Champions 12, Five Star 2

Trounced? Yes. Demoralized? No.
We lost 12 to 2 this morning to Champions, the perenial champion of the Biddeford Softball league. It wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it would be. A couple bad innings that were prolonged by errors in the field made the difference, and our sleeping bats. I have to give it to the other pitcher though. He was throwing some nasty stuff, as far as slow pitch softball goes. Lots of back spin and coming at you from odd angles. He kept inducing ground balls. Seems like that's all anybody could do today: hit ground balls. We must have grounded out 15 times.
I grounded out twice, once into a fielders choice and once to second though I somehow beat the throw to first. I ran hard the first time but a little harder in my next at bat. I was trying to hit a line drive to right, over the second baseman's head but I was plagued by the same disease that seemed to affect everyone in the yellow and blue today (those are our colors).
The last year I played, 2005, we started the season against Champions as well. They beat us 22-1 that year; I suffered that loss on the mound. Though we lost by 10 runs, it wasn't by the mercy rule and it was closer than it sounds. We made a few errors in both the infield and outfield.
I had an OK game all around. I was hoping to put a charge into one of the pitches but it didn't happen. I'm hitting .500 though. In my second at bat, I took the first pitch and it was a strike. Since we begin each at bat with a 1-1 count (a ball and a strike) I was already behind 1-2. I took the next pitch because it almost hit me then hit the infield single to 2nd. In the field I was more consistent. I took over for Reynoldo in Left in the fourth inning on the first play caught a sinking line drive about chest high. I played a couple on hops, the first one I may have tried for with two outs, and caught towering pop up that took forever to come down. I barely had to take a step for that one but the anticipation was brutal. I hate real high ones. I much prefer an incoming ball which gives me less time to react or is hit way over my head or in front of me. I like to run balls down.
Heath, one of Corey's friends, had the best hit of the day. With Kelly on first, he ripped a triple to right field over the OF's heads. He probably would have had a HR if Kelly hadn't been on. Tim then hit what I thought would be a routine ground out to short stop but the guy bobbled it and Heath scored. Those were our only two runs, back to back. I'm going to work on hitting more line drives.
I rode my bike to and from Doran Field in Biddeford. It wasn't too bad, flat most of the way. I passed Jesse on the way to the field. 7.1 miles, 14.2 in all. I'm going to start biking to most of the games. I felt warmed up when I got there. And next week the new jerseys we ordered will be in. I'm wearing 42 this year in honor of Jackie Robinson.