TOTS' Labor Day Game a close one

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers held their Labor Day Game this morning at Udall Park.

It turned in to a battle til the end and a 3-2 win for Team Blue.

Team Blue scored a run in the first, another in the third and another in the fifth. They started right-hander Joe Opocensky, who gave way to Lloyd Barzell in the fifth and Tim Boyd in the sixth, while Mike Dawson went the distance for Team White.

Doc Thompson led the way at the plate for Team Blue with a perfect 3 for 3 day, while Pigpen Price singled in two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning for Team White.

In the top of the sixth, Team Blue failed to score and Team White came to bat needing two runs for a come-from-behind win. With a runner on third and two outs, it looked like Team White had Team Blue just where they wanted them. Team White's home run threat Reed Palmer, who leads the club with 16 round trippers this season, stepped to the plate to face Boyd.

The Team Blue outfielders scampered to the edge of the warning track and waited for one of Palmer's hefty swings. The lanky left-hander found the pitch he wanted and delivered a mighty blow to deep right field.

Team Blue's right fielder Brad Vermeer positioned himself two feet from the fence, shaded his eyes from the sun and made the catch to end the game. It looked like Palmer had hit his 17th homer of the year for sure. Instead, it turned out to be just a long and deep fly ball out.

Another game in the books for the Tucson Old Timers.

The TOTS return to action at Udall on Wednesday and Friday. Game times: 9 a.m.