TOTS combine for 41 hits in a windy day at Udall

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers had the wind at their backs when they stepped to the plate this morning at Udall Park. The result: 41 hits, including nine doubles.

Team Blue picked up the 19-7 win over Team White as right-hander Pete Maldonado outlasted Team White's starter Joe Opocensky. With the wind pounding toward left-center, most of the doubles rolled to the fence, while a few balls found the gap in right center field as well.

Team Blue collected 25 of the 41 hits with Pete Peters, Bobby Long, Mike Dawson and David Byars improving on their April batting averages as all four players went 4 for 5. Byars and Brad Vermeer combined for eight RBI. All nine players in Team White's lineup hit safely. Jesse Ochoa collected three hits, Dick Ducklow and Vermeer added to the onslaught with two hits apiece while Bill Mishler and Maldonado added a hit apiece.

Team White collected 16 hits and all nine players in their starting lineup hit safely as well. John Mathews led the way with a 3 for 4 day. while Brack Whitaker, Pigpen Price, Rick Bitzer, Mike Steele and Opocensky collected two hits apiece. Bob Daliege, Danny Boxberger and Ted Davis also singled. Boxberger and Daliege knocked in four of the seven runs.

It's been a windy March and April. Next month, the TOTS have 12 games scheduled and chances are the winds will subside and the players will be praying for a breeze as the mid-90s and the first days of 100-plus in 2021 will pay a visit.

Way to swing the bats, TOTS!

Daliege tosses 5-hitter in 9-2 TOTS win

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Bob Daliege, 72, allowed just five hits and went 3 for 4, knocked in a run and scored a run to lead Team Blue to a 9-2 win over Team White at Udall Park today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Rookie David Hurley, the latest addition to the TOTS' roster, went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs in support of Daliege and Team Blue, while Team White could muster up a single run in the first and another in the second as Team Blue dominated from start to finish.

The TOTS close out the week with a game at Udall on Friday at 9 a.m.

Wildcats sweep USC at Hi Corbett Field

 Arizona Wildcats Baseball

The Arizona Wildcats won all three games this past weekend at Hi Corbett Field over the USC Trojans and improve to 12-6 in Pac-12 Conference play and 27-11 overall. The Wildcats won 8-5 on Friday, 10-6 on Saturday and made it a three-game sweep with a 8-4 win on Sunday.

Brandon Boissiere (.397), Jacob Berry (.396), Ryan Holgate (.355) and Kobe Kato (.378) lead the the Wildcats in hitting. After 38 games, Boissiere has the most hits with 60, Holgate and Berry are tied for second with 55 hits, while Kato has 51 hits. Berry leads in home runs with 11 and RBI with 44.

Misiaszek knocks in five runs in 11-3 TOTS win

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

John Misiaszek, 72, went 3 for 3 and drove in five runs to lead Team White to a 11-3 win over Team Blue today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game. All nine players in Team White's lineup hit safely and combined for 14 hits, while left-hander Dennis Crowley went the distance on the mound to pick up the pitching victory.

Team White's Reed Palmer had two hits and drove in three runs, Pigpen Price had a two-hit day and Crowley helped his own cause with two hits, scored four times and walked twice. 

Bobby Long led Team Blue with three hits in four trips to the plate, while Mike Dawson, Ray Garcia and David Byars collected two hits apiece.

The TOTS return to action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.

Photo: Misiaszek

Palmer slams 4th homer

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

 

Reed Palmer slammed his fourth home run of the season and pitched seven strong innings on Wednesday at Udall Park to lift Team Blue to a 13-6 win over Team White in the first uniform dress out birthday game in over 18 months.

The Coronavirus has played havoc with the TOTS' normal schedule, which includes quarterly birthday games, award luncheons and holiday get-togethers.

On Wednesday, Team Blue collected 24 hits -- including a 3 for 5 day for Palmer, a 2 for 5, four RBI day for John Mathews and a 4 for 5 day with three runs scored for Ken Nebesny.

Team White collected just 12 hits with Mike Dawson leading the way with three hits in four trips to the plate.

After the game, the players and their fans moved to the ramada for the first time in a year and a half to enjoy pizza, sodas, beer and a birthday cake in honor of all the players with birthdays during the first quarter of 2021.

