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!!
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!!
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