbie Ray (4-6) takes the mound for the Diamondbacks.

College World Series Update

College World Series



Arizona to play Coastal Carolina in best of three showdown for the National title, first game Monday at 4 p.m. (Tucson time).

Go, Wildcats!

Arizona advances to championship series at CWS

College World Series

Arizona is heading for the College World Series finals.

The Wildcats for the second day in a row beat Oklahoma State at the College World Series in Omaha. This time by a 5-1 score this afternoon as Bobby Dalbec hurls seven innings, allowing just four hits and one run, and Arizona cruises into the CWS finals and a three-game series next week against the winner of tonight's matchup between TCU and Coastal Carolina.

Arizona (48-22) banged out nine hits today off arguably the three best pitchers on the Oklahoma State staff. Once again it was Zach Gibbons with two hits and three RBI, while Jared Oliva and Ryan Aguilar contributed two hits apiece.

The Wildcats chased Oklahoma State's ace Thomas Hatch after just two innings of work. Hatch took the mound in the third, but didn't record an out and was forced to watch the game from the dugout the rest of the way.

Arizona is 4-1 at the CWS and has won six consecutive elimination games in the postseason.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Arizona stays alive at CWS

College World Series

Arizona hit safely 14 times and Cameron Ming came on in relief of injured starter Nathan Bannister and pitched five strong innings as Arizona stays alive at the College World Series in Omaha today with a 9-3 win over previously unbeaten Oklahoma State.

Zach Gibbons went 3 for 5 and drove in two runs for the Wildcats.

Bannister left after 2 2/3 innings with an undisclosed injury. He had struck out five and retired eight of the nine batters he faced. Kevin Ginkel pitched 1 1/3, allowing two hits and two runs, and Ming took over, allowing one run the rest of the way.

Next up: Oklahoma State again on Saturday. It'll be Arizona's Bobby Dalbec against Thomas Hatch for the Cowboys.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Team White gets come-from-behind win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Pitcher Jesse Ochoa had done it all for Team Blue at Udall Park today. Ochoa needed just one more out to preserve a 7-5 win for his team. In fact, Ochoa had made sure his team had the lead in the fifth inning when he came up with the bases loaded and drilled a shot to the fence in left field to clear the bases. He also singled in a run and was hit by a pitch. All in all, a 2 for 2 day at the plate and four runs batted in.

But, as Yogi Berra used to say, "it's never over, til it's over."

With two on and two out in the final at bat for Team White, Dan Lundwall singled to right and the ball got by the outfielder and two runs scored to tie the game. That brought up lefty Dennis Crowley, who quickly singled to the opposite field and Lundwall raced home with the winning run and an 8-7 win for Team White.

Crowley, who was one out away from being saddled with the loss, ended up with the pitching victory.

Team White had taken a 4-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to RBI-singles from Lloyd Barzell and Ron Carlson, followed by a two-run single to the gap in left-center by Pigpen Price, but Team Blue roared back with three runs in the second and four in the fifth -- highlighted by Ochoa's big blow.

The TOTS, despite the hot days this week, played three games this week and will be back in action on Monday with a 9 a.m. start at Udall.

Photos: 1) Jesse Ochoa, 2) Dan Lundwall, 3) Dennis Crowley...4) and Yogi.

Arizona advances!

College World Series


JC Cloney pitched seven strong innings, walked two and struck out two and Jared Oliva drilled a two-run home run as Arizona (46-22) eliminated UCSB 3-0 tonight at the College World Series in Omaha.

Arizona's outstanding pitching staff has allowed just two runs in three games at the CWS and will take a 2-1 record into the next round on Friday.

It'll be down to just four teams on Friday.  Coastal Carolina and Texas Tech square off on Thursday in an elimination game.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Diamondbacks split with Blue Jays

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks (34-40) split their two games in Toronto, beating the Blue Jays on Tuesday 4-2 and losing today 5-2.

The loss today snapped a five-game winning streak and the Diamondbacks now head for Colorado for a four-game series with the Rockies.

Go get 'em, Diamondbacks! Zack Greinke (10-3) gets the start in the opener with the Rockies.

