Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus division playoffs

It's all over for the Tucson Toros as they bow out in the first round of the playoffs at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series in Goodyear this morning, losing 17-1 to the Benbrook Cubs.

The Toros finish 2-4 at this year's senior World Series and now look forward to October/2021 and the 34th MSBL World Series.

"We got hammered," said Mike Dawson, a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, who play year around at Udall Park in Tucson. John Mathews, Ken Nebesny, Tim Tolson, Joe Opocensky, also with the TOTS, will be heading back home today.

Today only one run was scored and it was Nebesny who crossed the plate and Dawson provided a clean single to knock in his teammate.

There's still plenty of baseball to be played at Udall Park.

Good try, guys.

Photos: The Toros runner Mike Dawson scores in photo and awaits pitches in bottom photos. At the top, a team photo of the Toros. 

MSBL WS Alert: Toros qualify for playoffs

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus 1/Cactus 2 divisions

The Tucson Toros (2-3) are in the playoffs, seeded eighth, and take on top-seeded Benbrook Cubs on Thursday in Goodyear at annex field #6, the spring training home of the Cleveland Indians. First pitch at, would you believe, 8 a.m.

Temperature at game time: 57 degrees.

Tucson Toros fall to Senators 2-1 at MSBL WS

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus 1 Division

Rudy Duarte, from the Tucson Old Pueblo Club, pitched nine solid innings today in Peoria, allowing just two runs, unfortunately the Tucson Toros scored just one run and the Sacramento Senators get the win 2-1 at the MSBL World Series.

The Toros led all the way, but the Senators scored both of their runs in the bottom of the ninth inning -- a walk-off win.

The Senators improve to 3-2, while the Toros end up 2-3 in the five round-robin games and both teams now await their fate for the playoffs. The Cactus 1 and Cactus 2 divisions will now combine their won-loss records to discover the six of the 12-team field that will move on to tomorrow.

Willie Lawrence, the fastest Toro, scored the only run today for the Tucson team. As for the boys from the Tucson Old Timers, Mike Dawson supplied the only hit among the five players -- a clean single up the middle. Dawson also walked once and Tim Tolson dropped down a successful sacrifice bunt.

Great game guys! A close one.

MSBL World Series ends today for Pigpen

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

73-and-over division

Pigpen Price had hoped his 13th consecutive Men's Senior Baseball League World Series would be a memorable one.

Instead, Price, 75, couldn't get past the second inning today at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

"The left knee I banged around on Tuesday just didn't get any better today," Price said. The swelling got worse and even started the black and blue process. I got through the first inning and made an assist for the first out of the game, but in the second inning one ball was hit to my left and another to my right. I couldn't move to field either one."

"I walked off the field at Tempe Diablo knowing full well my MSBL World Series was over...maybe for ever," Price added. "Maybe it's time to give up such childish things."

Price said, "It's frustrating. I guess I forget how old I am."

The Arizona Scorpions (1-2) went on to lose 16-3 today and face a doubleheader tomorrow in Peoria and finish up the round-robin with a game on Friday at the Salt River Complex in Scottsdale. They may have to win all three to qualify for the playoffs on Saturday.

The Scorpions will take the field the rest of the way without Pigpen.

Photo: Pigpen Price

Congrats to the Dodgers --- the 2020 World Series Champions

 MLB 2020 World Series

Congrats to the Los Angeles Dodgers on their 3-1 win tonight over the Tampa Bay Rays in Arlington to win Game 6 and the World Series Title. The long wait is over.

Pigpen takes a dive twice at the MSBL WS today

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

73-and-over Division

Many of Pigpen Price's teammates back home on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers have told him more than once to stop diving for baseballs. Price, who played his second game today at the MSBL World Series at Red Mountain Park in Mesa, dove for a pop up in the first inning and his left knee ended up swollen like a grapefruit til the last inning of a game his team, the Arizona Scorpions, lost to Cambria from Minneapolis, 15-5.

Price, 75, iced the knee every other inning, but in the last inning, he dove again for a bad throw from his shortstop but was able to keep his left foot on the second base bag for the final out in the top of the seventh inning.

"The second dive hurt more than the first," Price said. "I left the park after the game and the knee was swollen all over again. I play at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning with the Scorpions (1-1) inside Tempe Diablo Stadium. We desperately need a win over the San Diego 73's tomorrow to have a better shot at the playoffs this weekend."

Price was a happy camper after the game today.

"Hey, I made both plays and a few more to boot," Price added. "I love the game of baseball."

Tucson Toros fall to 2-2 with 13-5 loss to Moondogs at MSBL WS

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus 1 Division

The Tucson Toros lost 13-5 to the Lehigh Valley Moondogs today at the Goodyear Stadium and fall to 2-2 in round-robin play at the Men's Senior Baseball league World Series.

John Mathews and Tim Tolson hit safely today, but Ken Nebesny, Joe Opocensky and Mike Dawson struggled at the plate. Opocensky came up with another hamstring pull this afternoon and is doubtful for tomorrow.

The Toros, including the "Big 5" from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, need a win over the Senators Wednesday in Peoria to have a shot at the playoffs. Game time: 1 p.m. at the Seattle Mariners annex field #4.

Good luck, Toros. Go get 'em!

