Softball season bites the dust

Today I finally got to play the elusive doubleheader that had been rained out twice before. It was a good day for me personally. I went 3-for-4 with 1 RBI in the two games. But my team, the Roid Ragers, still lost both games. We ended the season unvictorious.

Yoli and the girls came out for the first game. It seemed like they enjoyed it. Jadzia really got into the “picnic” aspect of it. We brought a little food she and Ludi to snack on and a blanket for the girls to sit on. It was nice to be able to come over and say hi to them between innings. Jadzia also got into the spirit of the game, yelling whenever she would hear the players yelling something. (Of course her father was probably one of the biggest yellers on the field)

But out in the field it was hot! The high temperature for the day was 99° according to the Post-Dispatch. Thankfully there were breezes much of the time, and a lot of shade behind the benches. But those same breezes kicked up a lot of dust. I was a muddy mess later in the evening when I hit the showers.

Between games I had to shuttle Yoli and the girls back home to take their naps. I had just enough time to eat a bit of peach pie before heading back to play in Game Two.

All in all I enjoyed the season. I wish it had rained less so that we wouldn’t have had such an erratic schedule. I probably would have played better. But I feel like I made a lot of progress in the last few weeks: I ended the season on a 6-for-10 tear (if you count a practice game we played one of the Sundays we got rained out).

Most of all it was fun to hang out with friends, and, gasp, have some physical activity.

I can’t believe I just wrote that last phrase.

Deluged, delayed

This summer I signed up to play softball. And I have been — every few weeks.

The problem is that the midwest has been inundated with rain all year. We’re soaked, soggy, and flooded. And that also goes for the baseball fields where our softball league is supposed to play each Sunday. We’ve had so many rainouts I can’t keep track anymore.

This past Sunday was to be a doubleheader. I called the rainout number before church and after church, just to be certain. The fields were fine. I was very happy: dry fields and beautiful temperatures (mid-70s). It looked like the perfect Sunday for a doubleheader.

So I drove out and met up with my teammates. We were warming up, and my throws were as wild as ever. Four other teams were nearly finished playing their early games. I was just starting to get loose when the sky let loose a soaking rain.

We took cover under a pavilion, waiting to see if the games would be cancelled. Of course, they were. The infield was just too slippery to be safe.

Some folks went home, but others stuck around. Eventually those of us left on my team and the opposing team started throwing the ball again and practicing fielding out in the outfield. After a bit, we decided to play a game just for fun (and badly-needed practice). At first we were going to play “Indian ball” so nobody would have to run the bases, but then we decided to play a regular softball game … but in the outfield grass.

I have to say it was loads of fun. I went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored — my first hits of the season. I probably could have scored again, but while I was standing on second base another round of rain started up.

I hope we get to play next week. And I hope we have as much fun then as I did yesterday.

Busy day

My Saturday:

  • Walk to the Ferguson Farmer’s Market.

** Buy veggies & goat brats.

** Girls go to storytime, presented by Ferguson Municipal Library.

** Eat free Mediterranean food from demonstration.

  • Check out liquidation sale at furniture store around the corner.
  • Return with food from market.
  • Drive up to Fiesta in Florissant.

** Look for “Bolivian” food mentioned in newspaper.

*** Fail to find any

** Look for our favorite vendor, Tango, with their Argentine empanadas.

** Watch lots of dances.

  • Take girls home and lay them down for naps.
  • Go to the batting cages and hit 60 pitches.
  • Come home and get ready for work.