Co-ed Softball: the Final Game of the Season

You know, I won't be posting too many blogs about my softball games on here, but this story has to be told.  This game almost didn't happen.  We were given a change in our schedule last week saying we had to work until 7 pm every night, and we had a 7 pm game.  The whole office was in an uproar over this, but I am manager, and solved the problem.  I take pride in the fact that I have the calmest of heads.  Back to the game, we were playing the 56ers, not sure what that means, if someone knows please comment.  They had beat us last time with a walk-off triple from one of their girls.  It was quite embarrassing, but I had a feeling we could at least compete with them in the final game.  We were the home team so we took the field first, which we prefer because then we always have a shot at batting last.  Well, I won't go into too much detail, but we gave up 12 runs in the first inning which led to an attitude of, "no way we're coming back."  It also led to me being warned for swearing which I tend to do when i'm angry.

When we got up to bat, Joel Hodges, hit a double somewhere out there, I don't really watch too much of other people's hits.  Our girl got out, so Graham 'Super Ripken' Branson had to go out there to bring this team back.  I usually try to put the ball into the opposite field but lately I've gone with a swing towards left.  That's what I did this time and the ball was going, going, off the girl's glove!  I ran around the bases, got to third, Mark held me there but I saw the relay drop the ball, and ran home for the HOME RUN!  It was pretty sweet, that was the first time Serena has seen me hit one.  A couple of batters later Peter Kelly hit a home run too, these are inside the park varieties, to bring the score to 12-3 I believe.  Let's fast forward to the end.

In co-ed softball, if a man walks, he gets to go to second.  If there are 2 outs and a man walks, the girl behind him can go to first.  This is key see.  We were down 17-6 in the final inning, and we score on average, maybe 8 runs per game.  Our main strategy, one that sucks for the other team, is to walk if we don't have a good pitch.  We have a lot of beginners on our team who like to swing away, which isn't good for us.  The opposing team brought in a new pitcher for the last inning and she couldn't throw a strike to save her life.  It was awesome!  The people she didn't walk were hitting singles and doubles and we had brought the score to 17-15 when I came up to bat with the bases loaded and 2 outs.  I'm not going to lie, I was very nervous.  I had to be the good manager and lead by example.  I was not going to swing unless I really had a sweet pitch. If she walked me, two runs would score, and the game would be at least tied.  The count always starts at 1 ball and 1 strike.  First pitch, ball. Second pitch, ball. Third pitch.... ball!  I had just tied the game in the lamest of ways.  Regardless, we had come back, a team known for blowing most games.  Peter Kelly went up there two batters later and tried to play hero and got out, taking us to overtime.

In overtime, you get one pitch and one pitch only.  If it is a ball, you walk.  If it is a strike, you're out.  We held the opposing team to no runs, which I was able to secure with a Ripken like grab and tag of second.  Our team went up there and made it happen.  Deidra took a walk.  Mark Hull got up there and took a walk too, I think.  I'm not really sure what happened, it was a all a blur at this point, but a guy walked and we came home to score for an 18-17 victory!  It was an extreme comeback for a somewhat extreme team.  When we take the field for the summer league, the other teams should be scared because our team will learn how to hit and field by that time.  What I didn't tell you folks is that I had the worst fielding game of mine in a long time.  I shall redeem my Ripken code of conduct and not suck like that again.

Zombie Street: Part 2

            The first thing I saw was a man sleeping on a queen size bed.  At least, I thought he was sleeping.  I was a bit jittery, it could have been the fact I believed I had encountered a zombie or the fact that I was in this stranger’s house.  The air blowing out of the vent above my head gave me a slight chill.  Should I go upstairs and get Quinn, or should I just wake this guy up on my own?  I searched the room with the moonlight while standing in the doorway trying to locate a possible defense mechanism.  I found a wooden bat that was slightly cracked in the handle.  It would have to work, at least I play softball right?  I searched my pockets, hoping to find a penny or a pebble, to toss at the man.  My pockets were empty, damn debit cards and pebble less roads!  “Aheeem!” I grunted.  It was very weak, so I tried my best to clear my throat, “AHEEEEEM!”  The man startled, reached to this right, and flicked on a flashlight.  “Who are you!?!” he screamed.  The light was blinding me, but I could tell he looked at the bat in my hand, because before I could answer he requested, “What do you want? I’ll give you whatever you want.”  I began to think of the hundreds of dollars I could possibly obtain from this guy.   Instead, I told him, “I think there are zombies outside, could you help us?” He laughed.  “Who is us?” he asked.  “My brother is upstairs.” I replied.  “Actually, I’m right here; I heard some yelling so I ran down.” Quinn interjected.  “Anymore sightings up stairs?” I asked.  “I saw a couple of people walking down the street, but they chased a cat to a tree.  It looks as though they don’t know what to do next.”  The man interrupted, “you two are crazy, if I show you that these people are fine, will you please leave my house?”  We followed him upstairs.

