Nats win the World Series

2019 MLB World Series

Game 7


"I wanna go home" is the four famous words in a song that hit the charts in 1963. Country singer Bobby Bare's Detroit City was the record, but the song writers were not thinking about the future --  some 56 years later, on the night before Halloween at the seventh game of the 2019 World Series in Houston, Texas.

The Washington Nationals win four games, all on the road -- including tonight's 6-2 win over the Astros in Houston. The Nationals, nor the Houston Astros won a game at home during the series.

The Nationals certainly didn't want to go home during the drama-packed World Series. But they do now and they'll head back to Washington, D.C. to a city of fans ready to cheer their arrival as the Nats  bring home their first national title.

They finally get to go home as winners. Us old-timers remember the struggles of the Washington Senators back in the day. But struggle no more as Max Scherzer answers the call and pitches five gutsy innings, Patrick Corbin pitches three innings in relief and gets the win, while Howie Kendrick and Anthony Rendon homered to put the clamps on Houston on their home field.

Congrats to the Washington Nationals!

Final TOTS' October game ends with a kiss-your-sister outcome

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over-baseball

The final 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers baseball game for the month of October was a dandy with no clear winner in the end. Team Blue and Team White played to an 8-8 tie today at Udall Park.

Back-to-back RBI-doubles by John Mathews and Mike Dawson highlighted a 4-run rally in the fourth and gave Team White a 7-4 lead, but in the 6th inning Team Blue's Doc Thompson singled in the gap to right center field and Dennis Crowley, pinch-running for Jesse Ochoa, scored to put Team Blue back in the lead at 8-7.

At that point, it looked like Team Blue would end up with the hard-fought win. Team Blue's starting pitcher Tim Boyd had gone five innings in the game and Thompson took the mound in the sixth and hurled the final two innings.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Thompson and Team Blue needed just two outs for the win, but newcomer Steve Foster had singled in the hole between third and short and thanks to a throwing error found his way to third. That brought up another newcomer Carl Schwanbeck, who singled to right to tie the game. Foster scored and the TOTS' ended up with a kiss-your-sister game -- no clear winner.

Foster and Schwanbeck are"newbies" with the TOTS. Foster is 61 and Schwanbeck, 71. Schwanbeck still competes in the Tucson MSBL, 45-and-over division, and is the oldest player in the highly-competitive league at Reid Park. The Tucson MSBL regular-season ended on Oct. 21.

The TOTS' rules allow for a tie after seven innings with no extra innings.

It ruined a pretty good day for Thompson and Roger Beebe. Both players had four hits on the day.  Dawson, Team White's starting pitcher, had four hits and his teammate John Mathews collected two doubles in three trips to the plate.

The oldest player on the field today, the remarkable 94-year-old Floyd Lance. When Foster receives his TOTS' cap and becomes a full fledged member of the organization, he'll become the youngest TOT.

The TOTS next game is on Friday, Nov. 1, at Udall at 10:00 a.m.

Still no home wins...World Series heads for 7th game

MLB 2019 World Series


Anthony Rendon singled, doubled, homered and drove in five runs, while Stephen Strasburg pitches into the 9th inning as Washington gets it done in Houston tonight with a 7-2 win in Game 6 of the MLB World Series.

What a World Series!

WP  Strasburg (2-0)  LP  Justin Verlander (0-2)

Also hitting homers for Washington -- Juan Soto and Adam Eaton

Home Runs for Houston -- Alex Bregman

The TOTS are back

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers have had a hand full of unofficial games the past two weeks with 25 percent of their roster off to Phoenix to play in the prestigious Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

Well, the fellas are back now -- all 12 members -- at Udall Park to play baseball every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The winter or fall hours, depending on how you want to look at it, changes on Wednesday, Oct. 30, to 10:00 a.m. starts instead of 9:00 a.m. starts. Warm ups and batting practice begins around 9:00 a.m.

Today, the TOTS had plenty of players. Reed Palmer pitched for Team White and Joe Opocensky started for Team Blue. Opocensky collected three hits today to lead Team Blue to a 6-2 win. John Mathews went 2 for 3 for the losing team.

The score was deadlocked at 2-2 in the top of the sixth when Team Blue's Ron Ryan drilled an RBI-single to right field for a 3-2 lead and teammate Doc Thompson followed with an infield hit to score another run. Team White added two insurance runs in the seventh inning.

The play of the day: a backhanded stab by Team Blue's shortstop Tim Tolson to snuff out a Team White rally. The oldest player on the field today was 85-year-old Joe Aparicio.

The TOTS finish out the month of October with a game on Wednesday and begin the month of November with a game on Friday. The TOTS have just two months left in its 51st season (1968-2019).

Go, TOTS!

No Scherzer, no win for Nationals

MLB 2019 World Series


With Max Scherzer out with a neck injury, the Washington Nationals turn to Joe Ross in Game 5 last night. It didn't work as Houston now owns a 3-2 lead in the World Series with a 7-1 win. Another road win.

WP  Gerrit Cole

LP   Joe Ross

Home runs in this one by Houston's George Springer, Yordan Alvarez and Carlos Correa, while Washington's Juan Soto homers.

Next up: Back to Houston for Game 6 on Tuesday.

Pigpen's "elderly zone"

My final thoughts on...

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

32nd annual

held in Phoenix during the month of October/2019

When I was a young man, fifty some years ago, I thought I was invincible. Like most "young men"  who play the game of baseball -- oozing with confidence, ready for the next catch, the next throw...the next home run.

I remember being in a particular zone back then when I'd make every play and actually hit for an average.

Now at the age of 74 and a little over eight months from being three-quarters of a century old, I've slowed down a bit, but in my mind I'm still that little boy, with black, wavy hair chasing a baseball, where ever its hit.

Something happened to me this week at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series. Something that hasn't happened to me for a very, very long time.  I was in my zone again -- call it my elderly zone now -- after all I forgot my phone three times last week on the way to the ball park.

In my first week of competition with the Texans, I found myself sitting on the pine in the title game of the 70-and-over championship. I ended up with one inning on the field of play and a token at bat -- with my family watching for goodness sakes. I had full intention of banging the ball down the third base line and letting out all my frustrations. Instead I hit a one-hopper back to the pitcher.

The very next day I searched for a little confidence -- after all I was starting my second week in the 73-and-over division -- a very competitive division for maybe 10 of the 12 teams, which requires an extra deep breath or two every time you take the field of play.

To make matters worse, the manager of the Arizona Scorpions advises that we are in trouble. We will start Game 1 of 5 with just nine players. Needless to say, by Game 5 we are 1-3 and still have to face a team called Team Cambria, a national firm who recruits players from all over the country...and takes no prisoners. In seven games, leading into today's championship game at Fitch Park in Mesa, Cambria is averaging a shade under 23 runs a game. The players look like they are in their 50s, most of them are big and strong...and will bat around in every inning if given the chance.

Luckily, we had 11 players show up for the final game for us and, of course, it is just a warmup game for Cambria on there way to the championship final.

Yes, I was a little upset as I took my position at third base. Suddenly a breeze passed me by and I watched a little dirt devil scurry out to left field. My confidence had come back big time. I looked to Cambria's coach in the third base coaching box and said, very uncharacteristic on my part, mind you: "You hit to me 27 times and you're gonna lose."

Of course, they didn't. They hit to all corners of the outfield 80 percent of the time and won going away, 29-8. We did score eight runs on them, the most at the world series, mind you.

At any rate, the other 20 percent of the balls were hit to me at third. I caught them all, including three line drives. I had one throwing error to first, but we won't go there. I was in a zone, an "elderly zone" and I was having the time of my life, while getting beat up badly at the same time.

