There was a game...

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) never give up.

I mean, try to grasp the following: It's raining. The wind is blowing in access of 20 miles mph. The temperature is hovering around 45 degrees. The groundskeeper shows up at sun up and not only lines the field, but makes sure it's watered down and ready for play.

That's the TOTS! That's Chico Bigham, a man in his late 70s who shows up at Udall Park and whips the field into shape. Hours later the players, all 60-and-over, show up and begin to warm up their aging arms. It's time to play ball.

It's Friday morning at Udall. Game time: 10 a.m. Time for the old timers to strut their stuff. They all can still play the game of baseball. The players who show take a deep breath, after all you need at least 18 players to have a game.

The count begins. There's enough. The rain, the wind, whatever the excuse may be, isn't enough. The players who show take a deep breath. A player blurts out, "we have just enough!"

The game begins.

Team Blue gets the upper hand and wins the game 9-3. Bob Daliege, 68, pitches a complete game ( 7 innings) and gets the win, while 74-year-old Doc Thompson, arguably the best pitcher in the organization, is saddled with the loss, not because of his pitching expertise, but because of too many errors.

A typical weekly game involving the Tucson Old Timers.

Today, the hero is a 67-year-old by the name of Joe "The "Big O" Opocensky. He goes 4 for 4 and drives in four runs. The opposition put the bat on the ball as well. Thompson goes 3 for 4 for Team Blue and drives in a couple of runs, while his teammate Pigpen Price pounds out three hits as well and scores twice.

The 71-year-old Price is elated. "I've been in a slump for most of the year and I'm starting to hit the ball again."

A bunch of old timers playing the game of baseball.

Where else would they be?

Why? They're at the ball park and all is well. Life goes on.

The game is over. They meet at the nearby Ramada. They chase down a beer or two. They talk about the game. One hit turns into two hits. A typical pop up turns into a diving catch. A triple down the third base line turns into a long single. A throw to first base turns into a one-hopper -- right on the money by the third baseman and the runner is out by a step and a half.

Some say tomorrow never comes. It does for the TOTS. Monday morning and the TOTS will be back...playing the game they love -- the game of baseball.

Say goodbye to Markkanen

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Lauri Markkanen declared for the NBA Draft today.

So long, Lauri. It was nice having you around.

Markkanen averaged 15.2 points a game and 7.2 rebounds per game, made the Pac-12 All-Tournament team this year and was a third team All-American.

The last 11 minutes of Arizona's Sweet Sixteen game against Xavier, Lauri hardly touched the ball and didn't get a shot off. Wish we had those 11 minutes back.

Good luck to you, Lauri. You were one of the good ones to pass through McKale.

Wildcats improve to 17-7

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


Arizona (17-7) won a tight battle with Grand Canyon last night at Hi Corbett Field.

The Wildcats beat the Antelopes 3-2. JJ Matijevic led the way at the plate with two hits -- including his 15th double of the season. Seve Romo (1-0) picked up the win in relief of Cody Deason. Landon Faulkner hurled 4.1 scoreless innings to pick up his first save of the season.

The Wildcats stay home and prepare for a three-game Pac-12 series with USC, slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Matijevic leads the Wildcats with 39 hits. JC Cloney (5-0) continues to lead the pitching staff and will go after his sixth win on Friday.

Udall Park scoreboard takes a direct hit

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The Udall Park scoreboard beyond the fence in centerfield took a direct hit this morning.

A three-run homer by Thunder Tim Tolson did the damage. At the bottom of the scoreboard are three words: Your name here. Instead, Tolson drilled a fastball from Team White's Reed Palmer and left  a nice little mark amongst the lettering, signifying that Thunder Tim was here.

The homer came in the third inning and turned out to be one of the many hits sprayed around the confines of Udall today as Team White edged Team Blue 11-10 in a 60-an-over Tucson Old Timers' slugfest.

Tolson went 3 for 3 and drove in six runs for Team Blue in a losing cause. Of course, the scoreboard-hitting home run will be a topic of conversation among the TOTS for weeks to come.

But the story didn't end there.

With the score tied at 10-10 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Palmer and Team Blue's lefty John Mathews were still the pitchers of record. It had been a tall order for the TOTS' batters all day long as they faced Mathews at 6 feet, 4 inches tall, and Palmer at 6-feet-6-- maybe just a hair shy of 6 feet 7 -- with both of them feeling the need for speed at times -- especially the 60-year-old Palmer, who may have reached 70 mph on the radar gun (that's if the TOTS had one) with some of his pitches.

In other words, a couple of tall-drinks-of water going at it.

But, as it turns out, it was the "little guy" who got the job done. With a runner on second base and one out, Team White's shortstop Lloyd Barzell, at 5-feet-6, drilled a shot to left field to knock in the game-winning run for a walk-off win.

It looked like the game would end in a tie, but Dick Ducklow hit a blooper to center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by left-handed batter Denny Leonard. Barzell stepped in and took no time at all as he blasted the next pitch by Mathews to left field.

Barzell, the only batter from both teams to bat five times, finished the day with four hits in five trips to the plate.

"There must have been something in the air today," said Team Blue first baseman Doc Thompson, who had three hits on the day, as did three of his teammates Pigpen Price, Jesse Ochoa and the slugging Tolson.

Palmer picked up the win and also supplied a big blow in the game with a booming triple, also in the third inning. Palmer's hit bounced off the fence in right-center. A few inches higher and Palmer would've had his third round-tripper of the year, instead he's now tied with Tolson for the club-lead in homers with two.

Tolson and Palmer, along with the rest of the TOTS, will be back in action on Friday at Udall. Game time: 10 a.m.

Photos: The dinged up scoreboard at Udall Park and the man who applied the dent, lefty Tim Tolson.

Team White's rally falls short in TOTS' game

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball


Arnie White had pitched into the seventh inning and was enjoying a 9-2 lead today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game at Udall Park.

White mixed his pitches well for six innings and with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh,  Team White's Reed Palmer cleared the bases with a triple to the right-field corner, igniting a five-run rally.

Unfortunately for Team White, the rally stalled and Arnie and Team Blue escaped with a hard fought 9-7 win.

White (photo above) walked eight and struck out one. The hard-throwing righthander seems to be getting better with age. White, 75, spends his winters in Tucson and his summers on his ranch in Red Lodge, Montana.

