Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Hamstrunged Out

Greensboro, NC -- After a championship season in the Winston-Salem Dodgeball League, we have decided to try our hand at kickball through the City of Greensboro. After two practices last week, there was much anticipation for today's first game. I've been pretty active during the summer, so it takes me less time to recover after a grueling event. When we played kickball in March, then again around Memorial Day back in Maryland, it took me several days to recover.

I completed my usual routine of stretching prior to the game. I followed that up by running some strides down the left field foul-line. Because league rules dictate that the fielding positions must alternate between boy-girl, I played "left-center" to start the game. Since 95% of the kickers are right handed, we stacked our best player and me on the left side of the diamond. However, on the very first play of the game, a ball was popped up to the shortstop. A natural reaction led me to break in and that's when my left hamstring popped. I was able to hobble around until the bottom of the inning. The lineups are filled out similarly to the fielding positions; a team must alternate boy-girl to prevent stacking. I batted second and lifted a solid single up the middle, but that just about did it for me. The team captain poked an infield single just over the shortstop's head. With our strongest leg at the plate, standing on second base, I took myself out of the game. Our team is another version of the 2007 Nationals. Our pitching and defense are adequate, but we need as many runs as possible. The clean-up hitter flied to left. Inning over.

An 1-1 dogfight in the 7th eventually became a laugher when the opposing team scored 5 in the 8th. We ultimately fell by a score of 8-1. It was the most stressful game to watch. My spot in the order came up twice with runners in scoring position. I'm rocking the ice pack on the hammie right now.

We have another game tomorrow, then we're off until Tuesday. If I can't go tomorrow, I hope to be ready for next week's game or else a trip to the 15-day disabled list is in order.

3 comments:

JasonB said...

You're gettin' old buddy

JasonB said...

Can I also just say that I love my work. We are being forced to leave work early today. (I work for UMUC. The main offices are located on the College Park campus, but I work a couple miles away in a different building) Everyone has to leave at 3:30 however, because the Maryland-WVA football game is tonight, and we have to give our parking spaces. Like I said, I work a couple miles away, and would not be at all affected by traffic. Good stuff

Unknown said...

Just remember that you have a year on me, bud.

My office is pretty close to Wake Forest. In fact, it's probably the same distance to the stadium as yours is to Byrd Stadium. Us knocking off at 3:30 p.m. for football parking would never occur here in a million years.