Week 2. Kitshickers vs Lawn Mowing Fever
Game Time: 9/11/2008, 6:30pm
Game Conditions: hot, humid, dusty.
Result: L 3-9
Record: 0-1-1
Game Time: 9/11/2008, 6:30pm
Game Conditions: hot, humid, dusty.
Result: L 3-9
Record: 0-1-1
Kitshicker's showed some dedication this week as we all rolled out to Richard Moya Park at about 5:30pm for our first ever catching practice. As coach said in his email: "PLEASE attend this practice if you suck at catching fly balls." Needless to say I was one of the first ones there. Coach starts the practice off by saying "I think first I'll just throw this ball at you" at which point he absolutely pegs me at the knees. I stand, dumbfounded, staring at him and then the other members of Team Suck. Coach says "Oh, sorry Jenni, I meant to throw that more at your head!" As if that makes it better. So I raised my hand, "Coach, exactly WHAT are we practicing?" And he looked straight into my eyes and said "Jenni, you are supposed to CATCH it". A-ha, and we're off to a fantastic start!
Coach promised that in 20 minutes we'd be pros, and dude was nearly right. I mean, I was certainly catching much better than normal. I was not using any of his helpful advice "you need to learn to know where it's going as soon as it leaves my foot and get there immediately", "use your body", "get under it", "OPEN YOUR EYES!" - each ball I caught my eyes were squinted shut, the ball was dangling dangerously away from my body, and I'd spent the last 5 seconds of it's descent running in pretty large circles trying to figure out where to be. But, I would catch it. That's what matters, right?!
The draw back of practice before the game is tri-fold. One, it was hot as hell, and we all needed lots more water than we'd brought. Two, I got a little bored - honestly...catching fly balls for an hour, not the most fun I've ever had. And three, it was hot (it seems the hottest time of day in Austin is somewhere around 4-6pm and we're out in the midst of that in an open field directly in the sun....Zzzzzzz)
The game started and we were off to an ok start, until the other team scored a bajillion* runs. We spent a bunch of time in the field running after them around the infield. It was like, 3 people tried to catch the ball, then tried to throw to first. Once the ball arrived at first, the runner was on the way to second, but the throw was off...so the first baseman had to retrieve the ball and throw to second. But, the seccond baseman was assuming the throw would go to third, since thats where the runner was headed, so the ball is now back in the outfield. Lazy outfielders scramble to get the ball to third, but the runner is nearly home now. Imagine that...times 9. I recommended a fielding practice, but coach told me that if we would catch the balls there'd be no need for fielding. Coach has a point, but...a back-up plan has never hurt anyone.
The best/worst part was that the other team had no subs. What they did have, however, was one stroller-bound baby and two small dogs. In their first inning in the field the baby stayed in the stroller (unattended) and one puppy was tied to the stroller. The catcher was holding the other puppy. After two such innings the baby was NOT happy any longer, and so for the rest of the game the catcher was holding the baby and one puppy. And we still lost. Horribly.
The highlight of the game, for me, was the inning where I made all three outs. Hells ya, catching practice. The call of the game would have gone something like this:
*estimation
Coach promised that in 20 minutes we'd be pros, and dude was nearly right. I mean, I was certainly catching much better than normal. I was not using any of his helpful advice "you need to learn to know where it's going as soon as it leaves my foot and get there immediately", "use your body", "get under it", "OPEN YOUR EYES!" - each ball I caught my eyes were squinted shut, the ball was dangling dangerously away from my body, and I'd spent the last 5 seconds of it's descent running in pretty large circles trying to figure out where to be. But, I would catch it. That's what matters, right?!
The draw back of practice before the game is tri-fold. One, it was hot as hell, and we all needed lots more water than we'd brought. Two, I got a little bored - honestly...catching fly balls for an hour, not the most fun I've ever had. And three, it was hot (it seems the hottest time of day in Austin is somewhere around 4-6pm and we're out in the midst of that in an open field directly in the sun....Zzzzzzz)
The game started and we were off to an ok start, until the other team scored a bajillion* runs. We spent a bunch of time in the field running after them around the infield. It was like, 3 people tried to catch the ball, then tried to throw to first. Once the ball arrived at first, the runner was on the way to second, but the throw was off...so the first baseman had to retrieve the ball and throw to second. But, the seccond baseman was assuming the throw would go to third, since thats where the runner was headed, so the ball is now back in the outfield. Lazy outfielders scramble to get the ball to third, but the runner is nearly home now. Imagine that...times 9. I recommended a fielding practice, but coach told me that if we would catch the balls there'd be no need for fielding. Coach has a point, but...a back-up plan has never hurt anyone.
The best/worst part was that the other team had no subs. What they did have, however, was one stroller-bound baby and two small dogs. In their first inning in the field the baby stayed in the stroller (unattended) and one puppy was tied to the stroller. The catcher was holding the other puppy. After two such innings the baby was NOT happy any longer, and so for the rest of the game the catcher was holding the baby and one puppy. And we still lost. Horribly.
The highlight of the game, for me, was the inning where I made all three outs. Hells ya, catching practice. The call of the game would have gone something like this:
High fly to right field, Jenni's there and makes a beautiful catch for the first out! A bunt attempt, first baseman in to field the ball, underhands to Jenni covering first, runner out! Deep fly to right field, superhero Jenni is under it and makes her signature closed-eyed catch to end the inning. And the crowd goes wild.Or, at the very least...I went wild. Coach probably muttered something similar to "about friggin time" under his breath. After our disappointing loss, and braving the Ike traffic, we had some well deserved $2 beers at Doc's!
*estimation
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