8/20/14

Softball: Thoughts that Emerge from a Patella Bloodied

Dear People,

Chris Fure's team rallied from a stark and nearly fatal 10-1 2nd-inning abyss, and for their perseverance, they got to drain the premature complacency from the smug little faces of my own disgraced contingent, 20-18. In fact, the aerobic zeitgeist shifted, and shifted fast, as hurler Steve Bedrick unleashed his own 3rd-inning 3-RBI triple past three layers of my finest D. And then, just one inning later, Alan Shabel blasted a four-bagger with such staggering Newtonian force that it rolled up the entire sloped tundra from the base of deep center-left to the majestic gopher holes on the lush plateau above (where Mr. And Mrs. Rodentia live).

Needless to say, when I came to bat with two on and two out in the top of the 5th, I was determined to answer the Shabelator with a varmint-vexing response of my own. For one thing, we were suddenly tied at 12, but even more annoying, the Furinator's entire outfield was now starring me down from left of 2nd (This is technically called 'The Shift,' though batters of tender sensitivity will always know it as The Diss). Of course this only made me ever more determined, and thus as good ol' Bedbones tossed up a suggestively outside slurve ball, I suddenly knew that a go-ahead blast to the deep naked empty was now mine for the taking.

Alas, though, my planned rocket to right came to rest about four yards from the plate, and even worse, I was a mere three feet into my own hopeful dash to 1st when my left knee, right hand and entire ego stumbled spastically into the granular ground below. It was, of course, a physically traumatic moment of incalculable humiliation, and yet truth be told, I still took a certain pride in being able to suppress my sobbing, pick myself up and wipe the filthy particulates of grunge from my normally gorgeous incisors. Yeah, dignity rocks.

The point is that our counter-rally now fizzled fast, and four more innings of an ultimately fruitless and bitter slog would still remain. Yet despite my failings as both player and captain, my peeps did not roll their eyes in tacit contempt. No, my friends, this was not judgment day, but merely the random travails of the athletic experience-treacherous, excellent and fair. And therefore there will be a game at Codordnices this Sunday at 11, IF I get enough commits by this Friday morning . . . Raymond

8/22/14

Softball: Clean

Dear People,

There will be a game at Codornices this Sunday at 11AM, and as of now it is full. As always, please let me know ASAP if you committed and need to cancel, and if you still want in, feel free to get on the wait list or contact me later for news of reopened slots.

This week's field fee is just $4, and that includes a rare post-match Peppermint Foot Scrub with soothing citrus oil base . . . Raymond 845-7552

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