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Quinntastic

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next southpaw first base-woman for the summer softball league!!

I haven't played softball since high school - I'm so stoked!!

Any other summer league players out there?
 
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AdmiralBackhand

Wir sind wir
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I hope you have fun!

I should probably get into better shape so I can play some sport with other old dudes.
 

Quinntastic

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I am anticipating that it will be a lot of fun! It sounds super informal which is exactly what I need after so many years away from the pitch.
 

Irish2155

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Think about hitting the ball just like hitting someone in the face. A round house has no impact...direct to the point pops a POW. Nob of the bat straight to the ball, let the wrist take care of the rest.

I drop mad bombs in softball. :)
 

nsideirish

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I play slow pitch 16-inch softball every summer with the boys---it's a Chicago thing.
 

Johannes

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I play with a bunch of friends in the Grand Rapids Co-Ed Rec League. I love summer softball, and cannot wait for our season to start! Warm weather, out on the ball field, having some brews post-game... 'tis the life!
 

Irish2155

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I play with a bunch of friends in the Grand Rapids Co-Ed Rec League. I love summer softball, and cannot wait for our season to start! Warm weather, out on the ball field, having some brews post-game... 'tis the life!

I agree, it is fantastic!! Especially this time of year when spring fever is brewing.
 

Quinntastic

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I play with a bunch of friends in the Grand Rapids Co-Ed Rec League. I love summer softball, and cannot wait for our season to start! Warm weather, out on the ball field, having some brews post-game... 'tis the life!

I also live in Grand Rapids


!!!
 

Irish2155

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Also, in softball hit it hard and low...line drives. A can of corn can be caught by anyone. Keep it out of the air unless you drop bombs.
 

Johannes

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I also live in Grand Rapids


!!!

GR is the place to be! Last season we played down on the south end at Plaster Creek Park. This year I think we're going to play on the north side at Huff. I like the fields there better. I live downtown in the Heritage Hill neighborhood, so it's all the same to me! Go Team Pizza!!

And holler if you need a sub shortstop or outfielder!
 

Irish2155

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GR is the place to be! Last season we played down on the south end at Plaster Creek Park. This year I think we're going to play on the north side at Huff. I like the fields there better. I live downtown in the Heritage Hill neighborhood, so it's all the same to me! Go Team Pizza!!

And holler if you need a sub shortstop or outfielder!

In my competitive softball days I used to play the 6 hole...have out ate that position now. But damn, no one gets more activity than the short stop. Moves/involved on every play.
 

Quinntastic

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GR is the place to be! Last season we played down on the south end at Plaster Creek Park. This year I think we're going to play on the north side at Huff. I like the fields there better. I live downtown in the Heritage Hill neighborhood, so it's all the same to me! Go Team Pizza!!

And holler if you need a sub shortstop or outfielder!
We need men on our team, now that you mention it!

I live in Wyoming, off Byron Center. We play at Whistlestop park with games on Wednesday nights!
 
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Irish#1

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GR is the place to be! Last season we played down on the south end at Plaster Creek Park. This year I think we're going to play on the north side at Huff. I like the fields there better. I live downtown in the Heritage Hill neighborhood, so it's all the same to me! Go Team Pizza!!

And holler if you need a sub shortstop or outfielder!

We need men on our team, now that you mention it!

I live in Wyoming, off Byron Center. We play at Whistlestop park with games on Wednesday nights!

I see a hookup coming! Could this lead to the first IE wedding?
 

Bishop2b5

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Knock 'em dead, tiger.

1000x1000.jpg
 

Old Man Mike

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My dear lady: If this is slow pitch, and if you're not a threat to hit it out of the park, consider slap hitting to the opposite field. When I began playing on my brother's money tournament summer team [ the fellow above is correct: some of the best fun ever], I was the naive stupid pull hitter with a sub-500 batting average. He insisted that I slap hit to right [in my case --- left field in yours?], and the average went over 700 instantly.

If you're already good at this, I apologize for preaching to the choir, but it's amazing how many veteran righthand hitting softballers just pull-away into F-7 and one for threes. [or the opposite if lefties]. If you're good at this, the wait for the ball [you wait a little longer for the slap] allows you to see with side vision the movement of the defense if they try to cheat. Even if they do, they almost never can get the ball down the opposite line.

Sorry for the batting coach effusion, but at 75 I can't play anymore, so "those who can't play ..... "
 

dshans

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I agree with Mr. Mike. I haven't played in years but when I did (for the most part on my [Holy Cross Hall] dorm team and a bit after that) I'd try to aim my hit and hit it just hard enough to place a line drive over the second baseman's head and too short for the right fielder to catch it on the fly.

I had my fun and a sense of commedia dell'arte. I'd stroll to the plate wearing a crisp sports jacket, fedora and a cigarette in my lips.

I was underestimated by the opposition. How could an undersized, underweight joker pose a threat. I surprised the hell out of them!

On the defensive side I played center field. I was lightening bug faster than quick (or is that quicker than fast?) and could track down and catch a fly ball hit by opposing batters swinging for the fences. Though there were rarely actual fences.

Oh, to be young and able-bodied again!!!
 

ulukinatme

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We've found a photo of dshans and the guys getting ready for a game back in the day.

caveman.jpg


I kid
 

dshans

They call me The Dribbler
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We've found a photo of dshans and the guys getting ready for a game back in the day.

I kid

Kid all you want but I went 3 for 4 with 6 RBIs that day.

I was also credited with 8 POs.
 

ulukinatme

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Kid all you want but I went 3 for 4 with 6 RBIs that day.

I was also credited with 8 POs.

I'm actually jealous, that's pretty damn good. I didn't play past kiddie Minor League, got beamed by too many wild pitchers and I wasn't terribly consistent when they did manage to get them over the plate. I was much better at soccer, basketball, and football.
 

bigedefense

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My 16 yr old daughter just made a select travel team today. She plays short & 2nd. I'm telling you, hitting a fast pitch softball is MUCH harder than hitting a baseball IMO. I played a lot of baseball, pee-wee coach pitch thru Jr. College & have a career average above .300. My first year coaching varsity fast pitch, I thought I would "show" those girls how to hit. Hahaha, 12 strikes & I lucked up on 13 & hit one that went all the way to the front of the pitching circle before it quit following!!! Haha, about 40 feet. I never again embarrassed myself by trying that again. I coached 4 more years before I had to retire from teaching & coaching.

Fast pitch is a really fun game to watch. It's basically baseball with the infield crunched up 20 feet.

My daughters team has a really good coach & they had sixty something try out today. They kept 18. This summer will be full of traveling to tourney's and enjoying my 2 years before she moves off to college!

May I also add, my daughter has helped me cope with a wheelchair tremendously! I was embarrassed to go out in public, but she proudly wheels dad around & makes a point to get me involved in conversations at the field. Those of you that haven't gotten to enjoy the fruits of aging might think it's no big deal, but let me be the first to tell you, going from being an active 46 year old, coaching 3 varsity sports to being confined to a chair and only having partial use of your arms is a kick in the balls to your manhood!
 

dshans

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You may not be a Garcia/Dead fan, but roll on big river:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QzGWYShgmfk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

Old Man Mike

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full disclosure: I was so bad "hitting" {NOT} fast pitch that even my teammates took their shirts off when I was at bat and left for the opposing dugout.
 
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