Even Losers Can Win

I had a nice “Glory Days” moment this week, playing third base in my work softball league and going 3-4 with 5 RBI. I made all of the plays that I should make with the glove and almost pulled off a couple that I shouldn’t have.

But the real fun came in the final frame. Batting at the top of the inning, our team was down by one run, 7-6. A lead-off hit. Then a double. Then another hit. And another. Tie game with the bases loaded and I was coming to the plate. There were no outs and it was all I could do to stop thinking, “Don’t make the first one.” The pitcher lobbed the ball, I swung and watched the ball sailing over the centerfielder’s head. Too many seconds later, I was standing on third base and we had a 10-7 lead. We tacked on 4 more for a 14-7 lead before heading to the bottom of the inning.

Two quick outs, then a couple of hits and suddenly the opposing team was looking a little more lively. Their next batter swung – a pop-up…right to me. I hate pop-ups, I have a horrible time judging the ball on it’s way up and I’ve let too many fall just over my head in my lifetime. But I had a bead on this one, settling underneath and pushing down the doubt that I had misread the trajectory of the ball and that little voice saying, “It’s the last out, don’t drop it.” A little Soriano-esque hop, then the ball hit my glove and stuck right in the pocket. Game over.
Continue reading →