Going home for the Journey

Summer highlight

(not many this summer but this one is climbing the charts)

Journey Softball team

I was invited by Stacey to come play on a softball team way back at the beginning of summer. Probably around the time school was done and full time work was creeping up. The invitation was so far ahead that I totally forgot all about the invite.

But one fateful day, on a day off from work(which is rare these days) I get a call from the big leagues asking if I can come out and play for the Journey church. I scrambled to look for my good old glove but couldn't find it. So I sought out a new glove which set me back a few bucks and some poor old cows behind.

I can still remember my first game. It was cloudy. The shale was moist and you could smell the hot dogs and peanuts being sold from centerfield. Okay there was no vendors present. But the shale was moist. I saw some firmilar faces and it was a pretty good debut for the filipino fury, that even Coach Tasha and Fred asked for him to come back.

The team was competitive, outgoing and lots of fun. We didn't have a team name and didn't know how to introduce ourselves to our opponet. All we knew was that we muttered under our breath that we were going to crush them politely. When we were up to bat, no one ever wanted to take a walk. We were natural hitters, nothing less and nothing more. And maybe at times we should of just taken the walk than foul out or fly out. I'm sure more runs would of been scored. Our fielding was like a wave... Sometimes it was 3 up and 3 down... other times it was bobble here, fall and slip there and finally 3 out. Whatever the case we were always up for the challenge.

Chad the consummate pro. Bruce & Paul trustworthy with the bat and the glove. Leanne was always steady, the girl could rover like no one else over. Kathy can hit. Katie a hitter not a fighter. Sparshu 2nd basewomen, she could smack one in the gap. Tasha and Fred always staying postive and always encouraging. Nelson the Guillotine and the team was awesome to be part of.

But my summer slo-pitch journey ends prematurely. Next week playoffs start and I will be in Indiana. And if we get pass that game, the finals will be held the following saturday. So as I end this ode to softball summer fun blog. I tip my hat to all my team mates who I enjoyed spending a few hours a week with. I throw my glove in anger to frustration when the ball isn't falling in the right spot. I clinch my fist and hollar to "run like the wind". And I say "Swing away Merrill", when the bases are loaded. Go home for the Journey.