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.