Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
Ray Garcia, 68, could be shoveling snow in New York City today, instead he's swinging a baseball bat at Udall Park, on the east side of Tucson, as a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.
Every year, Garcia spends at least three months in Tucson playing baseball and in his first two games back this year, he finds himself playing in 75-degree weather, under a clear blue sky and the only snow visible is directly north of Udall on the mountaintops of the Catalinas.
Garcia is, to say the least, sizzling at the plate. A former cigarette salesman, Garcia has lit up the TOTS' pitchers with seven hits in eight trips to the plate in two games at Udall this week -- including a 4 for 5 effort today as Team White knocked off Team Blue, 7-3.
"I hope to stay around until late April this year," said Garcia, who obviously is in no hurry to get back to New York where a strong nor'easter has canvassed the city and the surrounding areas with two feet of snow.
Meanwhile, Reed Palmer, the starting pitcher for Team White today, is happy to have Ray back in town. Garcia led off today and scored three of Team White's seven runs, while Palmer allowed just one earned run and went the distance for the win. Brad Vermeer pitched six innings for Team Blue and absorbed the loss.
By the way, Palmer helped himself at the plate with a 3 for 4 day and four RBI. Everyone in the starting lineup hit safely for Team White today as they collected 14 hits, while Palmer limited Team Blue to just 11 hits with Pete Peters and Dave Byars collecting three hits apiece for the losing team.
With two games in the books this week, the TOTS will finish out the week with a game on Friday at Udall. Game time: 10 a.m.
Photo: Ray Garcia
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