Turn out the lights, too much glow for Team White

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Back in the day when Howard Cosell and Don Meredith traded jabs in the NFL announcer's booth, it was always Dandy Don who would bellow out the words, "turn out the lights the party's over" when the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt.

Howard and Don are no longer with us, but the popular phrase is still around and today at Udall Park in a 60-and-over game one team, Team White, wished the lights were off, not on.

Park workers turned the lights on during the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) game this morning, and if nothing else the "light switch" seemed to favor Team Blue as they crushed Team White, 15-0.

It was time for bulb replacement as the workers checked out the lights to see which ones needed to be replaced. After all, the little leaguers are just weeks away from another season of night baseball.

In reality, it wasn't the lights that caused the damage. Instead, it was 61-year-old lefty John Mathews, who threw just enough knuckleballs to confuse the Team White hitters. "I threw maybe 15   knuckelballs," said a smiling Mathews, after the game. "I had a lot of run support and that made it easier."

It seemed like the Team White hitters had little trouble dropping in key hits, while Team Blue seemed to be blinded by the light as Mathews and his assortment of knuckleballs cruised to a shutout win.

Tim Tolson, Chico Bigham and Mathews supplied all the hitting punch Team White would need in this encounter as the trio combined for 10 RBI.

Turn out the lights, the party was over today for Team Blue, but there's always a next game for the TOTS. The old timers regroup at Udall on Friday. Game time 9 a.m. Maybe next game both teams will see the light and it'll be a battle to the end.

Photos: Dandy Don as we remember him and today's winning pitcher for the TOTS, John Mathews.