Last night Scott and I had a softball game with our co-ed team, "Back to the Future", and it was awesome. My dad, Scott's dad and Katie, Daniel and Parker all showed up to cheer us on. While we were getting our line-up together we overheard the opposing team discussing their shortage of men for the game (league rules state that their must be equal numbers of boys and girl per team). My dad pipes right in, "I could play if you need me to. My cleats and glove are in my trunk." Dad loves to play sports and he competes in a men's D-league team on Thursdays, so naturally his equipment would be in his car. The opposing team, "Smack That", was happy to have him temporarily join their team so as to avoid an automatic out each inning or so. Dad jogged to his Jetta and grabbed his gear. I called him a traitor.
I know that dad is quite an athlete even though he is 5* years young (I'll leave it a mystery), and I knew he would be an asset to their team. Dang it. We're not used to winning, so the automatic out rule would have been a welcome advantage to us. Don't get me wrong, we play our hearts out and we've got some real sluggers.
I get up to bat (2nd in the order) and dad is pitching. It's a Gray face-off. Will dad strike out his daughter? Will he be nice and lob in an easy pitch? If any of you know Jim Gray, you know he'd never throw a game. The result, I dink a stupid hit after a full count and get out at first. My second up, a walk (thanks pop). My third up, a dink after full count and dad throws me out at first. Sheesh.
Midway through the game we got pelted with rain and attacked by a windstorm that felt like needles on my skin. I even got dirt in my teeth. Best game of the season.
Toward the end of the game dad dove from the pitcher's mound for a grounder and skidded across the brown grit, knocking down the ball (and scratching up his hands terribly). To his great dismay, the 1st basewoman underestimated his skills and went for the ball too. Result: no one to cover first, dad's dive was in vain. Like father, like son-in-law. Scott was in the outfield and dove high in the air to catch a fly (that sadly escaped him) and he landed hard in the grass...always willing to sacrifice his body for the game. What great men.
So who won? Well, we were up 7-0, then 7-3 for most of the game. But because of dad's contributions, we ended up losing by one point in the final minutes of the game. DANG IT! However, I'd gladly lose every game if Jim Gray were playing on the opposing team. Grit, rain, personal errors, sparking electrical wires (this actually happened, just like "The Natural") and all, I'd play that game again without hesitation.
Photos coming soon...
I know that dad is quite an athlete even though he is 5* years young (I'll leave it a mystery), and I knew he would be an asset to their team. Dang it. We're not used to winning, so the automatic out rule would have been a welcome advantage to us. Don't get me wrong, we play our hearts out and we've got some real sluggers.
I get up to bat (2nd in the order) and dad is pitching. It's a Gray face-off. Will dad strike out his daughter? Will he be nice and lob in an easy pitch? If any of you know Jim Gray, you know he'd never throw a game. The result, I dink a stupid hit after a full count and get out at first. My second up, a walk (thanks pop). My third up, a dink after full count and dad throws me out at first. Sheesh.
Midway through the game we got pelted with rain and attacked by a windstorm that felt like needles on my skin. I even got dirt in my teeth. Best game of the season.
Toward the end of the game dad dove from the pitcher's mound for a grounder and skidded across the brown grit, knocking down the ball (and scratching up his hands terribly). To his great dismay, the 1st basewoman underestimated his skills and went for the ball too. Result: no one to cover first, dad's dive was in vain. Like father, like son-in-law. Scott was in the outfield and dove high in the air to catch a fly (that sadly escaped him) and he landed hard in the grass...always willing to sacrifice his body for the game. What great men.
So who won? Well, we were up 7-0, then 7-3 for most of the game. But because of dad's contributions, we ended up losing by one point in the final minutes of the game. DANG IT! However, I'd gladly lose every game if Jim Gray were playing on the opposing team. Grit, rain, personal errors, sparking electrical wires (this actually happened, just like "The Natural") and all, I'd play that game again without hesitation.
Photos coming soon...
5 comments:
hahaha! sounds like good ol' dad left it all out on the field!
Sounds amazing and just like when we were young and played ball with Dad, I miss those days, wish I could have them back like you do. You know me, always wanting to play a game or have some form of athletic competion. No one around here is ever able to be manipulated into playing with me like you were when we were little.
Sounds amazing and just like when we were young and played ball with Dad, I miss those days, wish I could have them back like you do. You know me, always wanting to play a game or have some form of athletic competion. No one around here is ever able to be manipulated into playing with me like you were when we were little.
PS. Please!!!!!! take off that nasty smile photo of me, immediately. What a joke!
this was written like an epic.
beanie, beanay!
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