As luck would have it, I dove one too many times. Late in the 7th inning, I popped a hammy and had to be helped off the field. I was finally done after 13 games in 14 days, although I was well rested due to the fact I was used sparingly and played in just six of eight games during the first week.

I actually felt young again, even though I left the field with an upper hammy problem and another injury in the quad of my front leg I'd hurt from catching behind the plate (can you believe that!) in a previous game during the tournament. That's another story.

But for the better part of three hours, I was in my zone again. Back at third base again. Yes, I no longer have the arm to play week end and week out at the position. I had three steroid shots in the neck, during the three months leading up to the senior world series.

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I can't wait till next year.

Pigpen

Note: Team Cambria, from Minneapolis, won the title today at Fitch Park in Mesa as expected. The defending champions, the Sacramento Solons, came closer than all of the other teams did this week.  Team Cambria  13  Sacramento Solons  12

12 members of the TOTS return home from MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

32nd annual

Dates: Oct 13 thru Oct 27

Sites: All the major league spring training grounds/parks in the Phoenix area

Participants from the Tucson Old Timers: Bill Mishler, Pete Peters, Lloyd Barzell, Bob Daliege, Pigpen Price, Tim Tolson, Joe Opocensky, Mike Dawson, John Mathews, Doc Escala, Arnie White and Danny Boxberger

The teams the above players played for: 70-and-over San Antonio Texans, 65-and-over Tucson Toros, 73-and-over Arizona Scorpions and the 65-and-over and 70-and-over Seattle Mariners.

For 12 members of the local 60-and-over baseball club, the Tucson Old Timers, it was quite the experience for them the past couple of weeks at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series. For 10 of  the members from the TOTS one week was enough -- eight games the first week by the players on the runner-up 70-and-over San Antonio Texans, five games for the 65-and-over Tucson Toros and a grueling two weeks for Danny Boxberger and Pigpen Price, who played for multiple teams.

Most of the TOTS came away unscathed, except for Lloyd Barzell (shortstop for the 70-and-over Texans) and Pigpen Price (second baseman for the Texans and third baseman for the 73-and-over Arizona Scorpions).

Barzell, the hitting star of the 12, ended up with five stitches in his right hand (index finger), yet played, competed and shined in the games following his injury -- all the way to the final inning of the championship game in the 70-and-over division. The Texans went 5-3 in their division and finished runner-up for the second time in three years. The Chicago Grays beat the "Tucson Boys" and the Texans in the finale. The Grays get the "rings" and the Texans receive t-shirts with the word Finalist on them.

Danny Boxberger's Seattle teams took it on the chin and came away with one win in 10 games. The 65-and-over Toros won 2 and lost 3 games...and hung around for a few hours to see if they qualified for the playoffs. They just missed. In the end, it was the 73-and-over Scorpions (White and Price) taking center stage. It wasn't pretty as the Scorpions were forced to play with nine guys, until the fifth and final game of the week when they had 11 available players. "It seemed like a Christmas present on the final day," said Price.

White led the Scorpions in hitting and Price was second. Price was helped off the field with two innings to go with a hamstring pull in the left leg, after playing 13 games over the two-week period.

Some people may consider  the "Dirty Dozen" crazy for playing the game of baseball in their "golden years." But for the players involved it is simply just like being a kid on the sandlot once again, making the plays and listening to the roar of a hand full of fans in the stands.

For the members of the Texans, it was a special treat twice during their week of competition as they went up against a former major-leaguer Bill "Spaceman" Lee. The man won 119 games in the majors with the Boston Red Sox and the Montreal Expos. Yes, he was a character then and still is at the age of 72. Lee was certainly a pleasure to play against and to converse with in the parking lot after every game.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the MSBL World Series  --

Once in a while, players will run up against teams that are simply "out of their league."  For instance, this year's three champions -- Chicago Grays, Dodgertown West (not as much, they had to battle all the way for their rings) and a team named Team Cambria (soon to be crowned champions) in the 12-team 73-and-over division.

Team Cambria plays for the title this morning after winning seven games and averaging close to 23 runs a game, while allowing their opponents just five runs a game. Actually the Scorpions with their eight runs, ended up scoring the most runs against them.

Cambria plays the Sacramento Solons (6-1) today at Fitch Park in Mesa. They play for the "rings."

My prediction: Cambria by a landslide. The rumor is Cambria is sponsored by a national company, which recruits the best 73-and-over players in the country. The Bad of the MSBL World Series is how the powers-to-be figure all this out to make the competition enjoyable for all. In the end, there's not much you can do about situations like this: Cambria gets the trophy...and will continue to as long as they are allowed back and not sent on to a higher division.

The story above centers on the very, very Good of the MSBL World Series. The Good out weighs the Bad. As for the Ugly of the MSBL World Series: There isn't any. It's a wonderful experience for an old baseball player who refuses to give up the game and play in such a prestigious setting.

The author of this blog (and one of the Dirty Dozen from Tucson), knows firsthand that it doesn't get any better than this. I remember playing in the MSBL World Series a few years back, one of my 13 years that I have been competing at the annual event. The team I was on had entered the dugout at Tempe Diablo Stadium, prior to a round-robin game. A lineup card was taped to the wall on the south end of the dugout. The lineup card included Tim Tebow. Tempe Diablo is the spring training home of the Los Angeles Angels.

Albert Pujols has grabbed many Louisville Sluggers out of the same dugout, stepped up and into the on-deck circle and awaited his turn at bat. Just like I have done at the MSBL World Series for the past
13 seasons.

A die hard baseball fan reading the above article, knows exactly what I mean.

We play for the Love of the Game.

Photo: from the desk of Pigpen Price

Astros even World Series

MLB 2019 World Series


The Houston Astros are getting closer. Actually the 2019 World Series is all even at 2-2 as Houston wins 8-1 tonight in Washington on home runs from Alex Bregman and Robinson Chirinos.

The Nationals starter Patrick Corbin (0-1) takes the loss and a fella named Jose Urquidy (1-0) get the win for the Astros.

It's a big road show so far. The visitors win...the visitors win.

Next up: Houston is still on the road tomorrow for Game 5 with a 5:07 PM start.

Too many quarterbacks, not enough touchdowns for the Wildcats

Arizona Wildcats Football


In Palo Alto today, the visiting Arizona Wildcats (now 4-4, 2-3) had too many quarterbacks and not enough touchdowns as Stanford holds on for 41-31 Pac-12 victory.

As for the Cardinal, they had Costello and the Wildcats were more Abbott-like.

Stanford's quarterback K.J. Costello out dueled the Arizona QB-tandem of Khalil Tate and Grant Gunnell. Costello threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, while Arizona's duo combined for 273 yards and three scores. Tate threw two interceptions. That about sums it up, unless we discuss Arizona's defense.

Next up: Arizona will host Oregon State on Saturday.

The 2019 MSBL World Series 73-and-over Arizona Scorpions

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

73-and-over Arizona Scorpions

The two "Tucson guys"  from the Tucson Old Timers are Arnie White (front row, far left) and Danny "Pigpen" Price (smack in the middle of back row leaning down, just moments after a hamstring pull in the 5th game of the 73-and-over division of the MSBL World Series).

Note: The little guy on the far right in the front row is from Puerto Rico and is 85 years old. His name: Pablo Garcia. The Arizona Scorpions, a first-year team in the 73-and-over division, played their hearts out but finished 1-4 and failed to make the playoffs this week in Phoenix at the 32nd annual event.

The two batting champs on the team: (photo below) Arnie White and Pigpen Price. White batted .500 in five games at the MSBL World Series, Price ended with a .441 average. White is 77, Price is 74.

