Softball Doubleheader

Last week, the softball played two in classic Ernie Banks style, with a game at 7:30 and then a game at 8:30 on the same field. While we did wind up with two losses, they were good solid games that, had this bum done anything, might have had a chance of turning around.

I started on the bench in game one, which was a back and forth affair. They'd get some runs, we'd answer back. We'd get ahead, they'd come back. A see-saw battle all night long.

So when I come into the game in the late innings, I walk into this situation. Bases loaded, two outs, and a 15-12 deficit. Now, remember, I've not swung a bat in over two weeks, since I'd missed some games and then not played (or just played the field) in a couple of others.

I never thought I was really one of those that could get rusty, but apparently I was. None of my swings were very good and I wound up grounding out to end the inning. The other team tacked on a run as time ran out in the bottom of the inning and that was the ball game.

The second game was a pitcher's duel until the last inning, where they scored five and we scored three. I started this game and played all the way through, but there was really no reason for me to have.

The first at-bat, I come up with runners on and we have a 2-1 deficit. I hit a grounder to third, which almost turned out to be a good thing as the runner from second beat the throw there. However, he went past the bag and was tagged out trying to return to the base. I did get an RBI there that tied the game up, but only because of that extra effort by the runner.

Second time up, I believe it was 3-3, which was the score most of the game. Again, some ugly swings and a weak groundout.

The last time up, we were looking at a 8-3 deficit and, with the time and the game ticking away, knew we had to get something going that inning. I led off, but I asked Bobby if he didn't want to pinch-hit for me. He went ahead and sent me out there, but not only did I not justify that faith by doing something with the opportunity, I actually swung and missed at an inside pitch for strike three.

So my 1.000 batting average tumbled severely with that 0-4 day, bringing me down to .333 (2/6) with two runs and three RBI. Maybe with our next game a week from yesterday I can get back into some sort of groove, because obviously this isn't going to get it done!