Arizona Wildcats Baseball
The Arizona Wildcats (40-15) garner the 5th seed in this year's NCAA Baseball Tournament and will host the Tucson Regional and play Grand Canyon University (39-19-1) on Friday at Hi Corbett Field. Game time: 7 p.m.
Go, Wildcats!
Photo: Hi Corbett Field, where the Road to Omaha begins on Friday.
Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
Memorial Day Game at Udall
Reed Palmer hit his seventh home run of the season and was the winning pitcher today as the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers played baseball this morning at Udall Park in honor of all the service men and women who have put their lives on the line to keep our country safe and free.
Palmer's three-run homer in the sixth inning gave Team Blue a 9-7 lead over Team White and a hard-fought 10-8 win.
Team White had taken a 7-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. The inning highlighted by a bases-clearing triple from Team White's Mike Dawson.
Team Blue added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, while Team White could muster up just one run down the stretch. Dawson pitched all seven innings for Team White and was saddled with the loss, while Palmer pitched seven innings as well and picked up the pitching victory.
The TOTS close out their May schedule and open up their June schedule with games at Udall on Wednesday and Friday as they close out the week. Game time for both games: 9 a.m.
The month of May hasn't been kind to the TOTS as far as "the injury bug" is concerned. Pitcher Ernesto Escala is recovering from a knee operation and was at the game today and is still weeks away from returning and catcher Mike Steele is out indefinitely with a hand injury. X-rays forthcoming. The youngest player on the TOTS, Ron Ryan, is trying to bounce back from foot surgery, but is still out indefinitely, while Pigpen Price, who turns 76 in July, popped an upper hammy last Wednesday and tried to play again today only to re injure the left leg on a play at third in the fourth inning.
It looks like Price will be a "couch potato" for the month of June.
"I have no choice," Price said. "I need to stay off the field."
"Another injured player on the TOTS is 65-year-old Rick Bitzer, who pulled a hammy three weeks ago and has had sense enough to stay off the ball field." Price added. "There are certainly a lot smarter guys on the team than me."
Injuries are part of the game when you play 60-and-over baseball.
Arizona Wildcats Baseball
Jacob Berry, who batted near the .400 mark all season, finished the regular season with a .371 batting average (78 for 210) to lead the Arizona Wildcats. Berry will head in to the postseason with 64 RBI and 149 total bases. Berry's 15 home runs also leads the club with catcher Daniel Susac second in homers with 12, second in RBI with 59 and second in total bases with 131. Susac finished the regular season with a .344 batting average (73 for 212).
Branden Boissiere led the club in hits with 79, one more than Berry. Boissiere finished the regular season with a .362 batting average (79 for 218). He was also second in runs scored with 62, just nine runs behind lead off batter Donta Williams (71).
As a team, Arizona batted .325 with 58 home runs and 437 RBI in 55 games.
Chase Silseth, Arizona's Friday night starter most of the regular season, carries an 8-1 record into the postseason. Silseth has pitched 83.1 innings and leads the club in strike outs with 89.
Arizona Wildcats Baseball
Arizona, the Pac-12 champions, tuned up for the postseason with a three-game series at Hi Corbett Field against Dixie State.
Dixie gave the Wildcats all they could handle.
Arizona won 4-2 on Thursday, lost 11-9 on Friday and won tonight on a walk-off RBI-double from Jacob Berry for a thrilling 5-4 hard-earned win to end their regular-season schedule at 40-15.
Arizona Wildcats Softball
Congrats, to the Arizona Wildcats!
Arizona (41-13) advanced to their 24th Women's College World Series with two straight wins in the NCAA Super Regional in Fayetteville, Arkansas, beating the 6th-ranked Razorbacks 10-4 on Friday and 4-1 today.
The 11th-seeded Wildcats hit four home runs on Friday and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza took care of things today with a two-run shot in the fifth inning to give Arizona a 2-1 lead, while Carlie Scupin singled in two runs in the sixth to ice the win and a trip to the College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Hanah Bowen pitched all seven inning on Friday to pick up the win and today Alyssa Denham got the job done with another seven-inning gem.
Congrats, Wildcats!
Arizona to face #3 Alabama (50-7) in the first round of the Women's College World Series on Thursday.
Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
Team White's Reed Palmer hit his sixth home run of the year and Bob Daliege picked up the win on the mound in a 8-7 walk-off victory over Team Blue in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game today at Udall Park. Team White won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning thanks to a walk-off sacrifice fly.
The TOTS will take the weekend off, but return to Udall on Memorial Day for a 9 a.m. game.
Photo: Palmer
Tucson Aces
60-and-over baseball
The 60-and-over Tucson Aces continued their winning ways at Santa Rita Park today with a 8-7 win over the Old Pueblo Club. The Aces jumped out to a 8-0 lead after two innings of play and sat back and let the Old Pueblo Club makes things interesting down the stretch.
Mike Dawson went the distance for the Aces and picked up the win and was helped out by four assists from outfielders Ken Nebesny and Reed Palmer as the Aces won their third game in a row.
"Reed played centerfield and threw out two runners at second base and Ken turned two hard hit ground balls in right field into outs at first base," Dawson said.
Dawson said the Aces hit the ball well, especially in the first couple of innings.
Palmer ended up with three hits on the day to lead the Aces. Catcher Mike Steele injured his left forearm when Old Pueblo's Bobby Long swung and missed a pitch. The bat banged off Mike's arm, leaving a nice little gash in the process.
Way to go, Aces!
Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
No lead is ever safe in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.
Team White was sailing along with a 6-1 lead after five innings today at Udall Park. Despite a few defensive lapses by his defense, right-hander Mike Dawson entered the sixth inning in good shape. Six outs away from a win.
But things can change quickly when a bunch of old timers play the game of baseball.
Team Blue scored four runs in the top of the sixth, thanks mainly to a two-run double from Reed Palmer and singles from Ken Nebesny, Mike Steele and David Byars. Dawson was able to get out of the inning with a strike out of Brack Whitaker, but the damage was done as Team Blue had closed the gap to 6-5.
In the top of the seventh inning, Team Blue's Pete Maldonado singled, Rob Morse reached on an error and Jimmy Kinion drilled a single to center to bring home Maldonado with the tying run.
Still, Dawson settled down and got the final two outs on a force play at second and a pop up to first baseman Tim Tolson to send the game into the bottom of the seventh.
Now that they had blown the lead, Team White still had a chance to pull out the win. Dawson flied to center for the first out, Pigpen Price singled to left, moved to second on a ground out by Ted Davis, but was left stranded when David Hurley grounded out to Palmer at shortstop, for the final out of the game.
A kiss-your-sister game. No winner...no loser.
Bobby Daliege and John Misiaszek went 3 for 4 for Team White, while Palmer led Team Blue with a 2 for 4 day and three RBI. Brad Vermeer pitched all seven innings for Team Blue, while Dawson struck out three in his seven innings of work.
The TOTS return to action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.
Arizona Wildcats Softball
It wasn't long ago when Arizona basketball fans grabbed a hold of their seats and followed the Wildcats all the way to the Final Four and finally a battle to the final buzzer in the NCAA Women's Basketball championship game against Stanford.
It was quite a ride. The ride didn't end until Arizona's superstar guard Aari McDonald's last second shot bounced off the rim.
Well, get ready Arizona fans. The Wildcats are back in the spotlight only this time its the Super Regional in Fayetteville, Arkansas next weekend as 11th-ranked Arizona takes on 6th-ranked Arkansas (43-9) in a best of three showdown. The winner punches a ticket to Oklahoma City and the NCAA Women's College World Series.
Arizona scored 12 unanswered runs on Sunday to beat Ole Miss 12-6 at Hillenbrand Stadium in the Tucson Regional. Arizona (39-13) collected a season-high 19 hits as Jessie Harper led the Wildcats with three hits and three RBI.
The Wildcats are two wins away from a berth in the 2021 College World Series.
Go, Wildcats!
