4-run top of 7th leads to 11-9 TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Another close one at Udall Park.

This time Team Blue plated four runs in the top of the seventh inning this morning and went on to a hard-fought 11-9 win over Team White in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

Joe Opocensky (2-1) was going for his third straight win and locked horns with Team Blue's Pete Maldonado. Today, Maldonado picked up the "W" and Opocensky was saddled with the loss.

In the top of the seventh, Lloyd Barzell and Reed Palmer doubled, followed by a single by Doc Thompson as Team White turned a 8-7 deficit into a three-run lead. Team Blue's final run in the inning came from Palmer, who scored from third when Team White's third-baseman Pigpen Price backhanded a smash off the bat of Pete Peters. The throw home was too late and Team White enjoyed a 11-8 advantage.

In the bottom of the seventh, Team Blue scored a run, but with two outs and runners at the corners  Price bounced out to short to end the game.

"I had a chance to be the hero, but I couldn't get the job done," said Price, who went 2 for 4 but failed to get the key hit of the game for Team White.

Still, another competitive game by the 60-and-over TOTS. The TOTS close out the week with a game on Friday at Udall Park. First pitch at 9 a.m.

Photo: Maldonado, today's winning pitcher.