I played in my first softball game tonight (not to be confused with last week, when I showed up just to be supposedly overlooked and did not get to play)...and apparently this is the year of miracles, because I actually ENJOYED myself. While playing a game of some type of sport. Which I am not even good at. Amazing!
I hadn't expected to have a good time, actually; on the way to the game I was lamenting my sense of dedication and commitment to a cause I really didn't want much part of. "See, I am just not a 'sports' kind of person," I explained to my twelve-year-old while driving. "I pretty much dislike playing any team sport. Baseball, basketball, soccer...I'm bad at all of it. If you play as part of a team, I pretty much just plain don't like it. It's just not my thing. Some people are into sports...some are into other things. Like...running is okay. I like to run, mostly." My son added, "And board games, and computers?" I agreed. "And facebook. I like facebook. Not so much softball." But I am part of a team...sorta...and so I had an obligation, I explained, to be there. And maybe at least not have a terrible time.
We arrived. I warmed up. My twelve-year-old threw a ball around with another player and quite clearly was doing better than I was. I joked that the team would probably be sad he was too young and they were stuck with me instead. The sun was in my eyes. I missed a bunch of catches. My partner and I traded spots. And then, something amazing happened...I caught the ball. Repeatedly. I didn't throw half bad, either. I also didn't throw FAR, but "not half bad" is better than "terribly," so I'll take it. By the time the game started I at least was in a decent mood about being there. I took my assigned place in right field, thinking that at least most balls went towards second or third base, so I should be relatively safe over in my spot behind first.
Wouldn't you know, the very first hitter sent one flying towards first base. And past it. And--oh crap--towards me! It was rolling towards me pretty quickly, actually, and before I knew it, I had extended my glove, it kinda popped upward off it and collided with me just below my shoulder...and fell neatly into my gloved hand. I had caught it!! ...well, scooped, really, but you don't hear about anyone "scooping" a ball in baseball, so we're going to call this a "catch." I tossed it to second, play stopped, and the next batter got into position. I was not only in the game...I had done something right, and got to hear calls of "Hey, nice job! Way to stop it!" from people who weren't being sarcastic. :)
The only other time the ball came near me during the game, it rolled past me, but a teammate was close behind and it wasn't a disaster that I'd missed it. And I certainly did better than two outfielders on the other team who actually collided trying to catch a ball, so I was pretty pleased with my outfield ability overall.
My first time at bat, I struck out...and since I'd only swung twice, I wasn't sure why everyone was telling me I was out. Apparently in recreational leagues, you start with one strike automatically, to "speed things up." But my second time up I actually did hit the ball, and stood in wonderment for a moment or so until my brain realized I had actually made contact and was supposed to run. Unfortunately I had hit the ball directly towards first base, so by the time I got there, I was out...BUT...that's fine because I HIT THE BALL. IN A GAME, EVEN. So again--I'll take it!
After that I was switched out so another player could go in, as there were a lot of us and everyone was supposed to get to play, but I was happy enough with the half I played. Don't ask what the score was--we got a bunch of runs, and so did the other team, and at one point I heard the score was 5-4 but I don't know who was ahead and after that each team scored some more runs anyway, and then time was called...but I say the winner tonight was ME, because I actually played softball, for realz, and I didn't even hate it.
I actually might even be looking forward to our next practice...me, the girl who "doesn't do sports." Imagine that!
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