Diamondbacks lose finale 4-3 to Padres, end up 82-80

Arizona Diamondbacks

February/2019 awaits the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Arizona loses to Padres 4-3 in 10 innings today in San Diego and finish the season with 82 wins and 80 losses. Not exactly what the Diamondbacks...and their fans were looking for.

Red Sox, Yankees, Astros only 100-game winners in MLB

The regular MLB season ends

Some odds and ends


The Boston Red Sox finish 108-54 to lead the Majors in wins, the New York Yankees complete the regular season at 100-62 and the Houston Astros end up 103-59 -- three 100-game winners, all from the American League.

In the National League,  the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers end up in a dead heat at 95-67. The two teams await a game to decide the NL Central at Wrigley Field on Monday. In the NL West another dead heat with the LA Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies ending up with identical 91-71 records. The two teams await a game on Monday in Los Angeles to decide the division winner.

It'll all be sorted out come Tuesday morning, just in time for the Wild Card games.

USC 24 Arizona 20

Arizona Wildcats Football


USC jumped out to a 24-0 lead and waited for Arizona to beat them.

Instead, the Wildcats rally, but are their own worst enemy down the stretch with poor play calling and a lack of execution and fall to the Trojans tonight at Arizona Stadium, 24-20.

A gimpy Khalil Tate led the late-game surge with two touchdown passes and Gary Brightwell added a 1-yard TD plunge to give the Wildcats hope, but in the final seconds Arizona missed a PAT and made a poor attempt at an onside kick to fall to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in Pac-12 play.

Tate passed for 232 yard and rushed for 38 grueling yards and simply is not 100 per cent when on the field.

Oh, the agony of defeat.

Thompson, Dawson lead Team Blue to 8-3 win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Doc Thompson finished a 11 for 12 week with four more hits today and right-hander Mike Dawson allowed just three runs in seven innings as Team Blue beat Team White 8-3 in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game at Udall Park.

Team Blue scored five runs in the third and three more in the seventh to put away Team White. Pete Maldonado went the distance for Team White and was saddled with the loss. Dave Byars knocked in two of the three runs and played first base for the losing team.

Byars has been cleared by his doctor to return to baseball after receiving two knee operations this summer.

Top plays of the day included two catches in short left field by 80-year-old Denny Leonard, who also threw out a runner at second base.

The TOTS completed their September schedule today and return to action on Monday, Oct. 1. Game time 9 a.m.

Photos: 1) Doc Thompson completed a 11 for 12 week with four more hits at today's TOTS game, 2) Dave Byars is back in action with the TOTS after two knee operations this summer and played first base and knocked in two runs today, 3) 80-year-old Denny Leonard made two catches today in short left field and threw out a runner at second base, 4) Mike Dawson, who allowed just three runs in seven innings today to pick up the pitching victory.

Pigpen lives up to his nickname

Tucson Old Timers TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Pigpen Price, 73, had a rare day at the plate with three hits in three trips to the plate today at Udall Park to help Team White roll by Team Blue 5-1 in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Price, a member of the TOTS since 2008, picked up his nickname years ago due to his constant battle with the ground. "I have a hard time staying on my feet at times and my knees (see above photo) pay the price -- no pun intended.”

Today was no exception. In the fifth inning, Price battled a slow roller off the bat of 84-year-old Joe Aparicio. "I kicked it (the ball) pretty good and scuffed up my knee for the 4,000th time (actually, I've lost count)," Price adds.

Reed Palmer also had three hits today for Team White, while Thunder Tim Tolson (another nickname on the TOTS that seems to stick) went 3 for 3 for the losing team. Team White lefty Dennis Crowley allowed just one run in seven innings to pick up the pitching victory, while another lefty, John Mathews, was saddled with the loss.

As for Price and the slow roller. "Sometimes the ball just spins away from you and the harder you try to pick up the ball the worse it gets." As for Team White's infield, they did their job for the most part with Palmer at third base, Mike Dawson at shortstop, Doc Thompson at first base and with Price at second as they made their share of plays to help support Crowley.

The top play of the day went to Team Blue's third baseman Joe Opocensky, who hauled in a shot down the third baseline by Team White's Ron Ryan. Billy Heiny, 89, also made a nice grab in short left field to snuff out a Team Blue rally.

As for all the cuts and bruises, it goes with the territory. Band-Aids are a requirement for all players on the 60-and-over TOTS.

The TOTS return to action on Friday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.

Note: As for Band-Aids, they were first introduced to the world in 1920 by Johnson and Johnson. Their tagline: "I am stuck on Band-Aid 'cause Band-Aid's stuck on me!" Price makes sure his bat bag contains plenty of the product.