The TOTS are officially kicking the Coronavirus to the curb and hope to return to a normal schedule with a 12-game schedule for the month of May.

Photos: 1. New team photo, from L to R front row: Ken Nebesny, Danny Price, Ron Ryan, Pete Maldonado, John Misiaszek, Jerry Hamelin, Mike Dawson, Rick Bitzer, Bill Mishler, Mike Steele, Dick Ducklow and Danny Boxberger; from L to R, back row: Bobby Long, Jesse Ochoa, David Byars, Miguel Urtaza, Ray Garcia, David Hurley, John Mathews, Rob Morse, Reed Palmer, Tim Tolson, Brack Whitaker, Mal Zwolinski, Ted Davis and Denny Leonard. 2. Palmer, today's winning pitcher. 3. Mike Steele and family. 4. Ray Garcia, enjoying the after-game celebration.

Have a day, Jesse!

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Jesse Ochoa, 69, went 4 for 4, scored four times and knocked in two runs to lead Team White to a 13-7 win over Team Blue on Monday at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Ochoa spearheaded Team White's 22-hit attack as Ken Nebesny, David Byars and newcomer  David Hurley collected three hits apiece. Team White took a 8-7 lead into the bottom of the sixth and scored five more runs to win going away.

Ray Garcia went 3 for 4 for Team Blue and drove in two runs. Brad Vermeer picked up the pitching victory, while Bob Daliege tossed two innings of shutout ball in relief. 

The TOTS will be back in action on Wednesday at Udall with their dress out, birthday game. First pitch: 9 a.m.

Photo: Ochoa

Berry continues to lead Wildcats

 Arizona Wildcats Baseball

Jacob Berry continues to lead the Arizona Wildcats (23-11, 9-6) in all major batting categories.

Berry is batting at a .400 clip with 50 hits in 125 at bats. He leads the club in home runs with eight and is tied with Ryan Holgate for the RBI lead at 38.

Arizona is fresh off a fourth straight Pac-12 Conference series win at Washington State over the weekend. The Wildcats lost the opener 21-2, but won the next two games, 13-8 and 14-8.

Next up: New Mexico State at Hi Corbett Field on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Update: Wildcats beat New Mexico State 11-4 and improve to 24-11.

Another close one at Udall

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Reed Palmer went 4 for 4 and drove in five runs, while lead-off hitter Brack Whitaker banged out three hits and scored three times as Team White edged Team Blue 6-5 today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

It was another walk-off win. With the game deadlocked at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Carl Schwanbeck singled to center, moved to second on a walk to Mike Dawson and scored the winning run on a single to right by Palmer, his fourth hit of the game.

Dawson pitched all seven innings for Team White and picked up the win, while Team Blue's Joe Opocensky went the distance as well and absorbed the loss.

Ken Nebesny and Bobby Long collected three hits apiece for Team Blue, while Ernesto Escala went 2 for 4 and knocked in two of his team's five runs.

The TOTS return to action on Monday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.

Right-hander Maldonado celebrates 69th birthday with a win

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

TOTS right-hander Pete Maldonado celebrated his 69th birthday with a pitching victory yesterday morning at Udall Park.

Maldonado had plenty of help from his teammates in this one. Rick Bitzer, Jimmy Kinion and Brack Whitaker collected three hits apiece as Team Blue edged Team White 7-6 in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Still, it was a battle to the wire. With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and runners on first and second, Team White's Ken Nebesny hit a shot to shortstop Mike Dawson, who gloved the ball and threw to Pigpen Price at third for the force out. Price turned and tossed the ball to Bitzer at second just in time to double up  the base runner Reed Palmer for a game-ending 6-5-4 double play.

David Byars knocked in three of the seven runs for Team Blue, while three players for Team White -- Ray Garcia, John Mathews and Dick Ducklow -- went 3 for 4.  Ducklow drove in three of Team White's six runs.

The TOTS return to action on Friday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.

