Wildcats slip by 3rd-ranked ASU

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Deandre Ayton scored 23 points and hauled down 19 rebounds, while Allonzo Trier pumped in 23 points and dished out four assists at McKale Center tonight to lead the 17th-ranked Arizona Wildcats to a 84-78 win over the third-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils.

Arizona held a slim 39-37 lead at halftime and led by a dozen twice during second half, only to see its double-digit leads vanish. In the end, Arizona went to their two stars down the stretch as Ayton and Trier combined for 30 of the Wildcats' 45 points in the second half.

The Wildcats shared the ball well, dishing out 18 assists with Parker Jackson-Cartwright leading the way with six. Dusan Ristic finished with 12 points and Dylan Smith came off the bench to hit 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.

There will be a new No. 1 come Monday as Villanova, the top team in the land, lost to Butler today. The Sun Devils went into McKale tonight as the only unbeaten team in the country. No more unbeaten teams as the Wildcats take care of business at McKale to improve to 11-3 on the season and 1-0 in Pac-12 play. The Sun Devils: now 12-1 overall  and 0-1 in the Pac-12.

Way to go, Wildcats.

Purdue edges Arizona 38-35 at Foster Farms Bowl

Foster Farms Bowl

Santa Clara, California

Purdue 38 Arizona 35

Sophomore Khalil Tate threw five touchdowns passes tonight for Arizona but Purdue scored the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes to go to edge the Wildcats 38-35 at the Foster  Farms Bowl in Santa Clara, California.

Arizona, down 31-14 at the end of the first half, held Purdue scoreless in the the third quarter and most of the fourth quarter, as Tate connected on three of his five touchdown passes to put the Wildcats in the lead for the first time in the game -- the go-ahead score coming on a 24-yard TD pass from Tate to Shun Brown with 3:21 remaining on the clock.

The Arizona lead didn't last long as Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar hooked up with Anthony Mahounguo on a 38-yard game winner with 1:44 remaining in the game.

Arizona finishes the season with a 7-6 record.

Wildcats move up another notch in AP College Basketball Poll

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


A slight change this week for the Arizona Wildcats in the AP College Basketball Poll.

Arizona (10-3) moves up to No. 17. Arizona State (12-0) stays at No. 3, while the Wildcats from Villanova (12-0) remains at No. 1.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Bookemdanosports.

This old blog has been around since 2009 and is nearing 3,200 post.

The author of the blog (that's me) is a little under the weather, dealing with a virus I just can't get rid of. I'm hoping to have it all behind me by the new year. Wow! 2018 is just around the corner.

Once again, Happy Holidays from Dan Price.

Alkins, Trier, Ristic lead Wildcats to win over UConn

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Dusan Ristic scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Arizona to a 73-58 non-conference win over UConn tonight at the McKale Center.

Ristic spent a lot of time on the court due to the fact Deandre Ayton played only seven minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. Ayton, who had four fouls in the game,  made the most of his slim minutes on the floor --  finishing with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Rawle Alkins was 6 of 11 from the field -- including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, while Allonzo Trier netted 15 points, canning 5 of 10 from the field and three 3-pointers.

Arizona, ranked 18th in the country this week, improves to 10-3. Next game: Dec. 30 at McKale against the third-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils.

Aces win! Aces win!

60-and-over baseball

Tucson Aces


Reed Palmer homered and pitched a complete game to lead the 60-and-over Tucson Aces to a 8-3 win at Udall Park today over the Old Pueblo Club.

The Aces scored three runs in the first inning and led 6-1 after four innings of play. Palmer capped off the win with a home run over the right field fence in his last at bat.

Tim Boyd made the play of the day for the Aces with an over-the-shoulder catch to snuff out a rally by the Old Pueblo Club.

Way to go, Aces!

18th-ranked Arizona rolls over NDSU, 83-53

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Deandre Ayton led 18th-ranked Arizona to a 83-53 non-conference win over North Dakota State tonight at McKale. Ayton scored 25 points and hauled in nine rebounds as the Wildcats won their sixth straight game and improve to 9-3.

The Wildcats shot 50 percent from the field (33 of 66), but received a scare midway through the second half when Allonzo Trier left the court with a knee injury. Trier, who scored 15 points, returned to the bench late in the second half with ice on his left knee.

Ten players scored for Arizona. Rawle Alkins finished with 11 points and Dusan Ristic scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Way to go, Wildcats! Connecticut comes to town on Thursday.

Arizona moves to No. 18 in AP Basketball Poll

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Movin' on up.

The Arizona Wildcats, winner of five straight games, moved up to No. 18 in the AP College Basketball Poll, while The Arizona State Sun Devils are ranked No.3 this week.

Villanova stays at No. 1.

Alkins, Trier lead Wildcats to win at The Pit

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Arizona returned to The Pit in Albuquerque tonight.

Nothing has changed.

It's still a rough place to play, but 23rd-ranked Arizona withstood a barrage of three-point attempts from the Lobos and escaped with a 89-73 win over New Mexico.

The Lobos game plan: throw down as many three-pointers (34) and hope half of them go in. Well, New Mexico made 12 of 34, but Arizona was the better shooting team as the Wildcats shot 71 percent from the field in the first half and finished at 64 percent (32 of 50 on the night), while the Lobos ended up 38.7 percent (24 of 62). Half of New Mexico's shot attempts came from long range.

While the Lobos were busy throwing up long-range shots, the Wildcats went about their business of putting the ball in the hoop as Rawle Alkins led the way with a career-high 26 points and Allonzo Trier netted 22. And yes, Deandre Ayton was on hand with his ninth double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Arizona canned 9 of 13 (69.2 percent) of its three-pointers and out rebounded the Lobos 35-23. The Wildcats had 30 points on the scoreboard at the midway point of the first half and led 49-33 at halftime.

The Wildcats win their fifth straight and improve to 8-3.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Little Joe has a big day at the plate

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Little Joe Aparicio turns 84 in January and has been a member of the TOTS for 20 years.

He doesn't exactly knock the cover off the ball anymore -- although there was a time when he did so. Joe, a member of the TOTS' career 1,000 hit club, is now satisfied with a hit every now and then. In November, Aparicio went 5 for 37, a .135 average.

But today at Udall Park, Little Joe had a BIG day. He went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs to lead Team Blue to a 13-12 win over Team White.  Down 11-10 in the top of the seventh inning, Team Blue scored three runs to regain the lead, thanks to a two-run double by Dan Lundwall and an RBI-single from Aparicio.

The big hit of the day came from Team Blue's Thunder Tim Tolson, who hit his fifth home run of the season off the scoreboard in deep center field in the first inning.

As for Team White, they tried to battle back in their final at bat in the bottom of the seventh, but scored only one run on an RBI-double by John Mathews. The hard-hitting Mathews went 5 for 5 on the day. Final score:  Team Blue 13, Team White 12.

The TOTS will swing back into action on Monday at Udall. Game time: 10 a.m.

It wasn't just another game...

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Udall Park

Team Blue won today's game at Udall Park 5-3 over Team White.

It wasn't just another game. It was during the middle of the week -- a Wednesday game to be more specific. The cars pulled into the parking lot around 9 a.m. Warmups and batting practice followed with the 60-and-over players all taking their turn at the plate -- 11 swings each as the players made contact and sent the ball flying to all parts of the field.

