The
men arrive every Tuesday evening in the spring and summer.
They
all wear shirts that match my green pasture.
The familiar
faces are now rough like my gritty dirt.
The
new faces are fresh like a sprig of grass.
I provide
an escape from daily life and strengthen neighborhood ties.
Children have trampled me for over 100 years.
These
men transform into kids when they set foot on me.
I am
Howard Park and they are the Cougars.
Oh,
how I remember that very first game they played 12 years ago.
They
were a ragtag group and showed up with such enthusiasm.
If I
had a scoreboard, their opponent would have used all the numbers.
They quickly
realized that sometimes the games are not a walk in the park.
Over
the years, I have been the backdrop for their moments of futility and joy.
Win or
lose, they always depart my fields together and drink in the night air.
I have
witnessed this team learn something that few teams know:
The
true success of their team cannot be measured in runs scored.
They
left last night for the final time of 2019 with a loss but they are always winners.
As usual,
they walked under my bright lights to go celebrate another year on my fields.
They strengthened
bonds by reliving memories, both old and newly created.
The
cheering voices of their friends and families will echo in my shadows until
next spring.
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Game Video
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Game Recap
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Postgame Pictures
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Next Game
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April 21, 2020
