"Have an eye at the plate, Miguel!"

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

During the middle innings of a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) game at Udall Park today, the teammates of Miguel Urtaza yelled out."Miguel, have an eye at the plate. Wait for a good pitch."

In an old timers' game sometimes things don't always work out the way you want it to.

Miguel, 74, waited for a good pitch down the middle from Team Blue's 71-year-old pitcher, Danny "Wild Thing" Price.  Urtaza, now in his second year with the TOTS,  focused -- both eyes on the ball -- just like his teammates had wanted him to do.

The pitch was on its way. A fastball right down the middle. Miguel swung and just got a piece of it. Unfortunately, the ball bounced in the dirt, just off to the left side of the plate, and caromed its way upward, square into Miguel's right cheekbone and just below his right eye.

Down he went. The players gathered around, but within seconds Miguel was on his feet and back in the batter's box. Miguel eventually grounded out to end the inning.

And the beat goes on for Miguel and the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

"I'm okay," Miguel said, as he walked back to the dugout, as if to say, "those things happen, it's just part of the game."

Miguel finished the game as did the players on Team White and Team Blue.

Another slugfest. This time Team White, Miguel's team, prevailed, coming away with an 18-11 win over Team Blue. Bob Daliege, who pitched another complete game for Team White, had a lot of run support in this one as Reed Palmer hit a three-run homer over the right field fence -- his third of the year, while Jesse Ochoa enjoyed another great day at the plate with a 4 for 5 day and four runs batted in.

Palmer finished the game with six RBI. A tough out, to say the least, according to Price, who went the distance for Team Blue and was saddled with the loss.

"It's hard to get the ball by him," Price said, after the game. "He's a tall, lefty with so much power."

Team Blue could never dig themselves out of the hole, especially after Palmer's blast in the second inning. "I guess I threw him the pitch he was looking for," Price said. "We're getting used to his hits leaving the ball park."

The old-timers, like Miguel Urtaza, will forget who won or lost the game and will be back on Friday to play baseball again.

The players will keep an eye out for Miguel. He may have a nice shiner to show off.

Note: A shiner: Better known as a "black eye".

Photo: Miguel Urtaza