And so it begins

Welcome to the 2017 season of Palmerston CoEd Softball Fun League, emphasis on the fun. Well, not always, but try and pretend, even if it’s not. If you try and take a serious look at it, well, you’re doing it all wrong. Stop it. Nothing serious going on here. Few changes this year, as you might realize from all the new faces in and around the field. About 12 new players this year, which essentially means we replaced one whole team, if not more. Don’t be a stranger, get to know the newbies, make yourself acquainted, befriend them, whether they are on your team or not. The sooner you get to know them, the quicker you can ridicule them, jest with them and get up to no good with them. Welcome them all to club.

As for the returning regulars, no special welcome mat for you, You’ve been here, done that and well acquainted with how things work. Good to see you, in any event. Always good. We finally worked up our resolve and replaced our existing convener, Sue Miller. Of course, not by choice as she left by her own resolve, to pursue greener pastures, one devoid of people with sticks, people who are constantly tossing balls about. Sue did a fine job and is to be commended for her years of servitude to the league. Our new convener is Sandra Leith, cohabitant of the Moosehead captain, Ray. Can be a tough gig as she is the focal point for the entire league and most everything ends up dumped on her doorstep. Try to limit your dumps, take it easy on her and remember it is all about the fun, for one and all. Yes, that even includes the umpire. Sid, our reigning umpire, returns for another year of punishment. Some people never learn. We are glad he bears with us and sticks it out, helping to keep the bedlam to a minimum. Be friendly, get to know him, he hardly ever bites and never hard when he does. Besides, if he takes a liking to you, more calls may go your way. And most of us can use all the help we can get. Diane Dickson continues to handle our finances, plus other tasks/chores. Another glutton for punishment. Glad to have her back. Sandy Moffat returns as the Social Director, somewhat the Julie of the enterprise, keeping us socially involved while on Captain Stubing’s ship. Even though we are on solid ground, sometimes the waves get so high, you just can’t stay on top. Thank goodness someone is there to handle the money and someone else is there to try and keep us social. Keeps us all above water. Most of the captains have returned, which is always a surprise. They keep us organized at the team level, filtering some of the responsibilities of those higher up in the food chain, so the higher ups can focus on the job at hand and deal with the unfiltered ‘requests’ coming from the captains.

Few rule changes introduced, just to keep it fun for everyone. Get to know them, so you don’t break them and can focus your efforts on learning the infield fly rule. Remember, ignorance of the law is no excuse. So farewell to the regulars who have taken wing this season, welcome to those who were serendipitous enough to replace them, thanks to all the regulars who returned and let the games begin. One exhibition under our belt and we only suffered one injury, one self-inflicted and not life-threatening, even though blood was drawn. Hopefully not a bad sign. Still no one yet on the DL. Keep in mind, we only get two exhibition games, two weeks of practice before we start keeping track of points, so practice well, my friends, Practice well. Learn how to stretch , preferably before the game. Me? Me, I am just hanging about as usual, doing what I do. Hopefully I won’t get in your way (too much).