STRUGGLING FOR BETTER

I'm afraid my athletic performances are heading down hill. If that's true, then a big part of my identity is under threat. So evidence that this is the case is VERY upsetting. Any indication that someone besides me recognizes this is INFURIATING!!

That's probably why that last stupid softball game I wrote about bothered me so.

Since then I've played pretty well in my Sunday league and that's cheered me up. It was only this past Monday that we had another game in the week day league, however. I was so nervous about what might happen that I hoped for rain. Let's postpone any potential bad news for about a month!

It didn't rain, though, and only 10 of our players showed up. I had to be in the line up (1 bit of bad news avoided), but, of course, I could play poorly and cement my lowly status and the guy who appears to have replaced me could do well and solidify his.

The starting lineup further darkened my outlook. Once again I was listed in the last spot, the polar opposite of my (once) customary lead off position. I began the game in a foul mood.

The very first inning reinforced all that was wrong. My nemisis lead off with a walk and we started a big inning. I batted with 2 on base and failed to contribute as I flied out weakly on a pitch out of the strike zone. Everything sucked and it was all going to get worse.

And then it turned. My remaining 2 at bats were excellent and I played really well in the field. I worked the pitcher, hit the ball hard, reached base and ran down everything that came near me in the outfield. Suddenly I felt in the groove and my confidence began to grow. My counterpart, meanwhile, hit poorly the rest of the way and had an absolutely disasterous game in left field.

We won the game and the manager said to me that the team really needed me in right field. Okay. Well, we'll see what happens when (and if) those missing guys start to show up.

But for now at least it's better.