Triumphant Return of Me
VICTORY IS MINE!
What kind of victory, you ask? SOFTBALL VICTORY!! That's right. Not only did my softball team manage to Suck Less (team motto) last night, we actually WON a GAME. Against another team. In softball. I am not kidding.
We beat them 6-5 and could have won by more, but it was the bottom of the seventh inning, so the ump called it as soon as we passed them up. It was an unbelievable night. First off, this was the team we nearly beat back in our second game, so we actually stood half a chance last night. Then, we held them at zero runs for the first three innings, and by the fifth inning, they only had 4 runs. We then scored our first run in over a month (you think I'm kidding, but I'm not) and went completely wild at the bench.
I was third base coach at the time, so I explained to the other team's benchwarmers the momentousness of the occasion and why they were all flipping out over there on the first base line. They were excellent sports about it.
We actually scored another two runs in the next inning, at which point our heads nearly exploded. One of those runs? Was ME. ME!! My first time up, I hit a lame grounder and was of course thrown out at first. I had just been thinking to myself how nice it would be to have a comeback after all these weeks of suckitude. I had made a few good hits in batting practice for the game and actually had a bit of hope.
That hope was not in vain! I smacked a perfect hit my second time up, dropping it in right behind second base and picking up an RBI while I landed safely at first. My heart nearly burst out of my chest. I'm back! I'm back! I would have been overjoyed even if that were the last good thing to happen that night.
Incredibly enough, the people up after me managed to not suck either, and I made it to second, and then all the way home. We got our third out after that, but my run still counted! ELATION!
Our defense continued to actually be good. Lesley and I decided we were an Impenetrable Wall of Infield. None shall pass! We all had very few errors, and I didn't drop any balls at first base. As a pop fly came to between left and left center, I shouted for someone to call it (the way you do without really thinking much about it). Both players later said they were glad, because they had no idea anyone else was going for it! The way they were running toward each other - we could have had a real wacky hijinx moment there. Luckily, one did call it and subsequently caught it. I tell this story to further impress upon you my utility throughout the game.
We also had a beautiful shining moment of glory where an opposing player smacked what was surely a homer way the heck out to right field. We managed to relay it back (through four different players) and throw the guy out at home plate. Unbelievable! We didn't even recognize ourselves!
Going into the bottom of the last inning, we were down 3-5 (which is victorious for us in any case, given our history). There was only one out by the time I got to bat, which is a relief, as many of you might be familiar with my talent for being the third out. Guy before me got to second base, quite awesomely and much to my relief. I proceeded to smoke a grounder past the pitcher and into the outfield, and stretch it out into a double (with another RBI, thank you).
That RBI was the tying run. The guy after me got a nice grounder and I advanced to third base. This was it. I was the run that would put us in the lead. And there was only one out! I had to be conservative in my running - too important to throw away in excitement. Boom! Girl hits a grounder and the pitcher throws to second instead of home. I take off and make it while they get their out at second. Doesn't matter! Run scored! We're in the lead!
And THEN Lesley is screaming and hugging me and making me understand that we WON! A GAME! That was the last inning! You cannot believe the shrieking that was going on. It was like the end of a cheesy movie. We won a game. The adrenaline was incredible. There is no other high like that!
And I was actually good! I'd be freaking out over the win even if I'd personally sucked, but I didn't! I was important! I mattered! I tried to explain to the other team that we weren't really being bad sports but that this had never happened to us before. I think they understood. Smiled indulgently at us, anyway.
Next week we play the team of social workers who elbowed Lesley in the throat (well, they didn't all elbow her, just the one, but still) (plus, that big guy slammed into me at second base, too). The team we beat last night (doesn't that sound fabulous?) has actually beaten the social workers, so I think we've got a real chance. Amazingly enough.
After the game, everyone came back to my place to celebrate. We sat there talking and playing TriBond and imbibing various alcoholic beverages until almost midnight. I myself was presented with a giant margarita which I sucked down willingly and unsuspectingly (this morning, I declared that tequila and I are not friends anymore). Still, it was an awesome time. We were all just so excited to be together.
Plus, I found out that the other girls on the team love karaoke! Wahoo! I've got people to go with now! I also found out one of them has been on Jeopardy. For real. Not even the "college students" week or anything. She was in second place and bet everything on a Daily Double in the second-to-last question because, as she said on air, "I didn't come here to lose, Alex." How awesome is that? She did lose, but she still got $1,000 and a great story. We made her give us all a 20-second handicap on Tri-Bond because she kept getting all the answers.
Tonight is Can't Stop the Serenity, which should be a good time. Next week, I've got parties on both Friday and Saturday nights! I'm a busy girl, people. I'm somehow just as busy as I was during the school year.
That's including my new job, of course. This post is already really long, though, so I'll have to talk about that next time!