He has some wide open spaces on his land in Montana, but in Tucson his spread is centered around the confines of Udall Park, the home of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

"I love to pitch and play for the TOTS." White says. After all, on his ranch there's not too many people on hand for him to throw the ball to -- maybe the side of the barn and that's about it. At Udall he has the benefit of a catcher and an umpire behind the plate.

Way to go, Arnie.

Wildcats drop 3 to Beavers

Arizona Wildcats Baseball

Not a good weekend for the University of Arizona baseball team.

The Wildcats lose all three games in Corvallis -- including a 11-7 loss today in the finale.

Arizona (16-7, 2-4) returns home and will face non-conference foe Grand Canyon on Wednesday at Hi Corbett. Game time: 6 p.m.

With 23 games in the books, Alfonso Rivas continues to lead the Arizona hitters with a .403 batting average and 30 RBI -- four of those knocked in today in a losing cause.

South Carolina, Gonzaga, North Carolina, Oregon reach the NCAA Final Four

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament


North Carolina edges Kentucky 75-73 and South Carolina knocks off Florida 77-70  today and the pieces of the puzzle for the NCAA Final Four are now complete. It's on to Glendale, Arizona on April 1 with South Carolina matched up against Gonzaga, while North Carolina and Oregon are set to do battle with the winners advancing to the championship game on April 3.

Two No. 1 seeds -- North Carolina and Gonzaga, a No. 3 seed in Oregon and the No. 7 seeded South Carolina are the survivors.

The Final Four has reached its destination: The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Let the fun begin!

Oregon reaches NCAA Final Four

NCAA Basketball Tournament


The three-seed Oregon Ducks (33-5), who lost to Arizona in the Pac-12 Tournament Championship, reached the NCAA Final Four with a 74-60 win over No.1 seed Kansas tonight in the Jayhawks backyard!

Is this Kansas, baby! No! It was Kansas City and the Ducks prevailed as if they were back home in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1939.

As for the Pac-12, the conference moves to 10-3 overall in the prestigious tournament. Gonzaga (36-1), the top seed in the West Region,  also won today with a 83-59 thumping of Xavier.

Half of the Final Four is set with Oregon and Gonzaga. Two teams are in from the wild...wild...west, baby!

Oregon lost to Arizona (32-5) two weeks ago in the Pac-12 Conference Tournament 83-80, but blew by the Wildcats in Eugene during the regular season 85-58 back in February.

Today, the Ducks, a No. 3 seed out of the Midwest Region, looked more like the team who dismantled the Wildcats in February!

The Jayhawks (31-5) could've used some magic shoes in Kansas City. Instead the Ducks were tornado-like as they outplayed the No.1 seed from the Midwest Region and sent them packing.

Next up for Oregon in the Final Four will be the winner of Sunday's matchup between North Carolina and Kentucky out of the South Region, while Florida and South Carolina battle it out for the right to reach the Final Four from the East Region and take on Gonzaga.

I miss watching my Arizona Wildcats. We were there, baby! Now they're back in Arizona with the Wildcat fans as they (we) watch the rest of the tournament play out.

Byars, Lundwall combine for 6 RBI in TOTS' game

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Only one team had their hitting shoes on at Udall Park this morning in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Team White knocked off Team Blue 10-4 and were led by David Byars and Danny Lundwall. Both players combined for six runs batted in as Team White turned a close game into a runaway with four runs in the fifth inning and four runs in the sixth.

Bob Daliege went the distance for Team White and picked up the pitching victory, while Pete Maldonado was saddled with the loss.

It was a pleasant morning -- especially for Team White, as the temperature hung around 60 degrees for most of the game. The TOTS will be back in action at Udall on Monday. Game time: 10 a.m.

It's over for the Wildcats!

NCAA Basketball Tournament

The Sweet Sixteen


Allonzo Trier scored 19 points. He needed 22!

The 11th-seeded Xavier (24-13) beats the 2nd-seeded Arizona Wildcats, 73-71.

Trier's 3-pointer bounced off the rim as the clock's final seconds ticked away and Arizona's season ended tonight in San Jose, California with a 32-5 record.

Great season! A devastating ending!

In these current times, you live and die by the three-pointer.

Trier scores 19 and Dusan Ristic netted 17 points, but some guy named Trevon Bluiett scored 25 points to nullify everything the Wildcat tried to do.

In the end, the Wildcats and their fans go home...and a team called the Musketeers advances on.

10 TOTS' players set to enter the world of fantasy baseball

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball


Ten members of the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club are set to venture into the unknown -- a fantasy baseball league. It all starts on opening day of the 2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) season on April 3.

The coordinator of the fantasy league is 71-year-old Ron Petersen. His TOTS' teammates refer to him as "Mr. Baseball" and the odds of him winning the league is 6 to 5. At any rate, Petersen has been involved in fantasy baseball for many years and to top it off, he once owned a baseball card shop in Tucson when he was a wee bit younger.

Petersen (photo below) is set to retire in June after a 100-year stint as a "Lineman for the County" or in other words and to be more exact at least 50 years of service with Tucson Electric Power.

It's a sure bet Petersen may be in for some tough competition as the other nine players (or managers, to be more specific) just might bring their own expertise to the table.

Reed Palmer, 60, is the only lawyer of the group and is a former Tucson Public Defender. He may just defend his position on the TOTS Fantasy Team with ease. Palmer (below photo) is the current home run leader on the TOTS and if he plays fantasy baseball the same way, he'll be a BIG HIT! Palmer's odds to win the league: 3-1.

Also expected to do well are a couple of "smart cookies" in the group -- Robert Royer, 79, a former Nuclear Engineer and 69-year-old William Misher -- or known as simply "Bill" on the TOTS -- currently a Political Science professor at the University of Arizona. The man has written or co-authored eight books, albeit none of them have been about baseball, but how could you bet against a man with all those credentials? We'll set Mishler's odds at 6-1, just in case he decides to over think things a bit. As for Royer, he may engineer his way to the top of the fantasy league but we'll set his initial odds of winning at 8-1. Royer pictured below in action with the TOTS and the dapper Professor Mishler, pictured with his sunglasses on.

Then there's Jesse Ochoa, 65, an ex-cop, well not only an ex-cop but a former assistant police chief for the City of Tucson and formally the police chief at Northern Arizona University. Ochoa left law enforcement behind and eventually ended up back in Tucson at Raytheon, the military manufacturer, as a compliance manager.

So, the fantasy group certainly will not take Ochoa lightly. After all, he has the law on his side. Jesse's odds of winning the fantasy league: 5-1. The two pictures below of Jesse -- the top one, back in his days as a lawman, the bottom photo, in a Tucson Old Timers' uniform.

