TOT takes a tumble

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Seventy-six year old Carl Brutovsky can still flat out run.

Brutovsky (above photo) is by far the fastest among the members of the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) who have reached, and passed, the age of 70. He can leg out a bunt and hustle down the first base line with the best of them.

In the first inning of a TOTS' 60-and-over baseball game today at Udall Park, Carl, like he's done so many times in the past, laid down a perfect bunt in front of the plate and scampered to first. Doc Thompson, pitching for Team Blue, tracked down the bunt and threw a strike to 87-year-old Floyd Lance, who was covering first. All three - the ball, Floyd and Carl reached base at the same time.

Carl got the worst of it as he bounced off Floyd and hit the ground with a thud. Blood streamed from the left side of his face. He remained still for a good two minutes, trying desperately to breathe. The next words spoken were that of a teammate, the two words no TOT on the field wants to hear, "Call 9-1-1!"

When Carl and his TOTS' teammates take the field three days a week at Udall Park, there's always a chance of injury. After all, the TOTS range in age from 60 to 87 and nasty spills, bad bounces, you name it, occur over the course of a season -- a season which is played every year, all  52 weeks.

Most of the time, a TOT, when injured, will be helped off the field and into the dugout. Within minutes, the TOT catches his breath, shakes off his pain and looks for his glove. He's ready to get back into the game.

But there are times like today, when the next sound you hear is the sound of a siren and the roar of a fire truck. A teammate is in trouble.

Carl was alert and talking when he left in the ambulance. He was taken to Tucson Medical Center for observation and treatment.

Carl will bounce back. After all, he's a TOT!

TOTS' game update: As for the game today, the show must go on. Thompson gets the win today as TOTS Blue edges TOTS White, 7-5. The TOTS will be back at it on Friday. You can count on it!