Playoffs: Main St. Methodists 17, St. John's 6

This gamed sucked. Not because of the score, or because of how I or the team collectively played; this was one of those games that are unfortunately common in any sport or competition - one where a few overly competitive people completely took the fun out of it.

Amongst my teammates there is a father and his two sons. Good people, all of them, but sometimes they take the games way too seriously, and when they do, it can get ugly.

The father, rounding second when the ump called the play dead, was upset that the ump didn't allow him to continue to third. he started yelling and jawing with the ump, and it pretty much lasted the rest of the game. If you have a problem with the ump's decision, I have no problem if someone tells him so, provided the issue is dropped shortly thereafter. Didn't happen in this case. What's ironic is that the father, when he's not playing for our team, is an ump himself. While it means that he has complete knowledge of the rules and was probably right in his argument, he should have known better.

One son got injured during the game and was going to be replaced. He refused to come out, after we had informed the team of the switch. This caused some confusion that resulted in us batting out of order.

The other son is one of the cockiest people I can think of. He plays within the rules of the game, but he plays to win, even if that means not listening to his teammates or taking out a fielder to reach base safely. Today, he got a hit and made it to second. Rather than listen to the base coaches and hold there, he decides to take off for third, and ends up getting caught in a rundown. He ended up sliding/bowling into the first baseman, preventing him from fielding the ball cleanly and causing him to fall. Yeah, sure he was safe, but it wasn't worth potentially hurting someone. He also ended up swearing at the ump when a play didn't go his way.

It was embarrassing. I was ashamed to be on that team. This is a recreational softball league. There are no trophies, no prize money, no fame and fortune. If you can't play and have fun, win or lose, you shouldn't be playing. We were representing a church! We were playing another church! It was sad and it bugged me to no end.

So that's the end of of our season. We played well, but inconsistantly. I managed to end up with an average over .300, which was one of my goals for the year. (The other, to hit the ball out of the infield, didn't happen. What can I say, I'm a line drive hitter with no power.) The only thing left if the eventual end of the summer pool party. Although there is a kickball league starting up in the fall...

My Season Totals: 5-16 (.312 Ave.) 5 BB, 5 R, 1 RBI

Benchwarmers: A Lot, St. John's: A Little

We played our last regular season game today, and lost once again to the dreaded Slaughter Rule. I had a horrible game striking out twice and having my only two fielding chances end up a fraction of what they could have been. The first, I just tipped a screamer down the first base line that almost took the glove right off my hand. I knew I could have gotten it. Granted, it was hit so hard I might have broken my hand, but still, so close. The other opportunity was a grounder that I fielded cleanly enough, but juggled on the transfer to my throwing hand, allowing the runners to reach safely.

We end our season in third place with a 4-12 record. Fortunately, everyone qualifies for the playoffs regardless of record, so we have at least one more game on Friday. If we win that, we get to play Sunday as well.

My Season: 4-14 (.286), 5 BB, 5 R, 1 RBI

Free Methodist Church 16, St. John's 3

We played another "slaughter Rule" game today. Unfortunately we just couldn't keep it close. On a positive note, I finally got my first RBI of the season, driving in my sister-in-law with a single. I also fielded both chances I got cleanly, even getting a runner out trying to advance to third. We've got one more game to make-up on Monday, then the playoffs start next week Friday.

My Season: 4-12 (.333 Ave), 5 BB, 5 R, 1 RBI

St. John's 10, WWRC 7

Whew, was it ever hot today! It was easily high 80s/low 90s. Unfortunately, our opponents had a game in the sun right before facing us, so I definitely felt sorry for them. Their pitcher threw the ball very flat with some back-swing on it, so he struck out a bunch of us during the game (including me twice). We were able to get some good solid hits off him though.

Personally, this was my best game defensively. I made a fantastic stabbing catch of a line drive to the left of me. I also fielded everything cleanly, except for one ball that hit the third base bag. I need to work on transferring the ball from the glove to my throwing hand and getting the ball to the first baseman. Twice I fielded a grounder and didn't get rid of it in time. At the plate, in addition to the two K's, I did manage a base hit. Alas, I tried to reach second when the first baseman missed the catch, but I was too slow and thrown out at second.

My Season: 3-10 (.300 Ave), 5 BB, 5 R

McClung 20, St. John's 0

To quote the great philosopher Shaggy: "Zoinks!" What more can I say? The hit the ball everywhere our fielders weren't, and we hit right to their players. I had what was probably my best defensive game, fielding 3 balls cleanly, although I did make a mental mistake by throwing to an empty base. I only got one at bat this time around, the last out of the game. From what I've been told, we've played this team 4 times already and lost every one. Here's hoping we rebound on Sunday!

