Aces roll to 12th consecutive win

The Tucson Aces

60-and-over baseball

Joe Opocensky, 70,  hurled a complete game and Randy Livingston doubled in three runs as the Tucson Aces cruised to their 12th win in a row with a 7-2 win over the Old Pueblo Club today at Udall Park.

The Aces jumped out to a 3-0 lead, picked up another three runs in the fifth and added an insurance run in the sixth.

"We played well defensively,"  said manager Mike Dawson, who continues to push all the right buttons as the Aces continue their hot streak against the two 60-and-over south-side teams, Old Pueblo and the Arizona Rattlers.

Photo: Joe Opocensky

Dawson's 2-run single in 7th lifts Team Blue to 8-7 TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Mike Dawson, 64, knocked in the go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh inning, went back to the mound in the bottom of the seventh and completed his two innings of relief work to lead Team Blue to an 8-7 thriller over Team White today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Down 6-5,  Dawson singled in the top of the seventh and two runs crossed the plate for the lead and his team followed with an insurance run for good measure to grab an 8-6 advantage. Team White scored one run in the bottom of the seventh and Dawson and Team Blue walked away with the win.

Reed Palmer was saddled with the loss, but continued his hot-hitting for the month of June with a 2 for 3 day  -- including a double and a triple. John Mathews had two hits for Team White and drove in three runs.

David Byars collected three hits for Team Blue and Bill Mishler had two hits -- including a double.

Photo: Dawson

Today's boxscore:

TOTS spray 38 hits around Udall

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Everyone had their hitting shoes on at Udall Park this morning.

Both teams combined for 38 hits, but it was Team Blue finishing on top 11-6 over Team White in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Lefty Ron Petersen went the distance for Team Blue to pick up the win. Petersen had three hits in the game and drove in three runs to help his own cause. George Staas,  Roger Beebe, Steve Foster and Tim Tolson all went 3 for 4 as well, while John Mathews and Dave Byars both went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs apiece.

Reed Palmer went the distance for Team White and absorbed the loss, but continued to pound the ball with three hits in four trips to the plate, while Doc Thompson and Ron Ryan added three hits apiece for the losing team. Ryan knocked in three of Team White's six runs.

The TOTS will take the weekend off and resume action on Monday at Udall. First pitch slated for 8:30 a.m.

Photos: Ron Petersen picked up the pitching victory today and helped his own cause with three  hits and three RBI and Ron Ryan, who had three hits for the losing team and drove in three of their six runs.

Today's boxscore:

Team Blue   11  Team White  6

Morse leads Team Blue to TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Rob Morse, 72, joined the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers in 2017 and his first year was a learning experience for the Spartan -- a Michigan State graduate back in...well, it was a long time ago.

Chances are the Detroit, Michigan native was lucky enough, back in the 1970s, to see the great Al Kaline play right field for the Tigers. It probably never occurred to Morse to take notes, unaware that someday he'd be roaming right field for the Tucson Old Timers.

In Rob's first season in 2017, he managed just 12 hits in 52 games, but in 2018 and 2019 he gradually improved his hitting and fielding as well. In fact, in his last three games this month, Morse went 4 for 10 for a very respectable .400 batting average.

As a right fielder, Morse has upped his game. For example, today he helped support his starting pitcher Mike Dawson to a 7-2 win over Team White. Morse had two putouts and two assists. Two assists!

Yep, if you play right field for the TOTS, there are chances for putouts and assists, too. Now, it takes a few years to figure out which old-timer (runner) still has enough speed to run 90 feet and beat out a throw from an infielder....and at times from an outfielder as well.

Things have to be in line for a TOTS' right fielder to begin what turns out to be a 9 to 3 out -- an assist for the right fielder and a putout for the first baseman.  Positioning is key and the batter normally needs to rip the ball on a bounce to the right fielder, who in turn, pounces on the ball and throws a strike to the first sacker, just in time to nip the runner.

Obviously, Morse is learning his position.

Way to go, Rob!

Photo: Morse, the TOTS' crafty right fielder.

TOTS off and running again this week at Udall

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The TOTS are off and running with another week of baseball at Udall Park. The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers returned to the playing field on May 18 and today, despite a smoky mountain to the north, played their 15th game in 36 days.

Only one cancellation occurred on June 12 due to a broken sprinkler head, which flooded the third base area, causing a disappointed bunch of old-timers to pack up their bat bags and head home.