San Diego Heat knocks Tucson Toros from the unbeaten list

 

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus 1 Division

After two lopsided wins, the Tucson Toros lost today to the San Diego Heat 19-9 at the Salt River Complex in Scottsdale and fall to 2-1 in the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

"We took it on the chin," said Mike Dawson, the starting pitcher. "I couldn't get out of the first inning. We were down 8-0 and tried to battle back. We scored nine runs, but they scored 11 more down the stretch."

Dawson, from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers said it wasn't a good day for the players from the TOTS as Big John Mathews and Tim Tolson collected a hit apiece, while Joe Opocensky and Ken Nebesny both went 0 for 3. Dawson did walk twice and scored a run, but had an 0 for 2 day.

The Toros will try to put a "W" on the board tomorrow as they travel to Goodyear to take on the Lehigh Valley Moondogs at 1 p.m.  Goodyear is the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians.

A win over the Moondogs would improve the Toros record to 3-1 and one step closer to a playoff berth.

Go get 'em, Toros!

Photos: John Mathews and Tim Tolson, who had the only two hits for the guys from the Tucson Old Timers.

73-and-over Scorpions sting the Cal Vets, 22-10

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

73-and-over division

The Arizona Scorpions jumped out to a 16-0 lead after three innings of play and then let off the gas pedal, allowing the Cal Vets to score 10 runs in the next three innings, but when the dust had settled the Scorpions won easily 22-10 to grab a first-round win at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series this morning at Fitch Park in Mesa. 

Danny "Pigpen" Price, from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, struggled at the plate with just one hit, one RBI and one run scored.

It's the same old story, just like at home,"  Price said. "I'm lunging at the ball. The two pitchers the Vets used didn't exactly fire the ball to the plate. It was more like watching paint dry."

"I did have a flashback play, back to the old days when I used to slide head first, Price added. "I was the runner at second base, went to third on a hit and dove head first at the plate. I tagged the plate with my left hand. I was safe."

Not! The umpire called  Price out. A stare down followed between the two.

So far nothing good to report from my end. But there's plenty of games left this week -- like five more for sure before we reach the playoffs.

Tomorrow the Scorpions head for Red Mountain Park in Mesa for a showdown at 10 a.m. with Cambria, a team that reached the 73-and-over finals last year.

Wish me luck! I need it. The hamstring is holding up, but the neck pain continues.

Photo: That's me, your favorite reporter. More games and stories to come this week. Stay tuned.

Dodgers edge closer to a World Series Championship

 MLB 2020 World Series

LA manager Dave Roberts made all the right moves, Clayton Kershaw battled his way through 5 2/3 innings and the Dodgers win Game 5 of the World Series with a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay tonight in Arlington.

Max Muncy and Joe Pederson supplied the offensive punch with home runs and Dodgers are now one win away from a World Series title.

The teams take a day off tomorrow and lock horns with the Rays in Game 6 on Tuesday in Arlington. 

Tucson Toros keep on rolling at MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over Cactus 1 Division

They did it again.

The Tucson Toros, who won 13-3 on Day 1 of the MSBL World Series, roll on with a 25-5 thumping today over the Cal Vets at Fitch Park in Mesa.

Once again, it was the "Big 5" from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers leading the way with a combined 10 hits and 10 RBI. John Mathews had the big hit of the day with a booming double to go along with two singles, while Mike Dawson, Joe Opocensky and Tim Tolson collected two hits apiece. Ken Nebesny, the fifth member of the TOTS crew, picked up his third hit in two games. Nebesny is playing in his first ever  MSBL World Series.

Meanwhile, Opocensky was cruising on the mound. Opocensky went the distance and ran into trouble only twice, while setting the Cal Vets down 1-2-3 in four of the seven innings.

The Toros will try to make it three in a row tomorrow morning when they go up against the San Diego Heat in Scottsdale at the Salt River Complex, spring training home of the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Game time: 9:30 a.m.

Way to go, guys!

 

Tampa Bay evens World Series at 2-2 with a walk-off win

 MLB 2020 World Series

The strange play in Game 4

Tampa Bay scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to edge the LA Dodgers 8-7 and even the World Series at two games apiece.

The unlikely hero: Brett Phillips.

Inserted as a pinch runner earlier in the game, Phillips now found himself at bat with two outs, two runners on base and his team down a run. What does he do? He lifts a bloop single to right-center.

Kevin Kiermaier scores from second base and Randy Arozarena flew around the bases and headed home when centerfielder Chris Taylor juggled the ball. Taylor picked up the ball and threw to first baseman, Max Muncy, who then threw home.

The play is not over yet, sports fans!

Arozarena takes a tumble, picks himself up and starts to go back to third, but Muncy's throw was to the right of catcher Will Smith, who took his eye off the ball. The ball trickles away. Arozarena changes direction, picks up some steam and finally dives safely in to home with the winning run.

What a game, what a play and what a series.

Tucson Toros roll in MSBL WS opener

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

 65-and-over Cactus 1 Division

The Tucson Toros took on the Southern Cal Fire in the first round today at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series in Tempe.

As it turns out, it was the Tucson team that was on fire as the Toros exploded for a 13-3 win and an opening round victory in the Cactus 1 Division of the 65-and-over MSBL World Series.

