"Big Boppers" lead Aces to 16-10 win at Mission Manor

60-and-over baseball

Tucson Aces

The 60-and-over Tucson Aces traveled across town and took on the Arizona Rattlers this morning at Mission Manor Park.

And the Aces took their "big-boppers" with them.

Reed Palmer, Tim Tolson, Joe Opocensky and John Mathews all contributed multiple hits during the game as the Aces scored five runs in the first, the third and the fifth inning, while adding a lone run in the top of the seventh.

Mathews, 61, was the main man today as he pitched the first five innings and picked up the win. At the plate, Mathews, who throws left but bats from the right side of the batter's box, contributed three hits in four trips to the plate and drove in a game-high six runs.

Palmer pitched the final two innings for the Aces. Every player in the Aces' lineup contributed to the onslaught as ten batters hit safely and the 11th player, 87-year-old Billy Heiny, dropped a successful sacrifice bunt down the third base line in the fifth inning, which led to two runs.

The big blow of the day a triple by Opocensky. Mathews had two doubles and a single, but missed out on a perfect day at the plate when he grounded out in the seventh. "I heard someone in the dugout say, "John, make it 4 for 4."

Still, it turned out to be a great day for Mathews and the Aces.

The game started early with the first pitch at 8 a.m. Still, the temperature hit the 100 degree mark before the game was half way over. Before the Aces returned to the east side of town, the temperature was hovering around 106.

The Aces couldn't escape the heat this morning, so they took their mind off the miserable weather and proceeded to bang out 20 hits and pick up an easy win over their crosstown rival.