Also signed up for the fantasy league is the oldest TOT ever to see action on the field for the organization, 91-year-old Floyd Lance. Now, Mr. Lance, a retired administrator with the University of Arizona, has been around long enough, since 1925 to be exact, and he's seen it all -- years and years of life experiences, far out dating the rest of the fantasy players. He'll certainly be in the ball park as far as odds go. Lance, pictured below, is a 9-1 favorite and may turn out to be the "sleeper" of the group.

Pistol Pete Peters, 68,  retired from civil service, has been all over the world, so a little thing like a fantasy baseball league will be a piece of cake. Peters (below photo) is currently a co-manager with the TOTS, along with Ochoa, so odds are good he'll keep his fantasy lineup fresh and at the top of the heap. We'll give Peters a 5-1 shot of winning the league.

There are two members of the fantasy league who are good with numbers -- Dave Rhoades, 72, a financial advisor and Bob Daliege, 68, a former accountant. The fantasy league will be a number's game, so counting out these two would be ill advised. Let's set Dave's odds at 7-1 and Bob at 8-1.

Below is Rhoades and Daliege -- Dave Rhoades with the spring training hat on and the smiling Bob Daliege, who isn't about to throw in the towel when it comes to fantasy baseball.

That leaves the author of Bookemdanosports, 71-year-old Danny "Pigpen" Price. Now, Price has been playing fantasy football for nine years and has yet to win. So, his past history alone will put him at 10-1 to win it all. Price, the author of four fiction books, may have his hands full in real life managing the lineup of a true-to-life baseball team.


But in Price's case, he's already won. "Just being around all these characters is worth the admission."

Pictured below, the author of Bookemdanosports, Danny "Pigpen" Price.

Wildcats beat Aggies, head for Corvallis

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The 9th-ranked Arizona Wildcats (16-4, 2-1) beat the New Mexico State Aggies 6-3 Tuesday night at Hi Corbett and remain unbeaten at home with a spotless 12-0 record.

Next up: A three-game Pac-12 series at Oregon State in Corvallis this weekend.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Getting to the "heart" of it all

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Getting to the "heart" of it all...

The two players who took the mound at Udall Park this morning in a 60-and-over baseball game have a lot in common. Lloyd "Baby Bull" Barzell, 66, started the game for Team White and 71-year-old Danny "Pigpen" Price toed the rubber for Team Blue.

The story lines in this one were endless. Price is going on nine years since his quadruple heart attack in 2008, while Barzell -- well his operation is more recent, a double bypass surgery back in December.

Today the two pitchers squared off in a pitching duel. Barzell, making his first start on the mound since his surgery, pitched the first three innings for Team White before giving way to his relief pitcher, Pete Maldonado, while Price went the distance for Team Blue -- well, for the record he hurled six official innings.

Then came the seventh and final inning.

Down 4-2 in the top of the seventh inning, Team Blue plated two runs to tie the game -- thanks mainly to consecutive hits from Tim Tolson, Doc Thompson, Ron Carlson and Dick Ducklow. Unfortunately for Team Blue, they couldn't get that much-needed fifth run across.

So, up came Team White in the bottom of the seventh inning and they had the "heart" of their order up (there's that word again).

"I knew I was up against it," Price said. "I had their big hitters up -- Bobby Daliege, Joe Opocensky and Reed Palmer. Bobby is a contact hitter and sprays it to all fields and the two lefties up next are arguably the hardest hitters on the TOTS."

Price tried to hit the corners of the plate with Daliege in the batter's box, but eventually missed high on a 3-1 pitch and suddenly Team White had the winning run on base. Price had been successful getting Opocensky out earlier in the game. In fact, the hard-hitting lefty was 0 for 3.

But this time Price couldn't keep the ball away from Opocensky and he drilled a double to right field to drive in Daliege with the winning run.

The game was well played by both sides. In fact, both teams hit safely only six times. Team White scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and, of course, finished things off with a walk-off win. Team Blue scored two runs in the top of the first inning and put up "goose eggs" until the their final at bat when they tied the game.

As for Barzell, he pitched well the first three innings, allowing two runs and a couple of hits, but he didn't want to push his luck. "It felt good to start on the mound again, but three innings were enough."

Price just shook his head after the game. "It's amazing what Lloyd is doing. My goodness, it's been only eighty days or so since his surgery. He's got the heart of a lion."

In the end, it wasn't the heart of Barzell, or the heart of Price, which made the difference in today's 60-and-over baseball game. It was just the heart of the order, which got the job done.

Price said, after the game. "My heart beat a little faster as I watched Joe's hit bounce off the right field fence."

One thing is for sure, Barzell and Price will be back on the field on Friday at Udall with the rest of the TOTS...and the beat goes on, even for a bunch of old-timers, who love to play the game of baseball.

Photo: Joe Opocensky hits a walk-off RBI-double in the bottom of the seventh inning today to give Team White a 5-4 win over Team Blue.

Rattlers knock off the Tucson Aces 8-3

60-and-over Tucson Aces

Oldtimers Baseball

The Arizona Rattlers Tino Nevarez threw six strong innings and reliever Ernie Hernandez threw a shutout inning in the seventh to lead the Arizona Rattlers to a 8-3 win over the 60-and-over Tucson Aces today at Mission Manor Park.

The Aces just couldn't get the bats going today. Down 4-0 early, the Aces could muster only eight hits -- and five of the those came from the middle of the batting order as Tim Tolson went 3 for 3 and Tim Boyd added two hits on three trips to the plate.

Tolson had one run batted in for the Aces and Reed Palmer knocked in the other two runs, both on sacrifice fly balls to deep right field.

Pete Maldonado pitched all seven innings for the Aces. A couple of untimely errors led to four runs in the top of the first for the Rattlers. It was a competitive game after the first inning, but when the dust had settled and the final out was made, the Rattlers had scattered 16 hits around the confines of Mission Manor Park.

The Aces will be looking for a little payback when the Rattlers visit the Aces at Udall Park next month.

Photo: Tim Tolson went 3 for 3 today at Mission Manor for the Tucson Aces.

Wildcats host New Mexico State Tuesday at Hi Corbett

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The Arizona Wildcats (15-4, 2-1) take 2 of 3 games at UCLA last week -- their first series' win in Los Angeles since 2005 -- and will host New Mexico State (12-8) in a single non-conference game at Hi Corbett Field Tuesday night. Game time: 6 p.m.