10 TOTS heading for 2018 MSBL World Series

Below are the games and times for the 10 members of the Tucson Old Timers who will represent Tucson at the 31st annual Men's Senior Baseball League World Series, scheduled for Oct. 14 through Nov. 3 in Phoenix, Arizona.

70-and-over Central Division/day/date/time/opponents/site


70-and-over (TOTS players playing for San Antonio Texans -- Bob Daliege, Lloyd Barzell, Pigpen Price, Bill Mishler, Pete Peters and Ron Petersen)

Sunday, Oct. 14 -- 9 a.m. San Antonio Texans vs. Seattle at Tempe #2

Monday, Oct. 15 -- 10:00 a.m. New England Red Sox vs. San Antonio Texans at Riverview #SE4

Tuesday, Oct. 16 -- 9:00 a.m. San Antonio Texans vs. Tri Valley Vets at Tempe Diablo

Wednesday, Oct. 17 -- 9:30 a.m. Terre Haute Volkers vs. San Antonio Texans at Salt River D5

Thursday, Oct. 18 -- 10:00 a.m. Philadelphia Mustangs vs. San Antonio Texans at Surprise KC#5


73+Division/day/date/time/opponents/site

73-and-over (TOTS players playing for the San Antonio Red Sox -- Pigpen Price and Ron Petersen)

Monday, Oct. 22 -- 9:30 a.m. Sacramento vs. San Antonio Rex Sox at Hohokam Aux

Tuesday, Oct. 23 -- 2:00 p.m. San Antonio Red Sox vs. Virgin Islands at Riverview SE#3

Wednesday, Oct. 24 -- 9:30 a.m. TV Vets vs. San Antonio Red Sox at Salt River R#4

Thursday, Oct. 25 -- 10:00 a.m. San Diego Padres vs.  San Antonio Red Sox at Surprise KC#6

Friday, Oct. 26 -- 12:45 p.m. San Antonio Rex Sox vs.  South Dakota Rushmores at Fitch Park SE#2


Cactus 2 65-and-over Division/day/date/time/opponents/site

65-and-over (TOTS players playing for Tucson Toros -- Tim Tolson and Joe Opocensky)

Saturday, Oct. 20 9:30 a.m. Ohio Legends vs. Tucson Toros at Salt River D#6

Sunday, Oct. 21  10:00 a.m. Tucson Toros vs. Chicago Grays at Riverview SE#3

Monday, Oct. 22 1:30 p.m. CO Stars vs. Tucson Toros at Fitch Park SE#2

Tuesday, Oct. 23 10:00 a.m. Tucson Toros vs. MLW Braves at Goodyear Stadium

Wednesday, Oct. 24 1:30 p.m. Tucson Toros vs. PS Mariners at Salt River D#6


60-and-over Central Division/day/time/opponents/site

60-and-over (TOTS players playing for Paladin -- Mike Dawson and John Mathews)

Monday, Oct. 29 10:00 a.m. Valcanoes vs. Paladin at Papago #1

Monday, Oct. 29 2:00 p.m. Paladin vs. LV Moondogs at Papago #1

Tuesday, Oct. 30 9:00 a.m. LA Athletics vs. Paladin at Tempe Diablo

Tuesday, Oct. 30  12:30 p.m. Paladin vs. DFW Phillies at Tempe #2

Wednesday, Oct. 31 10:00 a.m. Diamonds vs. Paladin at Hohokam Stadium

Thursday, Nov. 1 2:00 p.m.  Paladin vs. Dragons at Riverview SE#4

*Playoffs will follow after each round-robin in each division/Day/date and times TBA

Team Blue 8 Team White 6

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Doc Thompson, 76, went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs to lead Team Blue to a 8-6 win over Team White at Udall Park this morning in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Bob Daliege started the game for Team Blue and picked up the win, while lefty Ron Petersen picked up the save. Pete Maldonado went the distance for Team White and was the losing pitcher, while teammate Mike Griffo, the latest addition to the TOTS, went 3 for 3.

The TOTS return to action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.

Balanced offense leads to Arizona win

Arizona Wildcats Football

Running backs J.J. Taylor and Jerry Brightwell combined for 397 yards rushing and three  touchdowns to lead a balanced attack in Corvallis, Oregon today as the Arizona Wildcats picked up a 35-14 win over the Beavers.

Taylor rushed for 284 yards, including TD runs of 40 and 62 yards, while Brightwell added 113 yards and a 43-yard TD run.

