Pitch counts of an oldtimer

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Okay, sports fans. Do you want to know how many pitches a pitcher throws in a typical 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) game at Udall Park.

Well, not really, you might say. So, okay. I'll tell you anyway. Be prepared to be blown away.

The TOTS play seven-inning games. Now, at the Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL) World Series in Phoenix every year, it's still nine innings. Still regular baseball. But at Udall Park on Monday, Wednesday and Friday the TOTS play seven-inning affairs, rain or shine, and if the game ends up in a tie, well it ends up in a tie.

As for the pitchers, take today's game for example. Team Blue had 69-year-old right-hander Bob Daliege on the mound and Team White countered with a 72-year-old lefty, Ron Petersen.

Team Blue won the game 12-4, resulting in a pitching victory for Daliege and Petersen was saddled with the loss. As for the pitch count: Daliege threw 125 pitches, while Petersen was not too far behind with a grand total of 118. That's 243 pitches in seven innings between the two and the game took a little over two hours to play.

There you have it. Mind boggling you say.

Daliege, after his win today said, "I tried to mix up my pitches today. Unfortunately, I walked too many."

Still, in the eyes of a TOT, a win is a win.

Petersen took the loss in stride. "I just couldn't get on a roll today." Petersen said, while sitting on a stool, toweling down, just moments after a two-hour pitching performance.

Putting it all into perspective sports fans. How many 70-somethings get up every morning, take to the mound and throw over 100 pitches in a baseball game? That's good to know, you might say.

In fact, you might add, that's just plain crazy.

Petersen added. "I go home and ice down my arm, just like the pros do. It takes a few days to recover."

And make no bones about it, the TOTS' hurlers will wait their turn and return to the mound next week, if called upon.

Pitch counts! Who on the TOTS worries about pitch counts?

Absolutely, no one. Many of the 60-and-over members of the TOTS have a hard enough time counting, anyway.

Photos: The pitchers of record today. Ron Petersen (top) -- 118 pitches, Bob Daliege (bottom) -- 125 pitches.