If at first you don’t succeed, just bunt

First, let’s get the forecast out of the way. Or, since it has already happened, the hindcast. Takes most of the guesswork out of things. Anyway, the weather for a mid-September evening was no less than exemplary. Mother Nature continues to smile blindly upon us, even if we don’t treat her so well all the time. Guess that’s what mothers do. May as well simply sit back and enjoy the tempered climate, even if it may all be due to global warming.

The evening proceeded more or less as expected. Four teams split into pairs, each pair meeting in one of two games, each experiencing a full seven innings of activity, a slight portion of it under the lights, as the evening slipped into darkness. Two of the teams were successful at securing a loss, while the other two teams failed to attain the same. Those that failed and had to fully bear the burden of a win, play the late game next week for top spot, while those that were able to successfully secure a loss, play the early game, in the hopes of further securing a spot in the very bottom of the baseball aquarium. Less recognition, but with less to lose, more fun. Unless it’s all in fun. But of course it is,

If you are unaware which teams won, which teams lost, who plays early, who plays late, you may be obliviously unaware. At the very least you are missing some good, fun games, sometimes exciting games, sometimes exasperating games, but, if you are indeed blissfully unaware, there can be some benefit to that, so you can be left to happily wallow in your own ignorance of current events. However, positive just about everyone knows what the hell is going on. At least I assume we still have the mental capacity. I think. I hope. Now what was I going on about?

Both games were a joy to behold, one a very close nail biter, the other a little further away. The errors, although still invasive, were minimized, and exceptional plays dominated the field, interspersed with the usual mediocre ones just for the sake of comparison. Everyone played well, some surprising themselves, but others fully aware that it is never surprising, that you always had it in you. Even if you consider yourself not that good, you are never not that bad and, at times during the season, you are just basically due. Good things come to good people. Okay, in that case, perhaps the play of some can be sometimes surprising. But I kid. It is always surprising.

The hitting was wide and varied, comprised of several bunts, most up the first baseline, a few extending past the pitcher’s mound, a few less than inches in front of home plate (run Dan, run!). Strange, since we are not allowed to blunt and are always required to take a full swing. But whatever works. If it gets you on base and advances the runners, it is always a good hit. Just be considerate in your batting methods, as those really short hits, although successful, force persons on the other team to have to exert themselves more. Some of us are getting old. Be nice.

We now move on to the last two games of the season. The good news is that the champions of the season will finally be crowned (definition up to your own interpretation, just don’t hurt anyone). The bad news is that it is the last two games of the season. Crap, another long off-season trying not to get out of shape, not to gain too much (more) weight or lose any of those developed social and athletic skills. Plus, we may have to deal with that damn white stuff somewhere along the way. Snow, I mean.

But I totally, as always, digress.

Good luck next week to everyone. Because, even if you can’t be good, you can always be lucky. And, as long as you luck is good, it’s all works out the same.