Rupert 8 for 8 in last 3 TOTS' games

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team Blue  9  Team White  5

Mark Rupert, 69, has been on fire at the plate in his last three games with the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) -- including a 3 for 3 day along with three RBI at Udall Park today -- as he led Team Blue to a 9-5 win over Team White.

Rupert  (photo left) is 8 for 8 in his last three games and is suddenly becoming one of the club's most consistent hitters. During that three-game stretch, Rupert has scored five runs, knocked in four runs, walked once, hit a sacrifice fly and was hit by a pitch.

Today, Rupert batted leadoff and his teammates followed his lead with another nine hits as lefty Dennis Crowley went the distance for the win. Rick Bitzer, Brack Whitaker and Jimmy Kinion chipped in two hits apiece, while Mike Steele, John Cooke and Crowley also hit safely.

Brad Vermeer pitched six innings for Team White and was saddled with the loss. Team White did have 12 hits as well with Roger Beebe leading the way with three hits. Ken Nebesny, John Mathews and Ron Ryan collected two hits apiece, while Mike Dawson, Bill Mishler and Chuck Sabalos also hit safely.

Team White led 3-1 after one inning of play, but Team Blue added three runs in the second, a run in the fourth, another run in the fifth and three insurance runs in the top of the sixth. Team White plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth to complete the scoring.

The TOTS will finish out the week with a a game at Udall on Friday. Game time: 9 AM.