Name Years in Majors
1. Barry Bonds (22 years) 762
2. Henry Aaron (23 years) 755
3. Babe Ruth (22 years) 714
4. Alex Rodriguez (22 years) 696
5. Albert Pujols* (21 years) 668
*active/with LA Dodgers/hit No. 668 on May 20, 2021
Home Run Leaders 2021
Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL) 15
Adolis Garcia (TEX) 14
Shohei Ohtani (LAA) 14
RBI Leaders
Trey Mancini (BAL) 41
Rafael Devers (BOS) 39
Adolis Garcia (TEX) 38
Yuli Gurrell (HOU) 38
J.D. Martinez (BOS) 37
Top Batting Averages (thru 5/23/21)
Nick Castellanos (CIN) .356
Jesse Winker (CIN) .355
Yermin Mercedes (CHW) .347
Xander Bogaerts (BOS) .345
Adam Frazier (PIT) .335
Best record
American League
Tampa Bay Rays W 29 L 19 PCT .604
Boston Red Sox W 29 L 19 PCT .604
National League
San Diego Padres W 30 L 17 PCT .638
LA Dodgers W 29 L 18 PCT .617
Arizona Wildcats Baseball
Wildcats Pac-12 Champs
Oregon lost 2 of 3 to Stanford over the weekend and the Arizona Wildcats win 2 of 3 at Oregon State giving Arizona the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Ducks still have three games left next week at California and can grab a share of the title if they sweep the Bears and finish 21-9 in the Pac-12 Conference along with the Wildcats.
Congrats, Arizona!
Note: Arizona owns tiebreaker with a 2-1 conference record over Oregon. Wildcats get the automatic bid to the NCAA tourney.
Arizona Wildcats Baseball
The seventh-ranked Arizona Wildcats can now focus on the road to Omaha.
The Wildcats took 2 of 3 in Corvallis this weekend -- including a 6-5 come-from-behind win today to beat the Oregon State Beavers and capture their final Pac-12 series' win of the year to improve to 38-14 overall and 21-9 in conference play.
Arizona broke a 5-5 tie with a run in the top of the ninth inning today, thanks to an RBI-single from shortstop Nik McClaughry and reliever Vince Vannelle (4-2) blanked the Beavers in the eighth and the bottom of the ninth. Donta Williams went 4 for 5 and knocked in two runs, while McClaughry went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs.
The Wildcats return home and finish the regular season at Hi Corbett Field on Thursday, Friday and Saturday against Dixie State.
And then it's time for the postseason. The goal for the Wildcats: Be one of the eight teams to advance to the College World Series in Omaha.
2021 PGA Championship
Phil Mickelson, 50, becomes the oldest major champ in golf history today as "the lefty" wins the PGA Championship in Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
Mickelson holds off Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen to finish 6-under-par and win the PGA title by two strokes.
Congrats, Phil.
Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
Players on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers find themselves in some stressful situations.
Well, that sounds a little dramatic. After all, these old dudes, between the ages of 60 to 80, who play the game of baseball at Udall Park three days a week have already raised a family, held on to a job or a career, battled life and all the obstacles thrown at them for more than 50 years. They have taken on the word "stress" many, many times.
So an amateur baseball game in their "golden years" is really stress free. Or, is it?
There's been a slew of one-run games over the past couple of months at Udall as a bunch of old timers battle for seven innings to decide a winner. On Friday, for the second time in eight days, the two-hour game had come down to one pitch. And just like the days of old, the players on the field of play want to make the play -- get the winning hit, throw out the runner or save the game with a running catch.
The situation: Team White was up 3-2 in the top of the seventh. Right-hander Joe Opocensky was on the mound for Team White and needed three outs to preserve the win. The first two outs came easy, but the next two batters reached baseball safely, putting the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at first base.
Team Blue figured they had Team White in a tight spot, right where they wanted them. Strolling to the plate, was one of the organization's top power hitters -- the hard-hitting lefty Thunder Tim Tolson.
Tolson's .600 batting average and his ability to drill balls to the gap in right center or over the fence -- some 300 feet from home plate -- are legendary. Tolson worked the count full. You could almost see sawdust trickling off the handle of the bat as Thunder Tim squeezed the bat tightly.
Opocensky figured another fastball anywhere near the middle of the plate and Thunder Tim would bring home two runs...maybe three. The "Big O" took a deep breath. He went into his wind up and unleashed a change up. The ball was high and just off the plate.
Thunder Tim swung and came up empty. "Strike Three!"
The above: Just another game for a bunch of old timers who love the game of baseball.
No stress. Just a bunch of fun.
The TOTS return to action on Monday. Game time 9 a.m.
The Play of the Day: A running over-the-head catch by Team White's left fielder John Misiaszek, 72.
