The ageless groundout

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

In the second inning of today's 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game at Udall Park a play occurred involving two ageless wonders -- 89-year-old second baseman Billy "Doc" Heiny and 93-year-old Pretty Boy Floyd Lance.

Lance, who turns 94 in September, stepped to the plate to face Team White's Mike Dawson. Heiny, who turns 90 in August, positioned himself at second. Lance drilled a two-hopper to Heiny and the former dentist clamped down on the grounder and made the throw to first, just in time to nip the TOTS' oldest player for a 4-3 putout.

Now any baseball fan would have to search far and wide to find a game where two players with a combined age of 182 were involved in such a play. In fact, chances are such a play will only occur when it involves the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, one of the oldest, if not the oldest amateur baseball team in the country. A 4-3 putout by a couple of old-timers can be considered a normal "happening" at Udall Park.

In today's game Lance's team, Team Blue,  rolled to a 14-3 win over Team White. Lance out hit his buddy, Billy, today with a sharp single in his next at bat in the fourth inning. Billy went hitless, at least on this day.

There were still plenty of hits in this one as Ron Petersen went 4 for 4, while Arnie White and John Mathews were a combined 6 for 6 to lead Team Blue to an easy win. On the mound for Team Blue was Joe Opocensky, who tossed a three-hit shutout in to the seventh inning.

Team White managed to ruin Opocensky's shutout in the bottom of the seventh when they put together a three-run rally with four straight hits. Opocensky settled down and got out of the inning without any further damage. He finished the game with four strike outs and just one walk.

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

Heiny, Lance and the rest of the TOTS will be another 48 hours older on Wednesday and ready to play ball again. There are plenty of outs left out there and the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers will do their best to make the play...again...and again and again.

Photos: Heiny (top photo), Lance (bottom).