Rudy Duarte, from the Tucson Old Pueblo Club, went the distance, allowing no earned runs and he had plenty of support at the plate, especially from the five players on the team from the Tucson Old Timers.

The five members from the TOTS -- Ken Nebesny, Joe Opocensky, Tim Tolson, Mike Dawson and John Mathews -- combined for nine hits and six RBI to lead the Toros to an easy first-round win. Opocensky collected a single and a triple, Nebesny had two hits, Tolson had two hits, Mathews banged out two hits, while Dawson had one hit, scored twice and stole a base.

The Toros head for Fitch Park in Mesa tomorrow for a 2 p.m. game against the CA Vets. The Cal Vets beat the Lehigh Valley Moondogs, 6-5, today.

Dodgers dominate Game 3 of World Series

 

MLB 2020 World Series

Walker Buehler pitched six innings, struck out 10 and allowed three hits to lead the LA Dodgers to a 6-2 win over Tampa Bay in Game 3 of the World Series last night in Arlington. Justin Turner and Austin Barnes homered as the Dodgers take a 2-1 lead in the World Series.

Randy Arozarena homered in the ninth inning for the Rays.

Tucson Toros come up a little short at MSBL WS

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

Playoff rounds in the 70-and-over Central Division

The Tucson Toros needed one more win to advance to the championship game at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series. The Toros won 1-0 in the first round of the playoffs this morning at Fitch Park in Mesa and took on the Kansas City A's this afternoon in the semi-finals.

Kansas City had picked up a 19-8 win on Wednesday over the Toros in Game 4 of the round-robin, but this time it was a battle to the wire. Unfortunately for the Tucson boys, their chance to reach the title game didn't pan out as they lost to the A's, 7-4.

According to Doc Thompson, who along with Ernesto Escala are the two players on the Toros' roster from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, felt the team played well all day. "In the morning game, we played our best game and we played the entire game without an error," Thompson said.

Both Thompson and Escala batted twice and collected one hit apiece. "We only play seven innings in the playoff rounds," added Thompson. "It's good to get ahead and stay there." As it turned out the only run of the game was unearned. 

Thompson went 2 for 2 against Kansas City and ended 3 for 4 on the day. Escala unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury and will not play with the Paladins from Albuquerque in the 65-and-over division of the senior World Series, which gets underway on Saturday.

Arnold Mares, from the Tucson Old Pueblo Club, went the distance in the morning game and picked up the well earned pitching victory, while Joe Jiminez, also from the Old Pueblo Club, pitched a complete game against Kansas City.

The Toros were down five runs early during the Kansas City game and tried their best to battle back. Bottom Line: The Toros are heading back to Tucson after finishing 4-3 at the World Series. Kansas City moves on and faces the Colorado Cardinals Saturday morning at Fitch Park for the title.

Good showing, guys!

Photo: Ernesto "Doc" Escala pulled a hamstring in the Kansas City game and will not be available to play for the Paladins from Albuquerque in the 65-and-over division of the MSBL World Series, which gets underway today.

MSBL Alert:  Change that! Ernesto "Doc" Escala (photo below) took a few days off and returned to action with the Paladins. Ernesto hurled six playoff innings and went 2 for 4 down the stretch as the Paladin team went all the way to the 65-and-over Cactus 2 championship game before losing to the Benbrook Cubs, 10-3.

Ernesto is the big fella standing in the foreground.

Tucson Toros grab 3rd seed in playoffs at MSBL World Series

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

After five straight days of action at the MSBL World Series in the 70-and-over Central Division, the Tucson Toros will take a 3-2 record and a third seed into Friday's playoffs -- just two wins away from the championship game to be held on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Fitch Park in Mesa.

First up: The Toros take on the 6th-seeded Cal Vet team Friday morning at 10 a.m. The winner advances to a semi-final game at 2 p.m. The two semi-final winners advance to the title game on Saturday.

Way to go, Toros (especially our two TOTS' members Doc Thompson and Ernesto "Doc" Escala).

Rays go to Lowe to even MLB World Series at 1-1

 

MLB 2020 World Series 

The Tampa Bay Rays went to Brandon Lowe to help them even the 2020 MLB World Series at one game apiece. 

Lowe hit two opposite field home runs and Blake Snell started and pitched 4 2/3 innings, while striking out nine and walking four as the Rays held on for a  6-4 win.

The Dodgers, down 5-0 in the fifth inning, chipped away at the lead with home runs from Chris Taylor, Will Smith and Corey Seager.

Tucson Toros fall to Kansas City A's 19-8 at MSBL WS

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

*****See MSBL World Series Alert at the bottom of post for 10/22/2020 at 4 p.m.*****

It turned out be a hot one at the MSBL World Series today.

With the temperature close to the 100-degree mark, the Tucson Toros battled the Kansas City A's this afternoon. By the fourth inning, the Toros and their starting pitcher Doc Thompson were enjoying a 8-3 lead when time was called.

The home plate umpire was escorted off the field after showing signs of a heatstroke. A 30-minute delay ensued as the field director scrambled for a replacement.

The delay seemed to affect the Toros more than the A's. Thompson returned to the mound and the A's started finding the gaps, add to that a few key errors, and suddenly the Kansas City team found themselves down one run. Ernesto Escala relieved Thompson, but the A's kept on rolling.