After their game with the Aggies, Arizona will head for Corvallis, Oregon and a three-game Pac-12 series with Oregon State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Alfonso Rivas continues to lead the Wildcats in hitting with a .436 average. Jared Oliva is second at .413 and leads the team in home runs with three. JC Cloney continues to lead Arizona's pitching staff with a 5-0 record and an ERA of 1.12.

Daliege allows just one earned run in Team Blue's 13-4 win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Bob Daliege had a good day on the mound for Team Blue today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game at Udall Park.

Daliege goes the distance and allows just one earned run -- a memorable one when Team White's hard-hitting lefty Reed Palmer hit a moon shot over the right field fence, which rolled all the way to the new highway that connects the Tanque Verde Road/Sabino Canyon Road intersection to Kolb Road.

Okay, maybe that's stretching it a little bit. There was no moon out. It was the middle of the morning and a tree or two might have slowed down the ball. But still Palmer's solo shot-- his second of the year -- was ripped.

At any rate, Daliege shook it off and allowed just three runs the rest of the way -- all unearned, due to a couple of fielding errors by the Team Blue infield.

In the end, it was an easy win for Daliege and Team Blue. The final score: Team Blue 13, Team White 4.

Tim Tolson doubled and tripled and drove in four runs for Team Blue, while Brian Reilly also recorded a double and a triple.

Daliege tried his best to keep the ball away from Palmer. In fact, Daliege walked him once, hit him once and retired him on a ground out. As for the homer, Daliege says, "That was a blast!"

One of the highlights of the game was the return to action in the person of 76-year-old Jerry Hamelin.  Jerry hasn't seen a lot of action during the last year and a half. The "injury bug" has kept him out of action.

But Hamelin played today and went 2 for 3 and scored a run. Hamelin used to get his hits in bunches. In fact, he's No. 6 on the TOTS' all-time career hits list with 1,304 hits.

"It's my knees," Hamelin said, after the game. "They don't work too well anymore."

Still, two more hits in the books for Hamelin, who joined the TOTS in 2002 at the age of 61.

Hamelin, Daliege, Palmer, Reilly and Tolson, well they'll all be back on Wednesday with the rest of the TOTS. Game time at Udall: 10 a.m.

Photos: (top), Jerry Hamelin, (bottom), Bob Daliege.

Pac-12 teams improve to 8-1 in NCAA Tourney

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament



With the Arizona Wildcats (32-4) leading the way, the Pac-12 teams are a combined 8-1 in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and advance three teams to the Sweet 16 next week.

The lone loss -- the Trojans of Southern Cal lose to Baylor today, 82-78. Advancing, along with the Wildcats, are Oregon -- a 75-72 winner today over Rhode Island and the UCLA Bruins, who knock off Cincinnati tonight, 79-67.

Next week:

2 Arizona (32-4) vs. 11 Xavier (23-13)

3 Oregon (31-5) vs. 7 Michigan (26-11)

3 UCLA (31-4) vs. 2 Kentucky (31-5)

Take that East Coast!

Lehman edges Stricker for Tucson Conquistadores Classic title

Champions Tour

Tucson Conquistadores Classic


Tom Lehman finished 20-under-par to edge Steve Stricker by one stroke to win the Tucson Conquistadores Classic today at the Omni Tucson National. Lehman finished at 199 for three days of work over the par-73 course.

Wildcats reach Sweet Sixteen

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

Arizona Wildcats

Arizona (32-4) had a sluggish first half, but put it all together in the second half tonight in Salt Lake City to put away Saint Mary's 69-60 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

Down 30-29 at the half, the Wildcats outscored the Gaels by 10 in the final 20 minutes sparked by Allonzo Trier and Lauri Markkanen. Trier scored 14 points -- all in the second half, while Markkanen  scored 16 points on the night and grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds.

It was definitely a balanced effort from the Wildcats once again as Dusan Ristic added 13 points, Kadeem Allen netted 12, while Rawle Alkins, despite an injury to his finger in the first half, finished with six points, two key rebounds, two steals and one assist.

The Wildcats shined at the free throw line, hitting 19 of 23, while the Gaels were just 5 of 8.

Arizona ended up shooting 45.1 percent on the night -- 23 of 51. Arizona out rebounded the Gaels, 32-30.

Arizona moves on to face Xavier (23-13) -- after a win on Thursday over Maryland 76-65 and tonight over Florida State, 91-66.

Way to go, Wildcats!

The TOTS All-Time Hits Leaders

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball


The Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) all-time hits leaders (thru Feb. 28, 2017)

1. Chico Bigham (age 78, a TOT since 1999)

2,116

2. Denny Leonard (age 79, a TOT since 1992)

1,503

3. Jerry Smarik (age 85, a TOT since 1991)

1,477

4. Floyd Lance (age 91, a TOT since 1999)

1,471

5. Ed Rife (deceased)

1,357

6. Jerry Hamelin (age 76, a TOT since 2003)

1,304

7. Brad Tolson (retired, a TOT since 1991)

1,288

8. Billy Heiny (age 87, a TOT since 1997)

1,269

9. Doc Thompson (age 74, a TOT since 2006)

1,230

10. Lloyd Barzell (age 66, a TOT since 2010)

1,212

11. Danny Price (age 71, a TOT since 2008)

1,121

12. Ron Petersen (age 71, a TOT since 2005)

1,069

13. Dennis Crowley (age 67, a TOT since 2010)

1,057

14. Dave Rhoades (age 72, a TOT since 2005)

1,051

15. Pete Peters, age 68, a TOT since 2011)

1,021

16. Joe Aparicio (age 83, a TOT since 1998)

991

17. Tim Tolson (age 64, a TOT since 2012)

922

Photo below: Chico Bigham currently the TOTS all-time hits leader at 2,116 hits.

Pac 12 teams a perfect 5-0 after first-round games in NCAA Tourney

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament


Congrats to the Pac-12 Conference.

Four teams -- Arizona, Oregon, UCLA and USC are a perfect 5-0 after first-round games of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

USC has two wins -- including a play-in game to start the week and an upset win over SMU.

Arizona sails into the round of 32 with a easy win over North Dakota, while Oregon rolls over Iona and UCLA blows by Kent State.

Next up for the four Pac-12 teams this weekend:

11-seed USC and 3-seed Baylor

2-seed Arizona and 7-seed Saint Mary's

3-seed Oregon and 11-seed Rhode Island

3-seed UCLA and 6-seed Cincinnati

Slugfest at Udall

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

With the temperature hovering around 90 degrees, the TOTS took it in stride this morning at Udall Park and responded with a slugfest won by Team Blue over Team White, 16-11.