Khalil Tate threw two touchdown passes -- a 21-yard hookup to Shun Brown and a 16-yard TD to Shawn Poindexter as Arizona amassed 594 yards of total offense -- 442 on the ground. The Wildcats even their season record at 2-2, but more importantly notch their first Pac-12 Conference win.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Diamondbacks limping home, facing another .500 season

Arizona Diamondbacks

With eight games to go, the Arizona Diamondbacks are limping home en route to another mediocre season. Arizona heads into the weekend against the Colorado Rockies with a 79-75 record and losers of 15 of their last 20 games.

Another lost season. And enough already with the rumors of a Paul Goldschmidt trade.

Goldy did it all for the Diamondbacks this season. Heading into the weekend, Goldschmidt's batting average is a notch under .300 at .299 with 33 home runs and 83 RBI. A little shy of his best season in 2013 when he hit 36 homers, knocked in 125 runs and maintained a .302 batting average.

So, Diamondbacks. Go for some RELIEF! Find a closer and some new faces in the rotation capable of more than five innings an outing.

It's a shame. The major league playoffs are a week away and the Diamondbacks are done.

The 2019 season awaits.

Tolson's 2-run single in 6th leads Team Blue to 5-3 win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Thunder Tim Tolson broke a 3-3 tie with a 2-run opposite field single down the left field line in the top of the sixth inning to lead Team Blue to a 5-3 win over Team White at Udall Park this morning.

Mike Dawson went the distance for Team Blue to pick up the pitching victory, while Pete Maldonado pitched well but was saddled with the loss.

Team White came to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning in hopes of tying the game or picking up the win, but Team Blue right fielder Ted Davis ran down a hard hit ball off the bat of Doc Thompson for the first out and Team White went quietly when Pigpen Price's pop up was caught by Dawson for the final out of the game.

The TOTS return to action at Udall on Wednesday. Game time: 9 a.m.

Winning final home stand a must for Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Last Stand.

Sounds like a great name for a movie. In fact there was such an animal back in 2013, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The flick was full of action and plenty of adventure.

That pretty well sums up what the Arizona Diamondbacks are in for during their nine-game home stand, which gets underway tomorrow night at Chase Field -- first with a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs, followed by two NL West division foes -- Colorado and the LA Dodgers.

Arizona ended its three-game trip to Houston today with a 5-4 loss and dropped 2 of 3 to the Astros  to fall to 78-72. Now the Diamondbacks sit just six games over .500 with 12 games remaining. The final three games of the regular season will be in San Diego against the Padres.

The Rockies and the Dodgers are separated by a half a game in the NL West, while the Diamondbacks are resting in third place -- 4 1/2 games back. Wasn't it just the other day the Diamondbacks held the top spot?

Needless to say the Diamondbacks need to win all 12!

As Yogi would say, "it ain't over till its over."

Go, Diamondbacks!

Tate impressive in Wildcats win over Southern Utah

Arizona Wildcats Football


Khalil Tate went to the air at Arizona Stadium tonight.

The result five touchdown passes for 349 yards as Arizona (1-2) pounds Southern Utah 62-31 to pick up a non-conference win and the first victory of the season for the Wildcats.

Arizona puts up over 600 yards of total offense tonight before clearing the bench. A couple of fourth-quarter scores included rushing touchdowns from reserve running backs Anthony Mariscal and Branden Leon. Rhett Rodriguez played quarterback for most of the fourth quarter, while the Arizona starters celebrated on the sideline.

Now the real season begins. Nine Pac-12 Conference games await, starting with Oregon State next Saturday in Corvallis.

Team White's late-inning rally at Udall petered out

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Pistol Pete Peters, 69, is still one of the toughest outs on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

Year after year, Peters consistently ends up in the top ten in hits on the TOTS. A contact hitter who rarely strikes out.

Today was the day for a "swinging K."

Team White trailed Team Blue 6-2 at Udall this morning. It was the final at bat for Team White and with two outs and three runs across the game was getting very interesting. In stepped the unflappable Peters to face Team Blue's lefty Dennis Crowley, who was one out away from a win.

Crowley quickly had Peters in the hole with two strikes and he followed up with a fastball right down the middle. Peters swung and came up empty. "It doesn't happen very often," Peters said, after the game, which turned out to be a 6-5 victory for Team Blue.

As usual, Pete's teammates gave him plenty of flack. It kind of goes with the territory when you're a member of the TOTS.

Strike outs happen. Peters would just as soon not have another "whiff" for a while.

Chances are Peters will take it out on the next TOTS' hurler when the players return to Udall on Monday for another crack at playing baseball, but for now he'll continue to take a little guff from his teammates. All the jibes like: "Pete petered out at the plate" will soon be forgotten.

