Let's Play Two!

Over the overpass I went. Along the way I passed abandoned air conditioners and large colorful plastic siding. Walking to Red Hook can be an odd walk if you don't take the right way. I passed a man banging brick walls with a hammer. I passed a burned out car. Through the projects. Girls jumping rope. To the field for some softball.

My first softball action in two years. I warmed up. I shagged some flies. It felt good.

I played right center for awhile without anything happening.

I grounded to short in my first at-bat. Wow, I haven't used those muscles in awhile.

In the 4th, a single to me! I scooped it up and threw it into second.

In the 5th, I smoked a line drive to third -- for a loud out. My team was losing 4-3. I went back out to the field and couldn't understand why my stomach muscles hurt.

In the 6th, I fielded another single cleanly.

In the 7th, we had our last chance trailing 6-3. I was due up 5th. By the time I was up, we had scored two runs and had one out. There was a runner on first. I singled to left (my first hit in two years!) but the runner on first was thrown out going to third. With two outs, I was the tying run on first base.

The next two hitters walked. I was now the tying runner on third. My first game back was exciting! The next hitter went to a full count before striking out and leaving me at third base.

Three and a half hours later and I am mighty sore. My legs, my stomach, my left arm. I would have never have thought that I would get to the point that a game of softball would leave me feeling so awful. Still, if i could play a doubleheader tomorrow, I'd be there. Alas, I am a fill-in, a replacement, an afterthought to teams that might need help - and they ever rarely do. I need to start my own team next season.