            The man looked out the window and saw about twelve people gathered around the base of the tree, trying to get to the feline.  “You know what, I think I’ll call the police instead guys.” the man told us.  Quinn and I looked at each other, both thinking that the police weren’t going to be able to help us in this situation.  “Do you have any weapons in the house?” Quinn asked.  The man thought for a second, “you know, I have been collecting war memorabilia for years, but it’s locked downstairs.”  The man went to turn the light on to the stairway below and accidentally turned on the porch light outside.  The three of us stared at each other, without saying a word, I turned the lights back off.  The man mouthed, “What the fuck?” 

I replied in a whisper, “Did you want me to keep it on?”

“I think it would have been better than switching it back off.”

“Why can’t you work the lights inside your house?”

“Shut up, both of you, they’re coming!” Quinn yelled.  We all turned and placed our faces against the cool glass.  The people from the tree plus a few extra down the street were stumbling towards us.  It looked like a mob where everyone had one broken ankle.  The man closed the curtains and tried to lock the door, but discovered we had already done it earlier.  “I think we need to split up” the man said. 

            The only experience I ever had with zombies was in movies. This wasn’t as funny as they made it seem.  The man’s suggestion that we split up seemed like the best idea at the time.  Being frazzled and scared and having soiled pants will do that to you.  We ran down the stairs to the locked room without turning the lights on.  The moon did an excellent job of keeping the room lit but the windows letting the light in made us fish in a giant fishbowl.  Thankfully, the zombies hadn’t thought of going around the back of the house yet.    The three of us were sweating despite the chilly air being pumped in from above.  I thought we were all focused on the room, but Quinn let me know that I smelled like shit. “Thanks bud, I’ll try to remember to bring an extra set of clothes next time” I replied. The two of us stood behind the man as he pushed the door open.

                                                                To be continued...

Zombie Street: Part 1

Quinn and I were walking down a wooded street, the day light fading slowly.  The houses were so cold and the trees seemed to reaching for us, telling us to get away.  We were oblivious to the outside forces, continued to stroll, trying to find our way home.  A car suddenly pulled up, screeching while it tried to stop, BOOM!  It hit a tree in front of us, leaving us confused.  A man stumbled out of the car, his eyes slowly filling with a blood red.  "You ok?” Quinn mumbled.  The man moved in a fast, unsteady pace towards us.  I looked around to see what the man was trying to get too, realizing that he wanted us.  I was conflicted, do I run and hope for the best, or do I look for a weapon in self-defense?  I chose the latter, but all I could find was a stick the size of my arm with a width of a #2 pencil.  I slashed at the man, who didn't seem to be fazed by my actions.  He grabbed for my arm but Quinn was able to push him away.  "Let's get the hell outta here, bra!” I shouted.  Quinn and I ran down the street, all alone, but feeling as though we were surrounded.  We decided that we should attempt to find cover somewhere.  Looking around we saw a house that was situated down a long black driveway.  We checked to make sure we had lost the man and ran down the hill.

"Should we knock, or just try to go in?” Quinn asked.  "I don't think we have a choice", as I went to open the door.  I fell into the open hallway when the door opened with no obstruction.  When I looked up from the floor, I noticed I was laying on a red and gold runner.  On my right was a staircase leading up to a dark hallway.  To my left was a fish tank with a couple of goldfish and a tropical tree beside it.  "Anyone here!?!” Quinn shouted in a hushed tone.  Not wanting to give ourselves away to the outside world, Quinn locked the front door and closed the curtains of the window to the right of the door.  I thought aloud, "This sucks... it's like a damn movie."   "What do you think was up with that guy?" Quinn pondered.  "I think he was a zombie... no bullshittin'!”, I stated.  "A Zombie? really?  You’ve been watching too many movies.” Quinn mocked me.  The truth of the matter was, I could tell in Quinn's frighten eyes that he believed me.  We didn't know if we should check the house for the living or stay in our spot for an easy get-away.

I decided two hours into our peep hole watching to explore the house.  Not knowing how long we would be stranded in that house, I thought it would be good to know the escape routes and/or people who might be with us.  I stepped softly down the stairs, not wanting to make myself known to anyone.  The moonlight draped the basement in a soft, blue hue.  There was a door to my left and two doors to the right.  A giant window with a 5 x 5 matrix was directly in front of me.  I decided to try the doors to the right first, hoping that they would be unoccupied.  The first door was a storage room, filled mainly with boxes and piles of books.  The second door was locked; I decided that I probably should leave that room alone for now.  I turned around and looked at the door across from me; I would need to go in it.  For some reason, I didn’t have a good feeling about this door.  I put my ear to the door and listened, all I could hear was the sound of my breathing.  I put my hand on the knob and turned it.

                                                                To be continued...

Welcome

This blog is going to be mainly stories written by me that were inspired by one of my crazy dreams.  I first started blogging on my brother's blog,http://goldenbootchronicles.blogspot.com/, which I appreciate.  I felt as though I needed my own playground to post when I felt the need or if other people wanted to blog too.  I feel as though this will be a great creative outlet and a stepping stone for me to produce a book one day.  That would be pretty awesome.  Thanks for following and please follow my followers as they will have somewhat interesting things to say as well.