Thompson gets a hard-earned win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team White jumped on Team Blue's starter Lloyd Barzell with a five-run first inning and then held on  for a 7-5 win as hard-throwing right-hander Doc Thompson went the distance in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game this morning at Udall Park.

The first six batters for Team White -- Pigpen Price, Mike Steele, Reed Palmer, Dennis Crowley, Dave Byars and Thompson -- hit safely to start the game. The first five batters crossed the plate before the final out of the inning was made as Thompson headed for the mound in the second inning  with a big lead.

Team White added insurance runs in the third and the fifth, while Team Blue tried their best to chip away at the lead -- included two runs in the seventh to pull within two. A ground out to Palmer at short ended the game and left two runners stranded.

John Mathews collected two hits and knocked in two runs for the losing team. Team White's Palmer went 3 for 3 with two RBI and Price, back in action after a 50-day layoff due to a hamstring tear, went 3 for 4, scored a run and knocked in a run.

"I'm glad to be back out there," Price said. "It's been a long 50 days."

The catch of the day: Team White's 88-year-old second baseman Billy Heiny backed up, gloved a high hopper on the edge of the grass in the third inning and threw the runner out at first base.

The TOTS will be back in action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.

Photo: Today's winning pitcher Doc Thompson.