Palmer's walk-off homer in 7th gives Team White 9-7 win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Reed Palmer hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Team White a 9-7 win over Team Blue in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers baseball game today at Udall Park. It was Palmer's 17th home run of the year as he closes in on his club record of 21 homers hit in 2017.

It took Palmer 12 months in 2017 to hit his 21 round-trippers. Mind boggling. The TOTS still have two more games left in the month of April and Palmer is in line to hit 51 homers by the end of the current season, which comes to a close at the end of December.

Today's crazy finish including a pitching victory for Team White rookie Brad Vermeer, who relieved lefty John Mathews in the top of the seventh inning. Vermeer, in his first ever trip to the mound for the TOTS, surrendered four runs as Team Blue pulled even at 7-7. In the bottom of the seventh, Team Blue's Pete Maldonado got the first two outs easy enough, but then Pete Peters followed with a single and came around to score on Palmer's blast over the center field fence.

The familiar home run trot by Palmer ensued and Team White picked up the victory.

Thus a pitching victory for Vermeer, who commented before he unleashed his first fastball today. "This is my first try at pitching and it may turn out to be my last."

Sometimes things just work out. Vermeer now has a career won-lost record of 1-0 with the TOTS.

The TOTS return to action on Friday at Udall. Game time: 9 a.m.

Photo: Brad Vermeer, who picked up the pitching victory today in relief of Team White's starter John Mathews.