By the time the dust had settled, Kansas City had walked away with a 19-8 win to move into a tie with the Toros at 2-2 with one round-robin game remaining on Thursday in the 70-and-over Central Division.

The Tucson Toros are scheduled to play their final round-robin game in Goodyear tomorrow at annex field #4 -- the spring training grounds of the Cleveland Indians -- against the Oklahoma Sooners at 2:30 p.m.

Thompson and Escala play year around for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers. The Toros will most likely need a win tomorrow and hope a 3-2 record will get them into the playoffs.

Note: MSBL WS alert: (10/22/2020 at 4 p.m.) The Tucson Toros won by forfeit today over the Oklahoma Sooners and move on to the playoffs on 10/23/2020. The Toros enter the playoffs on Friday with a 3-2 record.

Not a good 24 hours for the 70-and-over San Antonio Texans

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

*****See MSBL WS Update 10/22/2020 6 p.m. at the bottom of this post*****

It's mid afternoon and the "baseball gods" have not been in the corner of the San Antonio Texans the past 24 hours. The Texans -- including the fearsome foursome from the Tucson Old Timers (Bob Daliege, Mike Steele, Bill Mishler and Pete Peters) went to bed last night, pulled up the covers and rested comfortably after collected their first win on Tuesday at the MSBL World Series -- a 16-1 win over the Cal Vets.

Not so fast. The MSBL World Series magazine, fresh off the press this morning, reported a forfeit involving the Texans. Teams in the 70-and-over Central Division are supposed to bat a minimum of 14 players. Bottom line: Only 13 players batted for the Texans during their lopsided win over the Cal Vets.

Who are these "baseball gods" anyway? 

Well, there isn't any. Instead, it is one of many unwritten rules, an invisible text in the sport of baseball that  explains on how the ball bounces in a baseball game for a team, its manager and all the players involved. Baseball is a game of skill with the outcome of the game in the hands of the participants on the field of play. Sometimes, as luck would have it, the final result of a baseball game may leave the players and the fans in the stands looking toward the heavens for an answer to as why one team loses and the other team wins.

Sometimes, it's simply a rule book infraction and the scorebook is brought out to clarify a situation. So, it turns out the Texans lost by a mental error. There are a lot of errors in baseball -- mental and physical. It's just part of the game and the invisible "baseball gods" can Rest In Peace. THEY have nothing to do with the outcome.

As for the Texans, they were hoping for a little intervention today at the Salt River Complex, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Up against the unbeaten Colorado Cardinals -- a team that arrived on the scene this week with everything in their bat bags but snow, but enough lumber and a few Paul Bunyan types to walk away with a 19-0 thrashing of the Texans.

On a side note, Pistol Pete Peters (photo below), despite his back injury, made sure his team followed the rules today. It was a gutsy move as Peters, the 14th batter in the game for the Texans, swung at a couple of pitches and lined out to shortstop.

"At least I didn't have to run," Peters said, after the game.

So, there you have it, a lopsided shutout win for the Paul Bunyan fellas as they move to a commanding 4-0 record, while the San Antonio Texans slip to 0-4 with little help from the baseball gods.

Oh, that's right. There isn't such a thing.

The Texans close out their round-robin at the MSBL World Series with a game against the Mudville 9 at Red Mountain Park Thursday at 2 p.m.

Mudville 9! Sounds heavenly.

Photo: Pete Peters, despite his bag spasms, gets a plate appearance at 2020 MSBL World Series today.

Note: MSBL World Series Update (10/22/2020) 6 p.m. -- The San Antonio Texans will head home this evening after ended up in a 6-6 tie with the Mudville 9. The Texans finish the round-robin and fail to qualify for the playoff. Good try Texans. As for Bob Daliege, Bill Mishler, Pete Peters and Mike Steele, way to battle this week. See you back at Udall Park with the TOTS.

Dodgers roll in Game 1 of MLB World Series

 MLB World Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers rolled to a 8-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series in Arlington, Texas tonight as the usual suspects, Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts, hit home runs, while Clayton Kershaw cruised through six innings of work, allowing two hits and one run. Kershaw threw just 78 pitches.

Tampa Bay's ace Tyler Glasnow was chased in the fifth inning. 

Game 2 tomorrow night in Arlington. Game time: 5:08 p.m.

 

Texans roll 16-1 over Cal Vets at MSBL WS

 

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

The San Antonio Texans improved to 1-2 at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series in Peoria today with a 16-1 win over the Cal Vets in a third-round game of the 70-and-over Central Division.

Some good news and some bad news.

First the bad news. Pete Peters, one of four players on the Texans' roster from the Tucson Old Timers, is out of action for the remainder of the tournament. Peters had hoped to play tomorrow, but his lower back issues will keep him off the playing field. He may be able to do a little coaching at third or first base.

The good news: The TOTS' trio -- Bill Mishler, Bob Daliege and Mike Steele all hit safely today. Mishler went 1 for 2, walked twice and knocked in a run. Daliege went 1 for 3, while Steele picked up his first hit ever at the MSBL World Series. Steele went 1 for 3 and was hit by a pitch.

Way to go, guys!

