I love playing softball. Especially when guys don't treat me any different, and especially when I earn their respect by being able to do my job on the field.
Last night I played like one of the guys. The other team had a bunch of giants, and a single, tiny female who was there to fill the one female quota. Don't get me wrong, she did her job. But it was obvious because almost all the guys were over 6ft.
Like always, I played catcher, even though I'd probably make a better 2B. (When I signed up, I put down C because I thought I would get more playing time than trying to fight for an infield spot.) Our team is pretty good, but there's a very noticeable split between those that can play, and those that cannot. I don't think the manager runs the team wisely. This guy is a bit too much sometimes. He's the type that tries to make every play himself and run to positions where he has no business being at. A lot of times I feel like he doesn't trust people on the team to make the kind of judgment they need to when they're making a play, so he runs around and tries to do everything.
Last night was one of those nights. We played a team that had much bigger and stronger guys. I mean, they were diesel and looked like they've been playing together for years. (Apparently some of the guys were part of the manager's old team, which broke up last year. Wonder what that says about the manager?)
In any case, the opposing team was up. The manager pitches and I'm behind the plate. There was a guy on 1st and one on 3rd. The next batter smacks one out behind SS, and it drops in front of CF. CF guns in back in. Guy on 3rd runs home. I position myself to the right of the line and is set to field the incoming ball. Suddenly the manager runs up in front of me and catches the ball that was coming my way, and then lobs it overhand to me when he was only a couple feet out front. Guy running home slides and takes me out in the process and knocked the ball out of my glove and scores. Replaying that in my head, had the manager been out of the way, I would've had enough time and been able to secure the ball and tag the guy out even though he barreled into me.
In between all that action the guy on 1st steadily made his way to 3rd, and while everyone was just standing there making sure I was okay, I yell at the manager (who picked up the ball and wasn't paying attention to the guy at 3rd coming home) to throw the ball back to me, but his aim was way off and the second guy steals home. Needless to say, I was disappointed. Everyone was like, "you okay?!" and the umpire called time out. I was fine physically. Just pissed that the manager, who didn't trust my skills had to take it upon himself to cover me. Had he not been in my way and not been the cut off guy between me and SS, I know I would've made that play.
Anyway, we got our asses handed to us, even though we had a nice little 5-run rally going mid-game. Chris hit a 2 run homer, and a couple of other guys had really strong hits. I was 0 for 1 (fly out), and rather annoyed that I had to sit out on the line up so the manager could put someone else in to bat. I mean, my batting average was a lot better than the guy he put in my spot.
After the final out, a lot of the guys on the opposing team gave me props and a lot of them told me I played impressively, so I was actually feeling pretty good. Plus the adrenaline was still flowing and I didn't feel the pain of a big guy barreling down on me until I got home. (To his credit though, he came by with an ice pack and apologize profusely for knocking me out.)
This morning I checked for bruises but it's fairly light. I only sustained a big scratch on my elbow and a sore hip. My legs felt like jelly when I ran this morning, but other than that, I'm all good.
On Monday a building collapsed in Fort Greene, leaving a friend of a friend homeless with all his belongings destroyed by the collapse. Help him get back on his feet.
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