Mathews goes 5 for 5 in TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Big John Mathews is back.

Back doing what he used to do and that's hit with power to all fields.

After battling medical issues for most of the winter, Mathews returned to form today with five hits in five trips to the plate. He knocked in four runs and scored three times to lead Team White to a 13-3 thumping over Team Blue in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game at Udall Park.

Mathews, 63, decided to grow a beard this winter. Since the hard-hitting, right-handed hitter has grown the facial hair, he looks even more intimidating when he steps to the plate to face the TOTS' pitchers. Today he faced one of the TOTS' top hurlers -- the hard-throwing Reed Palmer.

Mathews slashed hits to left, center and right field off Palmer, while two of his teammates -- Mike Dawson and Tim Tolson also hit well. Dawson with three hits today and Tolson went 4 for 5 and kept the Team Blue fielders busy. Dawson picked up the pitching victory and all three runs by Team Blue were unearned.

It's been a long winter for another TOT. Pigpen Price, 74,  has been nursing neck and hamstring injuries since October.

"I can't say I've battled back, not like John," says Price. "Nothing is working. I have a lot of days that I go hitless and my fielding is erratic. I'm just the opposite of John."

Medical issues are common with the TOTS' players. "It goes with the territory," Price adds. "It seems like the older you get, the harder it is to battle back from injuries or an illness."

But you can always count on a TOT bouncing back.

The TOTS will take the weekend off and return to action on Monday at Udall. Game time: 10 a.m.

Photo: Mathews