| Ever since I was a little girl playing baseball (and | | | | on the other team got beaned in the head from a |
| later softball) I had a reoccurring fantasy of hitting | | | | hard throw to first base. But I digress. |
| a game-winning, home run. My imagination | | | | I’m standing at the plate. I took a strike, |
| created the ideal scenario. Two outs, at least | | | | resisted swinging at an inside pitch, and hit a foul |
| one runner on base, and my team would be | | | | ball (which counts as a strike). The count was |
| behind by one run. Sometimes the number of | | | | one ball (possibly two, I can’t remember) but |
| runs needed to win would vary, but the basic | | | | I definitely had two strikes on me. My chances |
| scenario was the same. My team needed me | | | | of walking were slim, so I knew I had to hit the |
| and I had to pull something off to win the game. | | | | ball. In senior slow pitch, if the ball hits anywhere |
| In my childhood fantasy I envisioned that the | | | | on the plate (and an extended mat that is used in |
| pitcher would throw a smoker over the plate, | | | | the league) it’s a strike. Sometimes the |
| I’d swing with all my might and smack the ball | | | | pitch can seem down right awful, and still be a |
| over the fence! The crowd would cheer, my | | | | strike. So I knew I’d be swinging unless the |
| teammates would carry me off the field on their | | | | pitcher lobbed it over the backstop. |
| shoulders, and a scout from the Chicago Cubs | | | | The pitcher made her delivery and I swung. It |
| would sign me up to be the first female | | | | felt like I hit it hard, but not far. I resisted the |
| professional baseball player. That was my | | | | urge to see where the ball went and ran as fast |
| dream. | | | | as I could. I crossed first base. I was safe. |
| Everyone knows I was never recruited by the | | | | The Stingers were cheering, but I didn’t know |
| Cubs, so don’t look for my name on the | | | | why. Carol, the first base coach, said we won |
| roster of players. Those of you who regularly | | | | the game. The base runner scored on my hit. |
| read my blog know that I have never hit a home | | | | Huzzah! I was a hero. |
| run either. But of course I’m still hopeful | | | | Apparently it was not a pristine play. I hit the ball |
| that I can make that happen in my women’s | | | | in my usual short stop location, but the gal |
| senior league playing second base for The | | | | bumbled the ball a bit. One of our players, |
| Stingers. Given my power (or lack thereof) the | | | | Connie, told me it was because I hit it harder than |
| likely scenario of my getting a homerun would | | | | they thought, but I’m not sure if that is |
| probably consist of an infielder and an outfielder | | | | correct or not. Connie is a nice gal and might |
| missing the ball, tripping on the grass, followed by | | | | have said it to make me feel good. Maybe the |
| a bad throw. Think Three Stooges on The | | | | short stop just screwed up. But it doesn’t |
| Diamond. But it could happen. In fact, in senior | | | | really matter. The runner on third ran home. |
| women’s softball, it frequently does. | | | | The throw was late and the winning run scored. |
| Anyway, last week, our team played the Gems in | | | | That was the end of the game. For the first |
| the Viewpoint Softball Tournament. We had lost | | | | time in my life I hit a game-winning run. |
| our previous three games and our mood was | | | | The point is (and yes there is a point) sometimes |
| low. But this game was different. We were | | | | our victories in life are not exactly the way we |
| the home team. It was our last time at bat. | | | | envision. I didn’t hit a home run. In fact, it |
| The game was tied 7 to 7. The bottom of our | | | | wasn’t even that great of a hit. But it |
| order caught fire and got key hits when we | | | | worked. I tried, I ran my hardest, and my team |
| needed it. There were runners on second and | | | | caught a break on an error. It wasn’t our |
| third base. No one was on first, so there was no | | | | strongest players that were in scoring position. |
| force. It was a do or die situation. I was up to | | | | It was the gals in the bottom of the batting order |
| bat. | | | | that came through when we needed them. |
| I’m the lead off hitter. I’m no | | | | Life is like that sometimes. We can’t all be |
| powerhouse, but I can usually get on base. But | | | | the powerful ball players, CEOs of large |
| lately, my hitting smelled worse than a dead | | | | corporations, or rich and famous. But we all |
| skunk on a windless night. During this particular | | | | have the potential to do something that can |
| game against the Gems I had two decent singles, | | | | make a difference. We can use the analogy of |
| but my batting prior to that in the tournament | | | | softball. We may not always hit a homerun. |
| had been a disappointing 0 for 6 times at bat. | | | | Even the greatest players strike out. But if we |
| Some of the problem was I injured my hamstring | | | | stay in there, keep trying, and keep our eye on |
| and wasn’t running fast enough to beat the | | | | our dream, we can reach our goals, one little step |
| throw to first base. I have a tendency to hit | | | | at a time. |
| right to the short stop, or a low fly ball to shallow | | | | So don’t just stand there reading this. Go |
| centerfield. I wasn’t exactly feeling | | | | out there and take some action toward achieving |
| confident, but I had prayed that day that I would | | | | your heart’s desire. You never know what |
| play better and none of my teammates would be | | | | you can do unless you try. It’s your turn |
| hurt. Side note: next time I’ll include no | | | | now. “Batter up! |
| injuries for the other team too, because a batter | | | | |