It’s been years since I’ve played on a softball team, and I made my rookie debut last evening in the Princeton University league. The game was a test of my overall stamina and flexibilty, but especially a test drive of my new left knee.
I did OK, although by playing catcher I was not severely tested. I had to field the ball on a couple of tough plays when the batter hit the ball only a few feet in front of home plate. We were playing on a grass field, soggy from several previous days of rain, so the ball stopped dead moments after hitting the ground.
I went 0-3 batting, lining out to short and grounding out to short and second. Each time, I hit the ball directly at the fielder, and on the grounders I was out before I got halfway up the first base line. “Hit ’em where they ain’t,” I yelled as I approached the bag on my third attempt.
The Princeton league has two divisions, and my team — the Research Renegades — is in the less intense bracket. The mood was easygoing and convivial. We applauded our colleague-opponents’ good plays just as we did our own, and we had plenty of laughs. In 7 innings of play, the Renegades defeated the Ice Cold Pitchers 5-4.
I passed whatever test for myself I had in mind. Miraculously, I’m not super sore today.
Next week, we have two games scheduled, and I’ll be back. 🧢
The Ball Caps Blog 
That’s great news, both this recap and that you’ll be playing again. I need to start doing something like that….better than sitting on my ass and drinking.
I do a lot of that, too! 🍻