Not the coronavirus, nor day after day of triple digits, nor two weeks straight of a stubborn forest fire in the Catalinas can keep the TOTS from playing baseball, but a puddle of water a couple of inches deep at third base kept the old-timers off the ball field.

Today was a hot and dusty affair as both teams sprayed a total of 29 hits around the confines of the TOTS' field at Udall Park. In the end, Team White came out on top 10-7 over Team Blue. The hitting stars for the winning team were Doc Thompson and Bob Daliege as the duo were a combined 6 for 6, while George Staas and Ron Ryan collected two hits in three trips to the plate. Staas, Daliege and Mike Steele drove in two runs apiece.

Team White scored five runs in the first inning, one run in the fourth and four runs in the fifth.

Team Blue's Thunder Tim Tolson had a perfect day at the plate, going 4 for 4 with three runs batted in, while Roger Beebe went 3 for 3, scored three times and drove in two runs.

With the temperatures expected to reach 108 and 109 by the end of the week, the TOTS will continue to take the field with games scheduled for Wednesday and Friday. Game time for both at 8:30 a.m.

Today's boxscore: 

Team  White  10  Team Blue  7

Little Joe

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Joe Aparicio, 86, returned to the playing field at Udall Park on Friday and batted three times, his first at bats since last February. Aparicio, who hails from Santa Paula, California, has been a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers since 1998. He's currently in his 23rd season with the organization.

The coronavirus has caused him some concern, which is the main reason Aparicio has been away.

But he's back and taking his cuts. There was a time, back in 2006, when he reached the 100-hit mark for a season, but by the time Little Joe reached his mid 70s the hits were no longer coming in bunches.

In the year 2017, Aparicio reached the 1,000- career hit club with the organization. Little Joe finished 2017 with 39 hits, 22 runs-scored and 22 RBI. Not bad for the "young man" who was 83 years of age at the time. Aparicio's best season was in 2006 when his stat line consisted of 119 hits, 89 runs, 45 RBI and 40 walks to go along with a respectable .344 batting average.

With his appearance on Friday, Aparicio becomes the oldest player to step into the batter's box since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Little Joe's claim to fame is the fact he has the ability to work his way into a full count and has consistently led the club in walks every year. He's not a favorite for the TOTS' pitchers. Collectively, they all agree. Little Joe has that rare ability to wait you (the pitcher) out and suddenly he has you in  a full count.

Way to go, Little Joe. Keep giving the pitcher fits.

Photos: Joe Aparicio

Ryan, Palmer lead Team White to 12-5 TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team White scored in all but one inning, collected 19 hits and rolled to a 12-5 win over Team Blue today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game at Udall Park.

Ron Ryan went 4 for 4, scored three times and knocked in a run, while Reed Palmer went 4 for 4, scored twice and knocked in four runs for Team White. John Mathews, Mike Steele and Pete Peters went 2 for 3 for Team Blue and Tim Tolson drove in two runs.

Team White scored two runs in the first, second and third innings, added a run in the fourth and put the game away with five runs in the sixth.

Roger Beebe added to Team White's hit parade with two hits and three RBI, Bill Mishler collected two hits, Ken Nebesny had two hits and Ray Garcia ended up 3 for 4 in the game as Team Blue's lefty Ron Petersen was saddled with the loss. Palmer went the distance for Team White to notch the win.

There were five doubles in the game -- one by Team Blue's Steve Foster and another by Steele, while Palmer, Beebe and Mishler all doubled for Team White.

The TOTS finished up this week's action today and will play three games next week at Udall. All games will have an 8:30 a.m. start.

Today's boxscore:

Team White  12   Team Blue  5

Thompson cruises to 10-2 TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Doc Thompson pitched seven strong innings and his defense made all the plays behind him as Team Blue breezed to a 10-2 win over Team White today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Thompson's strategy was to keep Team White's "big guns" from hitting the long ball  -- especially lefties  Joe Opocensky and Reed Palmer.  Opocensky batted .667 in May, while Palmer batted .789 and currently leads the club in home runs with seven. 

His strategy worked. Opocensky and Palmer were a combined  0 for 6 with two walks, and Thompson had plenty of support from his infielders as Pete Peters at third base, shortstop Tim Tolson, second baseman Pigpen Price and first-sacker John Mathews made all the key plays to keep the Team Blue runners from scoring.

