Welcome Back, Softball!

Yesterday, I played my first softball since last August, and boy am I sore! The fine folks of the Magnet Theater reserved time at Whitey Ford Field, a baseball-sized field right on the waterfront in Astoria.

Everyone was really cool and had a super fun time. We finished the first game early, so played another. I got to play third base for the first time ever. It’s a really fun position with lots of action, though I admit I was a bit of a sieve. My shoulder is still a bit tender from last summer’s dislocation, and you have to move your glove around really fast. But with practice, I think I could get pretty good there. The throw to first was no problem at all.

Also pitched two innings of Game 1. First inning was scoreless, and I even got a strikeout (though I can’t really take credit for somebody swinging and missing at three meatballs). We didn’t have an umpire, so the rule was you get three swings to swing at whatever you like. The second inning was a bit rougher. I think they scored three runs, but I’m not sure exactly.

Game 1

The game was already in progress by the time I got to the field, so I was tacked onto the bottom of the lineup.

We lost something like 6-18.

The left field wall at Whitey Ford Field is really close and inviting. People were banging balls off it routinely, even one that went over into the East River. I tried to pull the ball in my last two at-bats, but every time I do that, I hit ground balls. That didn’t work out too well, so for the next game I went back to my usual game plan.

Game 2

Since the first game was so lopsided, we mixed up the teams for the second game. Played more third base this game, and then some right and center field. I batted in the lead spot with these results:

I guess my shoulder is fine for batting! 4-for-4 and a triple away from the cycle! The home run was pretty sweet. Hammered to deep CF, almost caught, but it got by and careened off the wall into no-man’s land.

We won the second game 14-9.

Combined stats for the double-header:

I keep forgetting that the ground hurts. The dirt at this field is much coarser than in Central Park. I’ve got (another) skinned knee and a 2"x4" missing patch from my right forearm to prove it. Oh well, it was fun.