Astros get one back

MLB 2019 World Series


The Houston Astros (1-2) get one back with a 4-1 win over the Nationals in Washington in Game 3 of  the 2019 MLB World Series.

Still a long road back.


WP Josh James (1-0)

LP  Anibal Sanchez (0-1)

The only homer -- a solo shot in the 6th inning by Houston's Robinson Chirinos.

Pigpen pops a hammy

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

73-and-over division

Arizona Scorpions

Game 5


There were just minutes left in Game 5 for Pigpen Price. In another thirty minutes, Pigpen, after playing 13 games in 14 days at the MSBL World Series, would pack his bat bag, hit Interstate 10 and head back to Tucson.

Price had dove and caught a line drive the inning before. He tried for another in a game that was already decided as the Arizona Scorpions (1-4)  lost to Team Cambria, 29-8, in the final round-robin game in the 73-and-over division of the MSBL World Series. "One too many dives," Price said, after the game.

Nursing an upper hammy for two weeks, the last dive between third and short proved costly. "I heard the pop and I was done," Price said.

Price didn't get a chance at two at bats and it cost him in his "friendly battle" with teammate Arnie White. Pigpen went  0 for 2 and finished his second week at the MSBL World Series with a .441 batting average (8 for 18). Arnie, a teammate of Price's on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, singled up the middle in the fourth inning and went 1 for 4 today to finish the five-game round robin with a .500 batting average (9 for 18).

As for Team Cambria (5-0), they belong in another planet...well another division, anyway. In five games, Team Cambria scored a total of 126 runs. Actually, the eight runs scored by the Scorpions today was the most runs Team Cambria has allowed an opponent all week.

It's over for White and Price. The two Scorpions will hand in their uniform jersey and return home to Tucson, back to Udall Park on Monday, Wednesday and Friday...back with the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

Scorpions fall to Padres at MSBL World Series, 14-7

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

73-and-over division

Arizona Scorpions

Game 4


It's pretty much over for the Arizona Scorpions.

The Scorpions stayed with the San Diego Padres for most of the game. But time was running out on the Scorpions and the Padres stayed up to bat a little too long in the bottom of the 7th inning and turned a 7-7 tie into a 14-7 Scorpions' loss in Game 4 for both teams at the MSBL World Series.

The Padres improved to 2-2, while the Scorpions fall to 1-3 and have just one game left in Tempe on Friday against the front-runner Cambri (4-0) in the 73-and-over division.

Not much left to play for. Play the game, pack up and go home after Game 5.

There's a little competition going on between the two players on the Scorpions' roster who play for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers -- Arnie White and Pigpen Price.

White went 1 for 3 today, while Price went 2 for 3 and both players are battling for the team batting title at the senior World Series. White is now batting .571 (8 for 14 and 2 walks), while Price is creeping up on his buddy with 8 hits in 16 at bats, an even .500 average.

With only nine, maybe 10 players tomorrow, the Scorpions have basically no pitchers left...and no catchers left who can answer the call on the mound or behind the plate. There is a possibility that Price may have to strap on the catching gear against Cambri.

"It won't be pretty," Price said. "Cambria is running away with the division with lopsided wins of 39-3, 16-6, 21-3 and 21-4.

It's been a long week for White, who will finish up the five-game round-robin tomorrow. As for Price, it's been a grueling two weeks. Tomorrow will be Price's 13th game in 14 days.

"Time to come home," Price adds.

Note from author: Corrections to the above story made at 5 a.m.  I can hardly move my body, but the good news is the sun is coming up and the bad news: the Scorpions' manager wants me to leave my home at third base and catch the entire game today. I'll probably go straight to the University Medical Center when I get back to Tucson at nightfall.

A few years back the Scorpions were really good

Men Senior Baseball League World Series trivia


Not too many years ago the MSBL World Series Arizona Scorpions were really good. The roster included former and present members of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

Catch a gander at these photos from the past: 1) The man himself, Chico Bigham, 2) Jerry Hamelin and Doc Thompson, the 2012 Arizona Scorpions, Arnie White, Doc Thompson, Ed Rife and Pigpen Price.

Pigpen offers an apology

To all my readers out there: I have an apology to make.

I haven't had time to copy read my stories for the past two weeks. Been kinda busy playing baseball at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series in Phoenix.  Maybe I received a blow to my head during one of the 11 games I have participating in. I still have a minimum of two more games to go at the world series, today and Friday.

I spent some time correcting my mistakes this morning. (We don't play until 2 p.m. in Goodyear today at the Cleveland Indians spring training facility. So, I do have a bit of a break).

At any rate, I cleaned up some of my messes.

I'll continue to update all my baseball fans as the rest of the week progresses. Heaven for bid, we win one or two and sneak into the playoffs in the 73-and-over division, which there are 12 teams vying for a playoff spot this weekend.

I'll still burn the midnight oil with my postings.

Thanks again, for your patience.

Note: Twenty posting so far on the MSBL World Series and stories on my remarkable teammates I play with, who still play for the love of the game.

"Houston, we have a problem!"

2019 MLB World Series


"Houston we have a problem."


No, I'm not referring to the Apollo movie, but to the Houston Astros. They remain stunned tonight in Houston after the Washington Nationals, behind Stephen Strasburg's six strong innings and  just two runs allowed. On the other side, Justin Verlander gives up four runs. It's back-to-back losses for the Astros and their 1-2 pitching staff of Gerrit Cole and Verlander.

And the bad news for Houston: They fly to Washington for three games against the Nationals on 10/25, 10/26 and 10/27.

Tonight's homers from Washington's Kurt Suzuki, Adam Eaton and Michael Taylor.

Houston's homers by Martin Maldonado and Alex Bregman.

WP  Strasburg (1-0)

LP   Verlander (0-1)

Tucson Toros win today at MSBL WS, but finish 2-3 overall

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus division

Tucson Toros

Game 5


The Tucson Toros, with four players on the roster from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, won their fifth and final game at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series, defeating the Raynham Baseball Club 16-8 today.

Mike Dawson, from the TOTS, finally put a couple of hits together, scored a run, knocked in two runs and stole three bases as the Toros slammed Raynham. Ernesto "Doc" Escala, also from the TOTS, picked up the pitching victory, his second win of the tournament.

Thunder Tim Tolson, also from the TOTS, collected a couple of hits today, while Joe Opocensky continued to play a strong third base.

The "Tucson Boys" and the rest of the Toros (2-3) hung around for a few hours, just in case they made the playoffs. Unfortunately, the arithmetic didn't add up and all members of the Toros can return home tomorrow.

That leaves just two members of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers at the MSBL World Series. Arnie White and Pigpen Price play for the 73-and-over Arizona Scorpions (1-2), and have a game in Goodyear tomorrow at 2 p.m. against the San Diego Padres. On Friday, they'll be back in Tempe for a 12:30 p.m. game against Cambria, a team from Minneapolis. Cambria remains unbeaten and won 39-2 today over the Aqua Sox, a team the Scorpions beat 18-16 in the first round of the world series on Monday.

Boxberger goes 3 for 4 in MSBL finale

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Desert division

Seattle Mariners

Game 5

The 65-and-over Seattle Mariners took it on the chin this week -- including a 14-5 loss to Australia today at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Seattle's catcher Danny Boxberger, a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, went 3 for 4 today.

Unfortunately, the Mariners finished 0-5 at the MSBL World Series and are heading home. Boxberger played against the Tucson-5 in the first week off the MSBL World Series in the 70-and-over division. The Tucson-5 consists of Bob Daliege, Bill Mishler, Lloyd Barzell, Pete Peters and Pigpen Price -- all teammates of Boxberger's on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

The Seattle Mariners and Boxberger were able to win one game last week, but not this week as they lost to Albuquerque, the MLW Braves, the Cal Vets, the Snowbirds and today to the Aussies.