"It was one of the best defensive games in a long time," said Thompson, who allowed two harmless runs and just five hits. Palmer hit two hard shots to Mathews at first base for two unassisted putouts and when Team White was able to get a runner as far as second or third, the runner was left stranded.

In the meantime, Team Blue banged out 21 hits as Thompson, Tolson and Peters were a combined 12 for 15. Price and Rob Morse went 2 for 5 and knocked in two runs apiece, while Mathews collected three hits and also drove in two runs. Mike Steele collected two of Team White's five hits.

The TOTS close out the week with a game on Friday at Udall. First pitch at 8:30 a.m.

Photo: Thompson

Today's boxscore:

Team Blue  10   Team White  2

Aces dominate Rattlers, 20-4

Tucson Aces

60-and-over baseball

The Arizona Rattlers were in town today. Well, at Udall Park that is. The south-side 60-and-over Rattlers play their home games at Mission Manor Park, but journeyed to Udall this morning to take on the hot-hitting Tucson Aces.

The Aces took a 10-game consecutive win streak (against the south-side teams) into today's game and led 8-0 early and cruised to a 20-4 win. Mike Dawson hurled all seven innings for the Aces to pick up the win, while Rattlers' starter, George Gafner, was saddled with the loss.

Reed Palmer and Randy Livingston supplied run-scoring doubles as everyone in the Aces' lineup hit safely. The Aces own wins over the Old Pueblo Club (10-8) and the Rattlers this month as they continue their winning ways, mixing in good pitching with timely hitting.

Photo below: The 60-and-over Tucson Aces:

Palmer hits 7th homer

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Reed Palmer continues to hit home runs this month.

On Monday, Palmer crushed his fourth home run of the month at Udall Park and seventh of the season. Despite the round-tripper, a two-run shot in the second inning, Palmer and Team Blue lost 6-4 to Team White in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Joe Opocensky went the distance on the mound and picked up the win for Team White. Lefty Ron Petersen pitched four innings for Team Blue and Pete Maldonado came on in relief in the fifth.

The boxscore for the game unavailable at press time.

The TOTS finish up the week with games at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday and Friday as they continue to battle the hot temperatures.

Photo: Palmer

TOTS play it safe, but play on

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The TOTS play on...

and on...

and on...and on

Not even a fire in the nearby mountain can stop 'em...nor the coronavirus sweeping the world...nor chaos in the streets from LA to New York...and as pro baseball nears closer and closer to a "lost season" -- the TOTS continue to play on.

The TOTS may be the only game in town. They may be the oldest organized bunch of old-timers in the state, in the country...in the nation for that matter (1968 to the present...53 years). The TOTS' ages range from:  60-something in recent games to an 82-year-old from Canada named Denny Leonard (photo below), a member of the TOTS' organization since the mid-90s and a former police officer from Edmonton.

Still on the roster are 86-year-old Joe Aparicio, Billy Heiny (who turns 91 in August/2020) and 94-year-old Floyd Lance (who turns 95 in September/2020), although the sign of the times are currently keeping them off the field of play. Aparicio played a total off 19 games in January and February (before the conronavirus hit) and Heiny played in 14. Lance, the TOTS' poster boy, hasn't logged an official at bat this year.  Lance, a member of the TOTS since 1999, may just mosey in one day and take his cuts. After all, the TOTS have six months left in their 53rd season.

Below the "heart " of the TOTS: Aparicio, Heiny and Lance.

There is no quit in the TOTS. Yes, if the stay-at-home rules return, the players will leave the ball field and return home. The players will put their baseball shoes near the front door and await the "all clear" signal to return once again. The TOTS will withstand fire on the ridge, a deadly virus and chaos in the streets...and old age. The TOTS list of reasons not to play do not include the word: age.

Go, TOTS!

Palmer hits No. 6

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Reed Palmer hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Team White went on to a 11-4 win over Team Blue today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game at Udall Park. Palmer's blast was his third home run this month and sixth of the season.

Palmer, the club leader in home runs the past three seasons, is making up for lost time as the TOTS spent 2 1/2 months away from the ball field due to the coronavirus. Palmer has his home run trot back and is looking for more.

It's okay with pitcher Mike Dawson, who benefited from Palmer's 4 for 4 performance today, which included a single and two doubles to go along with the first-inning homer over the right field fence. Dawson kept pace with Palmer as he also went 4 for 4 and drove in four runs. First baseman John Mathews contributed three hits and catcher Mike Steele added to Team White's hitting attack with another three hits as Team White scattered 19 hits around the confines of Udall Park.