Then the game began. Two hours of non-stop action with a bunch of old timers trying their best to put  runs on the scoreboard. There were no winners or losers in this one. The visiting team won by two, thanks to a couple of key hits from 61-year-old Reed Palmer and 72-year-old Ron Petersen. The losing team gave it their all -- David Byars 70, hit the ball hard every time up and, as usual, Thunder Tim Tolson, 65, one of the younger players on the TOTS,  drilled a couple of shots to the gap in left and right-center field.

Palmer pitched a complete game and threw hard fastballs to the plate time after time, while Big John Mathews pitched seven innings for the losing team and did the same -- mixing his fastball with an occasional knuckle ball --  a pitch which danced to the plate and kept the hitters frustrated.

A 70-year old tracked down a fly ball, an 80-year-old chased a ball or two to the fence and a few 60-somethings made the plays of the day (only because they are a wee bit younger than most of their teammates).

A few players headed for the local tavern after the game and threw down a couple of cold ones and relived  the plays of the game --  an easy fly ball, which magically turned into a shoestring catch, or better yet,  a slow roller, which magically became a backhanded stab.

The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers living the dream of playing baseball.

It all begins again on Friday. You gotta love it!
.

Showdown looming for ASU, Arizona

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


The AP College Basketball Poll has Arizona State ranked No. 5 this week and Arizona reemerges at No. 23. The showdown between the two is slated for Saturday, Dec. 30, at McKale Center.

The first Pac-12 Conference game of the 2017-18 season should be a dandy.

Arizona State is a perfect 9-0 heading into this week's action and the Arizona Wildcats have won four straight and own a 7-3 record. As usual, I'm getting way ahead of myself. ASU will play three more games In Tempe before they face the Wildcats. The Sun Devils take on Vanderbilt (3-6), Longwood (3-6) and Pacific (5-6) before they head for McKale, while our Wildcats travel to New Mexico (3-7), and then host North Dakota State (4-5) and Connecticut (7-3).

Chances are the Sun Devils, with the looks of their schedule, should be 12-0 when they enter the confines of McKale on Dec. 30. And the way things are going, chances are the Sun Devils will come into McKale ranked No. 3 or 4. As for the Wildcats, a top-20 ranking is possible if they win all three before they face the Sun Devils.

Can't wait for this one!

Arizona's version of "The Big Easy" leads Wildcats over Alabama

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Too bad the nickname "The Big Easy" is already taken in the world of sports.

South African pro golfer Ernie Els has the nickname all wrapped up.

On the other hand, Arizona's version of "The Big Easy" was a force to be reckoned with again tonight as Deandre Ayton recorded his eighth double-double of the season to lead the Wildcats to an 88-82 non-conference win over Alabama at McKale Center.

Ayton makes it look so easy.

Arizona's 7-1 center pumped in 29 points and grabbed 18 rebounds and received plenty of support from teammate Allonzo Trier, who finished with 25 points -- including 14 of 16 free throws as the Wildcats win a close one over the Crimson Tide.

As it turned out, the Wildcats needed all of Ayton's points just to match Alabama's Collin Sexton, who pumped in 30 points. Sexton hit a 3-pointer at the end of the first half to give Alabama a 40-38 lead at the intermission and he continued to keep his team in the game in the second half.

Still, the Wildcats prevail as they seem to find an extra gear in the final minutes of the game to pull out a win. They treated UNLV the same way and Texas A & M as well.

Arizona improves to 7-3 and will get a week off before heading to Albuquerque next Saturday to take on the New Mexico Lobos.

Redneck skit highlights TOTS' Christmas party

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The Tucson Old Timers baseball club held its annual Christmas luncheon today at the Udall Senior Center. As usual a good time was had by all as 70-plus showed up for the event, which included players, their wives, girl friends, and other family members. And as usual Christmas carols highlighted the event and the annual affair ended with the singing of "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" -- both the original version and the TOTS' version.

This year, Ted Davis Productions was on hand to put on a "redneck skit" -- involving Brother Bob, Brother Davis and a sports store clerk named Dennis, a Santa Claus look alike (which clued the audience in on the fact it was the Christmas holiday season).

The skit:

Once upon a time... their were two redneck brothers -- brother Bobby a graduate many, many years ago from Clemson, down South Carolina way, and brother Teddy, who spent most of his young life apart from his older brother in Bear Bryant country, the great state of Alabama.

Both brothers had some smarts as Bobby grew up to be a top notch accountant, and Teddy left Alabama, settled in the southwest and ended up as the assistant finance director at the University of Arizona. Both brothers eventually retired and joined a crazy bunch of misfits, called the Tucson Old Timers.

The audience is left to figure out for themselves what happened to all the brothers money, because they now have one pickup truck between them and it seems like they both have been gone from the world of finance for quite a while and are trying desperately to figure out how to buy a special gift for Christmas: a baseball bat.

That's when Dennis enters the picture and the audience is trying to figure out why Dennis, aka Santa, has a Boston accent. Could the Land of the Patriots, be Santa's home, too! At any rate, brother Bobby, is nursing a baseball injury and is sitting in the old pickup truck and he sends brother Teddy into the sporting goods store to buy a baseball bat.

There seems to be some question on what type of bat, the weight and just how long the bat needs to be. This takes time as brother Teddy returns to the pickup truck -- not once, not twice but three times to get all the particulars. They eventually figure out the type of wood, the weight in ounces, but when it comes to how long, brother Teddy looks at the smiling clerk and answers..."well forever, of course."

Now the audience assumes a bat is purchased and the sparkling new piece of lumber will find its way to the bat rack when the TOTS return to Udall Park on Monday to continue living out the dream of playing baseball.

Photos: (top) The Redneck skit actors: Dennis Crowley, Ted Davis and Bob Daliege; (bottom photo) the crowd at the TOTS Christmas luncheon today.

Vermeer, 66, newest addition to Tucson Old Timers

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The newest addition to the Tucson Old Timers baseball club is 66-year-old Brad Vermeer. He spent 25 years as a high school teacher in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Vermeer, who grew up in Pella, Iowa, becomes the 254th member to ever play for the amateur baseball organization, which will celebrate its 50th year in 2018.

Ted Davis, a member of the TOTS since 2011, recently compiled and released a list of ball players who have joined and worn a TOTS' uniform since the organization was founded by Joe Gorman in 1968.

Today at Udall Park, Vermeer received his TOTS' hat and then went 1 for 4 --including a sharp single to left field. He played for Team White this morning. Team Blue won the game 11-7, thanks to key hits from Tim Boyd, Bob Daliege, Dave Byars, Doc Thompson and John Mathews. Mathews pitched a complete game for Team White to pick up the victory, while Team Blue's Reed Palmer was saddled with the hard-luck loss.

As for Vermeer, he's just getting his feet wet, so to speak, as a hitter. "I'm just trying to make contact with the ball right now." Vermeer played in eight games in November and today was his third time he's taken the field in December. But today Brad officially became a TOT.

Welcome aboard, Brad!

Brad and the TOTS will be back in action on Friday at Udall Park. Game time: 10 a.m.

Unranked Arizona upsets 7th-ranked Aggies

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Four Wildcats scored 13 points apiece and the unranked Arizona Wildcats upset Texas A & M 67-64 at the Talking Stick Arena in Scottsdale tonight. Deandre Ayton finished with another double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Dusan Ristic, Brandon Randolph and Dylan Smith matched their 7-1 teammate offensively.

The Wildcats, down 31-29 at the half, did not shoot well the entire night. Arizona shot 42.6 percent from the field, connecting on 20 of 47 from the field. Once again, the Wildcats had trouble putting the ball in the basket from long range -- canning just seven of 22 attempts (31.8 percent).

