23-hit attack leads Team Blue to 15-9 TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Anytime the first eight batters in a baseball lineup can combine for 23 hits then chances are that team will put a "W" on the scoreboard.

That's exactly what happened at Udall Park this morning as Team Blue rolled to a 15-9 win over Team White in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

The hot-hitting newcomer from Albuquerque Mark Rupert, the leadoff batter for Team Blue, went 3 for 5 and scored four runs, while the second hitter in the lineup, Dennis Crowley, went 4 for 4, walked once and scored twice. 

And that's just for starters.

Thunder Tim Tolson, batting third in the lineup, went 3 for 5, scored a run and knocked in two runs, while cleanup hitter Reed Palmer scored twice and knocked in four runs with a 3 for 5 performance at the plate. Ernesto Escala followed with four hits, scored four runs and knocked in a run, while Greg Seader, Sam Dean and Ron Ryan added two hits apiece to complete the onslaught at the plate by Team Blue.

In the meantime, Team White's lineup wasn't too shabby as Roger Beebe, Mike Steele, Joe Opocensky, John Cooke and Larry Abramson were a combined 12 for 18 and combined for seven of the nine runs scored.

Opocensky was saddled with the loss today, striking out three and walking four, while Pete Maldonado picked up the win, allowing nine runs and 14 hits. Maldonado struck out three and walked two.

Team White battled through out the game and actually led 9-8 after five innings of play, but Team Blue scored three runs in the sixth and added four insurance runs in the seventh inning to send Team White home with a loss.

The TOTS are back in action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 9 AM.

Photo: Dennis Crowley, a lefty who can spray the ball to all fields, was perfect at the plate today for Team Blue with four hits and a walk.