Back on the Diamond

I have played softball for as long as I can remember. The sight of the red clay, the smell of sweat, the dry feeling on your skin as you slide into home...it all makes me smile. I feel like a little kid at recess when I am on the softball diamond.

Being new to the area, I have been trying to get involved in any and all aspects of the community. It is hard to meet people if you stay in your room all day. One of the activities I joined was a softball team. I searched on Craig's List for a team and was luckily enough to find not only a team but a team that was totally sponsored...even better. They were happy to have a girl join the team that had played before and that was new to the area. Most of people on the team, have made a move and realized how hard it is to meet new people, so it is kind of like they are taking me under their wing.

We are sponsored by the restaurant Red Robin. Some of the team actually does work for them, but most of them are young professionals, ranging anywhere from attorneys to photographers.
The group as a whole are fun, active and energetic. Exactly, the type that I like to hang out with. However, our softball skills need a little fine tuning. I am pitching, which in itself is pretty hysterical. The mound is 48 feet from home plate (which is crazy!) The league has a few funny rules, like you have to bat boy/girl or girl/boy every other turn or automatic out, you have to base coaches at all times or automatic out, you actually do get a full at bat (I am use to the 1-1 start, and would actually prefer that since I am pitching).

We lost our first game...It was down right ugly, yet we had a good time. It is obvious that this team is about having fun before, during and after the game...if they win that is just an added bonus. Unfortunately, we lost our first game badly. Our outfield couldn't buy a catch, we had one girl playing right field who fessed up in the forth inning that she couldn't see the ball, the third baseman didn't understand why some outs are forced yet some need to tag the runner. Our hitting as a team was even more comical. I went 3-4 with three line drives to left field. At one point in the game I slid into home, was thrown out. I got up ran in to the dug out and our right fielder looks at me and said "do they expect us all to slide into home?" Lets just say, its a good thing she is cute. :)

All in all, I was pretty pleased with my performance. I need to get a little better with my base running skills, but I think that was as simple as I was out of practice. We play every Thursday night, so I am sure to get back into the swing of things in know time at all. Pray that we win at least one.