My Season: 2-7 (.286 Ave), 5 BB, 5 R

Main St. Methodiths 8, St. John's 7

Although we lost, this was a fun game. Both teams came back from behind, with our opponents finally winning during the bottom of the last inning, after we had tied it the half-inning before.

I played third, and only had one potential play. I let a high pop-up drop that I should have caught. Fortunately, it was in foul territory, so no harm done. At the plate I went 1-2 with a single and a strikeout (looking too - ugh!) With this hit, my average is now officially over .300, so I feel like I'm actually doing well, even if I have yet to hit the ball out of the infield. All in all, a good, fun game.

My Season: 2-6 (.333 Average), 5 BB, 5 R

McClung ?, St. John's 8

In softball, there is what is known as the "slaughter rule" - if one team is up by 10 or more runs after 5 innings, the game is called. Going into the 4th inning, we were only trailing by a 14-8 score. Then it got ugly, so much so I lost count to how many runs they scored. They may have reached 30 for all I know. Needless to say, we got crushed. What's funny is that St. John's played this same team yesterday and got crushed by them too.

Personally, I didn't do much. I came in as a substitute after the 4th inning, when it was still a game. During McClung's clinic on hitting, I manned 3rd base and didn't have anything hit my way except for a screamer down the 3rd base line I had absolutely no chance at. After their half of the inning we had our last ups, and I didn't get to have an at-bat. Oh well, it happens. Hopefully our next game on Tuesday will be better.

My Season: 1-4 (.250), 5 BB, 5 R

St.John's 18, Main St. Methodists 7

Holy Cow! I'm a lefty! Ok, a little back story - I am not a very good hitter. I stink, to be polite. Well, anyway, back on Mother's Day, we went to the park with Mer's family and decided to get a little practice in. I needed work on my hitting, but despite everyone's best advice, I kept swinging and missing. For fun, I tried batting left handed, and surprisingly I had much better luck making contact.

Fast forward to today - I decided to bat lefty, and wouldn't you know, I got my first hit of the season! I almost got a 2nd hit too, just missed by a nanosecond. For the day I was 1-2 with a walk and 2 runs scored. Defensively, they put me at second. I've never played that position before, and although it was a shorter throw to 1st than I'm used to, it's a lot more ground for me to cover. fortunately I fielded my one opportunity cleanly but overeagerly threw the ball to first when I had no chance to get the runner.

Now that I got my first hit out of the way, hopefully I can get my first RBI soon!

My season: 1-4 (.250), 5 BB, 5 R

St. John's 18, WWRC 14

We played the team from Woodrow Wilson again, and this game was much more evenly matched, and therefore, much more fun. Unfortunately, I stunk. Yeah, I got another walk and scored another run, but i also struck out swinging and messed up two plays I should have had. I let a ground ball skip by less than a foot from me, then later i dropped what should have been an easy pop up. Oh well. Hopefully next time I can do better. There's a makeup game Thursday, but I'll have to miss it due to class.

My Stats so far: 0-2 (.000), 4 BB, 3 R

St. John's 23, WWRC 2

Yeah, we won, but this really wasn't a fun game. The Woodrow Wilson Rehab Center is usually a much better team than this. They unfortunately had a pitcher who was having a very difficult time finding the strike zone. To put it in perspective, I got on base all 3 times at bat, and I never swung at a single pitch. Our team tried to help by swinging at anything even close, it just didn't matter. The ump called the game after 2 1/2 innings. For the day, I was 0-0 with 3 walks and 2 runs. Defensively, I fielded 4 plays as the 3rd baseman but recorded no outs. I probably could have turned two of them into outs though. One I threw wide of the first baseman, who was having a hard enough time with the sun in her eyes, and another I just didn't react quickly on. Oh well. The more I play the better I'll get. Next game is next week Friday!

My season so far: 0-1 (.000 Ave.), 3 BB, 2 R

Play Ball!

We interrupt this blog for a non-baby-related post...

My church has a softball team, and for the 2nd strait year I'm on it. Having never played before last year, it's an easy guess to say I'm not all that great. It's not that I'm bad, I just can't hit, run, catch or throw! Yesterday was our first game, against the Main Street Methodists. Unfortunately, we lost 11-4. Personally, I went 0-1, just a step away from reaching first on a grounder to the third baseman. In the field, I played a flawless right field. (Easy to do when no balls are hit to you.) I was actually kind of nervous playing RF. I normally play third, and greatly prefer the corner infield because I'm not a fast runner. I hoped I didn't have to run down any balls my side of the outfield, because there's no way I'd catch up to it. All in all it was a good first game, and I'm eager to get back and try again. Hopefully this time I get a hit.