Allonzo Trier drew the assignment on the Aggies hot-shooting forward DJ Hogg for most of the night. The 6-8 Hogg, who averages 16.9 points per game, was held to nine points. Trier finished with seven points.

Dylan Smith was a pleasant surprise off the bench for the Wildcats with his 13 points -- including 3 of 3 from 3-point range.

The unranked Wildcats improve to 6-3, while the 7th-ranked Aggies suffered their first loss of the season and fall to 7-1.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Thunder Tim led the TOTS in November with 29 hits, 28 RBI

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Thunder Tim Tolson led the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers in hits for the month of November with 29, in runs-batted-in with 28 and he topped all hitters with a .707 batting average. Tolson went 29 for 41 in 11 games with eight doubles and one triple.

Other top hitters for the month included Lloyd Barzell (18 for 43, a .419 average), Reed Palmer (19 for 32, a .594 average) and John Mathews (18 for 28, a .643 average). Pete Peters and Dennis Crowley tied for fifth in hits with 17.

Palmer hit four home runs during the month of November and finished second in RBI with 24.

On the mound, nine pitchers saw action with Pete Maldonado and Barzell finishing the month with identical 3-2 records. It was a great month weather wise and in participation as 34 players saw action.

Bob Royer, 80, had the best "eye" at the plate. Royer played in nine games, batted 19 times and walked 10 times to finish just one free pass ahead of Maldonado and Palmer.

The TOTS will finish up another year at Udall Park with a 12-game schedule in December. The TOTS will celebrate its 50th year in 2018.

It's Miller time...

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

It's Miller time...

A fan's perspective...


It's hard to believe doubters still claw their way out from under the hardwood floor at McKale Center when it comes to rehashing the coaching ability of Arizona coach Sean Miller.

The man knows his stuff. By the end of the season, chances are things will surface as to what, if anything, Miller didn't know about his own program. The Book Richardson saga will continue to cloud the fact that Miller is an exceptional coach.

Watching Miller perform on the sidelines is worth the admission. Watching his young athletes progress is priceless, despite the fact I need a Miller Lite or two and a couple hours to unwind after each and every game.

In my own little world

In my own little world

Episode 1

On the road to recovery


I look back on my life and continue to search for my claim to fame.

I'll continue to search. So far I haven't found such an animal.

Sure, the basics are there. A good job for a while, at least until the airline industry took a big nose dive in the mid 1980s. The father of two and a grandpa to six.

Maybe my claim to fame is the fact I'm still alive at the age of 72 and just a few moons away from 73. Maybe it is the fact I'm still playing the game of baseball, or to be more specific: trying to take the field despite injury after injury.

Is that what it comes down to?

I've said many, many times that I wish to become the oldest baseball player to ever take the field. Lately, I can't even pull my crumpled body out of bed in the morning. Yes, after a few hours of grunting and growing, I'm up and around and finally out walking among the English ( a saying I'll always remember from the movie Witness -- where the old Amish man at the end of the movie tells the detective, played by Harrison Ford, to be careful when he returns to work in the big city).

We have on our 60-and-over baseball team a man who recently turned 91. He played regularly up to a few months ago. My goodness, I need to play another 20 years if I want to consider myself the "oldest baseball player to ever live" on my local club team!

I guess I need to rethink my goals. I tried the "writing thing" and practically self published five fiction books. Oh, you can find one or two of them in the local library and one or two may show up on EBay and if you look hard enough on Amazon you can find all five. My quarterly royalty checks average anywhere from one dollar to five dollars.

Sometimes I sit back and question why I evened bothered to write. I've come to the conclusion all my main characters had a "claim to fame" -- a reason at least to filter through three-hundred pages of make believe and end up successful at something.

One thing is for sure, until I get back on the ball field, I guess I'll communicate on my laptop to the few readers I have. That's if they care to listen to my dribble.

A thriller in Las Vegas

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Nothing seems to be easy for the Arizona Wildcats away from home.

Arizona, down by 13 points early in the second half, came roaring back to beat UNLV 91-88 in overtime tonight in Las Vegas behind a 29-point effort from Allonzo Trier and another double-double from Deandre Ayton, who pumped in 28 to go along with 10 rebounds.

Arizona shot 35 percent in the first half -- including 1 of 11 from 3-point range as the Wildcats went to the locker room down 41-30. But in the second half the Wildcats found their shooting touch and finished the night at 46.7 percent from the field (35 for 75). Arizona made five shots from beyond the arc in the second half.

It has always been a battle when the Wildcats tangle with the Rebels, especially in Las Vegas.

Tonight, the cards fell the way of the WILDCAT! So, it's a victory for Arizona, now 5-3 on the season. In this case, if you are an Arizona fan...well, what happens in Vegas doesn't need to stay in Vegas. The way things have been going this past week, the Wildcats and their fans are ready to acknowledge a hard-fought win.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Wildcats are back on track

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


It's always nice to be home.

The Arizona Wildcats (4-3) are back on the winning side of the ledger with a lopsided 91-56 win over Long Beach State tonight at McKale Center.

Six players scored in double figures with Allonzo Trier leading the way with 15 points, while Deandre Ayton just missed another double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Parker Jackson Cartwright chipped in 12 points to go along with five assists, while Ira Lee and Alex Barcello finish with 11 points apiece. Brandon Randolph, in his first start for the Wildcats, finished the night with 10 points.

Arizona made 12 of 22 three-pointers and ended up shooting 60 percent from the field (36 of 60). The Wildcats led 42-24 at the half and played well defensively for most of the game. Arizona out rebounded LBSU 34 to 25 and had nine steals.

Palmer smacks record-breaking home run

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Reed Palmer (above photo) broke the club record with his 20th home run today at Udall Park.

The old record was set in 2006 by De Lon "Doc" Thompson. Doc, now 75 and still an active member with the TOTS, held the record of 19 for 11 seasons.

As for the game, it was another "kiss your sister" outcome as Team Blue tied Team White, 7-7.

Palmer, 61, hit the record-breaking home run in the bottom of the seventh inning with two runners on base. Team White's John Misiaszek, John Mathews and Palmer went 3 for 4, while Tim Boyd and Tim Tolson collected three hits apiece for Team Blue.

The 2017 TOTS' season enters its final month on Friday as the Tucson Old Timers edge closer to 2018 and the club's 50th season. The amateur baseball organization has been around since 1968 when founder Joe Gorman fielded his first 60-and-over team at Tucson Himmel Park.

The organization has grown from a handful of players at Himmel Park (see photo below) to a current roster of 45 players. The TOTS play on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Udall. Games get underway at 10 a.m. during the winter and 9 a.m. in the summer.

Not a good week for the Arizona Wildcats

Territorial Cup

Arizona State  42  Arizona 30


The 2nd-ranked Arizona Wildcats lose three in a row in a early-season basketball tournament in Nassau and fast forward to this afternoon in Tempe and yet another loss as Arizona State wins the Territorial Cup, 42-30.

The Wildcats held a 24-14 halftime lead in Tempe today, but couldn't hold off the Sun Devils in the second half. Brandon Dawkins, subbing for the injured Khalil Tate, scored the Wildcats' only touchdown in the final 30 minutes.

Arizona ends up with a 7-5 regular season record and will wait and see if a bowl game awaits.

Arizona winless in the Bahamas

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


It'll be hard for the Arizona basketball fan to wrap his or her arms around what happened to the Wildcats in the Bahamas over the past three days.

Three games and three losses -- including an 89-64 thumping tonight to the Purdue Boilermakers.

