Reader here, and as summer goes on, so too does slow-pitch season!
Last time I checked in, we were just kicking off the season, and hope springs eternal. It’s that time of year when everyone is a contender.
I’ve been playing with the “Sons of Pitches” for quite a few years now. It’s a team that started out with many fellow co-workers and friends, and over the years, the lineup has morphed and changed a bit. Though many of the same layers remain, I’m the only member that still works at the station! But you know what? The great thing is that we always have a ton of fun. Sure, we’re competitive and want to win, but we’re not a team that goes out of our way to run up the score on our opposition. Its all about the pursuit of a good time.
We have our own little traditions, with awards for our top offensive and defensive players of the game (usually involving some frosty beverages), and inside jokes and stories. But that’s what makes being part of the team so much fun – the camaraderie and memories!
As far as how we’re doing this season? Well, we’re kind of in our usual spot. We play a 16-game regular season, made up of eight doubleheaders, and through 14 games, we’re 8-6, with one more doubleheader to go, after sweeping our latests double-dip on Tuesday night!
We’re traditionally a middle-of-the-pack kind of team. On our day, when everything is clicking on offense and defense, we can hang with (or beat) anybody. But when we are struggling at the plate and in the field, it can be a long night!
Let’s just say there’s been times it’s a good thing we only play seven-inning games!
I try to make it to as many games as I can. This year I’ve missed a few, due to some vacation time earlier in the season, or being tied up with work. Most years, I’m at pretty much every game, but the stars didn’t quite align every night this season. But I’ll be around to wrap up the regular season on Monday night. The only downside is that playoffs seem to always fall when I’m away out of town on vacation. Hopefully the schedule works in my favour and I can be around for the playoff run, however long it may be. Over the years, we’ve had a habit of going “one and done” in the postseason, though a few years ago, we did win the “B-Side” championship – our crowning achievement to date!
Ultimately, it’s about having fun, staying about, and having a great time with friends.
I’m getting a little older now (I’ll be 47 in a couple of weeks), but I’ll keep playing as long as I can, legging out grounders trying to beat the throw at first, lunging after grounders, cranking my trademark base hits between second and short, taking balls off the ankle, or stretching out to snag a throw at first to get the out.
The playoff push is here. Go Pitches!
And just for fun, one of my favourite baseball-related scenes from the annals of Hollywood!