Photo: Birthday Boy -- Pete Maldonado

Arizona travels to Grand Canyon for a single-game on Tuesday

 Arizona Wildcats Baseball

The Arizona Wildcats (21-9 overall, 7-5 Pac-12 Conference) travel to Phoenix Tuesday for a single-game with Grand Canyon University. The Wildcats with another Pac-12 Conference series' win under their belt over the weekend -- a 5-1 win over the California Bears at Hi Corbett Field last Friday, a 4-3 win on Saturday and a 9-1 loss yesterday -- take a break and tangle with the Antelopes (17-14-1).

The top three hitters for the Wildcats, after 30 games:

1. Jacob Berry* ( 44 for 106, a .415 batting average)

2. Branden Boissiere (45 for 118, a .381 average)

3. Ryan Holgate (44 for 124, a .355 average)

*the team leader in home runs (6), RBI (35), TB 75 and slugging percentage .708

Update: Wildcats lose 5-4 in 10 innings. Fall to 21-10.

"Big O" allows 5 hits in TOTS' win

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Joe "Big O" Opocensky allowed five hits and one run to lead Team White to a  5-1 win over Team Blue  today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game. The hard-throwing right-hander helped his own cause, too. Opocensky knocked in two of the five runs with a solid single to right field, while lead-off hitter Dennis Crowley collected two hits in three trips to the plate. Bobby Long singled, walked and knocked in two runs.

Team Blue's  David Byars picked up two of his team's five hits and knocked in the only run. Brad Vermeer pitched six innings and was saddled with the loss.

The TOTS return to action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 10 a.m.

Aces win! Aces win!

 

Tucson Aces

60-and-over baseball

Randy Livingston went 4 for 4 and drove in three runs, while Ken Nebesny and Mike Dawson combined for five hits in eight trips to the plate to lead the Tucson Aces to a 6-3 win over the Old Pueblo Club in a 60-and-over old timers game this morning at Udall Park.

Ernesto Escala started on the mound for the Aces and Dawson came on in relief in the fourth inning as the Aces led from start to finish. The Aces played without the services of their star hitters Reed Palmer and Tim Tolson, who were out with injuries.

According to Dawson, the Aces were superb on defense.

"We had John Mathews at first base, Joe Opocensky at second, Ray Garcia at third and Livingston at short," Dawson said. "They all played well."

Way to go, Aces!

Arizona Routs ASU 14-2 in non-conference game at Hi Corbett

 Arizona Wildcats Baseball

They call it a non-conference game.

But when ASU and Arizona collide there's a lot more to it.

Fresh off a series win in Phoenix, two games to three last weekend, Arizona hosted the Sun Devils in a one game matchup last night at Hi Corbett and rolled over their northern rival 14-2 behind a 13-hit attack and some awesome pitching out of the bullpen.

Arizona improved to 19-8 on the season. The Wildcats are 5-4 in Pac-12 play and remember: last night's win doesn't count. Branden Boissiere. Jacob Blas and Jacob Berry knocked in two runs apiece, but it was Nik McClaughry stealing the show with a couple of key hits and four RBI.

Another close one at Udall

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Bill Mishler and Reed Palmer both went 3 for 4, while John Mathews added a couple of key hits and two RBI to lead Team Blue to a 7-6 win over Team White in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game Monday at Udall Park.

Team Blue put together a 13-hit attack, while right-hander Brad Vermeer pitched all seven innings to pick up the win. Vermeer allowed 12 hits, allowing a 5-run first inning but settled down and gave up just one run the rest of the way. Lefty Dennis Crowley was saddled with the loss.

David Byars had a couple hits for Team White, while driving in two runs, and Ken Nebesny continued to rack up more hits this season with a 3 for 4 performance at the plate.

The TOTS return to action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.

Photo: Mishler, who went 3 for 4 today and scored three runs for Team Blue.

Baylor Bears shock Gonzaga 86-70 to win NCAA title

 NCAA Basketball Championship

Baylor won the NCAA Men's Basketball title tonight in Indianapolis with a shocking 86-70 win over Gonzaga.

Jared Butler led the Bears with 22 points and seven assists.

Wildcats take 2 of 3 from Sun Devils

 Arizona Wildcats Baseball

Arizona takes 2 of 3 from Arizona State this weekend in Phoenix and improve to 18-8 overall and 5-4 in the Pac-12 Conference. The Wildcats won 10-5 on Friday, 7-6 on Saturday and lost to the Sun Devils 3-2 today.

