Barzell, Steele top the TOTS' hit chart in July

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Lloyd Barzell and Mike Steele had their hitting shoes on for the month of July, according to the latest Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)  batting statistics released today.

Barzell, 62, led the 60-and-over baseball club with 20 hits in 35 trips to the plate for a healthy .571 batting average, while Steele, 65, finished second with 15 hits in 30 official plate appearances and a .500 batting average for the month. It was a swan song, so to speak, for Steele, who returns to his teaching job next week. His summer play is over.

Steele had a great three months. He played in 24 games over the summer and collected 39 hits in 68 at bats, which calculates out to an impressive .573 average. He also scored 24 runs and knocked in 21 runs.

Other top hitters for July include: Bob Daliege (9 games, 13 for 25 for a .520 average); Doc Thompson (7 games, 10 for 19 for a .526 average); Jesse Ochoa (9 games, 10 for 19 for a .526 average) and Pete Peters (9 games, 13 for 25 for a .520 average).

There were three players who batted over .600 for the month of July, but all three played in seven games or less. Jeff Helzel played in just four games and went 7 for 11 (.636), Tim Tolson played in seven games and went 13 for 20 (.650) and Ron Petersen played in five games and went 8 for 12 (.667).

The top RBI leaders included Chico Bigham with 12, while three players -- Barzell, Tolson and Pigpen Price tied for second on the club with 10.

Barzell and Tolson led the club in homers with one apiece. Barzell led in doubles with four, while Tolson led the club in triples with two.

Daliege and Thompson led the club in pitching victories with two apiece.

Photos: Barzell (top), Steele (bottom).