Next up for the Texans and the boys from Tucson is a tough one tomorrow at the Salt River Complex in Scottsdale, spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies. The Texans tangle with the unbeaten and 3-0 Colorado Cardinals at 9:30 a.m. The Cardinals have out scored three  opponents, 63-5.

Daliege will toe the rubber in this one!

Go get 'em, Bobby! 

Photos: Mike Steele, who has handled the catching duties this week, is playing in his first MSBL World Series and he picked up his first hit today.

A score posting error causes Tucson Toros some grief

 

Men's Senior baseball League World Series

Sometimes things can get a little confusing at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

There are times when a score is called into the main office and the person answering the phone gets the score wrong and, in turn, sets off a little bit of trauma.

It happened today as the score posted was a 17-4 loss for the Tucson Toros. In reality, they actually won a slugfest by a score of 21-17 over the San Antonio Broncos.

What a game!

Doc Thompson, Ernesto "Doc" Escala, both players from the Tucson Old Timers, and Joe Jimenez, from the Tucson Old Pueblo Club, all took their turn on the mound. There were a lot of hits and a lot of errors in this one.

When the dust had settled, both teams headed into the last inning all square at 15-15. The Toros proceeded to hit into a double play and guess what happens next? The Toros score six runs and take a 21-15 lead. The Broncos score two in the bottom of the inning.

And that was the ball game. Three hours long and five complete innings.

You gotta love senior baseball!

According to Doc Thompson, the "game ball" should go to Ernesto "Doc" Escala. "Ernie pitched the best I've seen him pitch," Thompson added. "He really hung in there and he got the win."

Thompson and Escala had one hit apiece and both players walked once.

The Tucson Toros improve to 2-1 at the MSBL World Series. The Toros play Wednesday at the Salt River Complex in Scottsdale at 1:30 p.m. against the Kansas City A's.

I feel it in my bones

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

From the desk of Pigpen Price

Two months ago, I was bailing.

I called my manager, who lives in South Carolina, and told him, "Don't count on me for the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series this year." In one five-minute phone call I canceled out on what was to be my 13th year at the MSBL World Series, a prestigious amateur baseball event which is held through out the Phoenix area (at all the spring training sites of Major League Baseball, mind you) during the month of October.

I hung up the phone. Already depressed over the coronavirus thing, I had now added to my anxiety and headed down the black hole, so to speak.

I dozen of my teammates on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) were still going, all of them scheduled to play either in the 65-and-over or 70-and-over divisions.

I, at the age of 75, play for the 73-and-over Arizona Scorpions, in the oldest of the divisions at the MSBL World Series.

Well,  you guessed it. A month ago, I called my manager back and said. "Put me in, coach!"

And now I'm days away from heading for Phoenix for the 33rd Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

I'm now pumped, much like the words from a rock song a long time ago: "I feel it in my bones."

Honestly, it's the greatest feeling for a diehard amateur baseball player. All my teammates can attest to that. Once you get your feet wet at one MSBL World Series, well it leads to another...and another...and another.

Make no mistake about it, your participation in the MSBL World Series comes with plenty of cuts and bruises...maybe even a broken bone or two.You name it, it has happened to me more than once. A foot operation, a hand operation, neck pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, eye surgery...even a heart attack, although I can't blame the MSBL World Series on that one (my heart surgery was back in January 2008, four months before I joined the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers). By the way, joining the TOTS was one of the best decisions of my life.

Last year at the MSBL World Series, I played two weeks and a total of 13 games. The first week, I played for the 70-and-over San Antonio Texans and we made it all the way to the finals. The second week, I played for the Arizona Scorpions and we managed just one victory.

The journey home after 13 games was a painful one. I sat on ice packs all the way home and had to clean off spots of blood off the seats of my Ford Mustang. 

This year, I'm playing just one week. That could end up eight to nine games in seven days, or five games, if the Scorpions fail to make the playoffs.

For me, baseball is the one constant in my life. Sunday I'll pack up the old Mustang and head for Phoenix for yet another Men's Senior Baseball League World Series. 

Oklahoma knocks of Texans in second-round game at MSBL World Series, 14-4

 

Men's Senior baseball League World Series

The San Antonio Texans couldn't get the bats going today in the second round of the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series. In Peoria, the Texans tangled with the Oklahoma Sooners and dropped their second game of the senior World Series by a score of 14-4.

Bob Daliege and Mike Steele went 0 for 2, while Bill Mishler grabbed the only hit today for the TOTS' trio. Pete Peters is still sidelined with a back injury, but hopes to catch for his buddy, Daliege,  on Wednesday against Colorado, a team that has outscored both of its opponents, 40-0, and sits atop the 70-and-over Central Division standings with a 2-0 record.

It's back to Peoria tomorrow for the Texans as they play a 2 p.m. game against a winless Cal Vet team -- a team that's given ups 46 runs in two games.

Good luck, guys. Go get 'em!

Tucson Toros run into a buzzsaw in 2nd-round game at MSBL World Series

 

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

The Tucson Toros, who edged the San Antonio Texans 4-3 on Sunday, ran into a buzzsaw today at the Goodyear Stadium when they took on the Colorado Cardinals in the second-round of the MSBL World Series.

Final score: Colorado  17  Tucson  0

Delon "Doc" Thompson played first base today and went 0 for 2, while Ernesto Escala picked up one hit in three plate appearances. 

