I ran into a guy during senior softball last night. I was running to third base, and I came in a little too fast. He was reaching to catch the ball, and I knocked into him.
Nothing happened. Nobody was hurt. But I felt bad about it. I apologized. It was poor etiquette.
The next thing I knew, the whole world did a wild 360-degree spin, and I found myself sans glasses, on my backside in the grass.
That’s the thing about senior softball. The players are seniors. You’re a senior. Everyone is a little bit … vulnerable. You’re not supposed to knock into people.
One of the things senior softball players try hardest to do IS NOT GET HURT.
So running into someone. That’s not cool.
A winter’s tale
Last winter, during a practice game, I was involved in another minor collision. I may or may not have caused that one too.
I was playing first base. A guy on the other team hit a grounder. Our third baseman scooped it up and threw it to me. But the throw was a little to my left, and in my attempt to catch it, I leaned into the base path and the batter ran into me.
I ended up on the ground. I don’t remember what happened to the other guy. Maybe he fell too. Neither of us was hurt.
Still, in senior softball, if anyone ends up on the ground, people become concerned. The game stops. Players in the dugout stop discussing their holiday plans and look up. Players on the field come over to check on the downed player(s).
Even after it is confirmed that no one is injured, people will linger and discuss what happened. What caused the collision? What were the relevant vectors and angles? Who was going where? And how fast? Was anyone at fault?
A verdict is reached
Of course, senior softball players are quick to give each other the benefit of the doubt. Unless there is grievous evidence to the contrary, it is usually assumed that no one is at fault. It’s a dynamic game. Stuff happens.
Still, there was some debate in this case. Finally, an elder of the group, a grizzled veteran of the senior softball circuit, declared authoritatively: “It was an errant throw.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. I nodded too. It was indeed an “errant throw.”
But was I wrong to try to catch an errant throw? And end up in the base path colliding with the batter? I don’t know. But I resolved to be more careful next time.
The worst collision
The worst collision I have been involved in happened in my first game, during the first season that I played senior softball.
This was in a “rec” league, which is the entry level of senior softball. These are often the oldest men. The most stationary. The most in need of not being run into.
I was new to senior softball. I hadn’t played any form of organized baseball/softball since I was in fourth grade.
For that first game, I was sent to right field since I was an unknown quantity. Could I catch? Could I throw? Nobody knew. I didn’t even know.
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The moment of truth
I stood in right field. Several innings went by. And then someone hit a high fly ball in my direction. It was going to land a fair distance in front of me, but if I ran, I thought I could catch it.
I really wanted to catch it. I wanted to prove myself to my new team. I also wanted to find out if I was any good at softball. I really had no idea.
But I believed I could catch that ball. So I ran forward while keeping my eyes glued to that big yellow softball in the sky.
And then BLAM. The next thing I knew, the whole world did a wild 360-degree spin, and I found myself sans glasses, on my backside in the grass.
Don’t run into the seniors!
I had run into the second baseman. And I had done so at FULL SPEED. I was running AS FAST AS I COULD. And I ran right into one of my teammates.
Thank God he was 6′ and 200 pounds and I am 5’8” and 160 pounds.
I sat up and checked myself. Was I hurt? I didn’t seem to be. I looked around in the grass for my glasses.
But then I saw the second baseman. He was down. And not getting up. I put my glasses on and hurried over to him with the other guys.
Oh God! I thought to myself. What if he’s hurt!
The other players were already gathered around. They lifted him up to a sitting position. He was holding his side. Our coach asked what happened. I said it was my fault. I didn’t call it.
They got him standing up. And it turned out he was OK. It was probably just the shock of the impact. For both of us. For me it was like a car crash you didn’t see coming. A violent out-of-body spinning sensation. And then everything stops, and for a moment you don’t know which way is up.
I remember driving home after that game, wondering if my new teammates would ever trust me again. Before that game, I had not really thought about getting injured or injuring others as a possibility.
Now, I realized I had literally done the worst thing you can do in senior softball.
Rebuilding trust
At first, my teammates didn’t trust me. Nobody said anything. But it was pretty obvious that I was on an unspoken probation.
But from that moment on, I locked onto the idea to never run into anyone, in any situation, for any reason.
Also, I became the “call it” guy.
Everyone always says you have to “call it,” but more often than not, nobody does, because people aren’t sure if they do “have it” because we’re just a bunch of old guys playing softball.
But boy, for the rest of that season, when it was clear that I was the closest person to the ball, I CALLED IT. I BELTED IT OUT. I SCREAMED IT AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS. The players in the other games, on the other softball diamonds, could hear me.
And then most of the time, I did catch it. Without running into anyone. And by the end of the season, I was back in everyone’s good graces.
Still though, I just ran into a guy last night. And this is my fourth season! That is not good.
So I have to be on guard. That’s why I’m writing this now. To remind myself, in public, in print. What is the most important rule in softball? DON’T RUN INTO THE SENIORS!
Collision, Lifestyle, Senior softball, Softball, Sports, Blake’s progress
