Team Blue has Team White singing the blues

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team Blue jumped out to a 7-2 lead after two innings of play and had Team White singing the blues the rest of the way en route to a 15-8 win today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) game.

Dennis Crowley, a lefty, went the distance for Team Blue to pick up the win in a game which lasted two hours and six minutes with the temperature hovering around 100 degrees.

Doc Thompson led the way for Team Blue with three hits in four trips to the plate and drove in seven runs, while teammate Archie Burke drove in three runs without the benefit of a hit. Mike Steele, playing in his last game this summer, went 3 for 4 -- including a triple, and caught the entire game behind the plate for Team White. Pigpen Price went 2 for 4 with three RBI and Jesse Ochoa knocked in three runs as well for Team White. Ochoa was on base all four times, going 1 for 1 with three walks.

The Team White pitching staff struggled through out the game. Ochoa started the game, but gave way to Price with two outs in the second inning. Ochoa was charged with seven runs and Price allowed eight runs in his 4 1/3 innings of work.

As for Steele, a school teacher, it's been an enjoyable summer on the ball field. "I love playing with the guys. It's been fun." As a member of the TOTS, it's not unusual to have a roster with players who still work for a living or are winter visitors and get to play only from October to April.

As for Price, who has pitched twice in one week. "i'm going to go home and rest my arm."

One thing is for sure, the TOTS will be back in action next week no matter what the temperature is.

Go, TOTS!

Photos: 1)Mike Steele 2) Doc Thompson 3) Archie Burke