As for Boxberger, well he went to the bar and had a cold one after each game to get ready for the next one (see above photo). The three hits today helped a bit, too.

Scorpions fall to 1-2 at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

73-and-over division

Arizona Scorpions

Game 3

The Arizona Scorpions, with the score 7-4, tried their best to hang with the San Antonio Broncos today at Red Mountain Park in Mesa in the 73-and-over MSBL World Series.

But it wasn't to be as the Broncos, up three runs in the fourth inning, increased their lead when third baseman Pigpen Price was forced to take over for the injured Scorpions' catcher in the fifth inning.

"I've never caught before," Price said. "I had trouble adjusting to all the gear, but I managed to throw a runner out at first. That was a big surprise. The batter struck out and the ball was at my feet. I threw off the mask, picked up the ball and threw over the right shoulder of the runner. Out by a step."

Price said he was so tired after the inning was over and he came up for one last at bat. "I was so out of it. I hit a shot to third, but could hardly get out of the box and was thrown out at first.

Pigpen ended up 1 for 3 on the day, but his teammate from the Tucson Old Timers, Arnie White, had two more hits today and leads the team with a .647 batting average (7 for 11 and 2 walks). Price is 6 for 13, a .461 average.

As for the final score today: Broncos 14  Scorpions  4

"We have only nine players," Price said. "It is exhausting, but we have picked up a catcher for the last two round-robin games. He's a former teammate of mine from years ago. Tony Contreras will help us as we take on the top two teams -- the San Diego Padres and Cambria, a team from Minneapolis on Thursday and Friday."

At 1-2, the Scorpions still have a shot to make the playoffs even though they are undermanned. A win over the Padres and Cambria could make things very interesting.

One thing is for sure, Contreras will be behind the plate and Price will be back at third. "I had four or five assists at third today and a couple of diving catchers. At catcher, well we won't go there,"Price added.

In the movie "The Rookie" there's a scene when the hero Jimmy Morris (Dennis Quaid) tells his minor league teammate. "You know what we are going to do today. We are going to play baseball."

That's how Pigpen Price feels about the next two games at the MSBL World Series.

"We have 10 or possibly 11 guys tomorrow," Price said. "That's a start."

Photo: Pigpen Price

Doolittle does a lot

The 2019 MLB World Series


The Washington Nationals take Game 1 of the 2019 MLB World Series, 5-4. Juan Soto homers, Ryan Zimmerman homers and Sean Doolittle does a lot as he gets the final four outs to hold off the Astros in Houston tonight.

Mark Scherzer (1-0)

Gerrit Cole (0-1)

The youngin' Juan Soto goes 3 for 4 with a double, a home run and 3 RBI to lead the Nationals.

Wow! What an opener!

Tucson Toros fall to 1-3, Seattle Mariners drop to 0-4 at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus Division

Tucson Toros

Game 4


The Tucson Toros lost Game 4 at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series today to Dodgertown, 11-8, at the Maryvale Sports Complex, the spring training home of the Milwaukee Brewers. Tim Tolson and Doc Escala, both from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, collected two hits apiece in the loss.

The Toros (1-3) will try to win their fifth and final round-robin game on Wednesday against Raynham at Fitch Park in Mesa. Game time: 10:00 a.m.


65-and-over Desert Division

Seattle Mariners

Game  4


Danny Boxberger, a member of the Tucson Old Timers, went 1 for 3 with a double, scored a run and drove in a run during the Seattle's 27-8 loss today in Tempe.

Boxberger and his Seattle (0-4) teammates finish out their five-game, round-robin schedule tomorrow against Australia at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Game time: 9:00 a.m.

Canada crushes Scorpions

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

73-and-over division

Arizona Scorpions

Game 2


The Legends (1-1) from Red Deer, Canada crushed the Arizona Scorpions 16-3 today at Fitch Park in Mesa in second round action of the 73-and-over Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

Arnie White and Pigpen Price, both from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, couldn't help the Scorpions today. The Scorpions lost their sting. Playing with only nine players and one veteran  pitcher, it makes it kind of hard to remain competitive at the MSBL World Series.

White went 1 for and 3 and Price went 1 for 3, after combining for eight hits and six RBI the day before in their 18-16 win over  the Aqua Sox.

The Scorpions kept it close at the outset and were down 4-2 after three innings of play today. After that Red Deer stomped on the Scorpions.

Tomorrow is another day, but things are not going to get any easier for the Scorpions, who play one of the "top dogs" in the division, the San Antonio Broncos, on Wednesday at Red Mountain Park in Mesa. The Broncos already own a 31-1 win over the team from Canada in the first round.

Still, the Scorpions have a shot at the playoffs, but they need to win two of their final three round-robin games to be in the running for the weekend and a shot at the championship ring.

The Scorpions (1-1) complete their round-robin games at Goodyear on Thursday against the tough San Diego Padres (1-1) and on Friday against Cambria, a team that currently sits atop the standings with a 2-0 record.

Tucson Toros fall to Mudville 9 at MSBL WS

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus Division

Tucson Toros

Game 3

Mike Dawson, from the Tucson Old Timers, started and pitched four strong innings, but the "error bug" raised its ugly head in the fifth inning and the Tucson Toros (1-2) dropped their second game of the MSBL World Series 11-8 to the Mudville 9 at Red Mountain Park this morning.

Tim Tolson and Doc Escala, both from the TOTS, collected two hits apiece in a losing cause. The other "Tucson Boys" didn't receive any at bats today. Joe Opocensky played a solid third base and has made only one error in three games. John Mathews was called back to Tucson for his work and will miss the remainder of the series.

"We had a chance in the ninth inning with two runners on," Dawson said. "But we couldn't get it done."

The Toros take on Dodgertown in Maryvale on Tuesday morning.  Game time: 9:45. Maryvale is the spring training home of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Dawson said. "We need to win the next two games to make the playoffs."

The Toros will play their fifth round-robin game on Wednesday against Raynham at 10:00 a.m. at Fitch Park in Mesa.

Photo: Mike Dawson

Price, White lead Scorpions in MSBL opener

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

73-and-over division

Arizona Scorpions

Game 1

Danny "Pigpen" Price and Arnie "Montana Kid" White combined for eight hits and seven RBI to lead  the Arizona Scorpions to a 18-16 win today in the first round of the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

Playing at the Salt River Complex (spring training home of the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks), Price batted lead-off and went 4 for 7, including two doubles, scored three times and knocked in four runs, while White contributed four singles, walked twice and knocked in three runs.

"This is more like it," said Price. "Last week in the 70-and-over division I struggled at the plate. It feels good to get the bat on the ball."

White batted fifth,  reached baseball six times and played the entire game in left field. It was White's first action at the World Series and he made the most of it. Price played third and had six assists and three putouts. White made a shoestring catch in left field.

Price and White, who play for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, will get a shot at a team from Canada tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. at Fitch Park in Mesa.

"We play the Reed Deer Legends," Price added. "We need to continue to hit. We are a little undermanned with just nine guys. The at bats come fast. I'm already a tired puppy and we have four round-robin games to go."

The Scorpions play the San Antonio Broncos on Wednesday at Red Mountain in east Mesa.

Photos: Pigpen and the Montana kid

Tucson Toros even MSBL WS record at 1-1

Men's  Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus Division

Tucson Toros

Ernesto "Doc" Escala pitched five innings and picked up the win as the Tucson Toros -- with five players from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, beat Paladin from Albuquerque, 15-10, today at the Men's Senior Baseball World Series.

