Mackernan's Baseball Team

Mel



and Bryce

are on the Mackernan Church baseball team. It was their first game this evening. So Mo and I packed a bottle of water and a bag of 'Spitz' and enjoyed cheering our team on from the comfort of our fold-out lawn chairs :)



I have always loved watching a good 'ol baseball game. You know the ones, where there is just the right amount of competition, to make it interesting, however all of the players encourage their teammates, whether or not they have the ability to hit even the 'broad side of a barn'.

One of the most memorable moments from this evening's game was when this elderly woman, crusing in her little scooter, zoo...ooo...ooo...ooomed through center field. As a result the game was momentarily put on hold. The batter, frozen in stance and ready to hit the ball. The pitcher, arm drawn, was waiting to release the ball. And all other eyes glued on the elderly woman, in disbelief, making her way nonchalantly across the open playing field. She literally drove right between two fielders. Well, Mo and I almost fell out of our lawn chairs from laughing so hard. To make matters worse the batter calls out "Oh, if only this wasn't a church game!"

Despite the 'interference', our team managed to win the game 8-7. It was a close game. Bryce excelled, while poor Mel (having hurt his knee moving) limped after the first inning (Opps).

This topic reminds me of one other story I'd like to share with you all. Last summer, while attending one of my dad's oh so seriously competitive games (ha-competitive to him...well and me from the bleachers), my mom and I sat back and enjoyed the many comedic elements to the baseball game. For starters, some of the men went up to bat with a cigarette dangling from between their lips (so attractive!), and secondly, one gentleman couldn't seem to part with his beer for the short amount of time that it took to play out in the field that he brought it out there with him. Well, my dad, being who my dad is, stepped up to bat and yelled out into the field "Hey 'Billy' you better put that beer down because this one's coming to you". And sure enough my dad hit the ball directly to the beer guzzling man! That was too funny for words. My mom and I sure cheered on that hit!

So you see, baseball doesn't have to be taken seriously to be a good time. It's all about the experience and the memories, of which I have collected many throughout the years.

Church leagues are great fun!