Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
Author Ernest Lawrence Thayer wrote the poem Casey at the Bat in 1888. The following is the final paragraph from the narrative poem:
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright.
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout.
But there is no joy in Mudville -- mighty Casey has struck out.
Today, at Udall Park, the following happened. This, is a true story:
The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) finished up the week with a real nail biter at Udall Park. Team Blue jumped out to a 11-4 lead, but in the bottom of the seventh inning, Team White fought back and closed to within one run at 11-10. With two outs and runners on first and third, the club's home run hitter, the mighty "Thunder" Tim Tolson stepped to the plate.
With one swing, the 6-feet-2, 240 pound man of steel, could give Team White a come-from-behind win. After all, Thunder Tim hit 13 home runs in 2015 and on this sunny day, with a temperature hovering around 75 degrees, things were right for another blast into the tall trees beyond the right field fence.
Thunder Tim worked the count full and fouled off yet another blazing fastball from the "Montana Kid" Arnie White.
The crowd of four were on their feet, awaiting the next offering.
The wind swirled, followed by a deathly silence. The Team Blue outfielders had backed up as far as they could go. The Montana Kid unleashed a high, hard one. Thunder Tim swung and missed!
The mighty Thunder Tim Tolson had struck out!
Photo: Our "Casey at the Bat" Tim Tolson
Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,
ReplyDeleteThe band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children
shout,
But there is no joy at Udall—mighty thunder has struck out.
Great reporting Danny!