The Toros played in Goodyear, spring training home of the Cleveland Indians, and they plated enough runs early on to take down Paladin, the former team of John Mathews, who played for the Albuquerque team last year at the world series.

Tim Tolson, Joe Opocensky and Escala -- all three members of the TOTS, collected two hits apiece in the win over Paladin. Mathews and Mike Dawson, also from the TOTS, played in the game. Dawson played in the field, but did not bat today, while Mathews went 0 for 1 with a ground out.

The Toros (1-1) are out at Red Mountain Park in east Mesa on Monday and take on the Mudville 9 at 10:00 a.m. The Mudville 9 are 0-2 in the world series and have given up 29 runs in the two games.

Photo: Doc Escala

Houston heading for the World Series

National League Championship Series


Jose Altuve hit a walk off 2-run homer off the Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the  ninth inning in Game 6 tonight in Houston for a 6-4 win to send the Astros back to the World Series.

The World Series awaits the Astros and the Washington Nationals.

Game 1 in Houston on Tuesday.

Texans fall in MSBL finale

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Central Division 1 and 2

San Antonio Texans

Championship game


The San Antonio Texans battled all week. Their goal was to reach the final in the 70-and-over Central Division. They did just that. The Texans, with five players from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers,  went 5-2 in pool play -- including a semi-final win over former pro and now 72-year-old pro Bill "Spaceman" Lee and his New England team.

The fifth win of the week by the Texans, set up a showdown with Division 2 winner -- the Chicago Grays, who rolled through the week unscathed with a spotless 7-0 record.

It wasn't much of a showdown. It looked more like the Grays were from another planet as they stomped the Texans, 20-5. The Grays had the bullets and San Antonio's guns were empty. In fact, the Grays ran away from their opponents in all seven games.

Lloyd Barzell, from Tucson and the 69-year-old shortstop from the Tucson Old Timers, was one of three waivers allowed to the Texans for ball players under the age of 70. Because of his age, Barzell couldn't pitch in the championship game, but he played short and led the five players from Tucson with two hits.

Still a great showing by the Texans and the group from Tucson -- Barzell, Bob Daliege, Pete Peters, Bill Mishler and Pigpen Price. It was the second time in three years that the Texans have reached the title game, only to receive a shirt for finishing second. The champions get the rings and the "bragging rights" as the best 70-and-over team out of the 13 teams in the division.

The "Tucson Boys" returned home this afternoon. Price is hanging around for another week and will do it all over again on Monday when he joins the 73-and-over Arizona Scorpions. Arnie White, 77, will also play for the Scorpions. White is also a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

The Tucson Toros

65-and-over Cactus 1 Division

First round action

In other action at the MSBL World Series today the 65-and-over Tucson Toros, with five players from the TOTS on the roster, lost their opener 9-3 to the Red Deer Legends (Canada) at Hohokam Stadium this morning.

John Mathews, Joe Opocensky and Tim Tolson collected singles in the game, while Ernesto "Doc" Escala contributed a booming double.

Mike Dawson, the Toros' shortstop and the fifth player from the Tucson Old Timers, went 0 for 2 today.

The Tucson Toros (0-1) play their second game in Goodyear (spring training home of the Cleveland Indians) on Sunday with a 10:00 a.m. matchup against Paladin, a team from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Seattle Mariners

65-and-over Desert Division

Danny Boxberger, from the TOTS, went 1 for 2 for the Seattle Mariners, knocked in a run and scored a run, but Seattle lost 16-8 to Albuquerque. Boxberger and his team takes on the MLW Braves at Hohokom's annex field in Mesa on Sunday morning at 10.



The Arizona Scorpions

73-and-over division

Price, 74, and Arnie White, 77, also from the TOTS, begin play at the MSBL World Series in the 73-and-over division on Monday.  The Scorpions will hold a practice on Sunday between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m at Tempe Diablo, annex field#2.

Texans stun Philly, New England and advance to title game

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Central Division

San Antonio Texans

1st and 2nd round of playoffs

The San Antonio Texans, with five players from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, stunned the Philadelphia Mustangs 7-4 in the first round of the playoffs at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series and then faced former pro Bill "Spaceman" Lee in the second round and came away with a 4-1 win to advance to the championship game on Saturday.

The two games were played at the Salt River Sport Complex in Scottsdale, the spring training home of the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In the first game today, Bob Daliege, from the Tucson Old Timers, supplied the big hit of the game with a triple down the first base line. The ball went all the way to the fence and gave the Texans an early 1-0 lead. The Texans built a 7-2 lead in the middle innings, while starting pitcher Mark Longenbaugh from Kerrville, Texas took care of things on the mound with seven strong innings to pick up the pitching victory.

The Texans' shortstop Lloyd Barzell, also from the TOTS, continued his torrid hitting with another two hits. With the win safely tucked away, the Texans focused on their afternoon opponent, the New England Red Sox.

San Antonio had lost to the Red Sox 5-3 earlier in the world series, falling to New England's ace pitcher, former pro Bill "Spaceman" Lee. This time the Texans turned the table on Lee and the Red Sox.

The Texans jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings and added an insurance run late in the game and held on for a 4-1 win over Lee to send the previously unbeaten New England Red Sox home with a 6-1 record.

 Pete Peters got a hit off Lee and Barzell collected a single to center and also reached on an infield hit.

The Texans received another strong outing from pitcher Ted Betzel, of Ventura, California, who turned in a gusty performance for seven innings.

San Antonio (5-2) will take on the Chicago Grays (7-0) for the 70-and-over Central Division Championship Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Fitch Park (NW3) in Mesa.

Photo: The San Antonio Texans MSBL World Series team: (front row) Lloyd Barzell, Bill Burgess, Bob Daliege, Emerson Hayes, Danny "Pigpen" Price, Leonard Kajs and Pete Peters. (back row) Tom Keyser, Darlan Brin, Bill Howard, Ken Conlin, Reese Wellman, Bill Mishler, Mark Longenbaugh, Ted Betzel, Skip Bradley and Rufus Miller. Not pictured: Tom Hansis.

San Antonio Texans in playoffs at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Central Division Playoffs


The San Antonio Texans will take on the Philadelphia Mustangs in first-round playoff action at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Salt River Complex in Scottsdale, the spring training home of the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Texans roster consist of five players from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (Bob Daliege, Pete Peters, Bill Mishler, Lloyd Barzell and Pigpen Price).

The Texans went 3-2 this week in the round robin games and have knocked off Seattle, Kansas City and Australia, while losing to a team from Norman, Oklahoma (Driscolls) and to the front runner New England (5-0).

San Antonio will need to beat Philadelphia in order to advance to the semi-finals later in the day. Two wins will put them into the championship game on Saturday, scheduled for 9 a.m. at Finch Park in Mesa.

Note: The Texans' first playoff game will take place at Field #R6, the Colorado Rockies' side of the Salt River Sports Complex.

Texans fall to Oklahoma team, 14-7

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Central Division

San Antonio Texans

Game 5

The San Antonio Texans couldn't get the key hits when they needed it and lost Game 5 at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series today at Red Mountain Park in Mesa, Arizona to Driscoll's Landscaping, out of Norman, Oklahoma, 14-7.

The loss left the Texans with a 3-2 record after the five-game round robin, but still good enough to garner second place in the Central Division 1. New England (5-0) grabs the top spot in Central Division 1, while the Chicago Grays (5-0) grabs the top spot in Central Division 2. The Colorado Cardinals finish second in Central Division 2 with a 4-1 mark.