Next up for the Toros: the San Antonio Broncos on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in Peoria.

Thompson, Tucson Toros edge the Texans, 4-3, at MSBL WS

 The 33rd Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

DeLon "Doc" Thompson started and hurled the first five innings to pick up the win and Arnold Mares pitched the last four innings as the Tucson Toros nipped the San Antonio Texans 4-3 today at the Tempe Diablo annex field #6 in a first-round game of the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

Thompson, who plays year around for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS), went up against the Texans, who have four of the TOTS players on their roster -- Bob Daliege, Bill Mishler, Mike Steele and Pete Peters.

Daliege went 1 for 3 today and scored a run, while Mishler went 0 for 2 and Steele walked once in three plate appearances. Peters is nursing a sore back and did not play today.

"I hurt my back last Friday in a TOTS' game," Peters said. "It's just one of those things. I hope to play later in the week."

As for Thompson, it was his day from the get go. "I felt good out there," Thompson said. "I could have gone another inning, but we decided to play it safe." Mares, a member of the Tucson Old Pueblo Cub, pitched well, allowing just two runs in his four innings of work. Thompson allowed just one unearned run in five innings and left the game with a 4-1 lead.

Ernesto Escala, another member of the TOTS, played for the Toros today and collected one hit and scored a run.

The Texans play Oklahoma tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Peoria, while the Toros play the Colorado Cardinals in Goodyear at 9 a.m.  Both games are Stadium games. Peoria is the spring training home of the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners, while Goodyear is the spring training home of the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds.

Way to go, guys! Good luck tomorrow.

Photos: Doc Thompson (top) and the 3 Amigos -- Mike Steele, Bill Mishler and Bob Daliege.

Dodgers advance to MLB World Series

 National League Championship Series

The LA Dodgers did it the hard way.

The Dodgers, down 3-1 in the NLCS, win three in a row --including a 4-3 thriller over the Atlanta Braves in Game 7 in Arlington tonight to punch their ticket to the 2020 MLB World Series and a showdown with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Cody Bellinger broke a 3-3 tie with a homer in the seventh inning and Julio Urias shutdown the Braves in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings and the Dodgers, with the best regular-season record in the majors this season, take on the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday.

The Rays own the second best regular-season record this summer. So, it's only fitting the two teams should collide for all the marbles.

Congrats to the Dodgers and the Rays. 

Tampa Bay Rays advance to MLB World Series

 American League Championship Series

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Houston Astros 4-2 tonight in San Diego to win Game 7 of the ALCS and advance to the 2020 World Series. The Rays will take on either the  LA Dodgers or Atlanta Braves in Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Glove Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The Dodgers and Braves play Game 7 of the NLCS tomorrow in Arlington after the Dodgers tied the series at 3-3 with a 3-1 win today, thanks to a home run from Corey Seager and six scoreless innings from Walker Buehler.

In San Diego, the Rays were all smiles as Charlie Morton shutdown the Astros for 5 2/3 innings tonight, while Tampa Bay's Randy Arozarena hit a two-run shot, his seventh postseason home run, and Mike Zunino also homered.

TOTS to shutdown for 2 weeks

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Hats off to the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS).

The amateur baseball club, in the midst of its 53rd season, has played on through the hot summer, not to mention battling the affects of the coronavirus, which has caused havoc with the organization's regular schedule the past seven months.

The TOTS have remained steady, but will take a well-deserved break the rest of October as 13 members of the club will travel to Phoenix the next two weeks to participate in the 33rd Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

Today at Udall, the TOTS played their final game of the month as Team White's Reed Palmer pitched a complete game to lead his team to a 11-4 win over Team Blue. Palmer received a lot of help from his teammates -- especially his four infielders: third-sacker Joe Opocensky, shortstop Mike Dawson, second baseman Pigpen Price and first baseman Bill Mishler. Palmer coaxed the Team Blue batters into hitting ground balls through out the game -- especially to Dawson, at short, who recorded eight assists to go along with three putouts.

Team White's four infielders will be heading for the MSBL World Series, along with Mike Steele, who caught Palmer for seven innings today. The first six batters in Team Blue's lineup -- Ken Nebesny, Pete Peters, Doc Thompson, Tim Tolson, John Mathews and Bob Daliege -- combined for six hits today and drove in three of their team's four runs.

Thompson, who played left field today, gets the pitching nod for the Tucson Toros on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Tempe Diablo's annex field #6 in the first round-robin game in the 70-and-over Central Division.   The hard-throwing right-hander will go up against the San Antonio Texans, which just happens to have four TOTS' players on their roster -- Mishler, Peters, Steele and Daliege.

The Toros are made up mostly of players from the 60-and-over Old Pueblo Club, which plays at Tucson Santa Rita Park year around. Along with the five players, a sixth player, Ernesto Escala, who also plays regularly for the TOTS, is on the Tucson Toros roster.

Good luck to all!

Note: In Week 2 of the MSBL World Series, the rest of the TOTS' regulars will see action with Dawson, Mathews, Opocensky, Tim Tolson and Ken Nebesny joining the 65-and-over Tucson Toros, while Pigpen Price will play in the 73-and-over division with the Arizona Scorpions.

All the TOTS will be back at Udall Park on Monday -- November 2 -- as the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers return to action and do what they do best: Play Ball!

