(no subject)
Yesterday was Beerball, a friendly softball tournament, invitation only. The Loan Wolves were invited for being so friendly - and also, I suspect, 'cos the organising team, our rivals the Devil Strays, were sure we'd lose to everyone. I could only make the first game, vs the Meteors, before I had to go on somewhere. Our squad was augmented by people from the development sessions, along with Ben who'd wanted to play in Beerball again (he and I were there last year, playing for the Tecumsehs). I was at Second, where I made some outs and also committed some fumbles. Borrowed Ben's 26 0z bat and got out at first twice. Changed to a heavier one and did get round, though only because their pitcher was tiring and I took a walk.
The Meteors started by gaining a lead, but not a decisive one, and we managed to gain runs back while restricting their scoring. The score at "no new innings" was 12-10. to us. All we had to do was keep the game going for another ten minutes, and that result would stand. We couldn't stop them making enough runs to get ahead, but we kept our innings going long enough that time was called and it reverted to that 12-10 scoreline. A win in our first game of the day! Ben's first ever win in a Wolves shirt.
My work was done here. I said goodbye and good luck to the others, then headed off to Uxbridge...
Inkognitoh, as you may be aware, has moved to a narrow boat for the winter. She'd invited people to her boatwarming yesterday, and it was for this that I was leaving the tournament early. I trekked out to Uxbridge, made my way, still in softball kit, to the Swan and Bottle. Lovely old canalside pub, now slightly incongruous among the new office buildings and corporate HQs on the outskirts of Uxbridge. We all assembled, had lunch, then embarked. The narrow boat was lovely - compact, cosy, ship-shape and well-kept.
Inkoh took us for a trip up the canal out of London, and we all had a chance to drive the narrowboat which was brilliant. Weather was bright if not very sunny, and it was a fun, laid-back afternoon. We negotiated locks with increasing confidence, managed not to run down any waterfowl, and waved to little kids on bridges. And yes, of course I brought my pirate flag.
I was texted by both Matt and Ben to tell me that we'd ended up in the third place play-off - against the Strays. Then, as I was on the boat, waiting to go through a lock, came the news that we had beaten them! 23-11, I think. I would dearly have loved to be there for that. But where I was, on a boat in the early evening with some good mates and a beer or two, was a pretty good place to be, too.
We came back to moor by the pub, had a couple more drinks there then retired to the boat for a further natter. It was a really cool day. As the water Rat said...
Sadly, on the nightbus back into London with Pete and silverjet_allie, and on to Crystal Palace on my own, I saw plenty of people who seemed less happy with their Saturday night out than us. Quite depressing how much anger and simmering violence there always seemes to be at the end of an evening out for so many people.
The Meteors started by gaining a lead, but not a decisive one, and we managed to gain runs back while restricting their scoring. The score at "no new innings" was 12-10. to us. All we had to do was keep the game going for another ten minutes, and that result would stand. We couldn't stop them making enough runs to get ahead, but we kept our innings going long enough that time was called and it reverted to that 12-10 scoreline. A win in our first game of the day! Ben's first ever win in a Wolves shirt.
My work was done here. I said goodbye and good luck to the others, then headed off to Uxbridge...
Inkognitoh, as you may be aware, has moved to a narrow boat for the winter. She'd invited people to her boatwarming yesterday, and it was for this that I was leaving the tournament early. I trekked out to Uxbridge, made my way, still in softball kit, to the Swan and Bottle. Lovely old canalside pub, now slightly incongruous among the new office buildings and corporate HQs on the outskirts of Uxbridge. We all assembled, had lunch, then embarked. The narrow boat was lovely - compact, cosy, ship-shape and well-kept.
Inkoh took us for a trip up the canal out of London, and we all had a chance to drive the narrowboat which was brilliant. Weather was bright if not very sunny, and it was a fun, laid-back afternoon. We negotiated locks with increasing confidence, managed not to run down any waterfowl, and waved to little kids on bridges. And yes, of course I brought my pirate flag.
I was texted by both Matt and Ben to tell me that we'd ended up in the third place play-off - against the Strays. Then, as I was on the boat, waiting to go through a lock, came the news that we had beaten them! 23-11, I think. I would dearly have loved to be there for that. But where I was, on a boat in the early evening with some good mates and a beer or two, was a pretty good place to be, too.
We came back to moor by the pub, had a couple more drinks there then retired to the boat for a further natter. It was a really cool day. As the water Rat said...
Sadly, on the nightbus back into London with Pete and silverjet_allie, and on to Crystal Palace on my own, I saw plenty of people who seemed less happy with their Saturday night out than us. Quite depressing how much anger and simmering violence there always seemes to be at the end of an evening out for so many people.