Winning In The Rain

Last night was a soaking success. My son’s baseball team is doing tournaments. They had a dismal season primarily due to inconsistent pitching. They lost to some very bad teams due to walking in batters that just stood at the plate, expecting a walk. It was painful and heart breaking to watch these kids play their hearts out and come out with nothing to show for it. They did have a good time playing and toward the end of the season, which almost always happens, they started playing as a team. Last night, in the pouring rain, they won their first game in tournaments.

The game started out with a light drizzle. It pretty much dried before it hit the cement. Then it stopped. We were ahead 6 -1 at that time. Then the rain hit. No thunder, just a constant drain. It was not enough to call the game but enough to get the ball wet and cause the players to become distracted. By the end of the 5th inning, we started to walk in a few of their players and we had scored a few runs. The score going into the last inning was a 10-10 tie. It was another lead that slipped through their gloves. We were the visitors so we batted first. Our last at bats we scored one run. The game became a knuckle biter.

Their last at bat we walked one, struck one out, caught a fly ball, and then walked two. It was bases loaded, two outs, full count and the batter hit the ball up the first base line. With the flick of a glove and step on the bag, the runner was out and they had won the game. All game long, it continued to rain. I was soaked to the bone but it was worth it. My son’s team, nicknamed the Dirtclods, with their dismal season, advance to the second round in the tournament. Their next game is against the number one team. Miracles do happen.

Icool

Cobb