TOTS footnote: By the way, Thunder Tim's bat was aluminum, disregard the sawdust. Most players use aluminum, but a few will bring out their wood bats from time to time. A 60-and-over baseball player can get more hits, using aluminum, while some players still like that old familiar sound when the ball finds the "sweet spot" on a Louisville Slugger.
Albert Pujols
Sir Albert has moved on to the LA Dodgers.
It'll take some getting used to, but he's found a home for the time being -- Dodger Stadium.
Last night, Pujols helped the Dodgers take down the Arizona Diamondbacks, going 1 for 4 while knocking in one of the three runs -- his 2,113 career RBI, first among active players and third all-time behind Hank Aaron (2297) and Babe Ruth (2214).
Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
Right-hander Bob Daliege, who turns 73 next week, doesn't mind at all when his catcher Mike Steele, 73, calls the pitches. "I like it that way, Daliege says. "It makes it easier. I lot less thinking on my part."
And that's exactly how it went at Udall Park this morning as the Team White battery mates were "in tune" for seven innings en route to a 6-1 win over Team Blue in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.
"I had it going today," Daliege added. Of course he was a happy camper as his defense played well, while his catcher made the play of the day -- a double play to snuff out a Team Blue rally.
In the third inning, Team Blue's hard-hitting Pete Peters decided to bunt Mike Dawson to second base. The bunt attempt went awry. The ball popped up behind home plate and Steele moved to his left, caught the ball and threw to first base to double up Dawson, a rare unassisted 2-3 twin-killing.
Team Blue could muster up only one run during the game as Steele called the pitches and Daliege coaxed a lot of ground ball outs.
Steele, who had heart surgery in January, is certainly getting back into the swing of things. "It has taken a while, but I'm feeling better and slowly getting back into shape."
It showed today as Steele called an almost perfect game, made the play of the day and picked up a couple of hits. Carl Schwanbeck, 74, went 2 for 3 for Team Blue in a losing cause.
The TOTS return to action on Wednesday. Game time: 9 a.m.
Photos: Steele and Daliege
MLB Home Run Leaders in 2021 (as of May 16, 2021)
1. Mitch Haniger (SEA) 12
2. Aaron Judge (NYY). 12
3. Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL) 12
4. Shohei Ohtani (LAA). 12
Arizona Wildcats Baseball
It's another Pac-12 Conference sweep by the Arizona Wildcats as they beat the visiting Washington Huskies at Hi Corbett Field over the weekend with a 17-16 win in 10 innings on Friday, a 4-1 win on Saturday and a 11-2 thumping on Sunday.
Jacob Berry hit his 13th home run during Sunday's win, while Branden Boissiere hit his fifth, Ryan Holgate hit his 8th and Tony Bullard hit his first round tripper.
Arizona improves to 35-13 overall and 19-8 in the Pac-12 Conference.
Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
For a few hours every morning on Monday, Wednesday and Friday a baseball game is played at Udall Park. It's simply the best game in town during that time frame. The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers take the field and play America's Favorite Pastime.
Surprisingly, the games are competitive. The group of players bring all their aches and pains to the ball park. Some have spent an hour or two loosening up at home. Some may even ask themselves, "Do I really want to get out of bed this morning?"
But there they are. Rise and shine. They show up at the ball park and begin warmups and for the next two hours the players retreat back in time and play for the love of the game.
It was no different on Wednesday at Udall. The game went down to the wire with Team White's Reed Palmer. 64, besting Team Blue's Brad Vermeer, 69, for a 6-5 win. Team White owned a 6-0 lead early and then set back and watched Team Blue chip away at the lead.
The big blow came in the fifth inning on a booming double off the center field fence by Big John Mathews. Two runs scored as Team White increased their lead from 4-1 to 6-2.
In the seventh, the final at bat for Team Blue, Mike Dawson doubled to left and two runs scored to make the score 6-5. With two out, Vermeer stepped to the plate with the tying run on first base. Palmer quickly got ahead in the count with two blazing fastballs.
After two hours and 15 minutes, the game came down to one more pitch. Vermeer waited for another high hard one from Palmer, instead a change up eased its way to the plate. "Strike three!"
Another game in the books for the TOTS. They'll be back for more on Friday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.
Why do the old timers keep coming back?