Deandre Ayton scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds before fouling out with four minutes remaining in the game. Both Ayton and the Wildcats other big man, Dusan Ristic, fouled out and their hot-shooting teammate Allonzo Trier was held to eight points --  hitting just 3 of 10 shots. Ristic scored just four points.

Brandon Randolph came off the bench to score 17 points for the Wildcats.

Purdue hit 11 3-pointers, while the Wildcats shooting was off for the third game in a row. Arizona made 3 of 17 from beyond the arc. The Wildcats were 25 of 59 (42.4 percent) from the field, while the Boilermakers were 31 of 54 (57.4 percent) and 11 of 22 (50 percent) from three-point land.

Arizona will head home with a 3-3 record and a lot of work to do.

Arizona suffering in the Bahamas

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

For the second night in a row the 2nd-ranked Arizona Wildcats lose.

This time the Wildcats fall to SMU 66-60 at the Battle for Atlantis tourney in Nassau.

Once again, it was Allonzo Trier leading the way for the Wildcats with 22 points, while Deandre Ayton recorded another double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Arizona shoots 46.8 percent (22 of 47), but hits only 5 of 20 from beyond the arc. The Wildcats get very little help from the rest of the starters and the bench. Ira Lee came off the bench to score five points and that was it.

The Wildcats fall to 3-2 and will likely tangle with 18th-ranked Purdue in the third and final game tomorrow.

What looked like a tourney win in Nassau for the Wildcats, turns into a learning experience.

Wildcats lose opener in the Bahamas

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Deandre Ayton and Allonzo Trier scored 27 points apiece, but it wasn't enough as North Carolina State beat the 2nd-ranked Arizona Wildcats 90-84 in Nassau tonight.

Arizona (3-1) was cold from beyond the arc, hitting only two  of 17 attempts.

And that turned out to be the difference as North Carolina State (5-0) hit eight of 20 from long range. Arizona shot 46.8 percent (29 of 62) from the field, while NC State finished at 49.1 percent (27 of 55).

Ayton picked up his fourth double-double of the season with 14 rebounds.

The TOTS' Home Run Kings

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Photo: De Lon "Doc" Thompson (on left) and Reed Palmer are the TOTS' home run kings.

Thompson hit 19 home runs in 2006. The record has stood for 11 years until Palmer tied the record last week.

Hats off to the two power hitters.

Tate held in check by Ducks

Arizona Wildcats Football


The Oregon defense keyed on Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate tonight in Eugene.

The Ducks were not going to let Tate beat them. The game plan worked as Oregon held Tate to 32 yards and no rushing touchdowns en route to a 48-28 Pac-12 win over the Arizona Wildcats

Arizona falls to 7-4 and 5-3 in the Pac-12 South.

The Wildcats will close out their regular season in Tempe next Saturday against Arizona State.

Palmer hits 19th homer to tie TOTS' single season home run record

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team Blue beat Team White 18-2 today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

The game wasn't close as Team White couldn't get anything going offensively. John Misiaszek scored twice for the losing team and that was it, but the big news of the day came from Team Blue lefty Reed Palmer, who drilled a Pigpen Price fastball over the right field fence in the third inning.

It wasn't just any home run. The round-tripper was the 19th of the season for Palmer, who tied De Lon "Doc" Thompson for the club record in home runs for a single season. Thompson set the record in 2006. Palmer has 44 days to break the record, or to be more specific, has around 18 games left in the season to surpass the record.

Price said he battled a bad back for seven innings. "I'm not offering any accuses," Price said. "I tried my best to keep Reed from hitting one out. He hit two down the first base line and got under one of my pitches and hit a Texas Leaguer in his other at bat. I challenged him in the third inning and he hit the ball long and far."

It's been a long battle for Palmer, 61, this year as he chases Thompson's record -- a record that very few, if any of the TOTS, expected to ever be broken. For the record, the TOTS play 12-month seasons -- from January through December -- and for an old-timer, in his 60s or 70s, to hit 19 or 20 home runs during the year seems mind boggling. The fence is 300 feet away from home plate and most of the TOTS are happy with a hit that rolls to the warning track.

And for someone to come along and hit 20 or more homers! Well, it's just unheard of according to some of the TOTS, especially to members who have been around for the past 20 years or so.

"Reed has so much power," says Jerry Smarik, 85, a member of the TOTS since 1991. "I've never seen anything like it."

Price added. "I hit one my first month with the TOTS, back in 2008 and that was it. I was in my early 60s then. I'm 72 now and I can't even reach the warning track. It's not easy. It's a long way to the fence, especially for an old timer. As the years go by, it gets harder and harder to put the ball in play...much less hit home runs."

As for Thompson, now 75, he's amazed -- along with the rest of his teammates -- at Palmer's home run power. "Reed is in a zone right now. He has a beautiful swing. About the only way to get him out, is to pitch him way inside so he can't get those arms extended."

As for 2006, Thompson remembers it well. "When you're in a groove and hitting the ball like that, the ball looks like a big balloon coming toward you." Back in 2006, home runs were aplenty. Thompson was pushed a little. Forty two home runs went out of the ball park. Chico Bigham hit 10, Ron Petersen hit seven, Ron Boeve hit two and four other TOTS hit homers.

There must have been SOMETHING in the air.

Photo: Reed Palmer

Arizona improves to 3-0 with 91-59 win over CSU Bakersfield

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Four players scored in double figures as Arizona rolled to an easy 91-59 win over CSU Bakersfield tonight at McKale Center. Once again, Allonzo Trier led the way with 28 points, hitting 8 of  9 from the field -- including 3 of 3 from beyond the arc.

Deandre Ayton added his third double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Dusan Ristic chipped in 12 points and Parker Jackson-Cartwright added 11. Ten players scored for the third-ranked Wildcats, who improve to 3-0 on the season.

Arizona shot 55 percent from the field, hitting 27 of 49 shots. The Wildcats made 9 of 16 three-pointers and out rebounded the Roadrunners, 35-30.

5-run 7th inning leads to 9-7 TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team Blue scored five runs with two outs in the top of the seventh inning -- capped off by consecutive RBI-singles from Pigpen Price, Dave Rhoades and Phil Gordon --  for a 9-7 come-from-behind win today over Team White in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Pete Maldonado went the distance for Team Blue and picked up the pitching victory, while Lloyd Barzell was saddled with the tough loss. The game was tied 1-1 after three innings, Team Blue jumped ahead 4-2 after four innings and Team White regained the lead with a five-run fifth.

Once again Reed Palmer, playing for Team Blue, failed in his attempt to tie for the club home run record. Palmer has been stuck on 18 homers for the past two weeks and still needs one more round-tripper to tie DeLon "Doc" Thompson, who holds the single-season record at 19.

The TOTS still have six weeks left in the 2017 season -- still time for Palmer to tie or surpass Thompson. It hasn't been easy for Palmer in recent weeks as the TOTS' pitchers have done their best to keep the ball away from the hard-hitting left-hander --including plenty of intentional walks on numerous occasions.

"He may be pressing a little," says TOTS' manager Pete Peters. "There's still plenty of time."

It would be hard to bet against him," said teammate Pigpen Price, following today's game. "You put one in his wheelhouse and he's going to hit it out."

Besides, Price adds. "He's just a youngster. He's 60 years old and stands 6-feet-5. It's been a while since we've had a guy like Reed join the TOTS."

After all, the fence at Udall Park is just 300-feet away from home plate.

"When he connects, he connects." Price said. "As for the rest of us, we just watch the ball as it sails out of the park and collides with the Cypress trees beyond the fence line."

