Softball

My team is well into our 14th softball season. It’s great to be back on the field, and it feels normal this year. Last year was a bit strange with Covid protocols in place and some teams opting for a cap tip instead of handshake at the end of games (just felt weird). Thankfully we were still able to get to our sponsor’s pub after the games, though there were masks and other signs of Covid restrictions all around. Better than the season before which was cancelled due to liability concerns on the county’s part that lead to a hefty insurance policy demand.

Tuesday is our league night so you can expect rain on Tuesdays. Opening week was rained out and the following week we played in the rain. We did so again for our last game – that’s 3 rainy Tuesdays out of the first 6 weeks of the season. If you are a gambler, bet on rain for Tuesdays through end of summer.

We are 2-4 at the midpoint of the season. Not a great first half but we have fun win or lose as the team is comprised of a great group of guys much like my former hockey team. Granted it is more fun to win and our 2 wins provided a lot of that in the ways in which we won. The first win came when we mercied the other team in the bottom of the 5th inning (team up by 12 after 5 innings wins; game over) It was the first time we have been on the good end of that rule, and I had the pleasure of driving in the final run. Our second win came last week when we blew a 4-run lead by allowing 8 runs in the top of the last inning, only to rally in the bottom of the inning to score 5 runs for the win.

Why so much joy in our 2 wins? We were 0-105 before we got our first win and the losses still come more than the wins, so we cherish each one. When we finally got our first win you would have thought we won the World Series. It was bedlam on the field and a rough next morning after celebrating that first victory.

Now you may be asking yourself, why would anyone continue to play on such a crummy team? Quite simply, it’s the group of guys on the team that make it fun to come to the field every week. We encourage each other, give tips, help each other bounce back after a bad play, and stay positive no matter what. We also try to keep the mood light even when giving advice. During a recent batting slump, one of my teammates pulled me aside and said “Don’t’ think, just hit”. I took his advice and immediately came out of my slump. His simple words made me realize that I was so focused on where I wanted to hit the ball, I was messing myself up. Now when I get to the plate he yells out “Hey Fred, what are you thinking about?” That’s my reminder to relax and it’s working – thanks Steve!

Support like that is too rare in this world but it is the norm on our team. Even though we want to win, when recruiting new players, the focus is on team fit first and softball skills second. Most of the time we get both, but we’ll take a good guy with less talent over a star who doesn’t fit with the team every day. Individually we are very different, with widely varying political, social, and world views, but our base ideals are aligned. That’s what’s kept the core of the team together for all these years – and all those losses.

It reminds me of a quote from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” when the father of the bride is addressing the guests about his Greek daughter marrying a non-Greek man: “Miller come from the Greek word "milo," which is mean "apple," so there you go. As many of you know, our name, Portokalos, is come from the Greek word "portokali," which mean "orange." So, okay? Here tonight, we have, ah, apple and orange. We all different, but in the end, we all fruit.”

There’s a life lesson in that – we have much more in common than we have differences. We all need to start focusing more on what we have in common and less on how we are different. If we can do that, we will make our little corner of the world a better place.

Special thanks to Tim for sponsoring our team, and to all the great servers and bartenders at Kerwin’s Tavern - https://timkerwinstavern.com/ - for keeping the pitchers of beer, pizza, and wings coming. Win or lose, we always have a good time there after our games.

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com 6-13-2022