Take Me Out To The Ball Game
I pulled into the parking lot with my brother and Pandy in tow. We all grabbed our bags, water bottles and cleats and piled out of the car. We headed across the footbridge through the cool night air toward the dusty diamond. The overhead lights shone brightly on the grassy outfield and chalky outlines. Tonight was our first game. We were to be the feature game on opening night. Kicking off a league of 160+ players and showing em’ how it’s done.
It was opening night for Denver’s premiere kickball league and I was a team captain who, of course, was running a bit late.
My team was waiting patiently outside of the dugout for their uniforms (t-shirts) and my game plan. Thankfully somebody brought a pitcher full of Mai-tais and a case of beer and many on the team had since forgotten my tardiness. Minutes later I was in the dug out getting swarmed by friends asking what position they should play. Having been ill prepared, my instructions consisted of something to the order of “You, you, you, play somewhere in the outfield. You, you, and you pick a base. Freedom will pitch. If you don’t like your position, switch with someone.” I sat the first couple of innings out to make sure things were running relatively smoothly, posted the batting order, changed into my cleats and slugged a beer.
We played a heck of a game, and held a solid lead for the until the bottom of the seventh inning (the last inning in kickball) during which time our opponents switched their batting order and putting several heavy kickers up to plate in a row. This strategy worked, as two of the kickers were able to round their bases ending the game in a tie. As our opponents moped off the field we ran around giving each other high-fives, cheering, jumping and yelling. The stands also erupted in celebration with us, realizing our accomplishment. See, we lost every single game last season. And this year we started of by not losing. No matter how you look at it, we had already improved. A cause for celebration indeed.
I’m looking forward to another beautiful spring competing in America’s favorite playground pastime.
1 megan Says:
yay! clapclapclap.
2 joc elyn Says:
I am much more of an indoor girl, but have fun
3 Satan™ Says:
Good job on the near win. I want to play kickball damn it.
4 chevy Says:
man youre totally the cutest …. dont tell the team.
im shocked that youre upgraded to captain.
5 teahouseblossom Says:
Hey yeah, have lots of fun!!
6 hubs Says:
megan - thank you thank you thank you.
jocelyn - oh, i can have fun indoors too.
satan - go check out http://www.wasasports.com and sing yourself up for next season
chevy - awe shucks. i know, me too. but so far our results have been better, so….
teahouse - as always, you too. how was china?
7 tlc Says:
Ohhhh I nearly forgot to tell you! You so inspired me with the kickball thing that last fall I agreed to help coordinate the leagues here!
Games start May 6th! How about you come down and show us how its done?
8 Hot Abercrombie Chick Says:
Ah, good old kickball. It was my favorite playground game:)
9 teahouseblossom Says:
China was such a great trip!
And I miss those junior high gym class kickball days.
10 #1 Jesus Fan Says:
I love your site. It’s simply marvelous. Praise the Lord!
11 S Says:
Kickball for “grown-ups.” That’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard. Meanwhile I’m having a hard time just finding sand volleyball or an inline hockey league down in these parts…maybe it’s time I move west.
12 hubs Says:
tlc - now way! that’s so cool. seriously, let me know if you want any help or advice on setting it up.
hot abercrombie - i was partial to four square back in the day. in 6th grade we had a team called “the sting”. so i guess now i’m just catching up on what i missed out on then.
teahouse - me too, that’s why i’m reliving them!
#1 jesus - nice one satan, you put a lot of time into that.
s - it’s tons of fun. i like sand volleyball too but i’m not good enought to play in a league.