Arizona is now 21-15 on the road this season.

Team White edges Team Blue, 5-4

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team White scored five runs and took advantage of four errors to edge Team Blue 5-4 today in a hot and dusty 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game at Udall Park.

Doc Thompson picked up the win and worked his way out of jam in the last inning when Team Blue scored two runs and had the tying run and the go ahead run on base with two outs.

Thompson quickly got ahead of Pigpen Price and with the count at 1-2 coaxed Price into a groundout to second base to end the game.

Tim Boyd went the distance for Team Blue and was saddled with the loss.

The TOTS will close out this week's action with a game on Friday. Game time 9 a.m.

OSU edges Wildcats, 1-0

College World Series


Bobby Dalbec found himself in a pitching duel with Tyler Buffett at the College World Series in Omaha tonight.

Dalbec struck out 12, allowed five hits, gave up one run and threw 122 pitches in eight innings of work, but Oklahoma State (2-0) edged the Arizona Wildcats 1-0, thanks to a three-hit shutout by Buffett.

A well played game by both teams, but the bottom line: Arizona falls to 1-1 in the CWS and faces an elimination game on Wednesday at 4 p.m. (Arizona time) against the University of California at Santa Barbara (1-1).

Towering home run by Tolson not enough to beat Team Blue

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Tim Tolson is the top home run hitter on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS).

Tolson's home run blast this morning cleared the scoreboard in deep center field at Udall Park -- a good 330 feet from home plate, but it wasn't enough to give Team White a win as Team Blue held on for a 10-6 win.

With the temperature at 9 a.m already hovering over the 103 degree mark, Tolson, a lefty, sent a Lloyd Barzell fastball into orbit.  Too bad the blast didn't bring rain.

It was a hot one from the get go today. Barzell got the win and Bob Daliege was saddled with the loss. Pete Peters had two hits for Team Blue and knocked in three runs.

The TOTS will stay out of the heat tomorrow and will be back in action on Wednesday.

By 2 p.m the temperature had reached 111 degrees today and there was a chance the gauge could reach 115 by 5 p.m. That's down right hot, but still not hot enough to keep the TOTS off the field.

On the Lamb

Jake Lamb hits a two-run homer in the first inning in Philadelphia and the Arizoma Diamondbacks (33-39, 20-14 away) make it four in a row over the Phillies with a 3-1 win today as Shelby Millers (2-6) gets his second win.

It's on to Toronto for a two game series with the Blue Jays.

Way to go, Diamondbacks!

Cleveland Cavs wins NBA Championship

NBA Finals


LeBron James scores 27 points, grabs 11 rebounds and dishes out 11 assists for a triple-double to lead the Cleveland Cavs to the NBA title with a 93-89 victory over Golden State in Oakland tonight.

The Cavs, down 3 games to 1, win three in a row to upend the Warriors, the team with the best-ever regular-season record this year of 73-9 and the defending NBA champions from 2015.

It's the first sports title for the city of Cleveland in 52 years.

Wildcat Watch: Congrats, to former Arizona Wildcat players Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye and Bret Breilmaier.

Diamondbacks winning away from home

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks are 3-0 on their current road trip and will have a chance to sweep the four-game series at Philadelphia on Monday. Arizona won 5-1 today behind the pitching of Archie Bradley (6 innings, 1 run), following strong pitching performances on Friday by Robbie Ray (6 innings, 2 runs) and Zack Greinke (8 innings, 1 run) yesterday.

The Diamondbacks (32-39, 19-14 away) didn't hit any homers today, but they sure did the first two games, collecting a total of nine -- two by Paul Goldschmidt, two by Peter O'Brien, two by Yasmany Tomas and one each by Jake Lamb, Welington Castillo and Nick Ahmed.

Today, Lamb doubled and tripled, while knocking in two runs.

Way to go, Diamondbacks. Stay on the ROAD!

Arizona stuns Miami

College World Series


Arizona (45-21) took advantage of first-inning wildness from Miami's Michael Mediavilla, jumped out to a 3-0 lead and never looked back tonight en route to a 5-1 opening-round win at the College World Series in Omaha.

