Way to go, Diamondbacks!

Arizona Diamondbacks


"This is insane."

The words out of the mouth of Mark Grace, just moments after the Diamondbacks beat St. Louis 6-5 at Chase Field tonight. Another walk-off win. This time David Peralta ties the game in the ninth inning with a solo blast and Chris Hermann follows in the tenth inning with a walk-off single as Raymond Fuentes scampers home with the winning run.

What a shocker!

The Diamondbacks have won 8 of 10 and improve to 50-28 with the win over the Cardinals.

What a difference a year makes!

Floyd is back with the TOTS

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The oldest player to take the field for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) is back.

Floyd Lance, 91, received the "OK" from his physical therapist and his wife of 65 years, Irene, and played today for Team Blue at Udall Park.

Lance and Team Blue were the winners today over Team White 9-4 as third baseman Joe Opocensky went 4 for 4 and drove in three runs. Tim Tolson and Pigpen Price went 3 for 3 for Team White. Ron Petersen picked up the pitching victory and Price was saddled with the loss.

But the big story was the return of Lance.

"I'm glad to be back," Lance said. "But my days of playing first base are over. Can't afford another collision."

Floyd played in the outfield today and had just one ball hit to him. "It's different out there," said Lance, who was involved in a collision with a runner in a game in January and injured his shoulder.

At the plate today, Lance went 0 for 2, walked once and scored a run.

Way to go, Floyd!

Daliege tosses 4-hitter

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball


Death Valley Week

Game 3

Hits were at a premium today at Udall Park.

In fact, Team Blue's Doc Thompson allowed just seven hits and one earned run, while Team White's Bob Daliege tossed a four-hitter. Unfortunately for Thompson five unearned runs crossed the plate in the fifth inning and Team White won the game 6-2.

It was another hot day at the ball park as the TOTS finished up Death Valley Week with their third "hot and dusty" game in five days.

The members of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers will take a break and head indoors for the weekend and hope for cooler temperatures next week.

With no runs on the scoreboard today after three innings of play, Thompson stepped into the batter's box in the top of the fourth inning and laid down a squeeze bunt, which allowed Reed Palmer, who had tripled, to score from third base to give Team Blue a 1-0 lead.

But Team White came right back and tied the game in the bottom of the inning and then added five runs in the fifth -- all unearned as Team Blue's third baseman Pigpen Price made two throwing errors.

"I had two throws get away from me," said a disappointed Price. "I made good plays on both grounders, but threw wide of first on one play and sailed another throw over second base on a perfect chance at a double play on the other."

Errors are going to happen. Especially when there's a group of players playing the game of baseball who range in ages from 60 to 90. "It goes with the territory," said Thompson.

According to Thompson, his team had a shot to get back in the game in the seventh inning. "We just didn't hit the ball today," said Thompson, who was sailing right along until his defense fell apart in the fifth.

In the top of the seventh, Price made up for his two errors with a single to left and that brought up the dependable Palmer, who leads the club in home runs with four. But Daliege struck out Palmer and then needed to get by Ron Petersen, another hard-hitting lefty. Petersen took a couple of pitches and then doubled to right field, allowing Price to score.

Unfortunately for Team Blue, the rally ended there and Daliege and Team White had their victory.

Photos: The pitchers of record today: Doc Thompson (top) and Bob Daliege (bottom photo)

Team Blue's bats come alive in 6th inning

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Death Valley Week at Udall

Team Blue  4  Team White  3

Team Blue had been held in check by hard-throwing right-hander Reed Palmer for five innings. Palmer was cruising and led 3-0 with one out in the top of the sixth inning, but as soon as the temperature reached 100 degrees, Team Blue's bats found life.

Tim Boyd doubled in two runs to start the rally and Jesse Ochoa finished it off with a single to left to give Team Blue a 4-3 lead. Up to that point, Palmer had allowed zip and had received help from his defense with three double plays.

Still, the game wasn't over as Team White came to bat with a chance to regain the lead. Palmer was first up and hit a towering fly ball to center, but centerfielder Pete Peters camped under it for the first out. John Mathews followed with a double, but was stranded at second as Pigpen Price flew out to Peters and Bob Royer grounded out to first for the final out of the game.

Catcher Mike Steele led Team White today with a perfect 3 for 3 day. Doc Thompson drove in two runs for Team White in the first inning and Tim Tolson singled in a run in the fifth. Lefty Ron Petersen went the distance for Team Blue and picked up the win.

