And sometimes you just get wet
It was a muggy evening, the atmosphere laden with moisture, the dampness of it all softening the infield and slowing the outfield to a crawl. At least for the ball. Some of us are just slow naturally, weather aside. The glare of the setting sun was absent, obscured by various layers of thick, cloudlike masses, as climatic conditions swirled them slowly about above the field. Okay, they were not just cloudlike, they were clouds. The lack of heat was offset by the thickness in the air, making it one of those ‘it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity’ type of evenings. Just another perfect night for ball. Well, at least the first game.
The clouds began to spew forth precipitation for the start of thesecond game, first in bits and drabs, then in bigger bits and bigger drabs, then finally dumping its load, forcing the game to a complete halt. Had to pull the plug, cease all activities, walk off the field and call it a night. Called, cancelled and ceased to fulfill its own destiny, without a full completion. Since we have no way to make up rained out games, it’s probably best to write off the whole evening, so that no one gains ground, no one loses it. Well, loses more of it. Everyone wins, everyone loses, depending on your view of life. The winners were losers, the losers were winners. Everyone walked off the field with another experience under their belt, some just damper than others, moist from more than just the humidic sweat. Everyone endured, survived and no hospitalization was required. On the bright side, enough players were missing from the first game, to allow it to be further populated with a smattering of subs, allowing some players losing out on the cessation of the second game, to suffer the full losing experience playing in the first game. Or winning, depending on whose side of the bat you were standing. As always, we all came out winners. And you can take that any way you want it.
That time of year that, as the summer progresses, the earth begins to feel the full effect of gravity and the ground seemingly appears to retract further from the bottom of your feet, allowing more ground balls to slip under your grasp, even though you feel you have fully distended yourself to ground level. No worries, just part of nature, even it is more just human nature. With our exceptional athletic abilities, it must be the ground moving beneath our feet that allows the ball to continue its forward momentum. Pointers? Longer glove might help. In fact, the longer, the better. Careful though, because if it gets too long, it might throw you off balance which might make you reach the ground more fully and faster than you intended. No worries though, because if you do fall down, you get much closer to the ground more quickly and more than likely will block the ball from proceeding further. Other tips. Avoid high heels and lean towards flat-soled shoes, at least ones with smaller, flatter spikes. This could keep you closer to the ground. Might slip a bit more, but on the good side, you might just fall down, again, blocking the ball in the process. Always bend fully with the knees. Gets you closer to the ground quicker and makes the fall to block the ball less demanding when you do come in full physical contact with the ground.
Or, if you’re in the infield or in a rover position, you could just let the ball slide beneath your grasp and make the player behind you field it. Not really an error on your part, you’re just self-sacrificing enough to foresake the glory and allow everyone to take part, be involved in the game, to allow everyone to put their hands on the ball and throw it about. Or throw it away, as the case may be. As long as you enjoy yourself, no worries. We won’t hold it against you (for long). Ridicule you a bit, but that just keeps you involved as well.
Even if you don't stay dry.