Nathan Bannister (12-2) got the job done for the Wildcats with seven strong innings and Cameron Ming closed it out for the save as the two pitchers allowed one run and struck out 14 Miami batters.

Jared Oliva knocked in two of the three runs in the first inning with a single to right and Zach Gibbons added two insurance runs in the fifth inning with a two-run double.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Next up: Oklahoma State on Monday.

In the heat of the moment

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

An Editorial:

Putting things into perspective...

I'm a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS), a senior baseball organization. We play three days a week at Udall Park.

After the game today, I answered a call on my car phone and quickly complained to a friend on the other end. The caller listened as I gave him a quick synopsis on the recently completed game -- a game I pitched in and was the losing pitcher.

I said to him. "I struck out two, but I walked six and even hit a batter."

We lost the game 8-4 as my opponent, Team White, took advantage of my wildness in the first three innings, giving them a relatively easy win.

Pete Peters, 67, went 2 for 2, walked once, scored three times and knocked in a run. He was a thorn in my side the entire game. Lefty Dennis Crowley, 66,  pitched a complete game for Team White and picked up the win and I went the distance as well in a losing cause.

"Pigpen," said the caller, using my team nickname. "You do realize you'll be 71 in a few weeks. The TOTS are amazing...you're amazing."

I instantly felt better. After all, we play year around and we (the TOTS) range in age from 60 to 90.

I suddenly realized how lucky I was. I really didn't lose today...I won by just showing up.

I feel so good I'll be back at it on Monday at Udall Park with my teammates. It's supposed to be 117 degrees on Sunday and 111 on Monday.

No worries. It's a dry heat and we are the TOTS.

There will be a Game 7

NBA Finals


LeBron James scored 41 points for the second game in a row as the Cavs beat Golden State 115-101 in Game 6 tonight in Cleveland to extend the NBA Finals to a deciding Game 7 back in Oakland on Sunday.

The Cavs led wire to wire and Warriors' superstar Stephen Curry was ejected from the game with four minutes remaining. Curry finished with 30 points.

It should be a barnburner on Sunday!

Wildcat Watch: Andre Iguodala - 5 points, 4 rebounds for the Warriors; Richard Jefferson - 3 points, 6 rebounds for Cleveland.

Go, Cubbies!

Chicago Cubs


Just thought I'd give a big "attaboy" to the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs are 44-20 on the season. The best record in baseball.

Great pitching staff. Great hitting.

This could be the year!

Can the Cavs extend the NBA Finals to 7 games?

NBA Finals


Can the Cleveland Cavs extend the NBA Finals to seven games?

Maybe!

We'll know for sure when the final seconds tick away in Game 6 in Cleveland on Thursday night.

Why has it come down to this?

We'll the Cavs won Game 5 in Oakland 112-97 as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving combine for 82 points.

The NBA would sure be happy with a seventh game.

And just maybe basketball fans feel the same way.

Wildcat Watch: In Game 5, Andre Iguodala scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds for the Golden State Warriors. Richard Jefferson pumped in eight points for Cleveland. Channing Frye did not play.

Woes continue for Diamondbacks at Chase Field

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks fall to 13-25 at Chase Field after losing two of three to the LA Dodgers and finish 4-5 on their latest home stand. That leaves the Diamondbacks in fourth place in the NL West, 12 1/2 games back of the front-running San Francisco Giants.

If you add it all up, the Diamondbacks are 29-39 overall as they debark on a 10-game road trip with four games in Philly, two in Toronto and four in Denver against the Colorado Rockies.

Arizona is 16-14 on the road this season. Maybe the road trip will do them some good.

5-run 4th-inning lifts Team White to 7-6 win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team White put together a five-run 4th inning and went on to beat Team Blue 7-6 today at Udall Park in a 60-an-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball game.

Joe Opocensky and Pigpen Price singled in two runs apiece and Ron Peterson added an RBI-single as Team White held on to beat Team Blue's ace right-hander Doc Thompson. Tim Tolson led Team Blue with a perfect 3 for 3 day, while Opocensky, Price and Bob Daliege collected two hits apiece for Team White.