Palmer and the TOTS will be back in action on Friday at Udall. Game time: 10 a.m.

Photo: Pete Maldonado, today's winning pitcher.

Showtime at McKale!

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Showtime at McKale Center!

Arizona put on a shooting show tonight with a 103-78 win over UMBC to improve to 2-0 as Allonzo Trier led the way with 30 points -- including 10 of 18 from the field and 5 of 12 from beyond the arc.

The third-ranked Wildcats received another double-double from Deandre Ayton, who finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Arizona shot 60.9 percent from the field and canned 15 of 28 three-pointers. Eight Wildcats scored six points or more as Arizona was forced to run with the visiting Retrievers.

Jarius Lyles, the hot shooting starting guard for the Retrievers, scored 31 points to lead all scorers. UMBC threw up 28 three-pointers and made 14 of them. Arizona led at the half 56-47 and simply wore down the Retrievers in the second half.

 If you want to run with the Wildcats, chances are you're going to pay the price.

It certainly made for an entertaining game!

Arizona improves to 7-3

Arizona Wildcats Football


Khalil Tate rushed for 206 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 49-28 win over Oregon State tonight at Arizona Stadium. Tate spent the final 10 minutes on the bench and gave way to Brandon Dawkins, who promptly scored a rushing touchdown as Arizona amassed a single-game record of 534 yards on the ground.

Arizona's J.J. Taylor rushed for 129 yards and Nick Wilson rambled for 101 yards and a score. Zach Green scored twice for the Wildcats. The Arizona defense kept the Beavers scoreless in the first half as the Wildcats went to the locker room with a 28-0 lead. Arizona let up on the gas pedal in the second half, allowing the Beavers to score 28 points.

The Wildcats improve to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Pac-12 South.

Trier off and running with 32 in season opener

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Congrats, to the Arizona Wildcats (1-0) on their 101-67 opener over NAU last night at McKale Center.

It looks like Allonzo Trier is off and running just as expected. Allonzo pumps in 32 against the Lumberjacks. Up next: the University of Maryland Baltimore Country (UMBC). They are called the Retrievers and they lost their opener yesterday to SMU, 78-67.

Daliege, Tolson lead Team White to 12-8 TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Thunder Tim Tolson went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs, while hard-throwing righthander Bob Daliege threw a complete game as Team White bested Team Blue 12-8 at Udall Park today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Team Blue found themselves down 9-2 after three inning of play and 12-3 after four innings but tried to battle back with a run in the fifth, another in the sixth and three in the top of the seventh.

Dave Byars and Roger Beebe went 3 for 4 for Team Blue, but a double play in the seventh inning ended any thought of a come-from-behind win.

Arnie White, Team Blue's starting pitcher, was saddled with the loss. White gave way to reliever Don Jorgensen in the fifth inning. Jorgensen, 60, the youngest member of the Tucson Old Timers, pitched the final three innings for Team Blue and allowed just one unearned run.

The TOTS will be back in action on Friday at Udall with their fourth-quarter, dress-out birthday game. Game time: 10 a.m.

Photo: Bob Daliege, today's winning pitcher, keeps warm between innings.

Morse singles up the middle to give Team White a walk-off win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Rob Morse singled up the middle with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Team White a 8-7 walk-off win over Team Blue today at Udall Park.

Team White owned a commanding 7-1 lead after six innings of play, but Team Blue put together a six-run rally in the top of the seventh inning and tied the game when Ron Carlson hit an opposite-field single to right field to score Reed Palmer.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Team Blue's starting pitcher Pete Maldonado walked Pigpen Price, who eventually ended up at third base with two outs. Morse stepped in and promptly hit a Maldonado fastball to center, allowing Price to scamper home with the winning run.

Lloyd Barzell went the distance for Team White and picked up the pitching victory, while Maldonado was saddled with the loss.

The TOTS will be back in action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 10 a.m.

Photo: Rob Morse

Arizona sizzles in final exhibition game

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Allonzo Trier poured in 22 points and freshman Deandre Ayton scored 21 points and hauled in 11 rebounds as Arizona rolled over Chico State 91-53 in the final exhibition game today at McKale Center.

The Wildcats open the 2017-18 season next Friday at McKale against Northern Arizona.

Trojans too much for the Wildcats

Arizona Wildcats Football


The winning streak is over.

The Arizona Wildcats, after four straight Pac 12 wins, fall at USC tonight, 49-35.

Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate was responsible for three touchdowns -- two by air and one on the ground, but it just wasn't enough as the Trojans countered with their own hard-charging runner, Ronald Jones, who rushed for 194 yards and three touchdowns.

The Wildcats, down 21-6 at the half, fought back in the second half and pulled even with USC, at 35-35, with 8:23 left in the game, but two late rushing touchdowns down the stretch by Jones sealed the deal for the Trojans.

Arizona falls to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Pac-12 South, while USC improves to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Pac-12 South.

MSBL World Series Update

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

60-and-over Central division

John Mathews update

It's all over for John Mathews and the Paladins at the MSBL World Series.

Mathews, a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, played his final game for the Albuquerque team this morning as the Paladins lost a playoff game 12-3 to the Arkansas Diamonds at Fitch Park in Mesa.

Big John went 1 for 4 with a double and two RBI today to finish 5 for 15 for the week.

Way to go, Big John. The TOTS will be glad to have you back next week.

The 2017 MSBL World Series concludes Saturday with the finals in the 45-and-over and the 60-and-over division, while the 25-and-over division ends with their championship game on Sunday..

Photo: John Mathews, who finished up his week at the MSBL World Series today and will return to action with the TOTS on Monday.

Two old-timers toe the rubber at Udall

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Arnie "The Montana Kid" White, who turns 76 next week, and Dan "Pigpen" Price, 72, toed the rubber at Udall Park this morning in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) game. It wasn't the first time and chances are good they'll go up against each other again in the near future.

After all, that's what TOTS' pitchers do. They keep on plugging...or pitching...or throwing. Whatever you want to call it when an old-timer toes the rubber and attempts to throw a baseball sixty feet, six inches.

Today's game was a real nail biter, at least until the fifth inning. That's when a 60-year-old took over for White -- the flame-throwing, 6 feet, 6 inch Reed Palmer, the TOTS' answer to a Nolan Ryan-Randy Johnson look alike.

Palmer shutdown Team Blue the rest of the way and Team White broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh inning, thanks to consecutive singles up the middle off Price by Roger Beebe, Lloyd Barzell, Ron Carlson and Danny Boxberger.

The hits led to four runs and a 8-4 win for Team White over Team Blue.

Price thought he had won the battle somewhat. "I tried my best to pitch around Reed. I mean he's got 18 home runs and needs one more to tie for the all-time single season TOTS' record."

Palmer grounded out to Team Blue's first baseman Dave Byars twice. In a third at bat, Price tried his best to keep the ball away from Palmer's wheelhouse, but a 3-2 pitch was too far outside and Palmer trotted off to first base.

"Reed didn't get No. 19 today," Price said. "He'll have to do it on another day."

The TOTS will be back in action at Udall on Monday. Game time: 10 a.m.

Photos: Today's starting pitchers at Udall -- Arnie "Montana Kid" White and Pigpen Price

Mathews, Paladins reach 60-and-over MSBL playoffs

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

60-and-over Central division

John Mathews/Paladins Update

John Mathews, a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, reached the playoffs with the Paladins, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, after a split of a doubleheader to finish 3-3 in round-robin play at the MSBL World Series today at Riverview Park in Mesa.

