Opening night. What a thrill!
Even in our tenth year, excitement
among the Cougars mounted as warm-ups began under a Van Gogh sky. After all this time, you would think our
nerves would be at ease as we step our spikes across the white chalk lines onto
soft brown dirt. Even so, we still feel
like kids playing the game for the very first time.
Before the game, many of us
recounted the very first time we played together. On the opening night of our maiden season, we
played the best team in the league. In
the top of the first inning, they scored 17 runs. Our heads were spinning as they circled the bases. While we were all athletes (mostly) and as
kids all had swung a bat, ran the bases and threw a ball, but we were out of
our league in that game. In that 35-1
loss, the intricacies of 16-inch softball were lost on us. We were not prepared.
Last night, we played our
mirror image from ten years ago. Our
opponent was young, quick, athletic, and inexperienced.
The Cougars beat Ready for
Tuesday 18-1 in a slaughter-rule five inning game.
Our foe got the Ready
portion of their team name correct by showing up. They just forgot Set and Go.
Let’s get to the action. The Cougars were ready and willing for the
game!
First Inning
In the top of the first
inning, we had three straight walks by Boom, Rads and Martini. Fort drove Boom home for the first tally of
the year.
Our opponent scratched out a
dribbling hit and it was four up and three down.
Cougars 1-0.
Second Inning
Ready or not, here come the
Cougars! What an inning! Lipsey led us off with a three-bagger! Bobi crushed a double to score Peter. Not to be outdone, Li’l Rads followed suit
and punched a double to left center.
Baby Kale laced a single scoring Bobi.
Philthy, with his patented sweet smooth swing, struck a single scoring
Li’l Rads. Pastor Ted singled to
continue our opponent’s baptism to the league.
Diamond Dave moved the runners over and Boom got his second walk of the
game to load the bases. Rads poked a double
to left center and cleared the bases, which was highlighted by a headfirst slide
into home by Boom. Martini and Fort both
singled to score Rads. With two men on,
JD came to the plate and pummeled the ball past the outfielders for a three run
homer. What an inning – ten runs!
We put Not Ready for Tuesday
down 1-2-3 in their half of the inning.
Cougars 11-0.
Third Inning
The Cougars were at the
ready in the third. Consecutive hits by Bobi,
Li’l Rads, Kale, Philthy and Pastor Ted plus a couple of singles by Boom and
Rads led to another five runs.
We put Not Ready for Tuesday
down 1-2-3. Again.
Cougars 16-0.
Fourth Inning
Our opponent must have
learned a thing or two from us because they retired us in order for three quick
outs.
Ready for Tuesday did reach
base when they were at bat, but Martini picked the runner off first base so Jeffy
got us out of the inning in a jiffy.
Cougars 16-0.
Fifth Inning
Bobi, Li’l Rads and Philthy
all paddled the ball and we scored two runs.
Our opponent scored a lone
run in the bottom of the frame.
Cougars win 18-1.
The postgame was an even bigger blowout. Bobis treated Cougar Nation to a fantastic friends and family festivity.
People get ready, it’s going
to be a great season!
Game Video
__________________
__________________
Game Pictures
__________________
__________________
Postgame Pictures
__________________