What kind of victory, you ask? SOFTBALL VICTORY!! That's right. Not only did my softball team manage to Suck Less (team motto) last night, we actually WON a GAME. Against another team. In softball. I am not kidding.
We beat them 6-5 and could have won by more, but it was the bottom of the seventh inning, so the ump called it as soon as we passed them up. It was an unbelievable night. First off, this was the team we nearly beat back in our second game, so we actually stood half a chance last night. Then, we held them at zero runs for the first three innings, and by the fifth inning, they only had 4 runs. We then scored our first run in over a month (you think I'm kidding, but I'm not) and went completely wild at the bench.
I was third base coach at the time, so I explained to the other team's benchwarmers the momentousness of the occasion and why they were all flipping out over there on the first base line. They were excellent sports about it.
We actually scored another two runs in the next inning, at which point our heads nearly exploded. One of those runs? Was ME. ME!! My first time up, I hit a lame grounder and was of course thrown out at first. I had just been thinking to myself how nice it would be to have a comeback after all these weeks of suckitude. I had made a few good hits in batting practice for the game and actually had a bit of hope.
That hope was not in vain! I smacked a perfect hit my second time up, dropping it in right behind second base and picking up an RBI while I landed safely at first. My heart nearly burst out of my chest. I'm back! I'm back! I would have been overjoyed even if that were the last good thing to happen that night.
Incredibly enough, the people up after me managed to not suck either, and I made it to second, and then all the way home. We got our third out after that, but my run still counted! ELATION!
Our defense continued to actually be good. Lesley and I decided we were an Impenetrable Wall of Infield. None shall pass! We all had very few errors, and I didn't drop any balls at first base. As a pop fly came to between left and left center, I shouted for someone to call it (the way you do without really thinking much about it). Both players later said they were glad, because they had no idea anyone else was going for it! The way they were running toward each other - we could have had a real wacky hijinx moment there. Luckily, one did call it and subsequently caught it. I tell this story to further impress upon you my utility throughout the game.
We also had a beautiful shining moment of glory where an opposing player smacked what was surely a homer way the heck out to right field. We managed to relay it back (through four different players) and throw the guy out at home plate. Unbelievable! We didn't even recognize ourselves!
Going into the bottom of the last inning, we were down 3-5 (which is victorious for us in any case, given our history). There was only one out by the time I got to bat, which is a relief, as many of you might be familiar with my talent for being the third out. Guy before me got to second base, quite awesomely and much to my relief. I proceeded to smoke a grounder past the pitcher and into the outfield, and stretch it out into a double (with another RBI, thank you).
That RBI was the tying run. The guy after me got a nice grounder and I advanced to third base. This was it. I was the run that would put us in the lead. And there was only one out! I had to be conservative in my running - too important to throw away in excitement. Boom! Girl hits a grounder and the pitcher throws to second instead of home. I take off and make it while they get their out at second. Doesn't matter! Run scored! We're in the lead!
And THEN Lesley is screaming and hugging me and making me understand that we WON! A GAME! That was the last inning! You cannot believe the shrieking that was going on. It was like the end of a cheesy movie. We won a game. The adrenaline was incredible. There is no other high like that!
And I was actually good! I'd be freaking out over the win even if I'd personally sucked, but I didn't! I was important! I mattered! I tried to explain to the other team that we weren't really being bad sports but that this had never happened to us before. I think they understood. Smiled indulgently at us, anyway.
Next week we play the team of social workers who elbowed Lesley in the throat (well, they didn't all elbow her, just the one, but still) (plus, that big guy slammed into me at second base, too). The team we beat last night (doesn't that sound fabulous?) has actually beaten the social workers, so I think we've got a real chance. Amazingly enough.
After the game, everyone came back to my place to celebrate. We sat there talking and playing TriBond and imbibing various alcoholic beverages until almost midnight. I myself was presented with a giant margarita which I sucked down willingly and unsuspectingly (this morning, I declared that tequila and I are not friends anymore). Still, it was an awesome time. We were all just so excited to be together.
Plus, I found out that the other girls on the team love karaoke! Wahoo! I've got people to go with now! I also found out one of them has been on Jeopardy. For real. Not even the "college students" week or anything. She was in second place and bet everything on a Daily Double in the second-to-last question because, as she said on air, "I didn't come here to lose, Alex." How awesome is that? She did lose, but she still got $1,000 and a great story. We made her give us all a 20-second handicap on Tri-Bond because she kept getting all the answers.
Tonight is Can't Stop the Serenity, which should be a good time. Next week, I've got parties on both Friday and Saturday nights! I'm a busy girl, people. I'm somehow just as busy as I was during the school year.
That's including my new job, of course. This post is already really long, though, so I'll have to talk about that next time!