Nebesny gets his first TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Ken Nebesny, 61, the second youngest and one of five players to join the TOTS in 2018, got his call to the mound today at Udall Park. Nebesny pitched into the fifth inning and picked up the win as his team, Team Blue, beat Team White, 16-10.

"I threw a lot of pitches," said Nebesny. "It felt like I was shot putting the ball up there in the fifth inning."

Still, Nebesny got the job done with a little relief help from Mike Dawson, who hurled 3 1/3 innings to pick up the save. Nebesny's teammates helped him out defensively and offensively as John Mathews, Tim Tolson and Dawson combined for 11 key hits in the game. Mathews was the big run producer with six RBI.

The highlight of the day came from 89-year-old Billy Heiny. Team White had a few injuries and Heiny was asked to pinch run not once, not twice, but three times. He scored all three times. Joe Opocensky was one of the big guns at the plate for Team White with three hits and a walk.

But the game belonged to Nebesny. Chances are Nebesny will be back on the mound soon as the organization is always looking for players to toe the rubber. "It was time for me to get out of there in the fifth inning," Nebesny. "It's not good to start walking people."

Way to go, Ken!

The TOTS will close out the week at Udall Park on Friday. Game time: 10 a.m.

Photo: Nebesny