Peaking into the future

Beauty time of the year for ball. Cloudless skies, cooler weather, not a stitch of precipitation, impending playoffs. If only we didn’t have to deal with the onset of darkness at a much earlier rate, it would all be perfect. Gloom permeates the field towards the latter half of he second game, making it a wee bit more difficult to play our games out in full but, as with everything, we manage to cope. Just barely, perhaps, but we cope.

With the playoffs looming, teams seem to be peaking, coming into their own, eking out a win (finally). Others just sit there quietly, getting homered to death, leaving their peaks at home. Don’t know why, pointless to save them for a rainy day. Either or, we take it all in stride and manage to exit the field still smiling and enjoying ourselves, unaware of the events that bring us to a loss (or win). Ignorance is bliss, but we seem to be able to carry it off even when we are totally aware. Works for me. If not, I am always happy to simply feign ignorance. Never a stretch. As said, some teams seem to be peaking, giving their all, putting every ounce into every hit, squeaking every gram out of every fielding play. Others not so much. Still no worries, as it always comes down to the last two games of the season and will still have time to work things out. Just a wee bit of time, but it only takes one game to turn things around. Provides hope for the less than fortunate and just adds pressure for those performing at their best. Can it be kept up for the whole season or do things tend to peter out? Probably not and no pun intended, but things can take a swift turn in the playoffs and can go off in any or all directions.

Two more regular games to complete the season, one at Palmerston, one at Country Lane, under the lights, where fear of darkness is no longer a concern. Teams seem to have become firmly ensconced in their relative positions, but the more games the better, so win or lose, we play them all and have a fine, good time of it. Once we get under the lights, we can shift back to a later start and, more often than not, we can get a full seven innings of play in. Definitely need to stretch for these puppies. More time to pull something or generally injure oneself. Hopefully, all goes well and we can forego the ambulance this year. We do seem to be suffering a few late injuries on the field (some off), but most are able to get up and brush it off, carrying on, even if it is with a pitch runner or playing a less active position. For the others, we are all happy to pitch in and help out, feeling empathy with your pain and aiding and abetting with all the

helpful assistance you might require, hopefully keeping you in the game just a wee bit longer or just long enough. Just four more games for each team until the end of the whole kit and caboodle. Hopefully we can overcome our age, our injuries and, at times, our indifference to make it through to the end of it all, to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even if it does get dark too damn early.