Palmer shuts down Team Blue, 6-3

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over-baseball

Reed Palmer makes a lot of noise when he bats. Palmer, the Tucson Old Timers current home run record holder, is a force to be reckoned with when he takes the mound as well.

Today at Udall Park, Palmer led Team White to a 6-3 win over Team Blue as he effectively mixed in his fastball with a change up and a menacing curve ball.

The fast-paced seven-inning game was played in 90 minutes, thanks to Palmer's control on the mound and Team Blue's right-hander Pete Maldonado, who mirrored Palmer for most of the game. Both pitchers threw nothing but strikes.

"I tried to throw a lot of strikes today, but they still hit me hard at times," Palmer said

As for Maldonado, he loves to throw strikes. "I hate to walk anybody."

Thus, the reason why the game was played at such a speedy clip.

Needless to say, both teams had trouble putting a lot of runs on the board. Lloyd Barzell and  John Mathews led Team White with two hits apiece, while Pete Peters and Ron Ryan managed two hits apiece for Team Blue.

The play of the day was turned in by Peters, who played left field for Team Blue. Peters took away a hit off the bat of Pigpen Price with a shoestring catch in the sixth inning. Peters grinned, "Pigpen's not talking to me right now."

Dan Boxberger, who caught the offerings from Palmer, had a nice game behind the plate, including a play behind home plate where he hauled in a high pop up to snuff out a Team Blue rally.

Rain is in the forecast for Friday. The TOTS hope to get the game in at Udall. Game time is set for 10a.m. Today was the last day of the 70-degree weather for the month as the forecast for the remaining days in February predict temperatures in the middle 50s and more rain.

Photo: Palmer at work.