So as the boys of summer gear up for another season of America’s game, we dreamers suited up for game two of our spring season. I only fielded 2 of the 5 innings, but felt much better this time around. I didn’t handle the ball as much as I would have liked, but simply felt more comfortable back in the position.
There was this great play in the second inning. The batter put a shot in to center left, and the runner on first came around second, heading to third. A great throw by Keith, the center-left fielder, combined with a second great throw by Gary, playing shortstop and acting as the cutoff man, nailed the runner while she was still two steps from the bag. It felt really good. Except for the knee she put in the side of my right leg, just below my knee. I didn’t know until about an hour later how big of a bruise I had. I know she didn’t do it intentionally, it’s just one of those breaks of the game, and my first injury of the season.
At the plate, I had a better day, going 2 for 3. No RBIs again, but that’s what happens when for one of those at-bats you’re the first man at the plate for the inning. The second injury of the season came during the fifth, and last, inning, when I scraped up my right shin while mis-sliding in to second. Still beat the tag, and it’s just that top layer or two of skin, which will scab over relatively quickly, so it’s a small price to pay.
The team we played is probably our favorite team to play against. I don’t mean that in any sort of insulting way, like they’re an easy win or anything. It’s the team from Flower Mound UMC, and they’re just a fun group of folks to play against. I see similar affections amongst the teammates, and we enjoy a certain good-natured ribbing and conversation with them during and after the game that we just don’t have with any of the other teams. I see them as kindred spirits; it’s great to win, and you play to win, but you really just want to have a good time playing ball. Truth be told, so long as they’re not playing us, I root for these guys and gals.
In the end, we managed to outlast them. After we went up huge in the third, FM UMC began a comeback, and looked to be on the verge of pulling it off in the bottom of the fifth. Our defense held and the final score was 15-11, putting us at 2-0 with 10 games left to play. Still a lot of season to go…
Retrophisch