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
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