Game 4: Metrica Ballbusters vs. Betgenius

Metrica started the game in their traditional style, turning up late after wandering around Regents Park looking for the chancers to trounce at softball. Betgenius looked keen, they had loads of players and at least one American/Candian, possibly two, which in my opinion is over the legal quota and is just cheating. But the Ballbusters weren’t daunted, in fact it just made us hungrier.

The ref got the game underway, Betgenius to bat first. They were out for a few runs, and Metrica’s response was a mighty 10 runs in one innings. This was going to be easy, or so we thought. However, these betgenius lot were made of sterner stuff and the fight was going to prove tougher than we would have liked.

Special mention must go out at this point to the ref, who was cooler than huggy bear, with better hand signals that snoop dogg. Brushing the dirt off his shoulder to signify foul balls, spudding his fists together, speaking in code and revelling in every single steeeeeeeeeeeriiiiike.

Back to the game, there was some great eye work as usual, and we welcomed every stroll to first that came our way. After our fine opening innings however, the points were proving harder to come by. Ed was playing like he didn’t want to be in, going for big hits when it was an opportune time to be usin’ them eyes. He also was wearing a pair of James’ patented Velcro gloves and just couldn’t let that bat go at one point. When batting Kristin decided not to hit the ball and instead saw that her time was best spent on the sidelines corralling the troops. Boy Wonder John kept on Bustin them balls into the stratosphere to keep the scores competitive and special mention must also go to rookie Louise, who had not played before but did sterling work on the batters plate.

However, as we all know it is fielding, and stopping the other team scoring which wins the game. It also seems as though tagging is the way forwards and, as john found out, also lets you have a sly grope should you feel the need.
Tim, showed his tenacity on second base with a gravity-defying on-the-floor-behind-the-back tag of one other team. Ed was also on the end of a more erm ‘physical’ tag as he was clatted by the opposition. Thankfully it was not a woman as is his usual choice, but a tough looking skinhead. They all count though. Other tag action included Kristin chasing one young man off the field with a glint in her eye and the ball in her hand. He couldn’t get to third base and was out.

Going into the final few innings we had lost out lead and Betgenius were beginning to pull away from us. This was down to some dropped catches and fumbled throws, including when John and Jags collided trying to catch an easy ball and when my arm turned into a girl’s and threw an absolute shocker from deep, allowing one of their guys to get a home run. I apologise. However, I did put my family jewels in peril for the team, so I think I deserve some credit.

Late in the game Jagger replaced T Dubya as pitcher and really began to throw them some corkers. So much so infact that LLcoolRef suggested that he went to the allstar tryouts as he was a, and I quote, ‘natural’ pitcher. We were left in the final innings with 10 points needed to clinch the victory. However we just didn’t have it in us and the game finished 22-16. A hard fought game, full of ups and downs, it was a shame we let it slip away as we played some great softball at points.

Well done all involved, now lets look forwards to next game where we will be missing some vital players, so anyone who wants to become a ballbuster, step forwards and join our merry band, victory not guaranteed, but good times certainly are.

Till then…

Game 3: Metrica v Euro RSCG

On a hazy Tuesday, pitch 7 of Gloucester Green would be the venue for what would be the Ballbusters toughest softballing test. Earlier in the day it seemed as though we were doomed to forfeit, with only 6 players, and lacking in one vital girl. However we showed our mettle by getting together a full side (thanks to all those that played), and we started well, turning up on time, with the kit and everything. However the opposition looked mean, with well worn-in gloves and a cocky confidence to their tosses. We spent our warm-up time explaining rules and practicing ‘good eyes’ in preparation for leaving the no-balls. This was not going to be easy as the most, well, shall we say ‘inexperienced’ Metrica side to date faced off against a hardened band of softball enthusiasts.

As the game got underway, it was clear that we were in for a tough time. Their batters all had gloves and did the little leg pose, and more importantly hit absolute screamers for our fielders to scrabble after.
These were a bunch of big-hitting, beer swilling brutes. And that was just the girls! Only joking of course, they were fine examples of femininity and Ed, of course, displayed his usual courtship behaviour of a solid clattering on third base. How could they resist?

In fact there was quite a lot of rough and tumble in what was meant to be a non-contact sport. I put my body on the line a number of times getting in the way of their almighty slugs and making dives for bases, including one instance where I caught some impressive hang time having collided with the leg of their first base fielder, hitting the floor with an almighty thump. It hurt, and still does. Lucy also showed her fielding talents by bravely stopping another wallop with her foot, causing the opposing team to rush over to help; she then had to be substituted as she couldn't move.

In what seemed to be the fastest game of Softball in our short history, it soon came to the sixth innings. We were sure that we had played seven (or at least we were hoping it was seven) and we were getting trounced. Turns out it was the final innings and we had the chance to catch up our 10+ point deficit. We played an absolute blinder but still sadly were all out for only a couple of runs. The game was over and we were soundly beaten 25-10.

Had we fielded our strongest side I really think we would have struggled to beat this lot who were damn good, so it is no shame to lose by such a margin given that many of our team had no played before. Of course, if we had forfeited we would have only lost by 10 runs. But that’s not the point. It is not the Metrica way to back out and I think congratulations are in order to all those that turned out and bravely battled for the ballbusters.

The game lost, we made our way to the pub, licking our wounds and sounding off about where we were can improve and how we were going to win next time. And there will be a next time…so see you there!

GO BALLBUSTERS!!