It was the second game of the week that has gone down to the wire. Monday's game went to Team White 6-5 as the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) continue with Death Valley Week at Udall.

The temperature in the Old Pueblo hit 113 on Monday, 116 on Tuesday and the jury is still out on just how hot it'll be on Friday when the TOTS take the field for the third time this week.

It's HOT! But not hot enough to keep the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers off the field.

Friday's game will have an 8:30 a.m. start as the TOTS try to beat the triple-digit heat one more time.

Photos: Tim Boyd (top) and Jesse Ochoa (middle) led Team Blue to a come-from-behind 4-3 win today at Udall Park. Mike Steele (bottom photo) handled duties behind the plate for the second game in a row this week and had a perfect 3 for 3 day at the plate today for Team White.

Miguel's run

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team White  6  Team Blue  5

Miguel Urtaza turns 75 next month. As a little boy growing up in Panuco, Veracruz, he undoubtedly "ran like the wind" -- much like many of the players on the current 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers used to do when they, too, played sandlot ball and could beat out a throw to second base with the best of them.

After seven decades, things change. Miguel can no longer be described as fleet of foot.

But there are times in a TOTS' game at Udall Park when it is necessary for Miguel, or a teammate, to turn on the afterburners. Today was one of those days.

With the morning temperature already hovering over the 100-degree mark and only hours away from the TOTS' home park turning into Death Valley with record-breaking temperatures expected, Team Blue and Team White had played to a 5-5 tie.

It looked like the game would end up a "kiss your sister affair" with no winner or loser. But Team White had found a way to load the bases with two outs and Urtaza had reached first base on a fielder's choice play.

Bob Daliege stepped to the plate and hit a ground ball to second. The runner at third scampered home. The Team Blue second baseman Ron Carlson knocked the ball down and threw to his shortstop Reed Palmer. But Urtaza was off at the crack of the bat and his right foot hit the bag, just ahead of Carlson's throw. SAFE!

Urtaza, with his 90-foot run timed at 20.2 seconds had gathered up just enough speed to help Team White win the game. A smiling Urtaza quickly turned in today's instant hero.

A typical moment in time in a TOTS' game. Sometimes it's not the big hit or the diving catch that decides the game, but a little extra effort on the base paths.

Way to go, Miguel!

Photo: the fleet-footed Miguel Urtaza

The reluctant hitter

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

AC Edwards turns 80 this year and he brings a white, long sleeve dress shirt to all the games and prior to game time makes sure another signature or two from his TOTS' teammates are added to the shirt.

By the time his birthday rolls around on September 28th, Edwards hopes to have more than 40 signatures. Until then, Edwards concentrates on his each and every at bat with the TOTS.

Edwards is in his first full year with the 60-and-over baseball team and by his own admission has "a lot of learning to do."

What he worries most about, during his at bats with the TOTS, is the possibility of getting hit, not getting a hit.

Last month, a fastball got away from Dan "Pigpen" Price and Edwards took a direct hit to the body. Edwards has discovered, in his short time with the club, that pitches aren't always strikes and sometimes if you're not alert you just might get clunked.

"I remember that (Price's wild throw)," Edwards says. "The guy throws hard."

So today, Edwards, playing for Team White, was standing in the on-deck circle and waiting for (you guessed it) Team Blue's Pigpen Price to unleash his next pitch. The batter, Bob Royer, had worked the count full and Price's next offering clipped Royer on his left elbow. Royer shook it off and headed for first base.

Edwards smiled, took a look at Price and said, "Now you take it easy on me." The reluctant hitter stepped into the batter's box and took a blazing fastball right down the middle for strike one. Edwards stepped out of the box, made his way back in and proceeded to hit the next pitch to left field for a clean single.

The reluctant hitter stopped at first base and smiled. "I deserved that!" Edwards said.

Edwards, and his team, beat Price and Team Blue today 10-5. Right-hander Bob Daliege went the distance for Team White and picked up the win...and he also hit one batter.

It happens.

But like all rookies with the TOTS, it doesn't take them long to learn "to stay alive"  in the batter's box.

Of course, there's a big difference between the TOTS and the players in professional baseball. No one throws 100 mph hour in a TOTS' game at Udall Park. Maybe half of that -- if the 60 or 70-year-old pitcher that day just happens to have had an extra bowl of Wheaties before coming to the ball park.