The answer comes from Team White's second baseman Pigpen Price, the oldest player on the field yesterday. Soon to be 76, Price pushes his body to be alongside his teammates. "It's easy to explain, Price says. "We want to go back in time. Back when we played the game as a young man and we made all the plays, ran like the wind and hit every ball that crossed the plate."
Yesterday was Price's day. "Nothing hurt for a change. I moved left and right and made all the plays. Just like I did at the age of 21. It's 2021 now. I know that, but yesterday it was a sunny day in 1966 and the ball was coming my way."
Hats off to the TOTS!
Photos: 1) The TOTS' emblem. 2) the ball we use...and yes, sometimes we chase the ball in the desert. 3) The 2021 TOTS.
To all my followers out there: Bookemdanosports has reached another milestone: 4, 000 posts.
My first post was back in the spring of 2009. While vacationing in Greer, Arizona, I sat on the patio at a resort and eyed the beautiful pine trees to the north. My first posts involved my 60-and-over baseball team, the Tucson Old Timers, and included four "young men" who are no longer with us Chico Bigham, Jerry Smarik, Clarence Fieber and Bobby Katz. We miss them dearly and all the other ball players we've lost as well, dating all the way back to 1968 when the amateur baseball organization began. The TOTS are still ticking and in the midst of its 54th season.
The coronavirus has done a number on us all, but we're still ticking and still swinging...
...and still blogging!
The top MLB home run leaders in 2021 (thru May 10th)
1. J.D. Martinez (BOS) 10
2. R. Acuna Jr. (ATL) 10
3. S Ohtani (LAA). 10
Albert Pujols tied with 15 others with 5 homers
Pujols
Okay! Albert Pujols is hitting .198. That's only 52 percentage points below the league average!
I know I'm a bit ticked off. Albert is one of my favorite players and every home run he hits is another milestone. Albert is fifth all-time with 667 homers. I personally want him to reach 700 before he tips his cap and retires. But, I'm a fan.
Top 5 all time home run hitters:
Barry Bonds 762
Henry Aaron 755
Babe Ruth 714
Alex Rodriquez 696
Albert Pujols. 667
I'm waiting patiently to see who picks him up. Hey, world! Albert is only 41! Heck, I'm still playing and I turn 76 in July!
Major League Baseball
As we head toward the middle of May, half of the 30 teams in Major League Baseball are struggling to remain above the .500 mark. My goodness, if you are a pro and batting .250 or above, you are a keeper!
There has been four no-hitters, a fifth if you add Madison Bumgarner's seven-inning job a couple of weeks ago.
The top three won-loss records as of this morning -- the Boston Red Sox (22-14), the St Louis Cardinals (21-14) and the surprising San Francisco Giants (21-14).
Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
There are times the results of a baseball game can end up a little lopsided.
Take for instance, the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game at Udall Park this morning. In the seven- inning game, Team White ended up with a total of just eight base runners and scored one lone run in the two-hour contest.
On the other hand, Team Blue exploded for 22 hits and all 10 players in their lineup hit safely. The result: a 14-1 score as Team Blue's Mike Dawson and Danny Boxberger both went 3 for 4, while Bobby Long chipped in three hits in five plate appearances. Pete Peters, Dennis Crowley, Reed Palmer, Pigpen Price, Brack Whitaker and Carl Schwanbeck collected two hits apiece, while Ted Davis completed the 22-hit attack with a 1 for 4 day.
It just wasn't Team White's day. Bob Daliege, Mike Steele and Dave Byars all went 2 for 3 for the losing team, while Joe Opocensky and Brad Vermeer added a hit apiece.
The benefactor of all this: Dawson. The hard-throwing right-hander breezed through all seven innings and was never in trouble, except for an infield pop up that bounced of his forearm and created a nice little gash. The wind blew the ball foul and the ball found more of Dawson's forearm than leather.
It was a nice and easy win for Dawson (10-5), although he'll have a remembrance of the pitching victory for a few days.
As for Team White's starter Pete Maldonado, he went into the game with five wins under his belt this season. Unfortunately, today didn't go his way.
The TOTS return to action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.
Arizona Wildcats Baseball
The 2021 Arizona Wildcats have a legitimate .400 hitter.
