TOTS' lefty bends but does not break

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

It was hot and humid and Team White lefty John Mathews was struggling on the mound.

But Mathews, 61,  somehow escaped from his control problems and found a way to get the final out to hold off Team Blue for a 14-13 hard-fought win at Udall Park this morning.

"I think I walked everybody twice," Mathews said jokingly, after the game.

It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win as Mathews picked up his second pitching victory in the month of July. Mathews and Team White plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and turned a 10-9 deficit into a 14-10 lead.

Ted Davis and Mathews led the way at the plate for Team White. Davis contributed two doubles, walked twice and drove in four runs on the day while Mathews went 3 for 3 to help his own cause.

During the five-run fifth inning, Team White picked up a couple of key hits -- one from newcomer Phil Gordon and another from 91-year-old Floyd Lance.

Still, Team Blue came to bat in the final inning and had hopes of regaining the lead or at least tie the game and force another at bat for Team White. Mathews walked four batters in the final inning and Team Blue pulled to within one at 14-13 with only one out. With the bases loaded and the count 2-0 on 79-year-old lefty Denny Leonard, the next pitch by Mathews was right down the middle. Leonard swung and hit a come-backer to Mathews, who threw home for the force out.  Team White catcher Bob Daliege caught the ball and unleashed a perfect throw to first in time to double up Leonard and end the game.

The TOTS will take the weekend off and return to action on Monday at Udall. Game time 9 a.m.