The Final Season

Tonight we had our last regular season game. We are the top team in our division going into playoffs. Maybe this will be the year we win it all. 

This year, I contemplated not playing softball. Last season I felt like it got more competitive than I'm really comfortable with. But I'm happy that the group peer pressured me into playing. It is, after all, our last chance to play softball together. And I'm nothing if not nostalgic. 

Plus, they teased me with a new softball T. And lets be real. I do a lot of things for the t-shirt.

But I'm happy I played.

I still suck at catching (and missed what would have been an amazing outfield catch tonight).

But I hit the ball and got on base a few times this game and felt pretty good. 

Plus, we've had a few additions that really add a great dynamic to the games.

Andrew Miller is one of my favourites to stand in the outfield with, cause we just have side comments the entire time.

And Lauren Greco does something hilarious every game. 

Our very first game (keeping in mind that the team is made up of our classmates), Lauren saw a girl in the outfield and asked "Is that girl on our team?" - To which I looked over incredulously and went "Don't you think you would know everyone on our team?"

But she's awesome. And not someone I had previously spent much time with.

The jist of it is, my friends are great and I love my team.

Plus, our t-shirts have our nicknames on it. And I freaking love that.

Back Row (L-R): Andrew Miller, Dan Barry, Amit Patel, Derrick Call, Seth Caldon, Aaron Baumler, Adam Garaas, John Keyes, Mike Rolin
Front Row (L-R): Krysta Peplowski, Meaghan Hart, Alisun, Sabrina Hartman, Lucinda Barry, Dee Gulis, Melissa Lowry

Andrew - Miller Time

 Dan - Dannah Montana

Amit - Brown Sugar

Derrick - World Peace

Seth - Sethasaurus

Aaron - Baums

Adam - A Grod

John - Keezer

Mike - Zed-Pack

Dr. Moran - Double Nickels

Krysta - K-Ped

Meg - Hart Attack

Alisun - Alpha

Sabrina - Tiny Madam

Lucinda - LB

Dee - Deestroyer

Me - M Low

Lauren Greco - Long Island

Summer Softball Wrap-Up

You may not know it, but I played basketball grade 9-11 (and did basketball camps for a good five years before that every winter and summer). And truthfully, it wasnt that great of an experience for me. Because while I liked basketball and was good enough to make the basketball team (or in grade tens case, be asked to stay and practice with the team when I was the last girl cut), I wasnt good enough to play games. I spent the majority of those three years working my butt off in practice and then feeling like an idiot every game. If I went in at all, it was usually in the last five minutes when the game had already been decided. Or to give someone else a breather for thirty seconds mid-game. If the game was close? Forget about it. I might as well have not been there. And usually it felt like my coaches would of rather I wasnt there. Because while I could practice my free throw and run till my legs were dead, it didnt matter in a game, because game pressures are much different than practice, and playing under pressure takes practice too. And when I did make it on the court I was usually too shell shocked that I was actually on the court to be of much use. I even told my family to stop coming to the games. Because watching me sit on the bench or play for the last thirty seconds was embarrassing. To sum it up, my basketball career was garbage. There was always one or two other bench warmers with me. And while we pretended not to care that we never got a chance, we hated every minute. No matter how well we did in practice we still werent good enough to play in actual games. Not unless we were up by 20 or conversely down by 20.

I have never forgotten how terrible playing basketball felt. Not when I played rugby and was actually pretty good. I never got over the shock of coaches actually wanting me to play during the games. Or thinking I was good.

As such, I dont play a lot of team sports anymore. And I hate competitiveness and pressure since that usually indicates that I'm not playing. Because most people will do anything to win. But just because I'm not that great and joke about my lack of skills, doesnt mean I dont try hard and dont want to play just like everyone else.

I will say this, playing basketball taught me a lot of things about perseverance and continuing to try and work hard, even if you dont get the results you want. But sometimes you just want to be part of the team.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Softball Finals
It was immediately a tense atmosphere as we began this game. We had played this team before and they had walloped us. They really didnt have any weak players and some of their players were down right amazing. They hit well and they pushed the bases. So to come up against them in the finals was a little intimidating. Even just watching them warming up was intimidating. But we arent the same team that played them before. I would say that we make a lot more plays now. And usually none of us are terrible at hitting. They hit well. But we fielded well. Our hitting wasnt always the greatest. But we had our moments. But it wasnt like our usual games. It was very very tense. No jokes. Just stern intensity. Was it my favorite game? No. I tend to appreciate more the games with a laid back atmosphere, where we still play well and win, but dont forget that we play to have fun. Am I still sad that we lost? No, its been like two hours and while I like softball, it has no bearing on my life. And we lost to a really good team. I think our team played really well. But they were better. And there's always next year.

Of course, I got another team shot. To me, this is a better showing of the team.
Mostly because it includes Alisun.