After 45 games, the 7th-ranked Arizona Wildcats are batting at a .329 clip and their top hitter, Jacob Berry, continues his season-long attack on opposing pitching with a .401 average. Berry has officially stepped to the plate 167 times and has hit safely 67 times -- including 13 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs and 53 RBI. His 123 total bases and slugging percentage of .737 leads the Wildcats.
And a few of his teammates are right there with him as the Wildcats maintain their lofty batting average.
The Wildcats won 1 of 3 games at Stanford over the weekend ( 4-5, 20-2, 2-8) and head into this week's action with an overall record off 32-13 and a Pac-12 Conference slate of 16-8. Arizona hosts Washington at Hi Corbett Field on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Catcher Daniel Susac is tied for the RBI lead with Berry (53) and leads the team in home runs with 12 and is batting .359 on the season, while two teammates are just above him -- Kobe Kato and Brand\en Boissiere. Kato is batting .377 (60 for 159), while Boissiere is tied with Berry in hits (67 for 179) and owns a .374 average.
Chase Silseth continues to lead in the Wildcats in innings pitched at 69.1 with 71 strike outs and a 7-1 record.
Way to go, Wildcats! Go get the Huskies!
Photo: Berry
Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
Reed Palmer, 64, drilled his fifth home run of the season over the right field fence in the first inning and Team Blue went on to a 10-6 win over Team White today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.
Palmer went 3 for 4 and scored three times and his homer in the first was a 2-run shot. He also pitched all seven innings to pick up the win. Palmer struck out five and walked one.
John Mathews led Team White with a 3 for 4 day -- including two doubles. Bobby Long went 3 for 3 and knocked in two runs in a losing cause.
The TOTS will take the weekend off and resume play on Monday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.
Photo: Palmer
Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
The coronavirus has changed the lives of everyone. So many Americans are in troubled times.
Erica Sims and Donald Garigan lost their jobs due to the coronavirus and found themselves scrambling to keep their heads above water. The newlyweds worked in the service industry in the early part of 2020, but by the spring the couple, like so many others across our nation, were laid off and forced on a path, not of their making.
Erica and Donald found their way to Udall Park and three days a week -- on Monday, Wednesday and Friday -- they passed the morning hours watching a bunch of old timers play the game of baseball. They instantly became fans of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers and at least for a few hours, three days a week, the couple enjoyed the park, the coolness of the morning air and yes -- the goings on by a bunch of old men playing America's Favorite Pastime.
Erica and Don became regulars. They sat on the bleachers behind home plate and watched the old men play. Erica not only cheered on the ball players, but she kept an eye out for her favorite bird -- the Scarlet Flycaster.
Erica Sims passed away on Tuesday at the age of 33.
Before the start of Friday's game, the TOTS' manager, Mike Dawson, presented Don with a TOTS' hat, making him an honorary member. Inside the hat: a donation to Don and the Sims' family. Vicki Sims, Erica's mother, was on hand to receive the donation.
After the game, the TOTS, along with Don, gathered behind the third base dugout and discussed the plays of the game. Suddenly, a Scarlet Flycatcher found a landing spot on a tree limb just above Don's left shoulder.
Rest In Peace, Erica.
Photos: 1) Erica Sims. 2) Don Garigan, Vicki Sims and TOTS' manager Mike Dawson. 3) The Scarlet Flycatcher.
TOTS footnote: It turns out Don's grandfather was Bob Wolken, who played for the TOTS from 1983 to 1997. Wolken was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1919. Just weeks before his death in 1997, he made sure his daughter, Marie, paid a full year of dues to the TOTS even though he had been on the disabled list for more than a year. Bob was laid to rest in his pinstripe uniform and jacket. The music selected for the organist to play was "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" and it was no coincidence that Bob's funeral was held on a non-game day.
Tucson Aces
60-and-over baseball
The 60-and-over Tucson Aces blistered the Arizona Rattlers' pitching staff with a 30-hit attack en route to a 19-10 win at Mission Manor Park today. Randy Livingston went 4 for 4 and drove in six runs -- including a bases-loaded triple in the third inning.
David Byars went 4 for 4, Reed Palmer went 4 for 4, while Bobby Long banged out three hits as did Mike Dawson and Pete Peters. Six other players reached base safely -- including Ken Nebesny, Rick Bitzer, Joe Opocensky, Bob Daliege, Danny Boxberger and Pigpen Price.