Still, it HURTS! AC can attest to that.

Photo: Edwards, awaiting his next at bat...with his armor on.

Team Blue edges Team White 10-9 in slugfest at Udall Park

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Baseballs were flying out of Udall Park in the early innings, but an opposite-field two-run double in the top of the seventh inning by Ted Davis broke an 8-8 tie and led to a 10-9 win for Team Blue today at Udall Park in a 60-an-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Early on it looked like the home run ball would eventually decide the winner as Team White's Reed Palmer crushed a home run over the right field fence for his fourth round-tripper of the year and Team Blue's Tim Tolson drilled a two-run homer off the scoreboard in center field for his third of the season.

Instead, the game came down to the final inning. Palmer, who relieved Team White starter Doc Thompson, retired the first two Team Blue batters in the top of the seventh, but Bob Royer reached on an error and moved to second on a walk to Pigpen Price.

That brought up Davis, who worked the count to 3-2 and then hit a double to right. The ball got by Team White right fielder Miguel Urtaza and rolled all the way to the fence. Royer scored and Price scored all the way from first to give Team Blue a 10-8 lead.

"I'm just happy to get a meaningful hit for a change," Davis said, after the game.

Still, Team White had the heart of their order coming up in the bottom of the seventh. Palmer, who went 4 for 4 on the day, doubled in a run with two out to make it 10-9, but Team Blue's Ron Petersen struck out Denny Leonard to end the game and preserve the hard-fought win.

Tolson singled, tripled and homered in his first three at bats, but missed out on the cycle with a single in his final at bat in the sixth inning. Team White's Mike Steele also had a big day at the plate with four hits in four trips to the plate.

Palmer was saddled with the loss and Petersen went the distance for the win.

Photos: top, Tolson, who hit his third homer of the year today, middle, Palmer, who hit his club-leading fourth homer and, bottom, Davis, who provided today's game winning hit.

  

Kerr and the Warriors do it again

NBA Finals


Kevin Durant scored 39 points, Stephen Curry poured in 34 and former Arizona Wildcat Andre Iguodala netted 20 as the Golden State Warriors won the NBA title tonight with a 129-120 win on their home floor in Oakland to capture the championship series 4 games to 1.

Congrats to the Warriors' coach Steve Kerr, the former Arizona Wildcat sharpshooter, on another NBA title. The dynasty is alive and well.

Adyson Barker

Bookemdanosports Press Release


Adyson Barker  -- A footprint in the sand

Adyson Barker is 16 years old. With her future in front of her, Adyson is already leaving her footprint in the sand. Her arena: the sand volleyball court.

Adyson, the daughter of Dani and Kevin Barker, has set her sights far away from her hometown of Arlington, Texas. Instead, she yearns for the beaches of California and a chance to become a professional volleyball player.

There are a few things against her. Her size for one. At 5-foot-3, she'll be in among the "giants" at the net. But don't count out Adyson Barker. She has already displayed the heart of a lion and has shown to her family, her friends and her teammates that she will rise up from the sand and make a name for herself in a sport which requires speed, agility and toughness -- three of the requirements for a sport which has taken the country by storm --  all the way to the Summer Olympics.

The Olympic stars in the sport, Misty May-Treanor and Kerry Walsh Jennings (gold medalists in the 2012 Summer Olympics), have certainly made a name for themselves over the years in the popular sport, which adds a new meaning to "fun in the sun."

But to get there, to the pinnacle of the sport, takes a lot of talent, a lot of hard work and the need to succeed. Dani Barker says her daughter has all those attributes.

"Adyson starting playing beach volleyball just two years ago and qualified for the junior Olympics in Hermosa Beach, California," Dani says. "This is very uncommon. Most girls have been playing beach for several years and if they are not playing beach then they are playing indoor. She has a great mind set for the game."

According to Dani, her daughter has been told that she is too short. She has been told to come back to reality. But hearing those words just makes her work and train harder. It's that "fighter mentality" inside her -- a trait she inherited as a baby.  Just getting started in life wasn't easy for Adyson.

When Adyson was a baby she suffered with aspiration pneumonia where the food she ate ended up in  her lungs instead of her stomach.

"She learned sign language as an infant and was always signing that she was hungry," said Dani. "We didn't understand (in the beginning). At 18 months old she weighed a frightening 18 pounds. To say the least, she had a rough start, but I believe this gave her that fighting spirit."

