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.