Life As We Know It: softball

Showing posts with label softball. Show all posts

How Did That Happen?!

At least 12 hours have passed and in that time, I have countlessly questioned myself. I'm still wondering how 'it' happened? I'm totally perplexed, I tell you! Which, if you know me well, you understand that I have been perplexed for most of my life about at least one or a dozen things. But back to the biggest current question... How did that happen?! How is it that I, a total non-sport participating person, actually started to like playing softball?? What was it that tipped me over the edge? In all of my 42 years, I have never enjoyed playing sports. And now, even though I ran like a turtle, got numerous outs, and am more sore today than I was after all three of my children's births put together--honestly, I really and truly enjoyed myself.

Last night, the team played a double-header. Never mind that the opposing teams were literally half our age, we had a great time and almost won! Dirk got a home run and ran it like a pro! The last game finished with a 7-10 loss but all I could see was a bunch of winners...which brought me to tears. Both of my 'surrogate' sons came up to me and told me I did a good job. Now we all know the truth, I wasn't very good, but their words hit me in the heart. Dirk thought I was crying because I struck out. (Mind you, I'm not that into the game!) I will miss my team more than words can say. People always say they will visit and all that stuff when a person moves but we've moved around enough to understand the most well meaning words are rarely acted on. So when I walked off the field and realized that I actually liked playing softball, I now realize the reason I most likely began to like it was because I love the people I played with...and I will miss them so very much.

Another Monday At The Ball Field...

I decided it would be best to blog about our latest softball game now, when the pain is at it's peak and before my brain gets too fuzzy...

So, this week I played catcher. Not a bad thing at all. Stand behind the batter and pretend to look like I know what is going on. No problem! Less running and all that means a lot to a girl like me--one who runs about as fast as a turtle. All was going well in this position until I accidently threw the ball and it bounced and hit an unfortunate location on the pitcher. Oopsie, to say the least! I got a couple of hits but was out before I got to first base--it's the turtle thing again! Ugh! My shins started hurting about the second out and just kept right on getting more intense as the night wore on and on and on... Dirk also played tonight as pitcher and third baseman. (By the time I made the little throwing error, Dirk was playing third base. whew!) He did get a nasty scrape on his leg from sliding in to third but he looked really good doing it. I mean really good!

After limping home and once again realizing, I could almost be the mother of most of my teammates, I ran a warm bath and sank into the blessed warmth of relief for my aching muscles and miscellaneous body parts. Unfortunately, the warm water only lasted so long and then it was time to not so gracefully get myself out of the tub and onto dry land.

My friend just called and informed me that we left the game too early since the next team playing was short three girls and I could have played another game... I can only ask, "How can you not believe there is a God when He alone was able to get us out of the ball park before that catastrophe?" Thank you, God! And not just for the fun I'm having, but all your love and mercy too!

It Wasn't So Bad After All

Yesterday a couple of friends sent me into sheer panic mode. I knew it was something that could possibly happen at some distant point in time but it wasn't something that I was preparing for. Then out of the blue, the call comes in from my chuckling, mischievous friend. "Oh, by the way," she says. "Atheena can't play ball tonight so you have to take her place." Yep, those were her words. Never mind that my head began to spin and my eyes dialated. She just smiled and continued saying some things that I can no long remember because my thoughts were stuck on the movie going through my head of me taking a major hit in the face with a ball going 100 miles per hour. So for the rest of the day, I prayed that Atheena would show up after all. I even talked to another friend/traitor/girl on the team and told her to pray for an actual sportswoman to come take my place. This 'friend' just laughed and basically told me to suck it up and take one for the team. She also told me I owed it to her for moving away. Ok, so they asked for it and they got it.

Here we have 'friend' #1 who started this whole heart palpatation thing. And on a MONDAY, no less! (that's me in the background looking clueless.)

Here is 'friend' #2 in the back ground behind Coach/Actual Sportsman Matt.

And here is me, the hopelessly bewildered player who thanks to her son's prayers--and only because of her son's prayers--was able to hit the ball and help with an RBI (which I have no idea what is). I was out both times at bat but I didn't strike out, which they tell me is a big difference too.

It was at this time that I found out another girl on the team is moving away so they will need a permanent full time player to finish the season. There were a couple of so-called friends who were giving me the eye and chuckling deviously again... I think I'm going to start stretching now in case I have to play next week. Well, maybe I'll do it later, staying in my pajamas till noon and venting in this post is more important right now.