Peterson, a lefty, picked up the win.

The TOTS continue to have a record turnout for the month of June as 28 players played today, including 60-year-old newcomer John Mathews, who is waiting in the wings to become the newest member of the organization. Mathews, a 6 feet, 3 1/2 inch, 220 pound hard-hitting right-hander, has had six at bats with the TOTS and in his final at bat today laced a two-run double to right field for Team White.

The TOTS will close out the week with a game on Friday at Udall. Game time 9 a.m. It's expected to be a hot one. The temperature is expected to reach 105 on Friday, 111 on Saturday and 117 on Sunday.

Ugh! Summer is HERE!

Photo: Ron Peterson, the winning pitcher today at Udall.

Arizona Wildcats heading back to College World Series

Arizona Wildcats Baseball

The Arizona Wildcats (44-21) are heading back to Omaha and the College World Series.

Freshman Cesar Salazar singles to right field and knocks in the game-winner in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Wildcats beat Mississippi State tonight in Starkville, Mississippi, to punch their ticket to Omaha.

Arizona bangs out 18 hits tonight and come back from a 5-1 deficit for the win. Bobby Dalbec hits a solo homer and Ryan Aguilar drills a three-run home run, but in the end it was Salazar with the game-winner.

Cameron Ming (3-2) pitches the final two innings for the Wildcats to pick up the win and the save. Nathan Bannister hurled the first six innings for Arizona. Zach Gibbons had four of the 18 hits for the Wildcats.

Way to go, Arizona!

Warriors one win away from another NBA title

NBA Finals


It's almost in the bag for the Golden State Warriors.

They are one win away from another NBA title as Stephen Curry pours in 38 points tonight in Cleveland as the Warriors take a 3 to 1 advantage with a 108-97 win.

Klay Thompson adds 25 and former Arizona Wildcat Andre Iguodala scored 10 points, grabs six rebounds and dishes out seven assists as the Warriors take a commanding lead in the series.

The Warriors head back to Golden State for Game 5 on Monday at the Oracle Arena.

Dalbec leads Wildcats to opening-round win in Super Regional

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


Bobby Dalbec allowed five hits in 8 2/3 innings, threw 129 pitches and hurled a shutout en route to a 1-0 victory over Mississippi State in the opening-round of the NCAA Super Regional tonight in Starkville, Mississippi.

Dalbec (10-4) was masterful as he kept Mississippi State off balance with an array of breaking ball pitches as he struck out nine batters. JJ Matijevic produced the only run of the game in the sixth inning with an RBI-double.

Way to go, Wildcats.

Arizona (43-21) is one win away from the College World Series.

The two teams will go at it tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Daliege tosses 2-hitter

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Bob Daliege tossed a two-hit shutout today at Udall Park as Team Blue beat Team White 3-0 in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Team Blue scored all their runs in the third inning. Mike Steele knocked in two runs and Lloyd Barzell knocked in the third run.

Daliege struck out two and walked two and was never in much trouble as the Team White batters hit the ball hard, but right in the glove of the Team Blue defenders.

It was the best turnout of the month for the senior baseball club as 25 players participated in the six-inning game. It was another fast game as both pitchers threw nothing but strikes. Jesse Ochoa pitched all six innings for Team White, but was saddled with the loss. Team White played well on defense, but just couldn't get anything started offensively.

After two games this week with triple-digit weather, today's game was a little more pleasant as the TOTS finished the game before the temperature reached 90 degrees.

The TOTS will be back in action on Monday. Game time 9 a.m.

Team Blue 2 Team White 1

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Chico Bigham, 77, got the pitching victory today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) game. He also was the losing pitcher.

Say what?

"I'm trying to get my stamina back," says Bigham, who was fine with the extra work. Known as the "rubber arm" on the TOTS' pitching staff, Chico offered to pitch for both teams this morning and pitched six innings for Team Blue and six innings for Team White.

The result: a 2-1 win for Team Blue and a workmanlike performance from Bigham, who is recovering from arm surgery, which he had last winter. Bigham did not walk a batter and completed his 12 innings of work in 1 hour and two minutes.

