Pigpen to play for New England Red Sox at 2021 MSBL World Series

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

October/2021 

Phoenix, Arizona

In all my years of playing baseball, I've been in the dugout and on the playing field with some crazy characters -- most of them during the past 14 years have been, and still are teammates of mine on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, an organized amateur baseball team, which plays three days a week year around at Udall Park.

Every year, I stretch it up a notch and travel to Phoenix every October to play in the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series, a prestigious tournament which involves over 3,000 players and 330 teams -- including teams from all over the United States, Canada, Australia and the Virgin Islands.

After a "slow down" year ins 2020, due to the coronavirus, the tournament regroups this year and expects closer to 4,000 players and 400 teams.

The goal is to win your division and a championship, which includes a ring for all your hard work. This year, I'll play for the 73-and-over New England Red Sox, a mixture of talented players from the Tucson Old Timers, the Old Pueblo Club and a handful of players from the East Coast -- including former Boston Red Sox pro Bill "Spaceman" Lee (see photos above, two recent photos and one back in the day).

Lee, now 74, is expected to be our ace pitcher this year -- a crafty lefty who won 119 games during his 14 years in the major leagues -- mostly with the Boston Red Sox.

Spaceman is the character of all characters, on and off the field of play, and there are enough videos on the internet to document Lee's antics, during his "prime" and his "golden years" as well.

Lee has played for many teams at the MSBL World Series in Phoenix and at the Roy Hobbs World Series, held every November in Ft. Myers, Florida.

As for me, now an old-timer at 76 (even an old man on the 73-and-over New England roster), I'll head for the MSBL World Series and play in my 14th tournament.. Four of my teammates on the Tucson Old Timers will be on  the New England roster including: Pete Peters, Bob Daliege, David Byars and Mike Steele. I also have a few buddies on the New England roster from the Tucson Old Pueblo Club and they include Mike Morales and Joe Banner (see photos below).

Photos: Pigpen Price, Pete Peters, Bob Daliege, David Byars, Mike Steele and Joe Banner and Mike Morales in uniform.

Once again the host stadium for the MSBL World Series will be Tempe Diablo Stadium, spring training home of the LA Angels (see photo below).

Three months to go and counting...

I'd better get cracking and get this old body in shape. During the 2020 MSBL World Series I banged up my left knee. I returned home on crutches, hobbling and out of action for three months. I hope for a better result this year.

Antetokounmpo's 50 points sinks Suns

NBA Finals

Game 6

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points and the Bucks took care of Game 6 with a 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee tonight to capture their first NBA title since 1971.

The Suns didn't have an answer the entire series for the 26-year-old from Athens, Greece. The Bucks, down two games to start the series, rebounded behind the 6-11 power forward to win four games in a row to eliminate a very good Suns team that simply ran out of gas.

Chris Paul led the Suns with 26 points and five assists, while Devin Booker, after a combined 82 points in Game 4 and 5, settled for 19 points tonight. Deandre Ayton, the former Arizona Wildcat, added 12 points and six boards.

It looked like the Phoenix Suns were heading for their first NBA title after going up 2-0 in the series, but the Bucks evened the series at home and then stole a win in Phoenix in Game 5.

Congrats to the Suns on a great season. As for the Milwaukee fans, they are celebrating in the streets.

Suns blow 16-point 1st-half lead in 123-119 loss to Bucks

 NBA Finals

Game 5

The Phoenix Suns blew a 16-point lead in the first half and fall to the Milwaukee Bucks, 123-119, at home tonight in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Devin Booker scored 40 points, Chris Paul added 20 points and 11 assists, while Deandre Ayton scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

With the Bucks up 3-2 in the finals, the Suns need to win Game 6 in Milwaukee on Tuesday night to remain alive in the finals and force a Game 7 in Phoenix on Thursday night.

Nothing is ever easy when an Arizona sports franchise battles for a national title. 

