Menace to Sobriety

This week our game was against Menace to Sobriety. The game didn't start until 7:55 so we decided to cook out at the field before hand. For having to set up everything in the bleachers, it wasn't a bad meal! Though we did end up with about 10 bags of unnecessary chips. I think we had every flavor they make. Wouldn't want to leave someone out, you know?

This week Emily (not Emily Cain, she's not even on the team, this is the Emily from the Brews) made the kicking order list. She didn't forget to put me on it first. It just wouldn't be right if I didn't lead the kicking order. I have a feeling I will be doing so for the rest of the season. Which is great, I can't wait.

The other team was up to bat first. So I took my usual position in the outfield. They had two outs and the person up to kick hits it right to me. It happened so quick I don't even remember even thinking about catching it, but I did! That makes me two-for-two so far this season! Which is awesome considering I had a 0% rate for catching the ball last season.

But what was not awesome was the fact that I had to put that ball down and then go and kick myself. I made a decent kick that got me to first. The next person kicked and I ran towards second. Maybe all this ball catching has made me a gutsy-er person. Because as I was running towards second I realized that the girl on second was literally RIGHT ON second, like in the middle of the base. And the ball wasn't far from getting there. So I ran full force right into her (and knocked her off second base...opps) and I got there before the ball! I did apologize to the girl and she did admit she was "probably" hovering the base too much.

(Funny thing about that girl on second is that towards the end of the game, Doug did the same thing to her. But he is a much bigger person than myself so he really did plow into her and knock her a few steps back. Talk about a slow learner, don't stand in the middle of the base! And FYI chick...yes you are hovering over the base.)

But anyways, somewhere between me standing on first and second we got two outs. So before the next kicker was up the guys from our team reminded us to "run on anything."

(For those that may not know what that means, usually if there is a pop-up you stay where you are so that if someone on the other team catches it they don't get you out as you try to run back to your base. But when there is already two outs, you may as well run because if they catch it that is three outs and tagging you out is then irrelevant.)

I know that rule, but a reminder is always appreciated! But maybe I had been out on base by my lonesome for too long (or the 100 degree heat was getting to me) and I lost focus because when he said run on anything, I took it quite seriously. And I ran when the pitcher pitched the ball!!! About halfway into the run I realized my mistake and I started to run back to second base, but then our team member kicked it, so I headed back to third (though I am not sure if that would be legal since I never went back and tagged second. If you remember the time the other team yelled at me, that would be what they yelled at me for. Getting off base before the ball was kicked.). Anyways, it is all irrelevant because the kicked ball went straight to third and they got me out before I got there. But there is the possibility that if I hadn't been running back and forth that I could've gotten there in time (though not likely). Rats.

In the next inning we got a few runs in and were leading the game. My next attempt to kick ended up with me trying to take another one of their players out.

(I am serious, I don't know what has gotten into me! I used to do whatever it took to avoid touching someone. Now I just plow them. Let that be a lesson to them to GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!)

But this time it wasn't really the guy on first's fault. He was standing out of the way until the ball got thrown to him and he leaned into the way. It ended up with a three way collision between the first baseman, the ball and myself (with my arms wrapped around the first base guy...I mean, I am here to meet people and all). The first base coach and myself somehow thought I was safe, until the ref had to yell loudly that I was not. Rats again (and no need for the yelling sir).

Now jump ahead to the final inning. Menace to Sobriety had somehow gotten ahead of us in the scoring. They were kicking first (of course) and had two outs. That's always when this happens, when it is the most important out of the game or inning (or in this case, both). The ball pops up in my direction. It is one of those that goes way up high in the air. I looked in front of me and didn't see the second baseman, Marcel, moving towards the ball. So I kept my eyes to the skies and on the ball. I didn't realize anything was wrong with the catch until I ended up with a guy in my arms (I'm getting good at this groping thing...too bad his girlfriend was there and probably didn't appreciate it)! Not only had I collided with Marcel but I actually caused him to not be able to back up as much as he needed to, so the ball hit his chest and started to bounce back out. But I, with my stretch armstrong arms, reached around Marcel and the ball and pulled it back into Marcel's arms (to the point where I then had Marcel and a ball in my arms, even better)!!!

It was quite the amazing two person catch, though I wouldn't recommend it. He did step on my leg and it hurt BAD. But it is fine now, just one of those things that hurts real bad for a little bit and then goes away.

We went up to kick again. We did not do so well. I don't remember how it went down, but I know it was pretty short and we didn't score any runs. Triple rats.

So we lost this game. But I played a decent game, well, at least in the outfield. Plus, I got to do A LOT of groping!!!

A few of us went to Doc's afterwards and had a few drinks. We all decided to take it easy and save ourselves for the Fourth of July weekend.

I was thinking after this game that now would be a good time to walk away from the team and never be seen again. Because right now they THINK I am decent. I also made a few semi-funny comments. If any of you are Seinfeld fans like myself, there is an episode where George schemes to make the people at his office think he is always a funny guy by walking out of the room every time he says something they think is funny. That way he always leaves on a high note. I like that idea. I want to leave on a high note! There's just way too many games and way too many chances for me to screw up royally! But they might frown on the fact that I just ditched the team, so I guess I will keep playing. Maybe I can keep the great playing skills up!!!