Dave Rhoades knocked in a run in the first inning and 90-year-old Floyd Lance knocked in the decisive run in the fifth inning. Pigpen Price knocked in the only run for Team White on a ground out to shortstop in the bottom of the seventh.

Photo: Chico, the man with the rubber arm.

Aces win thriller over the Rattlers

Tucson Aces

60-and-over baseball


Bob Daliege singled up the middle to score pinch runner Lloyd Barzell and Ted Davis followed with a bloop RBI-single to left field for the game winner as the Tucson Aces beat the Arizona Rattlers 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning today at Udall Park.

Doc Thompson pitched the first five innings for the Aces and didn't allow an earned run but gave way to Chico Bigham in the sixth inning with the score tied at 2-2.

The Aces had taken a 4-2 lead in the fifth on back to back RBI-singles from Brian Reilly and Pigpen Price, but the Rattlers came right back in the sixth inning to tie the game and then took a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh.

The Rattlers' starter Jesus Amador pitched well for six innings, but ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh and was saddled with the loss. Bigham picked up the win in relief of Thompson.

Arizona advances to Super Regional

Arizona Wildcats Baseball

The Arizona Wildcats (42-21) got the job done.

The Wildcats needed to win two games today from Louisiana at the Lafayette Regional and that's exactly what they did with a 6-3 victory, behind the pitching of Nathan Bannister in Game 1 and a  3-1 win in Game 2, behind the pitching of Kevin Ginkel and Cameron Ming to capture the title.

Bannister was named the MVP of the Regional.

Arizona moves on to the Super Regional to face Mississippi State. Game times yet to be announced.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Team Blue 5 Team White 1

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The temperature reached 106 degrees by the end of the game, but it didn't stop the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) from taking the field this morning at Udall Park.

Team Blue won the game 5-1 over Team White as Lloyd Barzell went the distance (just six innings due to the heat) to pick up the win and he helped his own cause with a 3 for 4 day at the plate.

In a losing cause for Team White, it was Bill Mishler leading the way with two hits and he scored the only run for his team on a throwing error in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ron Carlson knocked in two of the five runs for Team Blue.

The TOTS will be back in action on Wednesday. It will be another hot one with the temperature expected to be near 106 again. The TOTS also play on Friday. A cold wave is expected as the temperature is expected to drop to an even 100 degrees.

Whew!

Photo: Bill Mishler, collected two hits today and drove in Team White's loan run.

Wildcats fall to Louisiana, beat Sam Houston State

Arizona Wildcats Baseball

It'll be a long day for the Arizona Wildcats (40-21) on Monday.

Arizona loses earlier in the day to Louisiana 10-3, but bounce back in the second game of the Lafayette Regional to post a 6-5 win and eliminate Sam Houston State to advance to the championship game.

Or should we say championship games.

Arizona will need to beat the Louisiana-Lafayette team twice to advance to the Super Regional and edge closer to the College World Series in Omaha.

Go get 'em, Arizona.

Warriors own a 2-0 advantage in NBA Finals

NBA Finals


It's all Warriors so far.

Golden State wins by 33 points today 110-77 and takes a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals and it wasn't even the Curry-Thompson show in this one as Draymond Green tosses in 28 points to lead the Warriors to an easy win over the stunned Cleveland Cavaliers.

LeBron James and the Cavaliers need to show up on Wednesday in Cleveland or their title chances will be down to slim and none. James scores 19 points and plays just 34 minutes today. He'll need to be on the court for the duration of the playoffs. If he spends 26 minutes, sitting on the bench, on Wednesday, Cleveland can kiss its chance at a title goodbye.

Wildcats watch: (after 2 games) Cleveland -- Richard Jefferson 15 points, 7 rebounds; Channing Frye 2 points, 2 rebounds. Golden State -- Andre Iguodala 19 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists. Steve Kerr and Luke Walton (2-0).

Diamondbacks beat Cubs

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cubs 3-2 today at Wrigley Field, thanks to a strong seven innings from Patrick Corbin (3-5), a two-run double from Yasmany Tomas and an RBI-single from Paul Goldschmidt.

The Diamondbacks (25-34) salvage 1 of 3 in Chicago and head home for a lengthy home stand.

