What's on Second?
--
written by Allan
Well,
it's been a while since I've been on a softball field, but
Jill and Becca are on this co-ed team, and they wanted me
to start playing. Since I don't get enough sun and exercise
elsewhere, I figured it would be a great way to hang out with
them, and maybe get into better shape.
Anyway,
the way the league is set up, you start out with a ball and
a strike, and the games are about an hour long (with each
team getting equal at bats), and you play 2 games. The first
game was pretty normal. I got a hit during each at bat. However
I did get thrown out once.
The
second game is where this story really comes from. During
one at bat, I got a piece of a ball, but more or less drove
it into the dirt. I ran and made it to the base, but apparently
the ball had rolled foul. So I had to go back and do it again.
My last at bat, I had driven the ball straight down the first
base line and was tagged out, so I was trying not to do that
again. So my next swing I got a nice piece of it and dropped
it somewhere near the short stop I think. I managed to out
run the pass to the base. At that point I was a little winded,
but still ready to go.
The
next batter comes up and cranks a shot toward second probably
around the same place I hit it. I managed to out run the ball
again (by some stroke of luck). However, when I hit the base
I bounced off and rolled about 10 feet. Fortunately, I rolled
in such a way that I landed on my feet again. In all the confusion
I look up and see the guy with the ball between me and second,
and all I hear is, "Tag him! Tag him!"
So
I did what I figured any guy would do in that situation. I
ran for third. From what my teammates tell me, it was quite
comical to see this rundown take place. The guy with the ball
was running behind me just inches from tagging me all the
way from second to third. When I was about 2 steps from the
base, he lobbed the ball over my shoulder to the girl playing
the base. She was as surprised as I was to see the ball coming
over me, and proceeded to drop the pass.
After
the spill on second and seeing her drop the ball, I hit the
bag and headed for home. A wild pass was thrown home and I
managed to tag the base before the catcher had a chance to
come at me. When I came in, my team was looking in shock.
They said it was one of the funniest displays they had ever
seen. For once, it seems that being clumsy sort of paid off.
|
