Fast Balls and Black Eyes

I took a picture of myself just minutes ago ...

Bet you're wondering how I got my shiner ...

Once Upon a Time ... (don't all good stories start like that?)

We were playing fastball last night .... in Lacombe ....

We were winning ... 4th inning rolls around and ....

Some huge gigantic girl cracks a line drive right up the first base line ... I step in front to stop it - it lands in my glove - and I turn around to tag out the runner ... she runs back in hurry - a flurry of elbows fly around - and while I am tagging her out - she throws an elbow into my face - my glasses shatter - blood starts to drip from my face ...the shiner forms ... but I got the runner out - HUGE DOUBLE PLAY to end the inning ....

Seriously Shawna?  You sound like a heck of a first base lady ....

OKAY!  so that is not how it happened ... but the real story is only slightly more embarrassing to tell today than it was for people to witness it yesterday ...

We WERE playing fastball last night ....

We WERE in Lacombe ... and

We WERE winning ....

the 4th inning DID roll around ....

and that is where the truth ends ...

I was heading in to play ... I sat the first three innings - psyching myself up for my debut at first base ...

 I like to play first base ... in slo-pitch ... there are no bunts.  there are no steals.  I just stand there and catch.  No Big deal. The boys are nice to me.  They throw right to my glove.

Fastball first base.  Very Different. 

But I was gonna try ... not much of an in-fielder am I ... but I was determined to find my spot on the team ... I thought maybe a back-up 1-bagger was it.

I headed out - with the reassurance that Pat would tell where to go and how to get there should I need the assistance.  and boy - did I need the assistance.

We were warming up ... yep - that's the embarrassing part.  Warming up.  There were no bats involved.  No line-drives.  no runners.  No opposition even on the field yet. 

I am throwing to my base-mates. they are throwing back.  we are having a good time ... until I throw to this girl ....

She looks fierce huh?  She catches my wimpy grounder - and whips it back at my glove. 

And this is even more embarrassing.  It was a perfect throw.  right to where I was holding glove.  In fact.  I got cocky.  I thought for sure it was in my glove.  I was already throwing it ... in my head ...

In reality - I likely took my eye off the ball (I was getting too cocky ... KARMA ... you suck!) and ...

WHAM! 

There went my sunglasses - shattered into at least two pieces ...

and my dignity - lying all over the lacombe ball diamond.

To make matters worse ... that fierce girl up there ... chucking the ball at my face ... my COUSIN!  my own flesh and blood ...

In her defence - she handled it exactly the way I wanted her too ... she left me alone ... turned around and threw out the first batter.  That's the way to do it Goo.  Proud of you.  Represent.

Off I went.  hanging my head in shame ... well not exactly hanging it - if I tilted my head that way - the blood that was GUSHING from my baseball seam cut would have been all over my Mango Tango Jersey.  can't have that.  Doc. Lee Fixed me up ... fabric super-sticky band-aid and all ....

And my ball team continued to OWN the field ....

And We WON! 

I like to think it's because of the small contribution I made.  I mean - I did throw three very wimpy grounders in a fourth inning warm-up round ... come on folks ... a contribution is a contribution ...

As for my injury ... my pride hurts the most ... seriously ... everytime I have to tell the story ... a get a litle sympathy look ... and then a full out laugh ... and sometimes ... a standing ovation complete with a slow clap ...

someday Karma .... I will get you ... !

Peace Out!