The seeding for Friday's playoff games will be announced later tonight, but the Texans -- with five players from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers -- will need to win two games tomorrow to make it to the championship game on Saturday morning. The playoffs will be played at the Salt River Complex in Scottsdale, spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies. The championship game is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday morning at Fitch Park in Mesa.

Today, the Texans managed to score just one run after three innings of play. Pigpen Price, from the Tucson Old Timers, walked and later scored from third in the bottom of the third on a fielder's choice play. The Texans put together a rally in the eighth and scored five runs -- thanks in part to hits from TOTS' players  Lloyd Barzell, Bob Daliege, Pete Peters and Bill Mishler.

Barzell ended up 3 for 3 on the day, Daliege went 1 for 3, Peters went 1 for 3, while Mishler collected two hits.  Barzell has gone 6 for 6 in his last two games, despite an injury to his right index finger, which required five stitches after Game 2 of the MSBL World Series.

70-and-over San Antonio Texans lose to New England, 5-3

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Central Division

San Antonio Texans

Game 4

The San Antonio Texans jumped out to a 3-0 lead early on, but gave up four unearned runs in the sixth inning and lost 5-3 to the New England Red Sox on Wednesday at the Maryvale Complex, spring training home of the Seattle Mariners.

The Texans went up against former major league pitcher Bill "Spaceman" Lee, who pitched 13 seasons for the Boston Red Sox and the Montreal Exposes. He won 119 games in his career and struck out 713 batters.

Lee, now 72,  added a few more strike outs today, but the Texans had him on the ropes until three errors in the sixth proved too costly and New England took advantage and improved to 4-0 at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

Shortstop Lloyd Barzell, from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, went 3 for 3 and drove in two runs, while Pete Peters, also from the TOTS, went 1 for 3. Three other members of the TOTS -- Bob Daliege, Bill Mishler and Pigpen Price -- were a combined 0 for 8 against Lee.

The loss puts the Texans (3-1) one game back in the Central Division standings behind the Red Sox.

San Antonio takes on Driscoll, a team from Oklahoma, on Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Red Mountain Complex in Mesa.

Win or lose tomorrow, the Texans still have a good shot at being one of eight qualifiers for the playoffs. San Antonio would have to win two games on Friday in order to play for the championship on Saturday.

Photos: Bill "Spaceman" Lee

Congrats to Nationals

The Road to the World Series


Congrats to the Nationals.

Washington makes it a sweep last night at home in front of their fans with a 7-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals to punch their ticket to the World Series. Howie Kendrick won the MVP award.

Former Diamondback Patrick Corbin gets the win, while another former member of the Arizona Diamondbacks Paul Goldschmidt went 1 for 16 and struck out nine times in the National League Championship Series.

It's been 86 years since Washington has played in the World Series.

Texans stun Aussies at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Central Division

San Antonio Texans

Game 3

Bob Daliege pitched seven strong innings and his catcher Pete Peters handled things behind the plate as the San Antonio Texans stunned Australia 11-1 in Peoria today to move to 3-0 in the 70-and-over Central Division of the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

The Texans' battery of Daliege and Peters know each other pretty well. After all, both players are members of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers and they play together year in year out and have  done so for the past 10 years.

Today it was just like being at home. Peters called the pitches and Daliege delivered.

The Texans got off to a good start in the top of the first inning when they turned a triple play. Emerson Hayes, from Adkins, Texas, moved to his right and backhanded a line drive. Hayes threw to second to double up the runner and the relay to first base was just in time to catch the runner, who was trying desperately to beat the relay throw.

The Texans came to bat and quickly plated five runs to jump out to a big lead. Daliege and Peters went back to work and all but shutdown the Aussies for the next six innings, allowing just one run. Daliege walked three and struck out three.

Another trio of Tucson Old Timers -- Bill Mishler, Lloyd Barzell and Pigpen Price also contributed in the lopsided win. Mishler went 1 for 2, walked once, scored twice and knocked in a run, while Price went 1 for 3 and scored a run.

As for Barzell, who injured his right index finger in Game 2, he went 2 for 3 and played three innings at shortstop.  "It didn't hurt at all during the game," said Barzell, who had received five stitches to his finger on Monday afternoon.

The win over the Aussies sets up a showdown tomorrow between the Texans and the 3-0 New England Red Sox, a team whose roster includes six players from the Tucson Old Pueblo Club. Game time is set for 9:30 a.m. at the Maryvale Complex, spring training home of the Milwaukee Brewers.

On the New England roster is Bill "Spaceman" Lee, now 72, who combined for 119 wins and 713 strikeouts with the Boston Red Sox and the Montreal Expos.

Photos: Pete Peters and Bob Daliege, today's battery at the MSBL World Series.

Boxberger goes 2 for 4 in MSBL win

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Central Division

Seattle Mariners

Catcher Danny Boxberger, who plays on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, is a member of the 70-and-over Seattle Mariners at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series this week in Phoenix and he helped his team to a 10-9 second-round win today over Driscoll, a team from Oklahoma.

Boxberger went 2 for 4 at Tempe Diablo Stadium as Seattle evened its record at 1-1, after losing 24-8 on Sunday to the San Antonio Texans -- a team with a roster that includes five of his teammates from the Tucson Old Timers.

The Texans and the New England Red Sox are the only two unbeaten teams in the 70-and-over Central Division with two of the five round robin games in the books.

Seattle takes on Kansas City on Tuesday in Peoria at 9:30 a.m., while the San Antonio Texans take on Australia in the last game of the day at 1:45 p.m.

Photo: Boxberger went 2 for 4 and caught four innings at the MSBL World Series today.

Texans improve to 2-0 at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over Central Division

San Antonio Texans

Game 2

The San Antonio Texans improved to 2-0 at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series with a 13-6 win over the Kansas City Athletics today at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona.

Four of the five "Tucson Boys" hit the ball well today. Bob Daliege went 3 for 3, scored twice and drove in three runs to lead the players from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers. Lloyd Barzell and Pete Peters collected two hits apiece, while Bill Mishler went 1 for 2  and nailed down a successful sacrifice bunt.

Pigpen Price, the fifth member from the Tucson Old Timers, went 0 for 3 today.

"Not a good day for me," Price said. "The team combined for 19 hits, but I wasn't among them."

The only downer of the day was an injury to Barzell, who sliced his right index finger on a bunt attempt. Barzell said. "The ball hit the bat, then the ground and bounced back up and cut my finger."

Barzell made a trip to a urgent care facility after the game and received five stitches.

The Texans play against Australia on Tuesday in Peoria at 1:45 p.m.

"I hope I can play tomorrow," Barzell said.

The good news is the Texans now have two wins under their belt and a third win tomorrow would put them in the running for a playoff berth. After Australia, the Texans play on Wednesday against New England and on Thursday they'll face Driscoll, a team from Oklahoma.

Photo: Daliege

Wildcats hit the road after loss to Washington

Arizona Wildcats Football


Coming off a 51-27 loss at home Saturday to the visiting Washington Huskies, the Arizona Wildcats try to regroup. Unfortunately, the Wildcats will have to pull out a win on the road against USC on Saturday and follow up on Oct. 26 against the Cardinal at Stanford.

Arizona (4-2, 2-1) find themselves in a first place tie in the Pac 12 South with USC, Utah and Arizona State.

Bear down, Arizona!

"Tucson boys" do well in opening game of MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

Game 1

70-and over Central Division

The "Tucson Boys" did well at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series today.

At Fitch Park in Mesa, Arizona, the 70-and-over San Antonio Texans, with five players on the roster  from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, belted the Seattle Mariners, 24-8.