Swinging a hot bat for Team Blue were Tim Tolson and Jesse Ochoa. Tolson went 3 for 4 and drove in four runs and Ochoa contributed two hits -- including a three-run double, which cleared the bases and added much-needed insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Pete Maldonado pitched all seven innings for Team Blue and picked up the win, while Pigpen Price and Doc Thompson shared mound duties for Team White.

Price went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs for Team White, while Thompson contributed two hits and knocked in three runs.

The TOTS will return to action on Monday at Udall. Game time: 10 a.m.

Arizona hits century mark in first round NCAA win

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


It was almost like the second-seeded Arizona Wildcats (31-4) toyed with 15-seeded North Dakota tonight in Salt Lake City. Arizona hit the century mark and won the NCAA opener easily, 100-82.

Probably a good 20 points more than Sean Miller would've like to have seen scored on his Wildcats.

Offensively, not too shabby with all five starters in double figures. Laura Markkanen scored 20, Rawle Alkins scored 20, Allonzo Trier added 18, Dusan Ristic chipped in 12 and Kadeem Allen finished with 10 points. Chance Comanche played 19 minutes, scored six points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright added eight points, five rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes of playing time.

Could the Wildcats have been looking ahead? Maybe.

Still, the Wildcats move on to face a much stronger opponent, Saint Mary's. The Gaels beat VCU 85-77 earlier tonight. Saint Mary's (29-4) has lost only four times this season -- three of the losses were to the No. 1 seed in the West Region, the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

There will be no toying with the Gaels.

Wildcats held to 3 hits at Cal State Fullerton

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


Arizona held to three hits at Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday. The Wildcats lose 4-0 and fall to 13-3 on the season.

Up next: The Wildcats open up Pac-12 play Friday with a three-game series at UCLA.

Boxberger goes 4 for 4 in TOTS win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Danny Boxberger went 4 for 4 and Reed Palmer pitched seven strong innings as Team White edged Team Blue 7-3 today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over baseball game.

Palmer helped his own cause in the first inning with a two-run double off the center field fence and Boxberger was a thorn in the side of Team Blue pitcher Pete Maldonado all day. Team Blue tried to battle back in the later innings as left fielder John Mathews went 3 for 3 and second baseman Dick Ducklow went 2 for 3 and drove in two runs.

The play of the day went to Team Blue third baseman Pigpen Price, who made a diving catch on a hard hit ball off the bat of Team White's David Byars. As for Byars, he collected two hits today and is  one of the TOTS' hottest hitters for the month of March.

Price said, after the game, "I paid for that one. David has been pounding the ball all month. He just happened to hit one close enough for me to grab it."

Later in the game, Byars hit one off the left field fence."I'm seeing the ball pretty good right now," said Byars, the newest addition to the TOTS' organization.

The TOTS return to action on Friday at Udall Park. Game time: 10 a.m.

Photos: Danny Boxberger, top photo, who went 4 for 4 today to lead his team, middle photo, David Byars, one of the TOTS hottest hitters for the month of March with two hits today. His only out: a hard smash to third, caught by a diving Pigpen Price (bottom photo).

Arizona ranked 4th in final AP Poll

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


The final AP Poll of the season has the Arizona Wildcats ranked No. 4, while UCLA settles in at No. 8 and Oregon grabs the 9th spot. Villanova stays at No. 1, Gonzaga No. 2 and Kansas at No. 3.

North Carolina is No. 5, Kentucky No. 6, Duke No. 7 and Louisville is in the 10th spot.

Now, you can throw all the rankings out the window as the NCAA Tournament gets underway today with two play-in games on tap: Mt. St. Mary's and New Orleans, while Kansas State takes on Wake Forest.

As for Arizona, a first-round matchup in Salt Lake City on Thursday against North Dakota. Game time: 6:50 p.m.

Let the tourney begin and follow the bouncing ball.

Go, Arizona! It's been 20 years since the Wildcats have won it all. It's time for another title run.

Barzell returns to the mound

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Lloyd Barzell, 66, just three months to the day since bypass surgery, returned to the mound today at Udall Park and hurled two shutout innings as Team Blue rolled to a 19-8 win over Team White.

Barzell struck out one and walked one. He caught a pop up and easily handled a comebacker. So far so good for Barzell, who returned to action earlier this month and played some outfield and infield positions and wore a chest protector, but decided to fore go the combersome apparatus and start pitching again.

Bob Daliege, Team Blue's starter, pitched five innings and picked up the win, while Joe Dinich, in only his second career start on the mound, was saddled with the loss.

Team Blue started quickly and had 12 runs on the board after just three innings of play. Tim Tolson was the big gun for Team Blue with a 4 for 4 day and six RBI. Brian Reilly went 3 for 4 for Team White.

But the big story was the return of Barzell, who not only pitched two innings, but batted second in Team Blue's lineup and collected three hits in four trips to the plate. Barzell, the TOTS' reigning hits leader for 2015 and 2016, is back where he wants to be -- pitching and hitting for the TOTS.

Barzell is back. He's all heart when he takes the field of play and the scary days of December are behind him.

"My heart felt good," Barzell said, after the game. "I have some soreness in my right arm, but other than that I feel pretty good."

Barzell's next goal: Get some hits. He has a lot of making up to do.

As for his TOTS' teammates, they won't be surprised if he finishes 2017 with the most hits, once again.

Photo: Lloyd Barzell

 

Wildcats score 63 runs during 3-game series with Hartford

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


Arizona improved to 13-2 after scoring 63 runs in three days at Hi Corbett Field against Hartford -- including a 25-3 win on Saturday and a 17-13 win today. The Wildcats opened the series with a 21-5 thumping of the Hawks on Friday.

Way to go, Wildcats! Keep swinging the hot bats!

Alfonso Rivas is the hot hitter for the Wildcats. Rivas is 18 for 39 and a .462 batting average. He's hit five doubles and a home run.

Arizona grabs No. 2 seed in West Region

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

The Arizona Wildcats (30-4) grab the No. 2 seed in the West Region and will play a first-round game of the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City on Thursday against 15-seed North Dakota (22-9).

Way to go, Wildcats!

The top four seeds go to Villanova, Kansas, North Carolina and Gonzaga. The Bulldogs get the top seed in the West Region.

