Softball Season 2

Tomorrow marks the first practice for the Fall Church League softball season. We play Monday night, too. I'm anxious to see how rusty I may have gotten the last couple of weeks. This Fall league consists of 6 teams and we beat a couple of them during the summer league, but finished below all of them in the standings.

There was some minor controversy surrounding the entry of our team into this Fall league. Some of us have talked all season long about what it would be like to have a competitive team without having to make substitutions to make sure everyone plays. We have some great players and when we concentrated on those players we tended to do much better. After talking to several of the players we decided to form a team of just 12 of our best so that we could play as competitively as we want to. They sort of relied on me to put it together and see what it might take to enter a coed league or see if there was another church league to join. Fortunately, the same organization found interest in enough teams to have a 5 week fall league.

I'm really looking forward to not having to make so many substitutions. There were a few games that were close and we had three weak hitters bat for us in the bottom of the last inning. It was 3 up and 3 down each time. When you are playing that close it is disappointing to lose knowing that you have better players sitting so that everyone can play. I realize it's just a game and for fun, but winning is fun, too. Those of us that love the game and love to compete really find those types of losses disheartening and it can lower team morale.

It was difficult to break it to a few players who really enjoy playing and have been very supportive of the team. We did let them know that the players on the Fall team are paying for it out of our own pockets and we did this to allow for just playing the players we want to play. I'm hopeful that they are ok with this. My hope is that every year we can have a summer team and a fall team. The summer team can consist of anyone that wants to play and the fall team can be those more interested in winning. This should appeal to everyone, I hope.

It would be great to have a sports ministry at the church. I'd love to see the softball teams joined by volleyball teams. It would be great to have things like horseshoe tournaments and ping pong tournaments during different times of the year, too. I know a few guys even work out in a local gym together, too, and I'd love to be able to join that group if scheduling permits. Athletics can be a great bonding tool for some people and most sports emphasize team play and comraderie. Those are things the church can use to better relate to some people.

It's sure fun to be a part of and I hope it continues to grow!