The Greatest is Gone

Muhammad Ali passes away at the age of 74.

The Greatest is gone.

What a fighter. What a Champ. What a man.

Ali will be buried Friday in his hometown in Louisville, Kentucky.

The mayor of Louisville, Greg Fischer, said today, "Muhammad Ali belongs to the world, but he only has one hometown."

Congrats, Arizona in first-round win

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


Way to go, Arizona Wildcats!

Nathan Bannister pitched seven shutout innings and three Wildcats -- Ryan Aguilar, JJ Matijevic and Bobby Dalbec -- hit homers as Arizona defeated Sam Houston State 7-3 yesterday in the first-round of the NCAA Lafayette regional in Lafayette, La.

Next up: Arizona at 5 p.m. Saturday against Louisiana.

Barzell, Tolson top hitters for TOTS in May

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Lloyd Barzell went 29 for 48 and Tim Tolson banged out 26 hits in 42 at bats to lead all the hitters on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers for the month of May. Tolson batted .619 for the month, while Barzell finished at .604. Tolson knocked in 26 runs, while Pete Peters, Chico Bigham and Doc Thompson tied for second with 11 RBI.

Other top performances for the month included Jesse Ochoa, who played in eight games and batted .630 with 17 hits in just 27 at bats, while Dennis Crowley, Pigpen Price and Peters collected at least 20 hits for the month.

Crowley went 21 for 40 in 11 games (a .525 average), while Price went 20 for 42 (a .476 average) and Peters hit safely 20 times in 37 at bats (a .541 average).

In runs scored, it was Tolson leading the way with 18.

Thompson led the pitching staff for the month with a 3-0 record. Barzell pitched in five games, finishing the month with a 3-2 record.

Photos: Barzell and Tolson

90-year-old knocks in winning run

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Floyd Lance, 90, knocked in the winning run as Team White beat Team Blue 7-6 today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers baseball game.

Lance drilled a shot between third and short in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a 6-6 tie and score Bill Mishler from third base. Lance, the oldest active player for the TOTS, fouled off a couple of pitches from Team Blue starter Lloyd Barzell before turning on an inside fastball and blasted the ball by third-sacker Chico Bigham.

Barzell was saddled with the loss, while Tim Boyd picked up the win for Team White.

The TOTS will be back in action on Monday. Game time 9 a.m.

Photo: Floyd Lance

Greinke stops the bleeding

Arizona Diamondbacks


Zack Greinke stops the bleeding.

The Arizona Diamondbacks (24-32) salvage one off four games with the Astros as Greinke tosses a four-hitter for seven innings en route to 3-0 shutout today in Houston.

And now the Diamondbacks head for Chicago and a three-game series with the Cubs.

Team Blue edges Team White, 3-2

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Doc Thompson pitched five innings of shutout ball to pick up the win and Pigpen Price earned the save, allowing two unearned runs in two innings of work, as Team Blue edged Team White 3-2 today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Thompson struck out four and didn't walk a batter before giving way to Price, who worked his way  out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning and then hurled a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh.

Price knocked in two runs and Bob Royer knocked in the third run to account for all of Team Blue's runs, while Chico Bigham was credited with two runs-batted-in for Team White.

The TOTS begin June with four new ballplayers -- 60-year-old Johnny Mathews, 62-year-old Roger Beebe, 64-year-old Pete Maldonado and 78-year-old A.C. Edwards.

Beebe resides in Tucson and grew up in Tombstone. Maldonado hails from Bronx, New York and Edwards is from Abilene, Texas. Mathews -- once he officially receives his hat and becomes a member of the TOTS in a few weeks -- will become the youngest member of the organization. Mathews, a 1974 graduate out of Tucson Flowing Wells, turned 60 last March. He just may be the newest and tallest TOT on the roster at 6 foot, 3 1/2 inches and 220 pounds.

Welcome aboard to all four rookies.

The newcomers and the rest of the TOTS will be back in action on Friday. According to the weatherman, it'll be the first day of the year over 100 degrees. In that case, the TOTS will play six inning games the rest of the summer.