As far as the Pac-12 Conference goes, USC gets a play-in game,  Oregon gets a No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region as does UCLA in the South Region.

Arizona wins Pac-12 Tournament Championship

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Allonzo Trier scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Kadeem Allen pumped in 13 points and hauled in seven rebounds to lead Arizona to a 83-80 win and the  Pac-12 Tournament Championship tonight in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena.

Arizona (30-4) led 35-29 at halftime and went on a 18-6 run to start the second half, before the Ducks went on a run of their own and closed the gap to 63-56 with 7:53 remaining in the game.

Oregon kept attacking and closed to 70-66 with 4:30 left and then closed within two with 27 seconds remaining when Jordan Bell grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to make it 79-77.

Trier took over from there.

With 18 seconds remaining, Trier sank two free throws and with 5.4 seconds left went back to the line and sank two more to put Arizona up, 83-77.

Tyler Dorsey hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Dillon Brooks finished with a game-high 25 points and Dorsey added 23.

Trier was named the Pac-12 Tournament"s MVP.

Congrats, Allonzo!

And congrats to the Arizona Wildcats!

Not too many old timers find their way to the mound

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Sachel Paige pitched a major league game at the age of 59.

Knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm took the mound one last time when he was just a few weeks short of his 50th birthday.

That's getting up there, unless you compare (just for fun) the old timers who still take the mound for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS).

Yes, the TOTS have some young studs in their 60s who still pitch for two hours or seven innings -- six during the warm days of summer, but there's five 70-somethings who answer the call at Udall Park on a weekly basis.

Let's call them the "Fabulous Five" for fun. They are: (the eldest statesman first) 75-year-old Arnie White, 74-year-old Doc Thompson, 71-year-old Dan Lundwall, 71-year-old Ron Petersen and 71-year-old Pigpen Price.

Of the five, only Thompson has actual professional baseball experience. The others? Well, it's more like "on the job training" at Udall Park every Monday, Wednesday and Friday -- depending on which one answers the call from the dugout (so to speak) and takes his stint on the mound.

Of the five, White seems to have the "rubber arm" and never turns down the daily manager's call to pitch. Maybe it's because he spends his winters in Tucson and most of late spring and the summer months on his ranch in Montana.

"Not a lot of people to throw to on the ranch," White admits. In fact, he gets his practice in by pounding his fastball at a target on the side of the barn. "When I'm in Tucson, I like to take the mound and pitch for the TOTS."

Price, on the other hand, is a Tucson resident year round, and has already pitched in ten games for the TOTS this year. "My problem is I'm either on or off. If I can't find the plate, I may throw 150 pitches in a seven-inning game and if that's the case, I then need four or five days to recover."

That seems to be the norm for all the 70-something pitchers. It's one thing to be a position player, but to be in your 70s and pitch, well that's a different story. Four or five days off before the next start, or at least a weekend off -- a Friday start, followed by a Monday start -- is the norm for an old timer who pitches on a regular bases for the TOTS.

As for speed, Thompson and Price have been known to reach 55 mph. Thompson has a bit more accuracy, while Price has been dubbed the "wild thing" on many occasions.

"I've bruised a batter or two, but not too many," Price says. "Let's just say the batters are wide awake while I'm on the mound."

A while back, the TOTS had a couple of 80-somethings take the mound, but it has become a safety issue of late. One pitcher wore a helmet when he pitched, but it takes some quick reflexes to either catch a "comebacker" or get out of the way when a 60-year-old connects and hits a shot back up the middle.

The TOTS use aluminum bats. A few of the players use wood bats. The aluminum bats are more lively. If you're a fielder, chances are you'll hear the sound first and suddenly the ball is bouncing off your chest or forearm.

Old-time baseball. You got to love it!


Photos: (top to bottom -- Arnie White, Doc Thompson, Dan Lundwall, Ron Petersen and Pigpen Price.

Wildcats roll in win over Bruins

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points -- including four long range 3-pointers to lead Arizona to a 86-75 win over third-ranked UCLA (29-4) in Las Vegas tonight in the semi finals of the Pac-12 Tournament.

No. 7 Arizona (29-4) advances to the final on Saturday against No. 5 Oregon (29-4).

Markkanen was on fire all night, but he wasn't the only Wildcat to blister the nets as Allonzo Trier pumped in 20 points -- including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, while Dusan Ristic added 10 points, Kadeem Allen chipped in 12 and Rawle Alkins scored eight points.

Arizona hit 10 of 20 from three-point land and canned 28 of 56 from the field (50 percent) and played aggressively on defense for 40 minutes.

Once again, it was Parker Jackson-Cartwright's heady play off the bench tonight. Cartwright finished with just four points, but grabbed three rebounds and stole the ball three times.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Arizona pounds Hartford 21-5

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


JC Cloney wasn't sharp, but it didn't matter as Arizona ripped Hartford 21-5 in the opening game of a three-game series at Hi Corbett Field tonight.

Cloney (4-0) hurled five innings, allowed three earned runs, struck out two and didn't walk a batter. He left the game with the Wildcats up 14-4. Arizona put up a seven-spot in the eighth inning for good measure.

Arizona banged out 18 hits and Alfonso Rivas hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

The Wildcats improve to 11-2 and continue the series with the Hawks on Saturday and Sunday.

Late night TV: Showdown in Las Vegas -- Arizona and UCLA

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

It'll be late night TV as Arizona (28-4) and UCLA (29-3) meet in the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament semifinals at 9:40 (Mountain Standard Time) tonight in Las Vegas.

No. 3 in the country, versus No. 7. On ESPN with a split screen so we can get a gander at Bill Walton.

As for me, it'll be a doubleheader, as I meet up with a high school classmate of mine at Hi Corbett Field to take in a 6 p.m. non-conference college baseball game: Arizona vs. Hartford.

The Wildcats (10-2) will send JC Cloney (3-0) to the mound tonight.

Like to see Cloney toss a shutout and Allonzo Trier go off on the Bruins for 30 points, while Lauri Markkanen finds the range from beyond the arc for a half-a-dozen three-pointers.

As for the Hartford Hawks, they are 1-6 on the season -- their only win was over Butler, while the Wildcats are currently ranked No. 11 in the country with a 10-2 record.

I should have time for a little recap, before I go to bed. I'll definitely sleep in tomorrow morning.

Go, Wildcats!

Team White holds on for a 11-9 win at Udall

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Both teams had their hitting shoes on today at Udall Park during a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

In the end, Team White holds on to edge Team Blue 11-9.

