TOTS don't seem to mind the heat

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball


The temperature in the Old Pueblo reached 103 today. It might have been a bit cooler at game time, but still...it's darn hot if you're a 60-and-over baseball player.

It didn't matter as the boys of summer flocked to Udall Park this morning -- 25 players played today and another six or seven were on hand, but couldn't participate due to one injury or another.

The whole scenario reminds me of a scene from the movie, Field of Dreams when the voice bellows, "build it and they will come."

The starting pitcher for Team Blue today was 84-year-old Billy Heiny.

The starting pitcher for Team White was 76-year-old Bobby Royer.

They both went the distance and the game ended in a tie at 5-5, another one of those "kiss your sister" games.

It looked like Team Blue was on their way to victory in the top of the sixth and final inning of the day when Pistol Pete Peters and Smilin' Mike Steele ripped back to back doubles to give the visiting team a  5-4 lead.

Team Blue came to bat needing two runs to win the game. They got one run on a two-out double to right field by Chico Bigham, but couldn't score the game winner.

The boys of summer headed home and turned on the air conditioning. The TOTS will be back at on Wednesday. You can count on that.