Remembering Morgan, Ford, Gibson

 Baseball greats lost this month -- October/2020

Joe Morgan -- passed away October 11 at the age of 77

Whitey Ford -- passed away October 8 at the age of 91

Bob Gibson -- passed away October 2 at the age of 84

We also lost the great Al Kaline in April, pitching star Tom Seaver in August and the remarkable Lou Brock in September. All in all, six of baseball's best.

Steele steals the show in TOTS win

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball 

Catcher Mike Steele (photo above) went 3 for 4 and knocked in three runs to lead Team White to a 11-2 win at Udall Park today over Team Blue in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Mike Dawson started on the mound for Team White and pitched all six innings to earn the win.  Ernesto Escala pitched the first four innings for Team Blue and was saddled with the loss.

Photo above:

Today's diehards. 

MLB down to Final Four

 

Major League Baseball Postseason

After a wild Wild Card round involving 16 teams, followed by a bunch of nail-biting, action-packed division series, we have our Final Four for the shortened 2020 MLB season.

The Atlanta Braves and the LA Dodgers will play next week in the National League Championship Series, while the Houston Astros will tangle with the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series.

The final piece of the puzzle was set in place just moments ago as the Rays beat the New Yankees 2-1 in the fifth game of the ALDS in San Diego. And what a game it was as Mike Brosseau drilled an Aroldis Chapman fastball over the left field fence in the 8th inning to break the 1-1 tie and send the Yankees packing.

Next up: Game 1 of the ALCS on Sunday in San Diego, while Game 1 of the NLCS gets underway on Monday in Arlington, Texas.

Seven games will be played in seven days to determine which two teams advance to the 2020 World Series, set for October, 20-28.

70-and-over MSBL, 65-and-over and 73-and-over World Series schedules involving 13 players from Tucson Old Timers

 70-and over: Players -- Bob Daliege, Pete Peters, Mike Steele and Bill Mishler (San Antonio Texans). 

#	Division	Away	Home	Date	Time	Result	Boxscore
	Central	Tucson Toros	Texans	Sun, Oct 18	1:30 PM	Tempe #6
	Central	Texans	OK Sooners	Mon, Oct 19	1:00 PM	Peoria Stadium
	Central	Texans	Cal Vets	Tue, Oct 20	2:00 PM	Peoria P5
	Central	CO Cardinals	Texans	Wed, Oct 21	9:30 AM	Salt River D3
	Central	Texans	Mudville 9	Thu, Oct 22	2:00 PM	Red Mountain #2

70-and-over: Players --Doc Thompson and Ernesto Escala (Tucson Toros).

#	Division	Away	Home	Date	Time	Result	Boxscore
	Central	Tucson Toros	Texans	Sun, Oct 18	1:30 PM	Tempe #6
	Central	CO Cardinals	Tucson Toros	Mon, Oct 19	9:00 AM	Goodyear Stad
	Central	Tucson Toros	SA Broncos	Tue, Oct 20	10:00 AM	Peoria P6
	Central	KC A's	Tucson Toros	Wed, Oct 21	1:30 PM	Salt River D3
	Central	Tucson Toros	OK Sooners	Thu, Oct 22	2:30 PM	GDYR Indians #4

65-and-over: Players -- Tim Tolson, Joe Opocensky, Mike Dawson, John Mathews, Ken Nebesny and Danny Boxberger (Tucson). 

#	Division	Away	Home	Date	Time	Result	Boxscore
	Cactus 1	SC Fire	Tucson	Sat, Oct 24	12:30 PM	Tempe #2
	Cactus 1	Tucson	CA Vets	Sun, Oct 25	2:00 PM	Fitch Park SE#1
	Cactus 1	SD Heat	Tucson	Mon, Oct 26	9:30 AM	Salt River D6
	Cactus 1	LV Moondogs	Tucson	Tue, Oct 27	1:00 PM	Goodyear Stad
	Cactus 1	Tucson	Senators	Wed, Oct 28	1:00 PM	Peoria M4

                      73-and-over: Danny "Pigpen" Price (AZ Scorpions).                       

Division	Away	Home	Date	Time	Result	Boxscore
	73+	AZ Scorpions	Cal Vets	Mon, Oct 26	9:30 AM	Fitch Park SE#1
	73+	Cambria	AZ Scorpions	Tue, Oct 27	10:00 AM	Red Mountain #1
	73+	SD 73's	AZ Scorpions	Wed, Oct 28	9:00 AM	Tempe Diablo
	73+	AZ Scorpions	Mudville 9	Thu, Oct 29	8:30 AM	Peoria M5
	73+	SD Padres	AZ Scorpions	Thu, Oct 29	1:00 PM	Peoria M5
	73+	AZ Scorpions	SA Broncos	Fri, Oct 30	9:30 AM	Salt River D5

***Playoff games and championship games to follow each week after all round-robin games are played. Bookemdanosports will post results of all games and individual stats, if available.

To all the TOTS players participating: Go get 'em, have fun and don't screw up!

Remembering Bob Gibson

 Remembering Bob Gibson

I was 23 years old when Bob Gibson took the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals in the first game of the 1968 World Series against the Detroit Tigers.

A game Gibson dominated. The Hall of Fame pitcher struck out 17 batters -- including the great Al Kaline three times.

