Palmer hits No. 6

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Reed Palmer hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Team White went on to a 11-4 win over Team Blue today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game at Udall Park. Palmer's blast was his third home run this month and sixth of the season.

Palmer, the club leader in home runs the past three seasons, is making up for lost time as the TOTS spent 2 1/2 months away from the ball field due to the coronavirus. Palmer has his home run trot back and is looking for more.

It's okay with pitcher Mike Dawson, who benefited from Palmer's 4 for 4 performance today, which included a single and two doubles to go along with the first-inning homer over the right field fence. Dawson kept pace with Palmer as he also went 4 for 4 and drove in four runs. First baseman John Mathews contributed three hits and catcher Mike Steele added to Team White's hitting attack with another three hits as Team White scattered 19 hits around the confines of Udall Park.

Meanwhile, Dawson breezed through seven innings of work, while Team Blue's Pete Maldonado was saddled with the loss. Roger Beebe, the leadoff batter for Team Blue, went 3 for 4 and Joe Opocensky collected two hits and drove in two of his team's four runs.

The TOTS will continue with their 8:30 a.m. starting time on Friday as they try to beat the heat. The temperature is expected to reach 107 by mid-afternoon. Hopefully, the TOTS' seven-inning game will be in the books by 11:00 a.m.

Today's boxscore:

Team White  11  Team Blue  4