Billy's back!

 Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Billy's back!

Billy Heiny, 91, after a year away from the playing field, returned today and played two innings at second base, batted once, grounding out to second base, and then spent the rest of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game as a pinch runner.

Not bad for a Tucson Old Timer who turns 92 in August.

"I'm glad to be back, but I have a hard time seeing the ball," said Heiny, a member of the TOTS since 1995."I'm not sure how much more playing time I'll have as a TOT, but it's sure fun being back with the guys."

As for today's game, Team White knocked off Team Blue at Udall Park 12-6 as right-hander Joe Opocensky went the distance to pick up the win, while Brad Vermeer was saddled with the loss.

Mike Dawson went 4 for 4 and drove in five runs, while lead-off hitter Dennis Crowley and the hard-hitting John Mathews both went 3 for 4 to lead Team White. Reed Palmer, who hit his sixth and seventh home runs of the year recently, didn't knock one out of the park today, but did go 3 for 3 and drove in  three runs for Team Blue.

Team Blue didn't get the win today, but they did field the tallest outfield ever for the TOTS' organization -- 6-foot-4 left fielder Kurt Helms, the 6-6 centerfielder Palmer and 6-foot-3 right fielder David Hurley.

Photo: Billy Heiny