It wasn't just another game...

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Udall Park

Team Blue won today's game at Udall Park 5-3 over Team White.

It wasn't just another game. It was during the middle of the week -- a Wednesday game to be more specific. The cars pulled into the parking lot around 9 a.m. Warmups and batting practice followed with the 60-and-over players all taking their turn at the plate -- 11 swings each as the players made contact and sent the ball flying to all parts of the field.

Then the game began. Two hours of non-stop action with a bunch of old timers trying their best to put  runs on the scoreboard. There were no winners or losers in this one. The visiting team won by two, thanks to a couple of key hits from 61-year-old Reed Palmer and 72-year-old Ron Petersen. The losing team gave it their all -- David Byars 70, hit the ball hard every time up and, as usual, Thunder Tim Tolson, 65, one of the younger players on the TOTS,  drilled a couple of shots to the gap in left and right-center field.

Palmer pitched a complete game and threw hard fastballs to the plate time after time, while Big John Mathews pitched seven innings for the losing team and did the same -- mixing his fastball with an occasional knuckle ball --  a pitch which danced to the plate and kept the hitters frustrated.

A 70-year old tracked down a fly ball, an 80-year-old chased a ball or two to the fence and a few 60-somethings made the plays of the day (only because they are a wee bit younger than most of their teammates).

A few players headed for the local tavern after the game and threw down a couple of cold ones and relived  the plays of the game --  an easy fly ball, which magically turned into a shoestring catch, or better yet,  a slow roller, which magically became a backhanded stab.

The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers living the dream of playing baseball.

It all begins again on Friday. You gotta love it!
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