Today shortstop Lloyd Barzell went 3 for 3 for Team Blue and Ted Davis knocked in three runs, while Pigpen Price led Team White with a 2 for 2 day. Crowley carried a one-hitter into the fourth inning as the Team White hitters failed to put together a rally until their final at bat.

The TOTS have games scheduled for next Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Udall. All games get underway at 9 a.m. Monday is the TOTS' third-quarter birthday game as all players wear their uniforms and partake in a picnic following the game at 11:30 a.m. and celebrate all the players birthdays from July to September.

Go, TOTS!

4-run rally in 7th leads to 8-5 TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team Blue scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a couple of hits and two bases-loaded walks to edge Team White 8-5 in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game this morning at Udall Park.

Up 5-4, Team White brought in the hard-throwing Doc Thompson to spell starter Mike Steele, but a couple of back-to-back hits by Lloyd Barzell and Dennis Crowley, followed by consecutive bases-loaded walks to Pigpen Price and Jesse Ochoa turned the tide for Team Blue.

Team Blue went to their bullpen in the bottom of the seventh with a three-run cushion. Flamethrower Reed Palmer sat Team White down with out any runs to preserve the win for Team Blue starter John Mathews.

The TOTS close out the week with a game on Friday at Udall. First pitch: 9 a.m.

Diamondbacks are snake bit

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks (76-67) are back on the road feeling snake bit.

The Diamondbacks have lost seven of their last 10 games and seem to be digging a hole as they fall out of first place in the NL West -- 2 1/2 games back of the league-leading Colorado Rockies (78-64).

To make matters worse Arizona heads for Colorado and a four-game series with the Rockies. The opener tonight at Coors Field pits Arizona's Zack Godley (14-8) and Colorado's German Marquez (11-9).

And to make matters worse the LA Dodgers (78-65) have slipped into second place in the NL West -- two full games ahead of Arizona.

Nineteen games to go in the regular season. It's time for Arizona to bite off the head of the snake, throw the remnants in the Salt River and put together a string of wins.

Boyd, Tolson lead Team Blue to 6-2 win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Tim Boyd went 2 for 3, scored two runs and picked up the pitching victory and Tim Tolson went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs to lead Team Blue to a 6-2 win over Team White at Udall Park this morning in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Team White's Pete Maldonado went the distance and pitched well, but hits were hard to come by, especially down the stretch. Team Blue's Doc Thompson relieved Boyd in the seventh and pitched a scoreless inning.

Once again the plays of the day came from two old-timers -- 89-year-old Billy Heiny and 84-year-old Joe Aparicio. Both players played short fielder for their respective teams and hauled in hard-hit fly balls  to help snuff out rallies.

The TOTS return to action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.

Photo: (top) Tim Boyd, (bottom) Tim Tolson.

No relief in Houston

Arizona Wildcats Football

No relief in Houston for the young Arizona Wildcats.

Houston blows by Arizona 45-18 as Wildcats fall to 0-2.

TOTS sing Happy Birthday to the club's oldest player at Udall today

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Prior to today's first pitch at Udall Park, the TOTS sang "Happy Birthday" to the club's oldest active player Floyd Lance.

The TOTS were a little ahead of schedule.

Lance will turn 93 on Thursday, the sixth of September.

The New Jersey native is in his 20th season with the Tucson Old Timers. The organization has been around since 1968 and the oldest player to take the field before Lance was 90-year-old Clarence Fieber, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 91.

Lance played in five games during the month of August. He batted 15 times, scored a run and had four hits. He finished the month with a .267 batting average and knocked in three runs.

Happy Birthday, Sir Floyd!

Photos:  (top photo) Floyd Lance, who turns 93 tomorrow, is the oldest active player to ever play for the Tucson Old Timers. (bottom photo) Clarence Fieber, the second oldest TOT to play for the organization. Fieber played until he reached the age of 90 and passed away in 2011 at the age of 91.

Thompson leads Team Blue to shutout win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Doc Thompson, 76, did it all at Udall Park this morning.

Thompson pitched the first four innings for Team Blue and didn't allow a run. The hard-throwing right-hander allowed just seven hits before giving way in the fifth to Pete Maldonado, who hurled the final three innings without allowing a run as well.

A one-sided affair today as Team Blue picks up the 6-0 victory over Team White.

Thompson helped his own cause with three hits in four trips to the plate and knocked in three of the six runs.

Team White used three pitchers -- Lloyd Barzell, Pigpen Price and Ron Petersen. Team Blue scored two runs in the first inning, two more in the third and added a couple of insurance runs in the seventh, while Team White failed to get a rally started the entire game.

The TOTS return to action on Friday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.

Photo: Thompson

Barzell covers the TOTS' stat sheet for August

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Lloyd Barzell, 68, was the top performer in August for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

Barzell played in all 11 games in August and pretty much ran the table with the most hits (20), the most runs scored (17) and owned the best batting average for the month, hitting at a .571 clip (20 for 35).

The TOTS' shortstop won all the major batting categories, except in RBI as the hard-hitting lefty Tim Tolson knocked in the most runs with 12, one more than Reed Palmer, who ended up with 11 RBI, six doubles and five home runs.

Ten pitchers took the mound during the month and righthander Pete Maldonado was the big winner with four victories and no defeats.

A trio of hitters finished in a tie for second in hits with 14. Jesse Ochoa went 14 for 29, Palmer went 14 for 27 and Tolson ended up 14 for 30.

The TOTS are already off and running for the month of September with two games in the books this week and a third game slated for Friday at Udall Park. Game time: 9 a.m.

Photo: Barzell

Pitching duel turns into a wild finish

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team White righthander Mike Dawson had a smooth outing for six innings -- a cool 3-hitter and a 3-1  lead over Team Blue in a special 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers Labor Day game at Udall Park this morning.

Unfortunately, the top of the seventh inning didn't go Dawson's way as Team Blue came up with a 4-run rally and a 5-3 lead thanks to a double by Tim Boyd, followed by three consecutive singles from Mike Steele, John Mathews and Ken Nebesny. Add to that an untimely throwing error and suddenly Dawson and his Team White teammates headed to the dugout needing three runs to pull out a win.

An opposite-field RBI-single by Doc Thompson cut the Team Blue lead to 5-4, but Team Blue's right-hander Pete Maldonado escaped further damage and walked away with the pitching victory.

Both pitchers allowed just one hit through the first three innings of play. In fact, the first 17 batters failed to reach base and it was all goose eggs on the scoreboard until Team Blue picked up a lone run in the fourth.

The TOTS return to action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.

Not exactly what Arizona football fans are looking for

Arizona Wildcats Football


Not exactly what Arizona fans are looking for, Mr. Sumlin.

Is Khalil Tate a pocket passer? To coach Kevin Sumlin: What have you done to our man Tate?

Arizona loses at Arizona Stadium tonight 28-23.

The good news: it was a non-conference game. The bad news: a poor showing for three quarters by the Wildcats.

Will Tate lead the Wildcats to an 8-win season?

Arizona Wildcats Football

Will Khalil Tate lead the Arizona Wildcats to an 8-win season this year? How about 9 wins?

Anyone for double figures?

That might be a stretch. At any rate, the 19-year-old junior quarterback will lead the Wildcats out of the tunnel tonight as Arizona is just an hour or so away from the 2018 season. Tate turns 20 on October 23, a young man with a lot of talent who just may become a grizzly veteran by the end of the season.

Go get 'em Mr. Tate.

Go, Wildcats!

10 TOTS to compete in 2018 MSBL World Series

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Ten members of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers are set to compete in the 2018 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series to be held Oct. 14 through Nov. 3 in Phoenix. Over 330 teams and 3,000 players will converge on the Phoenix area for the tournament, which includes age groups from 18-and-over all the way up to the oldest division this year, the 73-and-over.

The players participating will play at all the major league spring training grounds in Phoenix -- including Tempe Diablo Stadium (above photo), which once again will be the host facility for the MSBL World Series.

John Mathews and Mike Dawson will play for the Paladin out of Albuquerque in the 60-and-over division, Tim Tolson and Joe Opocensky will play for the Tucson Toros and compete in the 65-and-over division, while six players -- Pigpen Price, Bob Daliege, Pete Peters, Ron Petersen, Bill Mishler and Lloyd Barzell will play for the San Antonio Texans and compete in the 70-and-over division.

Two players -- Price and Petersen -- will do double duty and hang around for a second week to play in the 73-and-over division with the San Antonio Red Sox.

Schedules for the Tucson players and their respective teams should be posted on this blog within the next 10 days.

Below is the players from the TOTS who are participating and their ages:

Playing for the 60-and-over Paladin

John Mathews, 62

Mike Dawson, 63

Playing for the 65-and-over Toros

Tim Tolson, 66

Joe Opocensky, 68

Playing for San Antonio

Pigpen Price, 73

Bob Daliege, 70

Pete Peters, 69

Ron Petersen, 73

Bill Mishler, 70 (turns 71 on Oct. 14)

Lloyd Barzell, 68