A battle to the wire at Udall

TOTS  Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball


They came out of the woodwork today.

Twelve of the top hitters on the roster of the Tucson Old Timers showed up to play baseball today at Udall Park. All 12 players have career batting averages on the TOTS of .400 or better. On paper the game looked to be a slug fest.

Guess again!

The two teams battled to a 4-4 tie. One of those "kiss your sister" games as lefty Dennis Crowley and right-hander Bob Daliege -- locked into a pitcher's duel for seven innings.

The hard-hitting dozen drilled shots all over the ball park, but most of the shots were hauled in by defensive gems by the infielders or outfielders. Seventy-three-year old"Double D" Dick Ducklow, playing for Team White, rifled two shots at Team Blue third baseman Pigpen Price today -- one shot caromed of Price's chest and the other found a shin, instead of a glove.

"I didn't bother to look at my leg until I left the ball park," Price said. "When I did take a good look, I was half way home. I pulled over and discovered a bump on my shin the size of an overgrown apple. Two hours later and a couple of cold packs and my shin returned to normal."

"Maybe we should start thinking of wood bats, instead of aluminum," Price added. "These old guys can still pound the ball."

Robert Royer, 77, commented after the game. "They don't call it the hot corner for nothing!"

Team Blue's hard hitters today included Brian Reilly, Chico Bigham, Tim Tolson, Pete Peters, Pigpen Price, Jesse Ochoa and Daliege, while Team White countered with heavy hitters Lloyd Barzell, Ron Petersen, Joe Opocensky, Dave Rhoades and Crowley.

Team White enjoyed a 3-1 lead midway through the game, but in the top of the sixth Team Blue received consecutive hits from Reilly, Bigham, Tolson, Peters and Price to score three runs and take a 4-3 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Team White tied the game by scoring a run on a throwing error, but Daliege worked his way out of further trouble and both teams left the field with a "kiss your sister" tie.