Team White's late-inning rally at Udall petered out

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Pistol Pete Peters, 69, is still one of the toughest outs on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

Year after year, Peters consistently ends up in the top ten in hits on the TOTS. A contact hitter who rarely strikes out.

Today was the day for a "swinging K."

Team White trailed Team Blue 6-2 at Udall this morning. It was the final at bat for Team White and with two outs and three runs across the game was getting very interesting. In stepped the unflappable Peters to face Team Blue's lefty Dennis Crowley, who was one out away from a win.

Crowley quickly had Peters in the hole with two strikes and he followed up with a fastball right down the middle. Peters swung and came up empty. "It doesn't happen very often," Peters said, after the game, which turned out to be a 6-5 victory for Team Blue.

As usual, Pete's teammates gave him plenty of flack. It kind of goes with the territory when you're a member of the TOTS.

Strike outs happen. Peters would just as soon not have another "whiff" for a while.

Chances are Peters will take it out on the next TOTS' hurler when the players return to Udall on Monday for another crack at playing baseball, but for now he'll continue to take a little guff from his teammates. All the jibes like: "Pete petered out at the plate" will soon be forgotten.

Today shortstop Lloyd Barzell went 3 for 3 for Team Blue and Ted Davis knocked in three runs, while Pigpen Price led Team White with a 2 for 2 day. Crowley carried a one-hitter into the fourth inning as the Team White hitters failed to put together a rally until their final at bat.

The TOTS have games scheduled for next Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Udall. All games get underway at 9 a.m. Monday is the TOTS' third-quarter birthday game as all players wear their uniforms and partake in a picnic following the game at 11:30 a.m. and celebrate all the players birthdays from July to September.

Go, TOTS!