All five -- Bob Daliege, Pigpen Price, Bill Mishler, Lloyd Barzell and Pete Peters -- reached base safely today. Daliege went 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored, Price went 2 for 3, knocked in a run and scored twice, Mishler got hit by a pitch and walked twice and scored four runs, while Pete Peters reached base on an error and caught the first four innings. Mishler, who played all eight innings in center field, threw out two runners at second base.

Barzell went 1 for 3, knocked in a run and scored a run, but more importantly he came in to pitch in the sixth inning and hurled  2 1/3 innings of shutout ball.

"It took me a while to find my release point," Barzell said. "But once I found it, I was fine." Barzell snuffed out a Seattle rally when he relieved Skip Bradley from Adkins, Texas with two outs in the sixth inning. Barzell breezed  through the final two innings of the three hour and 20 minute game.

San Antonio and the "Tucson Boys" are back in Mesa Monday for a 9:30 game at Hohokam Stadium against the Kansas City Athletics.

Note: Danny Boxberger, a sixth member of the Tucson Old Timers, played for Seattle today. Boxberger was the starting catcher and went 1 for 3. Boxberger and the Mariners take on Driscoll, a team from Oklahoma on Monday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Game time: 12:30 p.m.

Photo: Center fielder Bill Mishler scored four runs today and threw two runners out at second base at the MSBL World Series.

TOTS' youngest goes 4 for 4 at Udall

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The "young man" was on fire today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

You must be 60 years of age to play for the TOTS. Currently the youngest member of the organization is 61-year-old Ron Ryan. In fact, he is one of a handful of TOTS who plays baseball and still works for a living.

Ryan is a bankruptcy lawyer and with the way the economy is these days he's certainly a busy man. But on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, Ryan takes his cuts at Udall Park looking to get wood on the ball (well, aluminum anyway).

Today was a perfect day for Ryan. He went 4 for 4, drove in a couple of runs, scored twice and was on the front end of a 5-4-3 double play. Ryan led Team White to a 9-4 win over Team Blue.

The hard-throwing Doc Thompson, 77, picked up the win.

Ryan wasn't in the best of moods at game time. After all, Ryan hails from Los Angeles and literally  grew up a fan of the LA Dodgers. Ryan was a bubbly newcomer to this world in January of 1958. The Dodgers announced they were moving from Brooklyn to LA in May of 1958. When Ryan turned four years of age the Dodgers moved to Dodger Stadium.

Well, now you know the rest of the story.

Late Wednesday night the Dodgers, the best team in the National League during the 2019 regular season, took it on the chin losing Game 5 of the NLDS to the Washington Nationals, 7-3, in 10 innings.

So, Ryan was not a happy camper when he arrived at Udall this morning for a regularly-scheduled TOTS' game.

Two hours later and four hits later, Ryan was all smiles.

Photo: The smilin' Ron Ryan, who went 4 for 4 today to lead Team White to a 9-4 win. Ryan, who played third today, also straps on the catching gear from time to time... and plays outfield as well.

Houston moves on to ALCS

American League Division Series


Was there any doubt?

The Astros win Game 5 in Houston tonight over Tampa Bay, 6-1, to capture the ALDS and move on to face the mighty New Yankees in the American League Championship Series. Houston jumped out to a early lead, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning off Tampa Bay's starter Tyler Glasnow.

Houston's Gerrit Cole (2-0) did the rest. He threw 107 pitches in eight innings and allowed one run on two hits, while striking out 10.

Cardinals, Nationals move on to NLCS

National League Division Series


The St. Louis Cardinals put up a 10-spot in the first inning today and cruised to a 13-1 win in Game 5 over the Braves in Atlanta. It was the most runs ever scored in an opening inning of postseason play. No home runs were hit in the first inning, just a lot of everything -- including walks, infield hits, errors, mixed in with a double here and a double there. The Cardinals batted around and then some. Mike Foltynewicz (1-1) allowed seven runs. Max Fried replaced Foltynewicz, allowing three runs in the first and another run in the second inning. Luke Jackson followed, allowing two more runs in the third.

In the meantime, St. Louis starter Jack Flaherty (1-1) cruised to an easy win with six innings of work, allowing one run on just four hits. He threw 104 pitches and struck out eight.

The Cardinals move on to face the Nationals in NLCS.

Yes. The NATIONALS!

In Los Angeles, Howie Kendrick hit a grand slam home run tonight in the top of the 10th inning to give Washington a 7-3 win in Game 5 and send the Nationals to the NLCS to face the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Dodgers led 3-0 early on home runs from Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez, but the Nationals chipped away at the lead with a run in the sixth inning and tied the game in the eighth on solo homers from Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto -- both home runs off Clayton Kershaw, who had replaced starter Walker Buehler.

Stephen Strasburg started for Nationals and went six innings. Daniel Hudson gets the win in relief and Joe Kelly suffers the loss, giving up the grand slam to Kendrick.

You gotta love baseball.

Tampa Bay evens ALDS at 2-2

American League Division Series Update


Tampa Bay, with the lowest payroll in the Majors, gets to Justin Verlander in Game 4 and evens the ALDS at two games apiece with a 4-1 win over Houston.

It's Houston-bound for the Rays as they head back to Texas for a Game 5 on Thursday.

Tonight in St. Petersburg, Florida, Tampa Bay sent Verlander (1-1) to showers after just 3.2 innings. The Houston ace gave up four runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out five. Verlander threw 84 pitches and gave up home runs to Tommy Pham in the first inning and Willy Adames in the fourth.

Youthful 60-and-over Tucson Aces keep on winning

Tucson Aces

60-and-over baseball

The 60-and-over Tucson Aces put together a three-run fifth inning today at Udall Park and beat the Old Pueblo Club 3-1 to notch their seventh straight victory over teams from the south side of Tucson.

The Aces tangle with the Old Pueblo Club and the Arizona Rattlers on a regular basis and it has been a while since the south side teams have won.

Today, the Old Pueblo Club picked up a lone run in the top of the second inning on a single to left by Lou Russo. There was a play at the plate as Reed Palmer unleashed a one-hopper to Aces' catcher Pete Peters, but the runner crossed home plate just ahead of the perfect throw.

The 1-0 lead for Old Pueblo held up until the Aces got the bats going in the fifth. Palmer hit an opposite-field single off the hard-throwing Rudy Duarte and John Mathews followed with a single to right. That brought up Joe Opocensky, who timed a Duarte fastball and hit a booming 2-run double to the right field fence. The Aces scored the third run of the inning when Randy Livingston bounced  a high hopper by the Old Pueblo Club's third baseman, allowing the third and final run of the game to score.

Lloyd Barzell started on the mound for the Aces and pitched four innings before giving way to Opocensky, who then pitched three scoreless innings to notch the win. The Old Pueblo Club had a runner on base with two outs in the seventh inning and at the plate stood the hard-hitting Bobby Long.

Opocensky got ahead in the count and Long took a healthy cut but came up empty, striking out to end the game.

It was a well played game by both teams.

"We keep on winning," says Aces' manager Mike Dawson. "It's tough getting everyone playing time with all the quality players."

The 60-and-over Aces played 15 players today, 10 of them will head for Phoenix during the next two weeks to participate in the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series. The Aces are a young bunch with 11 players taking the field today in their 60s. The four oldtimers today -- Peters, 70, Bob Daliege, 71,  Dave Byars, 71, and the oldest player on the field, 74-year-old Pigpen Price.

All the players poke fun at a teammate's age.

"Pigpen is a middle-aged TOT and I have a few years to go before I get there," says Peters, who is now 70 and qualifies to play in the 70-and-over division at the MSBL World Series.