Donta Williams, Ryan Holgate and Tanner O'Tremba homered during the three-games series for the Wildcats.

After 26 games, Jacob Berry and Brandon Boissiere continue to lead the Wildcats in batting. Berry is 39 for 90 (.433) and Boissiere is 39 for 104 (.375). Berry leads the team in home runs (6), RBI (33) and total bases (70).

Stanford edges Arizona 54-53 for NCAA title

 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship

Both teams came from the same Pac-12 Conference.

Both teams battled to the buzzer, but Arizona's final shot of the game by its star guard Aari McDonald bounced off the rim and Stanford escaped with a 54-53 win tonight at the Alamodome in San Antonio to capture NCAA Women's Basketball Championship.

McDonald scored a game-high 22 points and Shaina Pennington tossed in 15 points to lead the Wildcats.

Way to go Wildcats and congrats to the Stanford Cardinal.

Zags one win away from a "Perfect Season"

 NCAA Basketball Championships

Jalen Suggs took a couple of steps inside the half court line and unleashed a high-arching shot off the glass. The horn had already gone off as the ball fell through the netting -- giving the unbeaten No. 1 seeded Gonzaga Zags a 93-90 overtime win over the 11th seeded UCLA Bruins yesterday in Indianapolis.

The Zags improved to 31-0 and await Baylor tomorrow night in the title game of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.

As for the women's championship, well it's just a few hours away as our Arizona Wildcats, seeded as a No. 3 seed in the tournament, take on the top-seeded Stanford Cardinal in San Antonio at the Alamodome.

Tonight -- Women's NCAA Final at 3 p.m. (Tucson time)

Arizona and Stanford

Monday night -- Men's NCAA Final

Gonzaga and Baylor

First up our Wildcats! Go, Wildcats!

Nebesny led the TOTS in hits, batting average, runs-scored in March

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Ken Nebesny was on fire at the plate during the month of March with 32 hits in 44 at bats, a blazing .727 batting average. The hard-hitting right-hander was penciled in in the lead-off spot and scored the most runs (15) and played in all nine games as he led the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers in all major batting categories, except in RBI.

The top gun in RBI went to Ray Garcia with 21, eight more than Mike Dawson, who finished second with 13 RBI. Reed Palmer hit one homer during the month and has three home runs on the year. All in all, 31 players collected at bats during the month.

Pitchers Pete Maldonado, Bob Daliege and Dawson won two games apiece during the month, while Brad Vermeer, Joe Opocensky and Palmer picked up wins as well. Eight players saw action on the mound.

The TOTS are off and running  in April with one game already in the books -- a 9-4 win by Team Blue over Team White yesterday at Udall Park. 

Go, TOTS!

Opocensky, Dawson lead Team Blue to 9-4 TOTS' win

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Joe Opocensky went 4 for 4 and Mike Dawson went 3 for 3 to lead Team Blue to a 9-4 win today over Team White at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game. Dawson had two doubles and knocked in two runs, while Opocensky added a double and knocked in a run.

Meanwhile, Dawson, after two straight losses, improved to 8-3 on the mound this year, allowing 11 hits and just four runs -- one run in the first inning and three more in the second. Ernesto Escala went the distance for Team White and was saddled with the loss.

Big John Mathews led Team White with three hits in four trips to the plate and knocked in two runs.

The TOTS are back in action on Monday at Udall with a new starting time. First pitch: 9 a.m.

Arizona beats UConn

 NCAA Women's Final Four

The beat goes on for the Arizona Wildcats.

Arizona, the No. 3 seed, stuns the No. 1 seed UConn, 69-59, tonight in San Antonio to reach the NCAA Women's Championship game and a date on Saturday with an old friend -- Stanford.

The  tourney's top-seeded Stanford Cardinal won their matchup earlier today with a down-to-the-wire 66-65 win over South Carolina.

The Conference of Champions -- the Pac 12 -- will have two teams battling for the big prize on Saturday.

Congrats to the Cardinal, but especially to our own Arizona Wildcats!

Aari McDonald led the Wildcats tonight with 26 points and seven rebounds, while Sam Thomas chipped in 12 points and Cate Reese added 11 points as Arizona used a stifling defense to take down UConn.