Bucks even series with 109-103 come-from-behind win

 NBA Finals

The Phoenix Suns squander a 42-point performance from Devin Booker and fall 109-103 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Milwaukee tonight. The Bucks even the series at 2-2 as the two teams head back to Phoenix.

Up by nine, the Suns lost the lead down the stretch as Chris Middleton gave the Bucks a big boost with a 40-point night, while Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

Chris Paul finished with just 10 points for the Suns and former Arizona Wildcat Deandre Ayton grabbed 17 rebounds but scored just six points.

Game 5 is set for 6 p.m. Saturday. The good news: the Suns are back home.

Go, Suns!

American League wins 2021 All Star Game, 5-2

 2021 MLB All Star Game

Tuesday -- July 13, 2021

Coors Field

Denver, Colorado

AL 5  NL  2

WP  Ohtani

LP   Burnes

SV  Hendriks

MVP  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (solo homer, 2 RBI) 

Opocensky hurls 1-hitter

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team White's Joe Opocensky tossed a one-hitter this morning at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game en route to a 9-0 shutout over Team Blue. Opocensky in his last three outings has picked up three wins, allowed two runs and has recorded two shutouts.

The 71-year-old right-hander was near perfect today. The only hit came from Pigpen Price, 76, who singled up the middle in the fourth inning. In the meantime, teammates Roger Beebe and Jimmy Kinion were a combined 6 for 6 and Opocensky helped his own cause with two hits and three RBI as Team White scored three in the first inning, three in the second and three more runs in the fifth.

Pete Maldonado, 69, went the distance for Team Blue and was saddled with the loss.

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

Photo: Opocensky

Giants own the best record at the All Star break

 Major League Baseball

The surprising San Francisco Giants own the best record in baseball with a 57-32 record as MLB will take a break from the regular schedule and focus on the All Star game at Coors Field in Denver on  Tuesday night.

The Giants sit atop the NL West two games ahead of the LA Dodgers (56-35), who just happen to have the second best record in the Majors at the halfway mark of the 2021 season.

Of course, all the talk at the halfway point is centered around the LA Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani, who leads the Majors with 33 home runs. And he pitches, too. Ohtani will take a 4-1 record and an ERA of 3.49 into the All Star game on Tuesday. The 27-year-old right-hander from Oshu, Japan has thrown 67 innings this season and has recorded 87 strike outs.

Suns drop Game 3 in Milwaukee, 120-100

 NBA Finals

 Game 3

The Phoenix Suns lost 120-100 to the Bucks in Milwaukee tonight.

Chris Paul finished with 19 points on the night, while former Arizona Wildcat Deandre Ayton scored 18 points and grabbed nine  rebounds, despite being in foul trouble for most of the second half. Meanwhile, Devin Booker hit on just 21.4 percent of his shots and netted 10 points. Booker remained on the bench for the entire fourth quarter.

As for the Bucks, they received another 40-plus performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finishing the evening with 41 points in front of a sold-out crowd of Milwaukee fans.

Of course, the Suns are still up two games to one, but need to regroup and come out with guns a blazing on Wednesday night in Milwaukee for Game 4.

Livingston out duels Escala in 7-4 TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Randy Livingston out dueled Ernesto Escala as Team Blue scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning for a come-from-behind 7-4 win over Team White in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game this morning at Udall Park.

Both right handers were locked in a pitching duel for most of the game, but Livingston helped his own cause with a 2-RBI single in the sixth as Team Blue turned a 4-3 deficit into a hard fought win.

It was Escala's first time back on the mound since his knee surgery.

Dave Hurley, who batted fifth in the lineup for Team Blue, had a perfect day at the plate with three hits in three plate appearances, while Escala was a perfect 3 for 3 in a losing cause for Team White. Mike Steele and Ken Nebesny collected two hits apiece for Team White, while Doc Thompson knocked in two runs and scored one of the four runs.

Team White out hit Team Blue 14 to 9, but Team Blue put together key hits with a 3-run third inning to go along with their 4-run sixth.

The TOTS return to action on Monday at Udall. Game time: 8:30 a.m.

