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.