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PBLAZ April 8, 1912: Tucson Turtles at Flagstaff Axemen

It was cold, 35 degrees at game time. The pitchers had a hard time getting loose, and it showed early. Deole Cooper stepped on the mound with long sleeves and long underwear under his uniform. He had struggled to locate his pitches in the bullpen but he hoped things would go better now that he had adrenaline on his side.

Ball one.

He shook it off and fired again.

Called strike-right where he wanted it.

He got ahead in the count when Tucson leadoff man Ben McDaniel fouled the next pitch straight back.

Unfortunately for Cooper, things went downhill from there.

McDaniel got jammed on the next pitch but was able to drop it into left-center field for a leadoff single.

Steve Stoddard stabbed at the next pitch and sent a scorching grounder past the bag at 1st for a double. McDaniel was forced to hold at 3rd, but the Turtles were in business.

Next up was 25-year-old switch-hitting second baseman Eddie Dollard. He hit a sharp line drive into short right field to drive in the game’s first run. Stoddard had to stop at third, but the Turtles had the lead.

37-year-old catcher Justin Blohm was another switch-hitter. He got ahead 1-0 and crushed a fastball down the line in left for a three-run home run, extending the lead to 4 before Flagstaff ever came to the plate.

Cooper was able to collect himself and get out of the inning with no further damage done.

Tucson starter Matt Bastow looked sharper early. He mowed down the first three batters he saw, feeling good about the big lead he was handed by his teammates.

Cooper got off to a better start in the 2nd, striking out the first two batters he saw, but it was short lived. The top of the order came up and took control. Stoddard and Dollard each singled and Blohm drove in his fourth run of the game with a single of his own. Cooper and the Axemen were down 5-0 after one and a half.

Bastow retired the leadoff man to make it four in a row, but a Mike Powell double and an RBI single by Larry Sykes quickly put Flagstaff on the board. The score remained 5-1 until Flagstaff leadoff man Danny Wolcott smacked a 1-2 pitch down the line in left that bounced around enough to let him circle the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Then, two batters later, LF Orlando Avila made it 5-2 with an opposite-field home run.

Cooper finally retired Stoddard to lead off the 4th, but was unable to record another out. Eddie Dollard picked up his third single in as many at-bats, stinging a sharp grounder through the hole at short. Justin Blohm stepped up to the plated and delivered a crushing line drive to left. It took an unexpected bounce off the wall and Blohm ran as fast as he could. He was a 38-year old, 5’9”, 215, catcher who was considered one of the slowest players in the league. The ball eluded fielders like it was being remote controlled from the Tucson dugout and Blohm came all the way around to score with an inside-the-park home run, giving him six RBI on the day.

Lefty Chance Beto came in and retired the next two batters with the Turtles leading 7-3.

Flagstaff scored twice in the 4th, when CF Mike Powell doubled to lead off the inning and came around to score on a double by DH Phil Thooft. Catcher Christian Bush followed that up with a run-scoring single two batters later and the Turtles were back in the game, down only 2.

Beto fell behind Roy Lewis 2-0 and grooved a fastball that the left-fielder sent deep to right for an unbelievable combined third inside-the-park home run in the game. Tucson led 8-5 after four and a half.

Bastow was removed from the game after allowing the first two Axemen in the 5th to reach base. Right hander Ron Stewart wasn’t able to put out the fire, allowing two singles and throwing a wild pitch to let two more runs in and pull Flagstaff within one run.

Beto was taken out of the game after allowing a leadoff single to Stoddard in the 6th. Righty Chris Galasso was brought in to try to find a way to retire Dollard. He was unsuccessful, as the second baseman laced a double down the third base line for his fourth hit of the day. Stoddard wasn’t able to score on the play and the Axemen did not want to take their chances with Blohm. They walked him intentionally to load the bases with no outs. After a shallow fly out, RF Ryan Noble drove in two with a double after fouling off several pitches to work the count full. Galasso then balked in another run to push the Turtles in front 11-7.

Eddie Dollard came up again in the 7th inning, and singled for his 5th hit on the day. Justin Blohm drew a walk but the Turtles weren’t able to capitalize.

Flagstaff pulled back within two when Thooft knocked in two runs with a double in the bottom of the 7th.

With two out and runners on first and third in the top of the 8th, Steve Stoddard came through with a run scoring single. That’s when Eddie Dollard came to the plate and picked up his second RBI and sixth hit of the game with a single up the middle. Blohm is walked for the third straight plate appearance but the Turtles left the bases loaded, now leading 13-9.

Flagstaff pulled closer in the 8th inning on a 2-run home run by 2B Brian Wade. That brought the score to 13-11. Neither team would score again. Tucson closer Chris Lawrence came in to finish the game and earn the save in the 9th.










Eddie Dollard was born in Phoenix on July 10, 1886. His friends, family, and teammates all talked about how hard he worked. Dollard played second base during the 1912 season, with scouting reports generally stating that he was an above average defender with a below average arm. Offensively, he was an above average hitter from the right side and an elite hitter from the left side of the plate. The only weakness scouts saw offensively was that he didn’t walk as much as they would have liked. Dollard was not fast, but made up for it with smart and aggressive base running. He was immensely popular from the very beginning of the league. He hustled on every play and was always friendly with his fans.




Justin Blohm was born in Phoenix in July 4, 1874. He was nearly 40 when he joined the league but was thrilled to have the opportunity to play. Brohm worked hard every day to make sure he was in great playing shape. He was a catcher who was know more for his bat than his glove, with scouts giving him just a 35 out of 80 in defense. He was a switch hitter who was about league average from the right side, but hit very well from the left. He was slow, and described as an unnatural base runner. He was, however, extremely popular in the clubhouse and with fans. He had a great sense of humor and a magnetic personality.