The Paladins will play their first playoff game tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Fitch Park, spring training home of the Oakland Athletics. Mathews and the Paladins will need to win in the morning, and again in the afternoon to reach the championship game in the 60-and-over Central division on Saturday.

"I struggled at the plate today," Mathews said. "I went 1 for 5 and just didn't make good contact. They (the umps) like to call that outside pitch and they got me."

With six games in the books, Mathews still has a shot at a few more games. He's certainly getting his feet wet in his first ever MSBL World Series. The elimination game in the morning is against the Arkansas Diamonds, a team the Paladins beat 4-3 this morning. The Paladins lost the second game 6-2 today to the North Chicago Fire.

Photo: Mathews, who will play his seventh game of the week in the first round of the playoffs tomorrow morning at the MSBL World Series. Mathews is 4 for 11 after six games with a walk, three RBI and a sac bunt.

Arizona's Ayton pours in 31 in exhibition game

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Okay. So it was an exhibition game and the man played just 24 minutes.

Deandre Ayton, is 7-1, and is simply the new big man on campus...and on the court for the Arizona Wildcats and if tonight at McKale Center is any indication, Wildcat fans are in for a real treat this year.

Ayton scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Arizona rolled over Eastern New Mexico tonight, 91-53. He has a seven-foot wingspan and runs up and down the court with ease. He shoots the ball, passes the ball and does just about everything for the Wildcats.

Please, Mr. Ayton. Stay healthy. If he does, he'll lead the Wildcats to the Promised Land. In other words, a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Mathews 3 for 6, a walk and a successful sac bunt at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League Worlds Series

60-and-over Central Division

John Mathews Update

John Mathews, a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, went 1 for 2 and a walk today in Peoria at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series. After four games, Mathews is batting an even .500 with three hits in six official trips to the plate. Big John has also walked once, knocked in three runs and has a sacrifice bunt to his credit.

John's team, the Paladins out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, are 2-2 so far in the round-robin with a doubleheader slated for tomorrow at Riverview Park in Mesa. The playoffs in the 60-and-over Central Division begin on Friday.

Photo: The TOTS' John Mathews

Houston, the Astros are coming home with the goods!

2017 World Series

Game 7


Game 7 of the 2017 World Series belonged to the Houston Astros.

The Astros take home the goods as they beat the Dodgers 5-1 tonight in LA to capture their first ever World Series. George Springer homers in the second inning tonight to help send the Astros to a commanding 5-0 lead. It was Springer's fifth homer of the World Series as he collects the MVP award.

Congrats, to Springer and the Astros on a job well done.

Tolson tops the TOTS in hits in October with 30

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Thunder Tim Tolson led the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) in hits for the month of October, while Reed Palmer and Lloyd Barzell finished in a tie for second with 27. Big John Mathews was third with 20.

Tolson went 30 for 44 for the month, a .682 batting average, while Palmer collected his 27 hits with 38 at bats, a .711 average and Barzell went 27 for 47, a .574 average. Mathews went 20 for 35, a .571 average.

Palmer led the team in home runs for the month with three and in doubles with 12.

Other top hitters for the month included: David Byars (16 for 39, a .410 average), Dennis Crowley (17 for 34, a .500 average), Mike Taylor (16 for 31, a .516 average) and BB Beebe (16 for 45, a .356 average).

Crowley collected the most pitching victories for the month with three.

Photo: Thunder Tim Tolson, who led the TOTS in hits in October with 30.

There will be a seventh game

2017 World Series

Game 6

There will be a seventh game.

The Dodgers extended the World Series to a seventh game with a 3-1 win over the Houston Astros tonight in Los Angeles.

Justin Verlander pitched well but not well enough. Verlander threw 93 pitches in six innings of work and left the game down 2-1. Joc Pederson homered for the Dodgers in the seventh inning to give LA the 3-1 lead. Kenley Jansen pitched two shutout innings for the Dodgers.

George Springer homered for the Astros in the third inning. The two teams have hit a record-breaking 24 home runs in six games.

It all comes down to tomorrow night.

John Mathews at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

60-and-over Central Division

Update on John Mathews, member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, playing in his first MSBL World Series

John Mathews rode the pine for most of the first game of a doubleheader today. But in Game 2 at the Salt River Complex in Scottsdale, John finally got his at bats. John went 2 for 4 -- including a double and drove in two runs as the Paladins from Albuquerque beat the Puget Sound Mariners, 11-6.

The Paladins lost the first game of the doubleheader 13-5 to the Dragons as Big John squirmed on the bench. He finally got his chance in Game 2 and should see plenty of action the rest of the week as the Palidans play six round-robin games.

Photo: Big John at the Salt River Complex today ready to play ball.

Houston wins Game 5 in 10 innings

2017 MLB World Series


Alex Bregman singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning off the Dodgers' ace reliever Kenley Jansen tonight in Houston to give the Astros a 13-12 win in Game 5.

The two teams take a well-deserved day off tomorrow and hook up for Game 6 in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The Astros are up three games to two.

The two teams set a World Series record for home runs with 22. And there's two games to go!

What a World Series!

Arizona enters top 25

Arizona Wildcats football

From the practice field in August to a top-25 ranking in October.

That's been the amazing journey for the Arizona Wildcats.

The Wildcats, under the direction of quarterback Khalil Tate, have won four games in October and were awarded today in the Associated Press College Football Poll with a ranking of No. 23.

After a six-point loss (30-24) to Utah, the Wildcats (6-2, 4-1) have reeled off consecutive wins over Colorado (45-42), UCLA (47-30), California (45-44) and Washington State (58-37).

And, of course, Tate and Company are not done yet. Up next a game Saturday at USC.

Go get 'em, Wildcats!

Our man Tate just keeps rolling along

Arizona Wildcats Football


The Washington State Cougars entered Arizona Stadium tonight with a gaudy 7-1 record and ranked No. 15 in the nation.

Of course, they hadn't met our man Tate yet.

Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate rushed for 146 yards and a score, passed for 275 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 58-37 win over the Cougars. Arizona improves to 6-2 overall, becomes bowl eligible, and more importantly improves to 4-1 in the Pac-12 South.

And tonight, Tate wasn't alone. He had plenty of help from his friends. Take a gander at this:

-- a 57-yard field goal by Arizona's Lucas Havrisik

-- four interceptions by the Wildcats' secondary

-- J.J. Taylor ran all over the field as well, rushing for 152 yards and two touchdowns

I'm a diehard Arizona fan, but I sure couldn't have predicted THIS!

Amazing!

Way to go, Wildcats.

Houston, Dodgers all square again

MLB 2017 World Series


The World Series is all square after four games.

The Dodgers will send Clayton Kershaw to the mound Sunday in hopes of winning Game 5 and then head back to LA to finish off the Astros. But first things first for the Dodgers, who will have to find a way to deal once again with Houston's ace, Dallas Keuchel.

It's a rematch of Game 1 -- a 3-1 win by Kershaw and the Dodgers.

Certainly a must win in Game 5 for the Houston Astros. If the Dodgers leave Houston up three games to two, you might as well pencil in the Dodgers as champions of the 2017 World Series.

Epic MLB World Series heads for Houston all square at 1-1

MLB 2017 World Series


The race is on.

After two epic games in the 2017 World Series, the Dodgers and Astros move to Houston for Game 3 on Friday. Eleven home runs in the two games -- eight of them coming last night, is certainly a thrilling start to the October Classic.