Adyson has come a long way in her short time on this earth and her mother predicts those footprints in the sand will get bigger and bigger.

"It takes more than just being athletic to be an athlete," Adyson's mother adds. "It takes heart and dedication. It takes sacrificing time with friends, missing out on high school football games, being dog tired after training in the gym 3-4 times a week to improve your vertical and it takes traveling to California, to Florida, to Alabama, to Arizona and Texas."

Adyson still has her junior and senior year of high school to look forward to. And plenty of beach volleyball ahead for the summer. She has already qualified for the Nationals to be held in Hermosa Beach in mid July where she will team up with an 18-year-old partner.

Like the sand in an hourglass, only time will tell just how far Adyson will go in the sport she loves. One thing is for sure, Dani and Kevin Barker...and Adyson, will enjoy the journey -- one footprint at a time.

Photos: (top) Adyson Barker at a recent sand volleyball camp, held at the University of Arizona, (bottom) Adyson practicing on the sand in Hermosa Beach, California.

Note: Adyson Barker is the grandaughter of David Byars (below photo), a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers baseball club.

Back-to-back doubles by Mathews, Ochoa lead to 9-4 TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team White capped off a five-run fifth inning with doubles from John Mathews and Jesse Ochoa en route to a 9-4 win over Team Blue at Udall Park today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

The wild fifth inning all started with two outs. Mathews stepped to the plate and knocked in two runs with a hard hit ball to the fence in left field and Ochoa followed, moments later, unleashing a bases-loaded shot to the gap in left center to clear the bases.

Pete Maldonado picked up the win for Team White, allowing two unearned runs and two earned runs, while Bob Daliege went the distance for Team Blue, but was saddled with the loss.

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

Photos: (top) John Mathews, (bottom photo) Jesse Ochoa.

Baby Bull Barzell top TOTS' hitter in May

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Lloyd "Baby Bull"  Barzell led the Tucson Old Timers in hits during the month of May with 20, while Reed Palmer drove in the most runs with 14. Barzell played in 11 games and went 20 for 35 for a .571 batting average, while Palmer played in seven games and went 15 for 19 for a blistering .789 batting average.

Barzell also topped the charts in runs scored with 13, while Roger Beebe finished second with 12.

Other top hitters included Bob Daliege (14 for 21 in eight games); Jesse Ochoa (13 for 26  in 11 games); Tim Tolson (16 for 32 in 11 games) and Doc Thompson (11 for 22 in nine games).

No home runs were hit during the month, but Palmer and Tolson tied for the top spot in doubles with five, while Beebe led the club in triples with two.

Lefty Dennis Crowley tied for the most pitching victories for the month with Barzell at three wins  apiece.

The TOTS now enter the hot months and switch to six inning games when the temperature hits the triple digits on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All games at Udall Park have a starting time of 9 a.m.

Photo: Barzell

Golden State sailing toward another NBA Title

NBA Finals


Golden State took care of business on its home court in Oakland with a 113-91 win on Thursday and a 132-113 victory tonight to take a 2-0 lead over Cleveland in the best-of-seven series for the NBA title.

Stephen Curry posted a triple-double tonight with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, while teammate Kevin Durant scored a game-high 33 points for the Warriors. LeBron James did his best to keep the Cavs in the game and also finished with a triple-double -- 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists.

The NBA championship series heads for Cleveland and a 6 p.m. tipoff on Wednesday night.

The Wildcats eliminated in Lubbock

Arizona Wildcats Baseball


The Arizona Wildcats (38-21) couldn't get it going in Lubbock this weekend and were eliminated from postseason play, losing 9-3 to Sam Houston State today.

Arizona salvaged one win at the Lubbock Regionals -- a 6-5 win over Delaware on Saturday in 12 innings. Sam Houston State beat the Wildcats on Friday 5-4 as JC Cloney suffered his second loss of the season and finished his senior season with a 7-2 record.

Time to focus on basketball

NBA FINALS


After 82 regular season games for all the participants and a dozen wins in the postseason by Golden State and Cleveland, it's time for the BIG SHOW -- the Cavs vs. the Warriors for all the marbles.

Sir James and Mr. Curry. Eastern Conference champ against the Western Conference champ.

No surprise there.

It all begins tonight in Oakland.