The Aces were down 5-2 after one inning of play, but plated 17 runs the next six innings to put away the Rattlers. Dawson (photo below) went six innings to earn the win and Livingston allowed just one run in the bottom of the seventh to close out the game.
Peters (photo below) put on a show defensively. Playing right field, Peters gunned down two runners at first base in the bottom of the first inning. Dawson settled down after the first inning, allowing just four runs until Livingston took over in the seventh.
Way to go, Aces!
Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
Mike Dawson, 66, Ken Nebesny, 64, and Ray Garcia, 68, battled for the most hits during the month. A late surge by Dawson put him in the top spot for the month with 23 hits, while Nebesny finished just one behind at 22 and Garcia finished with 21 hits.
Other top hitters for the month included Bobby Long (20 for 34), John Mathews (18 for 30), Reed Palmer (16 for 25) and David Byars (16 for 41). Mathews and Garcia tied for the most RBI with 14.
Palmer hit the only home run over the fence at Udall in April, while Pete Peters motored home with an inside-the-park home run.
In the 75-and-over group, Pigpen Price, 75, and Dick Ducklow, 79, finished 1-2 in batting. Price went 9 for 34, a .265 batting average, while Ducklow batted .257 ( 9 for 35).
In the pitching department, Dawson sported a 2-2 record and one save, while striking out six. Brad Vermeer pitched in five games and went 2-3, while Pete Maldonado finished the month with a 2-1 record.
Way to go, TOTS!
Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
Tim Tolson, 68, went 3 for 4 with a double, scored three times and knocked in two runs to lead Team Blue to a 6-4 win over Team White at Udall Park today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.
Team Blue out hit Team White 14-10. Pete Maldonado pitched all seven innings and picked up the win for Team Blue, while lefty Dennis Crowley absorbed the loss. Team Blue's John Mathews went 1 for 2, knocked in two runs with a sacrifice fly and was hit by a pitch. Ken Nebesny, Reed Palmer, Ted Davis and Jesse Ochoa collected two hits apiece for Team Blue.
David Byars led Team White with a 3 for 3 day and knocked in three of the four runs. Mike Dawson and Joe Opocensky collected two hits apiece.
The TOTS close out the week with a game at Udall on Friday. Game time: 9 a.m.
Photo: Tolson
Arizona Wildcats Baseball
Arizona, ranked 9th in the country, heads for Stanford and a three-game series with the 16th-ranked Cardinal on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Wildcats picked up a 13-2 win Tuesday at Hi Corbett Field over Grand Canyon to improve their overall record to 31-11. The Wildcats sit atop the Pac-12 Conference standings with a 15-6 record, while Stanford is second in conference play at 10-5 and own a 24-9 overall slate.
Jacob Berry continues to lead the Wildcats and the Pac-12 Conference with a .409 batting average. Berry is 63 for 154 with 11 home runs and leads the Wildcats with 51 RBI and 119 total bases.
Brandon Boissiere is second in batting at .398 and has the most hits 66, Kobe Kato is third in hits with 57 and a .385 average, while Ryan Holgate is batting .361 and is second in hits with 61. Daniel Susac is tied with Berry with 11 home runs and owns a .342 average with 53 hits in 155 at bats.
As a team, Arizona is batting at a .333 clip with 498 hits, 44 home runs and 339 RBI.
Way to go, Wildcats!
Arizona Wildcats Baseball
The 9th-ranked Arizona Wildcats outscored visiting Utah at Hi Corbett Field last weekend 30-7, beating Utah 11-1, 4-3 and 15-3. The Wildcats have now won nine straight games and six straight series wins in the Pac-!2 Conference.
The Wildcats are 30-11 overall and set atop the Pac-12 standings with a 15-6 record.
Tucson Old Timers
60-and-over baseball
Crafty right-hander Brad Vermeer throws off-speed pitches most of the time. He rarely tosses a fastball. Somehow, Vermeer, 69, gets the job done and records his share of wins on the mound.
Monday's game at Udall Park was a perfect example of Vermeer's antics as he allowed just two runs in a seven-inning game en route to a 15-2 win for Team Blue over Team White.
Way to got, Brad!
Photo: Vermeer
