Take Me Out to the Ball Game

I started playing softball last night...it's a rec league, and I basically made my friend K sign up with me, because what the hell else are we going to do in this city during the summer? (besides lots of things). I used to play softball back in the day, and I was pretty good, but I was a little scared that all my old skills wouldn't come back to me. I wasn't wrong about this fear, in fact, softball is a little bit scary when you haven't played it in about oh, ten years. When I was little, I didn't worry about getting beamed in the head by a ball while running around the bases, but last night, it was all I could think about while I was out there, running from base to base. When I was 11, I didn't think that while going to catch that grounder, the ball might just keep on rolling up my glove and smack me in the face...last night I thought about it several times, once while moving AWAY from the ball heading in my direction. I fear the lack of helmets in this league. Would it look silly if I was the only one in the entire game wearing a helmet?

We got there a little late because we couldn't find the park, (I am quite possibly the most directionally challenged person I know...oh, you mean the park I've only been to about 18000 times in my life? I have NO idea where that is...). Anyway, we were late, so by the time we got there, we didn't have a chance to warm up, throw a ball, meet our teammates...it was basically like, "what position do you play?", and then we were out in the field.

When presented with the "what position do you play question", I immediately responded "somewhere in the field to start", because we all know that not much happens in the field, except in this league where apparently MOST THINGS happen in the field.

Our team may or may not have reminded me a little bit of this (minus the super awesome girl)


There was a lot of running after balls, and horrible girl throws, but I"m chalking that up to first game jitters, and the fact that we badly need to practice. I got to bat twice, and I found that I am still fairly good at hitting the ball....I managed to make it to first base twice. I also managed to hurt my wrist, which is kind of embarrassing because who injures themselves playing softball?

I"m pretty sure the final score was 40 to 2 for the other team, and the only reason they didn't beat us by more was because there is a six run mercy rule per inning. Also, our team is called The Backstabbers, because there were two unfortunate incidents in which a member of our team threw the ball and pegged someone in the back. The one time I was way out in right field and the person was running from second to third and I HEARD the thunk as the ball hit their back. Ouchy.

None the less, I had a great time. I forgot how much I really love softball, and how much I enjoy team sports. I was so excited to break out my baseball mitt again...my hand still fits perfectly. Love it.

I think our team will improve, I mean, we had JUST met each other, so I think we did pretty good considering. I guess all that matters is that it is fun, although, it would be nice to win at least one game this season! Goooooo Backstabbers!