  

Photo (above) Hard-throwing right-hander Ernesto Escala went 3 for 3 today at Udall and pitched 5 2/3 innings for Team White in his first trip back to the mound since his knee surgery. Way to go, Ernesto!

Phoenix Suns win Game 2 of the NBA Finals, 118-108

 NBA Finals

The Suns win Game 2 of the NBA Finals with a 118-108 win over the Milwaukee Bucks tonight in Phoenix to take a 2-0 lead in the battle for the 2021 title as the two teams head for Milwaukee for Game 3 on Sunday. 

Devin Booker scored 31 points and Mikal Bridges added 27 points, while Chris Paul scored 23 points and dished out eight assists.

Former Arizona Wildcat Deandre Ayton battled under the bucket for 10 points and 10 rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 42 points and 12 assists.

Way to go, Suns!

Opocensky, Thompson lead Team Blue to 4-2 win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Joe Opocensky and Doc Thompson combined for five hits and knocked in two runs to lead Team Blue to a 4-2 win over Team White on Wednesday at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Opocensky went 3 for 3, drove in a run and was the winning pitcher, allowing just eight hits and two runs. Thompson went 2 for 4, including a double, and drove in a run as Team Blue scored two runs in the first inning and two runs in the fifth.

Team White scored their two runs in the bottom of the first inning and were led by John Mathews, who went 2 for 4 with two doubles and drove home one of the two runs. Mike Dawson started and went the distance for Team White, allowing eight hits.

The TOTS return to action on Friday at Udall. Game time: 8:30 a.m.

Ayton 22 points, 19 rebounds in Game 1 of NBA Finals

 NBA Finals

Chris Paul scored 32 points and dished out nine assists in Game 1 of the NBA Finals tonight in Phoenix as the Suns win 118-105. Devin Booker scored 27 points, while former Arizona Wildcat Deandre Ayton scored 22 points and grabbed 19 rebounds as the Suns take a 1-0 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Suns are three wins away from the NBA title.

Way to go, Suns!  Way to go, Deandre Ayton!

TOTS limited to 5 games in June

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers continue to battle injuries, the hot weather and the lingering effects of the coronavirus and find themselves struggling to field enough players for official games. The TOTS played just five games in June.

And it's the usual suspects leading the way on the stats sheet.

Thunder Tim Tolson batted only 19 times in June, but led the club in hits (14) and batting average (.737), while Mike Dawson was second with a .706 average (12 for 17) with four doubles and two triples. The hard hitting Reed Palmer blasted the only home run for the month and has eight home runs for the year. Palmer was the top RBI man in June with 11.

Doc Thompson, 78, led the 75-and-over group with a .700 batting average (7 for 10 in 3 games).

Only four pitchers took the mound in June -- Brad Vermeer, Joe Opocensky, Pete Maldonado and Dawson.

Dawson finished the month with a 3-1 record , while Opocensky went 2-2.

Awaiting the 76 Trombones

 When I claw my way out of bed in the morning, I'll be another year older and I'll await the sounds of seventy-six trombones. Luckily, I'll have no need to turn up the hearing aids. So far, I've avoided that particular disability.

Chances are the only music that'll filter through my noggin' is when I tune in the 60s channel later in the day tomorrow and listen to tunes from the 1960s as I glide around town in my Ford Mustang.

My mind is somewhere back in the 1960s, although my body tells me a different story.

The 1960s!

I'd go back in time, if I had the opportunity. Michael J. Fox, where are you?

I remember many, many years ago,  sitting on the hood of my car on top of A Mountain, eyeing the Tucson sunset behind me, followed by the twinkling of the city lights toward the east as night time appears across the valley. Fifty some sunrises have come and gone since I was a 21-year-old. A lot has happened.

I've lost my share of friends and relatives...and teammates. Being a senior citizen, allows you the time to reflect...remember...recall and covet what has come and gone.

There are still some sunrises and sunsets left to witness.

That alone is music to my ears.