Meanwhile, Dawson breezed through seven innings of work, while Team Blue's Pete Maldonado was saddled with the loss. Roger Beebe, the leadoff batter for Team Blue, went 3 for 4 and Joe Opocensky collected two hits and drove in two of his team's four runs.

The TOTS will continue with their 8:30 a.m. starting time on Friday as they try to beat the heat. The temperature is expected to reach 107 by mid-afternoon. Hopefully, the TOTS' seven-inning game will be in the books by 11:00 a.m.

Today's boxscore:

Team White  11  Team Blue  4

Opocensky shines in 10-1 TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team White's Joe Opocensky, 70, is a meat cutter at Albertsons, but today he was at Udall Park on the mound as he carved up Team Blue 10-1 in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

The Big "O" was slicin' and a dicin' for seven innings as he blew through the "meat" of the Team Blue batting order, which included power hitters Tim Tolson and John Mathews and contact hitters Ken Nebesny and Ron Petersen. Only Opocensky's counterpart on the mound, Ernie Escala, had a good day at the plate with three hits in three trips to the batter's box.

Escala gave up seven runs in four innings of work and gave way to Petersen in the fifth. Petersen allowed three runs as Team White banged out four extra-base hits, while Opocensky received plenty of support defensively with four double plays behind him.

Team White's leadoff batter Roger Beebe went 3 for 4, while Reed Palmer, Mike Steele and Opocensky contributed two hits apiece. Both of  Palmer's  hits were doubles, while Pigpen Price and Beebe also doubled.

Team Blue's catcher Bill Mishler, who went 3 for 3 and a walk last Friday, singled and walked today, to keep his "hot streak" alive. Rob Morse knocked in the only run for Team Blue with an RBI-single in the fifth as the fleet-footed Dennis Crowley scampered home to avoid the shutout.

Photo: Opocensky

Today's boxscore:

Team White  10  Team Blue  1

Maldonado, Beebe, Mishler lead Team White to TOTS win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Leadoff hitter Roger Beebe, catcher Bill Mishler and pitcher Pete Maldonado combined forces to lead Team White to a 12-3 win over Team Blue at Udall Park this morning in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Maldonado gave up two homers -- both solo shots-- to Reed Palmer and 82-year-old Denny Leonard picked up an RBI and that was all the scoring for Team Blue, while eight players hit safely for Team White -- including a 3 for 3 day and three RBI for Mishler and a 3 for 4 performance at the plate from Beebe.

Lefty Ron Petersen was saddled with the loss. As for Reed, he hit his fourth and fifth home runs this season and both were no doubters -- high and deep. His first homer may still be rolling up Sabino Canyon Road.

As for Maldonado, who hails from da Bronx, he felt right at home on the mound at Udall as he mixed an assortment of pitches en route to an easy win.

Photo: "Mr. Cool" Bill Mishler, who caught today for Team White, went 3 for 3, walked once and knocked in three runs.

Today's boxscore:

Team White  12  Team Blue  3

Aces continue to dominate south-side teams

The Tucson Aces

60-and-over baseball

Due to the coronavirus, the 60-and-over Tucson Aces and their on-going battles with the south-side teams had come to a screeching halt. In fact, the last battle with the Old Pueblo Club occurred back on February 18 when the Aces rolled to a 13-1 win -- the Aces ninth victory in a row over the two south-side teams, Old Pueblo Club and the Arizona Rattlers.

Well, nothing has changed.

Today at Udall Park, the Aces jumped out to a 5-1 lead and held on for a 10-8 win over the Old Pueblo Club as the two clubs got together for a hot and dusty seven-inning contest.

Mike Dawson hurled the first five innings for the Aces and Randy Livingston came on in relief in the sixth and picked up the save. The Aces hit the ball well with Reed Palmer, Ron Petersen, Lloyd Barzell, Ken Nebesny and Dawson contributed two hits apiece. Livingston turned out to be the "top gun" with a single and a triple, while driving in three runs.

Old Pueblo, down 7-3 in the middle innings, went to their ace right-hander Glenn Vann in the late innings. Vann, one of the top pitchers in the 65-and-over division every year at the annual MSBL World Series in Phoenix,  struck out the side in his first inning of work, but the Aces were able to add a couple of insurance runs off Vann down the stretch to ice the game away.