David Byars went 3 for 3 and Pigpen Price went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs for Team White, while Reed Palmer ripped four hits in four trips to the plate -- including an RBI-double in the seventh inning for Team Blue. Palmer knocked in a game-high four runs.

Unfortunately, Team Blue had cut into Team White's lead with two runs in the seventh but ended up stranding two runners as the final out of the game turned out to be a force out at second base.

Arnie White pitched all seven innings for Team White and picked up the win, while Chuck Sabalos, who normally catches, tried his luck on the mound today and was saddled with the loss.

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

Arizona reaches Pac-12 tourney semifinals

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Five starters scored in double figures and the Arizona Wildcats pulled away from Colorado in the second half en route to a 92-78 Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinal win tonight in Las Vegas.

Arizona, ranked No. 7 in the country, led 38-37 at the half, but held leads up to 18 points in the second half. Lauri Markkanen led the Wildcats with 20 points, while Allonzo Trier pumped in 19 points. Dusan Ristic and Rawle Alkins scored 15 points apiece, while Kadeem Allen added 13 points.

The Wildcats (28-4) shot 55.6 percent from the field (30 of 54), while connecting on 10 of 19 3 pointers (52.6 percent).

Way to go, Wildcats!

Wildcats return home with 10-2 record and nationally ranked

Arizona Wildcats Baseball

The Arizona Wildcats (10-2) return home for a three-game series at Hi Corbett on Friday, Saturday and Sunday against Hartford. The Wildcats win 2 of 3 at the Frisco Classic -- losing on the final day to Nebraska, 1-0. The Wildcats then hopped over to Lubbock and took on Texas Tech.

It wasn't pretty as the newly 4th-ranked Wildcats lose to No. 6 Texas Tech on Tuesday, 13-1. Still, a very good start to the season for Arizona as the Wildcats win their first ten games before losing back-to-back games to Nebraska and Texas Tech.

After 12 games, Mitchell Morimoto and Jared Oliva lead the Wildcats with 21 hits while Nick Quintana has 20 hits and JJ Matijevic has hit safely 19 times. Morimoto owns the best batting average at .467 (21 for 45). Matijevic leads in the RBI department with 15.

JC Cloney and Cameron Ming are the top pitchers -- both with identical 3-0 records.

Team White rally falls short

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

For five innings Team White could not score a run at Udall Park today.

Team Blue led 7-0 and it looked like their pitcher Pete Maldonado was headed for a shutout, but Team White plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth and came to bat in the bottom of the seventh with a chance to turn things around.

After singles from KJ James, Pigpen Price and a walk to Brian Reilly thing were looking good for just that. John Mathews, who already had three hits on the day, settled in at the plate with the bases loaded and proceeded to drill a shot to Team Blue's third baseman, Joe Opocensky, who stepped on third and then threw home for a force out and a double play.

Still, Team White battled and consecutive hits from Tim Tolson and Danny Boxberger plated three runs. Suddenly the score was 7-6 and the tying run was on third and the winning run was on first base.

That brought up Dave Byars, who had hit the ball hard all day. A single would do it and a double would more than likely win the game. Byars hit the first pitch off Maldonado high above home plate. The Team Blue catcher, Roger Beebe, circled under the ball. The ball bounced off Beebe's mitt and came to rest just inches in front of the plate. Beebe tagged Byars before he could get untracked and the game was over.

The game ended with a strange play. Instead of a more dramatic walk-off hit, the game ends on a pop up as the ball spins and comes to a stop just inches into fair territory.

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

Photo: Roger Beebe tags out the runner at the plate for the final out today in a 7-6 win for Team Blue.

The helmet that never quits

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Denny Leonard turns 80 in November. Denny has been a member of the TOTS since 1992, which means he's currently in the middle of his 25th season with the organization.

Leonard, a left-handed batter, is easy for his teammates to spot when he steps into the batter's box. His batting helmet is as old as he is...or close to it, anyway. Some members of the TOTS have mistakenly thrown the helmet into the trash can more than once.

The bright purple helmet has more tape around it than most of Leonard's teammates have around their legs, their arms or their ankles. The helmet has seen its better days, but Leonard, a former police officer from Alberta, Canada, likes to have it around.

"I like it. It feels comfortable," Leonard says. "It's a part of me."

One thing is for sure, Leonard has played a lot of baseball with the TOTS over the years -- over 1,400 games and 4,100 at bats (since the TOTS started keeping such stats in 2003) and it's a sure bet "old glory" ( the helmet's nickname) has kept him safe through thick and thin.

Chances of getting hit in the head with the TOTS at least a dozen times a year is a 60-40 proposition and if a pitch happens to bounce off the noggin'...well there's plenty of tape around to mend "old glory".

Photo: Denny Leonard and his trusty helmet.

Byars, Ochoa lead Team Blue to 11-4 win in TOTS' game

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

David Byars went 2 for 4 and knocked in three runs, while Jesse Ochoa banged out three hits and knocked in three runs to lead Team Blue to a 11-4 win over Team White today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) game.

Team Blue took advantage of five Team White errors in the top of the first inning to score five runs and took an early lead in the game. Team White never got untracked in this one. Lloyd Barzell went 2 for 3 and a walk for Team White and the hard-hitting lefty Reed Palmer returned to action, after a two-week layoff due to a hand injury, but had bad luck at the plate for Team White. Palmer hit a smash down the first baseline in his first at bat, but Byars backhanded the ball at first for the out. In his last at bat, Palmer hit into a double play to end a Team White rally.

Not a good day for Team White at the plate or in the field.

Hard-throwing, right-hander Arnie White picked up the win, while Team White's Pigpen Price struck out four batters and allowed just four earned runs, but was saddled with the loss.

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

Photo: Dave Byars knocked in three runs today for Team Blue and made the catch of the day at first base when he backhanded a hard shot off the bat of Team White's top hitter Reed Palmer.

Alkins grabs a double-double, Trier scores 19 in Wildcats win over ASU

Arizona Wildcats Baseketball


Rawle Alkins grabs a double-double and Allonzo Trier scores 19 points as 7th-ranked Arizona (27-4) turns a one-point lead at halftime into a 73-60 win in Tempe today over Arizona State.

Up 30-29 at the half, Arizona scores the first 11 points in the second half and puts the clamps on the Sun Devils down the stretch for the Pac-12 win and a share of the conference title.

