For a while there it looked like we might not play at all. Thunderstorms had been threatening all afternoon, and we were waiting well past six o'clock with so sign of the ump. But the dark clouds departed after a quick, light shower, and the ump finally strolled onto the field, acting like we should have the red carpet rolled out for him.
"The ump is the most important person in the game," he half-jokingly reminded the catchers on both teams. "It's your job to take a bullet for the president!"
Despite the lateness, the lame jokes, and the stiflingly muggy weather, it was still good to play a real game! For the first few innings the two teams were head to head: no runs were scored until the third, when Gimme grabbed two and the Foes (the home team) one-upped them and took the lead. The next two innings turned up only a couple of more runs, and then all hell broke loose in the sixth. Gimme got their ducks on the pond, and somehow they just kept bringing them home. As their score climbed and our energy waned, there was nothing to do but come out swinging and root for a rally. Unfortunately we just couldn't hustle any more runs, and wound up with a depressing score of 13-4 at the end of the night.
But that's not to say we didn't have our awesome moments! How about Jason back on the pitcher's mound, for one thing! He threw strike after strike, fearlessly facing one batter after another, even though his nose isn't all the way healed yet. Gimme Shelter's pitcher was this big guy, and a lefty, and the first two times he was up at bat he walked to first. I figured that was part of J's strategy, since this guy looked like he could really whale the tar outta the ball--and boy was I right! His third at-bat he blasted that softball in a vicious line drive about ten feet right of second base. Fortunately our unflinching rover, Sarah Finklea, put herself right in front of the blazing fireball and turned a hit with home run potential into a mere single. That's what I'm talkin' about!
Other notable plays include two amazing grabs by Alex Laviola as shortstop! One was a lateral dive and catch, the other was more of a dive into the dirt, a catch, a fast pivot while still on the ground, and an accurate pass over to Willy on first for a double play! Right on! Willy and Jason also made their share of outs catching infield flies, and Glenn Baken rested a pulled hamstring while covering the unpredictable third baseline. Abbey did her usual excellent job at second base, despite some untoward crowding during key plays, and our outfielders, Softball Dave, David Phillips, and Casey, did their utmost to keep any big hits from getting by them.
Speaking of big hits, nice triple to start us off, Softball Dave! Nice big fat home run, David! And nice rips Jason and Willy!
Alas, the hits and the saves we made just didn't add up to a win for us this time. It wasn't an ideal conclusion to our "lost game" from last week, but at least we got to play! There will come a day when we no longer have to schlep heavy equipment bags through unattractive neighborhoods. A day when nobody's looking at their watch or calling the commissioner, wondering where the hell our umpire is. A day when sweat and dirt don't form a disgusting film that coats all of our exposed skin. A day when we don't have to listen to other team's obnoxious managers argue petty points and waste our daylight. But that will be one sad effing day my friends, because on that day we won't be meeting up with old friends and playing our hearts out for the gutsiest team in the league.
You've gotta take the bad with the good sometimes, and if suffering a couple of humiliating losses is the price we have to pay for the awesomeness of being a True Foe, then we'll gladly pay it!
Have a fantastic 4th of July weekend, stay safe, and get ready to start a revolution on the 14th when we're set to play Gimme Shelter one more time! We'll storm the gates and liberate ourselves from this nasty little losing streak!
GTF
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