Dr. Moran came out to support our team.

Which was awesome.

That man is awesome.

Best faculty ever.

Semi Finals

Last night was our semi-final game. And me being the eager beaver that I am, I pestered John all day to send an email to the team about getting a team photo. Cause I'm all about group shots. 

So being the sport that he is, John sent out an email: 

"Just to let you know, our second game this Monday has been changed

to 7:15 due to a scheduling conflict. Let me know if you're coming or not

If you haven't replied yet, please let me know...

We dont have a team as of now.

Also Melissa wants a team photo 

(I think she's assuming it'll be our last game). 

If you cant make the game, come late for the photo!"

-John

First off: I deny ever thinking it would be our last game (except we've never made it to the finals before and John told me we were playing a really hard team... so draw your own conclusions)

Second: I admit to being a picture fanatic. 

Third: I never email John back to let him know I'm coming to the game.

To be fair, I've also never missed a game, but apparently my lack

of hardcoreness always keeps people guessing to whether or not I'll actually show up.

(which is a. funny - a girl shows up late to one game and suddenly everyone thinks she's a flake and b. ridiculous - seeing as sometimes we wouldnt have enough girls to play if I didnt come, no amount of wishy-washiness would actually make me bail when the friendly's legit need me)

I will say this.

Despite being one of the reject players on my team (considering I cant catch a ball in outfield to save my life most games) and the fact that I've been hating on softball for this summer session, the playoff games this season have been REALLY fun. Like some of the funnest games we've had. And I totally had one hit each game where I hit like a boy. Sure it was a weak pansy boy, but a boy hitting into the outfield nonetheless. And its been fun. 

Krysta here works at the front desk. 

She is awesome.

Her dog is racist though.

Seriously.

 So this isnt a full group shot:

Missing - Alisun, Seth, and Amit

(Back) Mike, John, Andrew, Dr. Moran, Krysta, Moira
(Front) Dee, Adam, Aaron, Sabrina, Meag, Melissa, Derrick

Oh.. and the game? No big deal but we totally won.

We're going to the ship!

Softball

I've just arrived home from another softball game - our second of this week. Its probably the last game of the season that I'll be able to make it to since the next games are while I'm on holiday. And I've been so pleasantly surprised with softball - especially since I was pretty anxious about playing. Yesterday was my favorite game of the season. Not cause I did anything great (tho I did hit the ball every time at bat and scored a run) but just because it was fun, we played well and the other team was super nice. It was the perfect end to a day spent studying until I wanted to stab my eyes out. I dont tend to get too competitive which is why this has been great - sure we're 5-1 (which lets be real is pretty great - cause who doesnt love winning) but even when we're losing or making mistakes, people dont get overly intense and its still a very camaraderie feel. Plus, we convinced Dr. Dan-the-man-Moran (one of our pre-clin instructors) to come play on our team. There's just something great about hanging out in a non-school related fashion. Next year I will have no hesitation to sign up for softball.

Ball Burnishers

Yesterday was the first softball game for my team. We almost had to forfeit cause Derrick, Amit and I showed up barely on time. We were a mess. No matching shirts for us, no idea what positions we were playing (or what certain positions were... Rover?), and no idea how the batting order would go. But turns out even with all that we pulled ourselves together. It was fun. Tho had me in a bit of an anxiety mode. I get nervous if there's pressure to perform. But my first time up to bat I made it to second and ended up scoring our teams first run. 


A few things I've discovered about softball and me:
- Catching fills me with terrible fear - I cringe every time a ball comes my way. Its funny cause its not that I cant catch a ball, I just worry about catching it with my face - hence the cringing (and yes, I probably do close my eyes when I catch the ball). Hopefully I get over that. 
- I opted for the position that seemed least likely to be in the action (Left Outfield). Unfortunately, the "Law Breakers" sent a big hit my way that totally went over my head and sent them running all the way to third.
- I can at least bat. Thats something right? Who needs catching, throwing, running without cringing. 


The dental crew is awesome. There was an inning where people didnt have the right gloves and we passed around like four different gloves while the other team waited to bat. I loved that we were slightly disorganized. Made things less pressure. 


So softball. We'll see how that goes. Its a nice change to hang out with the dental crew under a non-studying conditions. I feel like Derrick said it best yesterday when he said "I like you all but I'm tired of seeing you cause it means I have to study." Amen to that.


After the game I decided to run home from main campus (which is just less than 3 miles) ... with my backpack on. Cause I wanted to get a run in but didnt want to go home and then go running. It made more sense to just go for a regular ol' run home. Something I didnt expect tho? Even after cinching my straps as tight as they would go that backpack sways back and forth. It was definitely not a super comfortable run. I dont know how people who consistently run with a backpack do it. Maybe it would work out better if I was in better shape. Tough to say.