If, and it is a BIG IF, Oregon State can upset Oregon later today in Corvallis, the Wildcats could win the Pac-12 Conference outright with a 16-2 record. Worst case scenario the Beavers will probably falter at home and Oregon will get the top seed for the Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas next week.

Lauri Markkanen did it all in the second half today to ignite the Wildcats. With just one point at the half, Markkanen went on to block three shots, score 10 points and grab nine boards, but it was Alkins who filled the stat sheet with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Kadeem Allen also scored in double figures with 12 points, while Chance Comanche netted eight points off the bench.

Arizona out rebounded the Sun Devils 50-27, but shot just 39 percent from the field (23 of 59) and 4 of 17 from three-point land (23.5 percent).

Arizona finishes the regular season with a 27-4 record and head home later today and begin to prepare for the Pac-12 Conference Tournament.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Update: Oregon rolls over Oregon State, 80-59. Share Pac-12 title with our Wildcats and grab top seed for Pac-12 Conference Tournament.

TOTS Fantasy Baseball coming soon to Bookemdanosports

TOTS Fantasy Baseball coming soon to Bookemdanosports.

Ron Petersen will be the league coordinator and head guru.

It all starts on opening day.

Stay tuned.

Dinich has a good day at Udall

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Joe Dinich, 73, had quite a day at Udall Park today.

Dinich, a member of the TOTS since 2008, has never ventured to the mound. He's been satisfied playing in the outfield and maybe an occasional first base. Dinich spends most of the year in Pennsylvania, but much of the winter and early spring is spent in Tucson.

While in Tucson, Dinich enjoys playing for the TOTS and today he decided to try his luck at pitching. "I've never pitched. Maybe I threw a little in the backyard as a kid," the Pottsville, Pa. native  said, just moments before he was handed the ball and headed for the mound this morning.

So what does Dinich do? He retires the first three batters he faces, pitches into the fourth inning and gets the win as his team -- Team Blue -- cruises to a 20-6 win over Team White.

And that wasn't all! Dinich had a day at the plate -- going 3 for 5, including an inside-the-park homerun. He also drove in five of the 20 runs.

The home run actually ties him with Tim Tolson and Reed Palmer for the club lead in homers. Tolson hit his first of the year today for Team White, while Palmer had a solo blast in January. Of course, Tolson's and Palmer's homers left the ball park, but Dinich is happy to be tied with the big boys.

"My shot rolled all the way to the fence," Dinich said. "It was a long way home."

Dan Lundwall started for Team White and was saddled with the loss. Pigpen Price relieved Lundwall in the fourth, but he also couldn't keep Team Blue off the bases. Along with Dinich, it was Jesse Ochoa who turned out to be a thorn in the side of Team White's pitching staff. Ochoa went 4 for 5 and knocked in a game-high six runs.

Dinich will head home in two weeks and will return to Tucson next winter. He may just try his luck on the mound again when he returns to Tucson and to the TOTS later this year.

After all, the 60-and-over TOTS can always use pitchers.

Photo: Joe Dinich

Little Joe -- a big man with the TOTS

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Little Joe Aparicio may be the shortest member on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, but he's a big man as far as the amateur baseball organization is concerned.

Aparicio, 83, is one of three 80-somethings who played today at Udall Park -- the other players are Billy Heiny, 87, and Jerry Smarik, 85.

Heiny and Smarik have been around a while -- Heiny has been a TOT since 1997, Smarik since 1991, and both players have reached the 1,000 plateau in career hits.

Little Joe is about to join his two long-time teammates. Aparicio picked up his 988th career hit with the TOTS at Udall Park today and needs just 12 more to join the organization's 1,000 hit club.

Aparicio no longer gets his hits in bunches, in fact in January he collected one hit and last month he hit safely four times. At the rate he's going, Little Joe just might surpass the 1,000-hit mark sometime this summer.

In 2018, when the organization celebrates its 50th year (1968-2018), Aparicio will celebrate his 20th season (1998-2018) with the club.

Way to go, Joe!

Photo: of Little Joe Aparicio, who's playing his 19th season with the TOTS and needs just 12 more hits to reach 1,000 career hits with the club.

Reilly a "hot" TOTS' hitter in February

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Brian Reilly, 65, led the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers in hits and runs and batting average during the month of February. Reilly played in 10 games and batted 36 times, resulting in 23 hits and 20 runs scored. His batting average: a healthy .639.

Tim Tolson was second in hits with 21, Dick Ducklow was third with 18 and Pigpen Price finished fourth in hits with 17. Dave Byars, Doc Thompson and Joe Opocensky tied for fifth in hits with 16 apiece.

The top RBI man for February went to Price with 16 runs-batted-in, while Thompson and Ron Carlson tied for second with 14 apiece. Tolson was third with 13.

Opocensky played in just seven games and actually owned a blistering .696 batting average, but batted just 23 times -- 13 less at bats than Reilly. Tim Boyd played in just four games for the month, but he certainly made the most of his at bats -- going 10 for 13, a .769 average.

Joe Aparicio was the top hitter for the 80-somethings. Aparicio, 83, had four hits in 30 at bats with three runs batted in and a batting average of .133.

On the mound, Arnie White recorded the most wins for the month with three.

Photo: Brian Reilly, had the most hits and most runs scored for the TOTS in February.

Maldonado tosses a gem

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Pete Maldonado is a crafty right-hander.

Today at Udall Park, Maldonado had the magic touch on the mound as he allowed one lone run en route to a 4-1 win for Team Blue over Team White in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Maldonado coaxed the Team White hitters into a lot of ground ball outs. Team White scored their lone run in the second inning on an RBI single to left field by Dick Ducklow and the rest of the game was all goose eggs, while Lloyd "Baby Bull" Barzell went 3 for 4 and drove in two of the four runs for Team Blue.

The catch of the day went to Team White's left fielder John Mathews, who ran down a hard hit ball  off the bat of Dave Byars. Mathews scampered to his left and made an over-the-shoulder, running catch to rob Byars of a hit.

As for Maldonado, he had plenty of help today -- especially from his infielders, as 12 of the 21 outs came from his infield, which consisted of Byars at first base, Barzell at second, Tim Tolson at shortstop and Pigpen Price at third base.

"The result of today's game was a lot different from last Friday," Maldonado said. Maldonado lost 12-5 in his last outing as most of the hits against him were bloopers -- all falling in to no man's land.

Today was a different story as the Team White hitters pounded the ball right at some one.

As for the weather, mid 60s and a clear blue sky. More of the same is expected on Friday when the TOTS close out the week with a game at 10 a.m.