The game was played on October 2, 1968.

Gibson passed away at the age of 84 on October 2, 2020.

The starting lineups on that glorious day in 1968.

Detroit -- Dick McAuliffe, Mickey Stanley, Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Willie Horton, Jim Northrup, Bill Freehan, Don Wert and Denny McLain. St. Louis -- Lou Brock, Curt Flood, Roger Maris, Orlando Cepeda, Tim McCarver, Mike Shannon, Julian Javier, Dal Maxvill and Gibson.

Now. There's some big names.

Photo: The great Bob Gibson.

An October like no other

 An October like no other.

What will the next thirty-one days be like? Can we really plan ahead?

As an Arizona Wildcat fan and a diehard baseball fan, I have looked forward to every October. What is there not to like? Arizona football...NFL games...MLB playoffs...followed by the World Series. Cooler days...beautiful sunsets. You name it. One of the best months of the year.

Maybe not this time around. Nine months into 2020 and our eyes are anything but. We can't say for sure if the road ahead is clear or more danger awaits. Over 210,000 lives are lost due to the coronavirus. Even our president finds himself in Walter Reed Hospital after testing positive for the deadly disease.

Baseball remains the only constant. Somehow, the MLB finished a short regular season where 30 teams played 60 games, followed by 16 exciting Wild Card games, leaving us with eight teams left to battle it out for a World Series berth.

In three weeks, I head for Phoenix to play in my 13th Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL) World Series. Even the MSBL World Series has taken a hit. Normally, 330 teams are on hand for the prestigious event. This time around 200 teams will participate in the 33rd running of the annual event. Face masks will be worn in and around the dugouts as we play our games at all the major league spring training grounds through out the city.

We will play inside empty stadiums and hover in our hotel rooms at night, much like the major league teams have done the past five weeks. But we will play on.

College football has yet to start out West. Will there be games this month or not? Will college basketball follow or not?

Our world is topsy, turvy.

The month will end with Halloween. The Ghosts and Goblins may stay home and remain six feet apart.

Note: Up next the Division Series gets underway next week. The eight major league teams: Tampa Bay vs. New York Yankees; Houston vs. Oakland; LA Dodgers vs. San Diego and Miami vs. Atlanta.

Good luck to all eight teams.

Vermeer gets first TOTS' pitching victory in October

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Brad Vermeer, 69, is getting into this pitching thing.

Vermeer is not a flame thrower for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers. He doesn't pretend to be. In fact, the TOTS' big gun on the mound is Reed Palmer, who can throw close to 70 miles an hour.

Instead, Vermeer probably couldn't break a radar gun, if he physically hit one. Luckily, the TOTS don't have one around, and honestly, the TOTS have nine pitchers who take the mound regularly and it is anybody's guess as to how fast they actually throw.

Vermeer, a TOT since 2017, is just figuring out this "mound duty" stuff and he made two starts in September. He won them both. 

Today, Vermeer won again, his third victory in his last three starts. This time, he pitched another seven strong innings to lead Team Blue to a 6-5 win over Team White. 

Vermeer had some help from his friends as Ron Ryan chipped in two hits in four trips to the plate and knocked in a run, while Palmer went 2 for 2, scored three runs and walked twice. Brack Whitaker was the big RBI-man with three runs batted in. Thunder Tim Tolson led Team White with a 2 for 4 day, while driving in two of his team's five runs.

The TOTS are off and running in October. The TOTS next game is on Monday at Udall Park. Game time: 9 a.m.

Photo: Vermeer

TOTS play 12 games in September

 

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers are rolling along despite the coronavirus and a record-setting heat wave.

The TOTS played 12 games during the month of September -- the most games played in one month in 2020. All in all, 28 players found their way to the plate. For the month, the TOTS totaled 592 plate appearances, 643 if you include the 45 walks, two sacrifices and four batters were hit by a pitch.

It's by far the best game in town in 2020.

Due to the coronavirus, the TOTS, who are in the midst of their 53rd season, accumulated 233 hits during the month of September, while scoring 117 runs and knocking in a total of 115 runs.

Leading the way, were the usual suspects -- Tim Tolson, John Mathews, Mike Dawson, Reed Palmer and Doc Thompson. Tolson collected the most hits for the month with 32 and finished with a .696 batting average (32 for 46). Mathews was on fire at the plate as well with 24 hits in 37 trips to the plate, a .649 average. Dawson went 22 for 38 (.579), Palmer went 17 for 35 (.486) and Thompson finished the month 20 for 41 (.488).

And it didn't stop there.

Also performing well at the plate in September were Pete Peters, Bill Mishler, Ron Ryan and Joe Opocensky. Peters banged out 19 hits in 36 at bats (.528), Mishler went 17 for 35 (.486), Ryan went 17 for 39 (.436) and Opocensky collected 16 hits in 31 at bats for a .516 average.

In the all important RBI category, the top gun was Thompson with 17 and Palmer was one behind at 16. Palmer hit two home runs during the month and has 10 homers for the season. 

Dawson was the"King of the Hill" for September with four victories and just one loss. Opocensky struck out the most batters with 13 and Bob Daliege was second with 10 K's. Nine pitchers hurled a total of 153 innings. 

Way to go, TOTS. Just three months left in the 2020 season.