The Dodgers take Game 1 at home 3-1 and get beat in 11 innings last night 7-6.

It's going to be a wild and crazy World Series!

Daliege, Price help Tri Valley win final game at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

Final Update

65-and-over Cactus division

Bob Daliege and Pigpen Price finally put on their hitting shoes today at the MSBL World Series.

Playing their final game this week for the 65-and-over Tri Valley Giants, the Tucson duo combined for five hits to help the Giants to a 16-7 win over the Snowbirds this morning at Fitch Park in Mesa, spring training home of the Oakland Athletics.

"It's been a tough go this week," Price said. "We finally put together a win and it just happened to be against a good friend of mine, Marc Sewell."

Sewell (above photo), a hall of famer in both the Tucson MSBL and a 2009 inductee into the MSBL World Series Hall of Fame, started for the Snowbirds and left the mound in the fourth inning.

As for Tri Valley, they finally found out what it's like to win a game at the MSBL World Series. Tri Valley finished in a tie for sixth place with four teams ending up with identical 1-4 records, but the Giants failed to advance to the playoffs due to a tiebreaker in runs allowed.

Daliege and Price are back in Tucson...resting, after playing 12 games in 12 days. They tasted victory at the MSBL World Series seven times in two weeks, while losing five.

Photos above: top, Bob Daliege, bottom, Pigpen Price were a combined 5 for 8 at the plate today in their final game at the MSBL World Series.

Taylor on fire at the plate

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Mike Taylor is one of the hottest hitters on the TOTS the past two weeks. Today at Udall Park, he did it again. Taylor went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs as Team Blue beat Team White, 11-4.

Dennis Crowley, John Mathews and Reed Palmer also chipped in three hits apiece for the winners, while Bill Mishler was the big gun for Team White with a 2 for 4 day and two runs scored.

Team Blue's pitcher Pete Maldonado picked up the win, while Lloyd Barzell went the distance for Team White and was saddled with the loss.

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

Photo: Mike Taylor

65-and-over Tri Valley loses Petersen for Game 5 of the MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus division

Tri Valley Giants

Three players from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers have played 11 games in 11 days at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series. Tomorrow is Game 12 and the Tucson trio is down to two as Ron Petersen broke the index finger on his throwing hand and is now back in Tucson.

So, that leaves Bob Daliege and Pigpen Price available for Game 12 as the 65-and-over Tri Valley Giants take on the Snowbirds at Fitch Park in Mesa. Game time: 10 a.m.

The Giants have lost four games in a row, the latest loss today against the front-runner in the division, the Chicago Grays. Down to 14 players, with a hand full of them playing hurt, the Giants will try to grab a victory tomorrow. A win would feel pretty good to the players. At least they could pack their bags and head to their respective homes on a positive note.

It's been quite the two weeks for the three amigos from Tucson -- a 6-1 record and a runner-up finish in Week 1 as the trio played for the 70-and-over San Antonio Texans. The second week, well that's already well documented, an 0-4 record thus far and a shot at a win tomorrow against the Snowbirds, which would give the Tucson trio a 7-5 record for their two-week effort.


Photo: Ron Petersen

Losing is like a disease

MSBL World Series Update

65-and-over Cactus division

"Losing is like a disease, as contagious as bubonic plague."

Pigpen Price sat in the dugout as his team, the 65-and-over Tri Valley Giants, were getting pounded for a third straight day at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series in Mesa, Arizona this morning.

"The famous line from The Natural, 'losing is a disease, as contagious as bubonic plague' kept ringing in my ears at Riverview Park this morning," Price said. "We have lost three in a row and face the top team, Chicago Grays, tomorrow at the Salt River Complex."

Price said, after today's loss to the Taos Solar Sox. "It is tough to get pounded on every day. We just can't seem to make a play on the field or get those key hits while we are at the plate."

Price and his two teammates from the Tucson Old Timers, Ron Petersen and Bob Daliege,  are a combined 3 for 23. "We're trying too hard when we step to the plate. It seems like when we come up to bat we are down a dozen runs."

The chances for Tri Valley to reach the playoffs this week are slim and none. 

"That's what is so hard," Price concluded. "Last week we came within an eyelash of winning  a World Series ring in the 70-and-over division, and this week we are already close to being mathematically eliminated."

One thing is for sure, the three amigos from Tucson -- Petersen, Daliege and Price -- will do their best  to help put a "W" on the scoreboard, if not tomorrow against the Grays, maybe on Wednesday in the finale against the Snowbirds at Fitch Park.

Six hours of baseball left for the three amigos from Tucson.

Palmer hits No. 16 for the TOTS

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Reed Palmer belted his 16th home run of the season, went 3 for 4 and drove in five runs to lead Team Blue to a 8-3 win over Team White at Udall Park this morning in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Team Blue's John Mathews went 4 for 5 and Dave Byars went 3 for 5, while Mike Taylor went 2 for 3 and drove in two of the three runs for the losing team. Tim Tolson had a perfect day at the plate for Team White with five consecutive singles.

Pitcher Tim Boyd went the distance for Team Blue and picked up the win.

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

Tucson trio finding it tough going in Week 2 at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus division

Tri Valley Giants


Three players from the Tucson Old Timers Club had an exciting first week at the MSBL World Series. Playing for the 70-and-over San Antonio Texans, Ron Petersen, Bob Daliege and Pigpen Price rode the wave of wins, collected six straight victories before losing in the championship game.

This week is a different story. The Tucson trio are members of the 65-and-over Tri Valley Giants and after two games they find themselves winless with losses to the Western Diamondbacks, a San Diego team, on Saturday, and today to the Paladins from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Next up a team called the Solar Sox from Taos, New Mexico on Monday at 10 a.m. at Riverview Park in Mesa, the spring training home of the Chicago Cubs. In fact, the Tucson trio will return to the same field (annex field No. 5) where they played for the 70-and-over Central division title, just three days ago.

"That's where (annex field #5) it all ended for us last Friday," Price said. "It was such a great week last week. Not as much fun so far this week. Maybe we can get it going tomorrow against the Solar Sox."

After two games this week, Ron Petersen is 0 for 4, Bob Daliege is 1 for 5, a walk, a run scored and one run batted in, while Price is 1 for 6 and one run batted in.

Tucson trio plays at Hohokam today in the MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus division

The three amigos from the Tucson Old Times are still playing baseball at the MSBL World Series. Today Ron Petersen, Bob Daliege and Pigpen Price play for the Tri Valley Giants ( a team out of northern California) and will play inside the beautiful confines of Hohokam Stadium in Mesa at 1:30 pm.

The Tucson trio are fresh off a championship run last week in which they played seven games in seven days, finishing with a 6-1 record with the San Antonio Texans and a runner up finish in the 70-and-over Central division.

All three players are a little on the tired side, but they're still giving it their all and have high hopes of helping Tri Valley win its first game today against a team from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Yesterday, Tri Valley lost to the Western Diamondbacks (a team out of San Diego) in the first of five games in the 65-and-over Cactus division.

Today will be the ninth MSBL World Series game for Petersen, Daliege and Price.

Photo: Hohokam Stadium in Mesa

Wildcats beat CAL in double OT

Arizona Wildcats Football


The Arizona Wildcats beat the California Golden Bears in Berkeley 45-44 tonight in double overtime and improve to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Pac-12 Conference.

In the second overtime, California went for two and didn't make it as quarterback Ross Bower's final pass of the night fell incomplete. The Bears could have kicked the extra point and gone for the tie, but instead went for the win. Bowers and his teammates watched as the football bounced around in the end zone, while the Wildcats celebrated their big win.

Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate engineered the Wildcats' fifth win of the season as he completed 9 of 14 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Tate also ran the ball 16 times for 139 yards and a score.

Houston advances to World Series

MLB Playoffs


Houston won Game 7 of the ALCS tonight in front of its fans with a 4-0 shutout of the New York Yankees and head for the World Series to face the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Astros will play in the World Series for the second time. Their first time was in 2005.

Congrats to the Astros.

MSBL World Series update

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Central division

The 70-and-over San Antonio Texans had a great run at the 2017 MSBL World Series this week.

Unfortunately, the Texans came up one win short as they lost the championship game 20-9 today in Mesa to the Ohio Classics. The Texans, who went 6-0 during the week, including a 12-8 win over the Classics, were the only 70-and-over team to reach the championship game unbeaten.

Still a great showing by the Texans. Seven players from Tucson played this week for the Texans. Mike Morales, Joe Jimenez and Joe Banner represented the Tucson Old Pueblo Club, while Curt Gustafson represented the Arizona Rattlers. Ron Petersen, Bob Daliege and  Pigpen Price were the three players participating from the Tucson Old Timers.

A 6-1 record and a runner up finish. Not too shabby.

Dodgers reach the World Series

2017 MLB Playoffs


The Los Angeles Dodgers, behind three home runs from Kiki Hernandez, beat the Chicago Cubs 11-1 tonight in Chicago to win the NLCS, four games to one to advance to the World Series.

Congrats to the Dodgers.

The San Antonio Texans advance to the championship game at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Central division


The game took five hours to complete.

In the end the San Antonio Texans loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th inning and scored the winning run on a walk and outlasted Tri Valley 21-20 in Tempe today to reach the championship game in the 70-and-over Central division at the MSBL World Series.

The Texans used three pitchers -- Sammy DeLosSantos, Bob Daliege (Tucson Old Timers) and Mike Morales (Tucson Old Pueblo Club). Morales pitched the final five innings to pick up the win.

San Antonio led 20-18 in the ninth inning with two outs, but a dropped fly ball in the outfield enabled Tri Valley to tie the game. Morales worked his way out of trouble in the the top of the 10th inning.

The Texans needed just one run to end it all. As the game slipped past the five-hour mark, the Tri Valley pitcher was forced to intentionally walk the Texans' Joe Jimenez (Tucson Old Pueblo Club) to load the bases. That brought up the Texans' cleanup hitter Kenny Conlin. With the count full, Conlin took an outside pitch for ball four and San Antonio literally walked away with the win.

San Antonio will face the Ohio Classics at 1 p.m. on Friday at Riverview Park in Mesa (spring training home of the Chicago Cubs) for the MSBL title. The Texans beat Ohio 12-8 earlier in the tournament.

Texans head for the playoffs

MSBL World Series

70-and-over Central Division

The San Antonio Texans did it again!

Today the Texans beat Australia 19-6 to grab the top seed for the playoffs in the 70-and-over Central division at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series. The Texans finish pool play with a perfect 5-0 record and take on the fourth seeded Tri Valley in the first round of the playoffs on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the Tempe Diablo annex field #6, the spring training home of the Angels.

Ron Petersen (Tucson Old Timers) pitched the first 2 2/3 innings and Mike Morales (Tucson Old Pueblo Club) pitched the rest of the way to pick up the win. Petersen collected two hits in three trips to the plate, while driving in a team-high five runs. Pigpen Price (Tucson Old Timers) went 1 for 3, walked and scored three runs -- including scoring all the way from first base in the sixth inning when Petersen ripped a single to right field with the bases loaded.

Bob Daliege (Tucson Old Timers), nursing a hip injury, played the entire game and went 0 for 3, walked once and scored a run. "I was able to play the field and run okay, but the hip bothered me when I batted," Daliege said, after the eight-inning, three-hour game.

The MSBL 70-and-over Central division is down to four teams. If the Texans win their playoff game on Thursday, they will play the winner of the other playoff game on Thursday between the Ohio Classics and the team from Australia on Friday for the championship.

Photo: Ron Petersen, who drove in five runs for the Texans today at the MSBL World Series.

70-and-over San Antonio Texans improve to 4-0 at MSBL World Series

30th Annual MSBL World Series

70-and-over division

The San Antonio Texans improved to 4-0 at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series in Phoenix today with a 14-0 shutout over Team America. Seven players on the roster are from Tucson -- including three players from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers -- Bob Daliege, Ron Petersen and Pigpen Price.

Today the Texans received a surprise pitching performance from Daliege, who came on in the second inning in place of starter Reece Wellman, from Towson, Maryland. Wellman left the game with a should injury, and Daliege, who left the game the day before with a hip injury, took the ball and pitched eight scoreless innings and picked up the shutout win.

"I felt pretty good out there (on the mound)," Daliege said, after the game. "I was able to push off the rubber and throw a lot of strikes." Daliege is a little sore and the hip is still swollen, but luckily the Texans have a day off tomorrow before their next matchup with Australia on Wednesday.

Daliege even batted once and singled, while Petersen went 2 for 4 today and caught the entire game. Price went 0 for 2 and a walk, but helped Daliege preserve his shutout with a couple of backhanded plays at third base.

As for Price, he's just happy to have four games under his belt at the MSBL World Series. "I popped a hammy back in August and just finished rehab last Monday. So far so good. My right leg is holding up fine."

All the players on the Texans can use a breather. They have played four games in three days and have scored 62 runs, while holding their combined four opponents to just 18 runs. The Texans are in the playoffs for sure and the question is can they win the whole thing and take home their first MSBL title?

"Sure we can." Price adds. "This is a first to get this far. We're sitting pretty right now. We just need to keep winning."

Old Pueblo Club's Mike Morales continued his hot hitting with two more hits today and has 15 hits in the tournament. Joe Jimenez and Joe Banner, both from the Old Pueblo Club in Tucson, hit safely again today as did Curt Gustafson, who plays with the Arizona Rattlers, another 60-and-over baseball team out of Tucson.

Photo: Bob Daliege hurled a shutout for eight innings today at the MSBL World Series, despite a hip injury.

Texans win 2 at Tempe Diablo today

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over division

Once again it was the Tucson connection provided most of the power today at Tempe Diablo Stadium as the San Antonio Texans won both ends of a doubleheader, 17-5 and 19-5, to improve to 3-0 at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

One downer today, Bob Daliege, who plays for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, went down with a hip injury in the first inning of Game 2 and he may miss tomorrow's game at Maryvale Park against Team America.

With three wins the Texans are assured of a playoff berth. The Texans will have Tuesday off and will conclude their five round-robin games on Wednesday against Australia.

Today, Ron Petersen and Pigpen Price hit safely in both games, while Daliege collected three dingers in Game 1. Once again, Old Pueblo Club's Joe Jimenez, Mike Morales and Joe Banner hit safely in both games today, while Curt Gustafson, from the Arizona Rattlers, also hit safely.

Jimenez is the hottest hitter for the Texans. In the first game of the doubleheader today he tripled twice. In the second game Jimenez tried to leg out his third triple, but was thrown out at third.

The Texans have scored 48 runs in three games and is the only team in the division with three wins and no losses. The Ohio Classics, the team the Texans beat on Saturday, came back and beat Australia today.

In the first game of the doubleheader today, Sammy DeLosSantos, from Adkins, Texas, pitched a complete game, allowing Team America just eight hits. In the second game, Skip Bradley, from San Antonio, Texas, went the distance for the win.