Way to go, Aces!

Photo: Mike Dawson, today's winning pitcher.

Late-game strategy leads to 6-5 TOTS win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning at Udall Park today, Team Blue's pitcher Bob Daliege and catcher Mike Steele needed to strategize.

Team White had already cut into Team Blue's 6-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth by plating three runs to pull within two runs and now Daliege was just one out away from a win, but back-to-back singles from Pete Peters and Ken Nebesny changed matters considerably. To make the situation even worse, Ron Petersen walked to load the bases.

That brought up the club's home run king, Reed Palmer, and Big John Mathews was waiting on deck. Daliege wasn't about to let  Palmer beat him. So, Daliege kept the ball away from the big fella and Palmer, after six pitches trotted to first base, allowing Peters to walk home and bring Team White to within one run.

Still, the bases were loaded as Mathews stepped into the batter's box. Mathews battled and found the pitch he wanted and ripped a shot to third, but Team Blue's Joe Opocensky gloved the ball and stepped on third for the final out.

Steele had a good day behind the plate and at bat as he went 3 for 3. Daliege, who allowed just four hits during the first five innings, escaped with a well-deserved win. Palmer pitched all seven innings for Team White and was saddled with the loss.

The TOTS return to action on Friday and plan for an 8:30 a.m. start, instead of the customary 9 a.m. start. The summer heat is on us and no relief until October.

No worries. The TOTS are glad to be back on the ball field.

Photos: Daliege and Steele.

Wooly Bully

I was out toolin' around in my Mustang this morning. Sometimes I take a right turn off Tanque Verde Road and take a spin through Woodland Road. It's like instantly leaving the City of Tucson and finding yourself in the midst of a Zoo, but a Zoo with huge acreages, beautiful Magnolia trees, elegant homes and yes plenty of animals to view, up close and personal.

So, as I slowly made my way east on Woodland, I came upon what I assume was a Texas Longhorn sunbathing against the fence, just a few feet from the road. What a bunch of BULL! I mean the horns on this baby were the length of my Mustang and then some.

I had my car radio on and appropriately the song Wooly Bully roared through my speakers. Suddenly, the 2,000-pound plus specimen was up on all fours and ready to dance. No, not really. The beautiful animal strolled away slowly, sorta like John Wayne used to do en route to a showdown with a gunslinger.

As I moseyed on down the road, I thought of the great  Harry Caray and the two words he popularized while announcing games for the Chicago Cubs. "Holy cow!"

Photos: The friend I met this morning during my travels.

TOTS stats: Palmer edges Tolson in hits, batting average in May

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The coronavirus has played havoc with the Tucson Old Timers as far as the organization's schedule for the month of March, April and almost three weeks into May.

But, the TOTS are back in action and finished the month of May with a flurry of games -- six in all.

The top hitters for the TOTS for the month were the usual two suspects -- Tim Tolson and Reed Palmer. It was down to the wire for the duo as Palmer edged Tolson in batting average .789 to .778. Palmer went 15 for 19 with seven doubles, 13 runs scored and a home run, while Tolson ended up with 14 hits in 18 trips to the plate, including one home run.

Doc Thompson, who batted .632 for the month (12 for 19), ended up the RBI leader with 15, while Palmer finished with 11 RBI and John Mathews was third with 10 runs-batted-in.

Other top hitters for the month included Mike Dawson and  Joe Opocensky. Dawson went 13 for 19, a .684 batting average and Opocensky went 10 for 15, a .667 average.

It was a good turnout, as far as total players were concerned, with 31 members with plate appearances for the month.

Six pitchers saw action in May with Thompson posting the best won and loss record at 2-0, Daliege ended up 1-2, Dawson 0-2, Opocensky 1-1, Palmer 1-1 and Ernie Escala 1-0. Thompson collected the most strike outs with nine, while Dawson and Palmer fanned eight batters apiece. Daliege had seven strike outs and pitched the most innings (21).

The TOTS were back in action this morning, the first of June, with Team White rolling to a 10-0 win over Team Blue. It was an easy win for Dawson, who went the distance and picked up the pitching victory. A good start to the month for Dawson (1-0).

The TOTS have games scheduled for Wednesday and Friday at Udall Park. Warmups at 8 a.m. and the first pitch for both games slated for 9 a.m.

May statistics: