The Boys of Summer

Twice a week, the over-60 slow-pitch softball team from Grand Prairie takes the field. Game time is usually around 9:30 AM (about four hours after the players get up). Here are some observations from my visit to the park for their most recent game...

This is not a "first to third" kind of league. First to second is a stretch. At one point a player on the other team tried to score from second on a single. He lost control about two steps past the third base bag. He ended up crumpled on the ground ten feet wide of third, very nearly smashing his face into the concrete curb in front of his dugout.

Everyone is named Walter, Herman, or Chester. Even the women. And yes, women can play in this league. The GP team had two that day. Both hit the ball and fielded their positions well. Pretty fast, too. Well, relatively.

It's not easy to get a flyball to drop in the outfield, as it appeared there were like 17 outfielders, but when the balls did drop, they would quite often end up as fielder's choice outs at second. And, of course, there was the occasional 7-to-3 "ground out". And like runners in baseball can run thru the bag at first, in this league they can also run thru the bag at second and the bag at third. Sliding is not an option.

Many batters have designated runners. It's the first time I've ever seen a guy running to first say out loud, "nice hit!" on his way to first. I also saw a batter swing and miss at the first pitch, but be called out because his designated runner took off too soon. Bummer for the batter.

This is also not a league where they play "just for fun." Not only were there several arguments about the rules ("A thrown ball that hits a runner is a dead ball!" "No, that's only on a batted ball." "You don't know everything!" "No, but I know that!"), but after one player, a middle school coach and teacher, hit his second grand slam of the game over the fence, the other team complained that "He should be in a Class C league!" They may have initially underestimated him because he wore loafers (no socks).

Our favorite player, Herman "Lefty" Wheeler, was the starting pitcher and earned the win. His relief pitcher didn't have his good stuff; so Herman re-entered the game after one inning, thereby getting both the win and the save. Our hero also went 2-for-3 with a double and did all his own running. After the double, the game was momentarily stopped while he checked to make sure I saw his hit ("Did you see that?!? Did you see that?!?").

The morning was very entertaining. It won't be long until I'm out there. I'll need to buy some loafers, though.