At any rate, the Tucson Aces will keep that youthful look for a few more years. After all, time marches on and the 60-and-over Aces would just as soon continue to win ball games.

Photo: Opocensky

Today's Tucson Aces and their ages:

Joe Opocensky, 69

John Mathews, 63

Bob Daliege, 71

Pete Peters, 70

Roger Beebe, 66

Pigpen Price, 74

Ron Ryan, 61

Reed Palmer, 63

Tim Boyd, 64

Lloyd Barzell, 69

Tim Tolson, 67

Mike Dawson, 64

Randy Livingston, 61

David Byars, 71

Dan Boxberger, 68

Yankees move on to ALCS

American League Division Series Update


The New York Yankees won Game 3 of the ALDS in Minnesota tonight with a 5-1 win over the Twins and advance on to the American League Championship Series. Gleybar Torres hit a solo homer  in the second inning, Brett Gardner hit an RBI-single in the third and Didi Gregorius added an RBI-single in the seventh. Cameron Maybin finished off the Twins with a solo homer in the ninth and Gregorius added another RBI-single to complete the scoring for the Yankees.

The Yankees will have to wait for their opponent as Tampa Bay's Craig Morton (1-0) allowed the Houston Astros just three hits and one earned run through five innings of work to pick up the 10-3  win today in St. Petersburg, Florida to set up a Game 4 on Tuesday.  Kevin Kiermaier provided the big blow for the Rays with a three-run homer in the second inning off Houston's starter Zack Greinke. Tampa Bay ended up hitting three more homers -- solo shots by Ji-Man Choi, Brandon Lowe and Willy Adames.

National League Division Series Update

It's a different story in the NLDS. The St. Louis Cardinals evened the series at 2-2 with a 5-4 win today in St. Louis over the Atlanta Braves to set up a Game 5 in Atlanta on Wednesday. Yadier Molina hit a single in the eighth inning to tie the game at 4-4 today and then hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning to plate the game-winner and extend the series.

Max Scherzer (1-0) pitched seven strong innings and Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run homer in Washington, D.C. tonight to lift the Nationals to a 6-1 win over the Dodgers to extend the NLDS back to Los Angeles for a Game 5 on Wednesday.

Daliege warms up for the MSBL World Series

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Bob Daliege, 71, will be heading for Phoenix on Saturday to play in the 2019 MSBL World Series for the 70-and-over San Antonio Texans.

Daliege is scheduled to pitch in the third game of the five-game round robin against Australia. It could be a key game for the Texans. Chances are it'll take three wins to move on to the playoffs and the Texans would just as soon win their opener on Sunday against Seattle, pick up a win against Kansas City next Monday and the Aussies on Tuesday.

But one day at a time. It's a long road to the championship game and a World Series ring. Daliege and  four of his TOTS' teammates -- Pigpen Price, Pete Peters, Bill Mishler and Lloyd Barzell -- know full well what it takes to win it all. Two years ago, the Texans made it all the way to the championship game only to lose and finish runner-up. Last year, the Texans rolled into the playoffs, but lost their first-round playoff game to an Indiana team and were forced to pack their bags and head home.

Daliege warmed up for the MSBL World Series today at Udall Park. He was the starting pitcher for Team Blue and he had an easy outing, going seven strong innings in a 15-6 win over Team White. Daliege allowed just five hits through the first six innings as Team White plated just two runs.

Tim Tolson, John Mathews and Ron Carlson supplied most of the damage offensively for Team Blue. Each member of the trio went 3 for 4 and combined for seven RBI.  Doc Thompson and Pigpen Price combined for four hits in six plate appearances to lead the Team White hitters.

The TOTS will close the week with games on Wednesday and Friday at Udall. Game time for both games slated for 9 a.m.

After that, it's off to the 32nd MSBL World Series for Daliege, Price, Peters, Barzell and Mishler. Another member of the TOTS, catcher Dan Boxberger, who caught for Team White today, will play for Seattle at the MSBL World Series and will face off against his TOTS' teammates on Sunday.

Photo: Daliege, who threw seven innings and picked up the win today at Udall.

Dodgers, Braves take 2-1 leads in NLDS

National League Division Series Update


Down 1-0, the Atlanta Braves (2-1) rally in the ninth inning and beat the Cardinals 3-1 in St. Louis today. St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright pitched a gem for 7 2/3 innings, but closer Carlos Martinez came on in the ninth and allowed three runs -- an RBI-double to tie the game by Atlanta's  Dansby Swanson and a two-run single from Adam Duvall to give the Cardinals the two-run cushion in the NLDS.

The Cardinals went quietly in the bottom of the ninth inning.


In Washington, it was all Dodgers today as Justin Turner homered during a seven-run sixth inning and Los Angeles went on to beat the Nationals, 10-4 to take a 2-1 advantage in the NLDS. Catcher Russell Martin drove in four runs for the Dodgers.

Yankees, Astros roll on

American League Division Series Update


Didi Gregorius launches a grand slam in the third inning and the New York Yankees (2-0) roll over Minnesota 8-2 on Saturday in New York. Masahiro Tanaka (1-0) goes five innings and picks up the win. The ALDS switches to Minnesota for Game 3 on Monday.

In Houston, Gerrit Cole (1-0) struck out 15 and Alex Bregman homers en route to a 3-1 win as the Astros take a commanding 2-0 lead in the ALDS. Cole goes 7 2/3 innings and allows just four hits, no runs, walks one batter and throws 118 pitches. Game 3 at Tampa Bay on Monday.

Wildcats improve to 4-1 with a 35-30 win in Boulder

Arizona Wildcats Football

Suddenly, the wins keep coming.

Arizona, after a season-opening loss at Hawaii, has reeled off four straight wins -- including a Pac-12 Conference 35-30 win in Boulder today over the Colorado Buffaloes.

Kahlil Tate threw for 404 yards and scored three touchdowns, but it was a stop on defense in Colorado's final possession that sealed the deal.

Arizona is now 4-1 overall and sit atop the Pac-12 South with a 2-0 record.

Way to go, Wildcats!

NLDS all even

National League Division Series


The Braves (1-1) evened the NLDS in Atlanta on Friday with a 3-0 shutout over the St. Louis Cardinals (1-1) behind seven strong innings from Mike Foltynewicz. Pinch hitter Adam Duvall hit a two-run homer for the Braves in the seventh inning. Game 3 Sunday in St. Louis.

The Dodgers ran into a road block in Los Angeles as Washington's tag-team duo of Stephen Strasburg (6 innings, 1 run) and Max Scherzer (1 inning, 3 strikeouts) evened the series at 1-1. Daniel Hudson picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning. Game 3 Sunday at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

Houston, Yankees off and running

American League Division Series


Justin Verlander (1-0) was as dominate as ever, hurling seven strong innings of one-hit ball, as the Astros took the opener from Tampa Bay on Friday in Houston, 6-2. Jose Altuve hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning.

In New York, it was all Yankees in a 10-4 thumping of the Minnesota Twins. DJ LeMahieu homered in the sixth and drove in four runs.

Team Blue scores 3 runs in the 7th for 6-5 come-from-behind win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team Blue scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning at Udall Park today to salvage a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Team White in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Rodger Beebe, Dave Byars and Mike Dawson hit safely in the seventh and all three scored, while Team White committed two throwing errors, which allowed Team Blue to turn a two-run deficit into a one-run lead.

Team White failed to score in the bottom of the seventh inning and Dawson, who pitched all seven innings for Team Blue, picked up the win. Lloyd Barzell was saddled with loss.

Pigpen Price went 3 for 3, scored once and knocked in three runs for Team White.

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