As I have documented on here before, I play in a city-league softball team. Our first game was last night, and it presented a very interesting event that will definitely be added to the baseball road trip lore. I've played games under the lights, during a driving rain, scorching heat, and the like, but I have never before played under a solar eclipse. Yes, I meant what I said: a solar eclipse of the Sun.
Time for a little astronomy lesson. A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. The effect is the sun will be blotted out during the day and a bright corona will be visible at the peak illuminating a blackened hole in the sky. Last night, the west coast was party to an annular solar eclipse, which didn't totally block out the Sun, but instead left a thin ring of sun around the circumference of the eclipse known as the "Ring of Fire."
The solar eclipse peaked at about 6pm our time, just as the game got going. The field became cast in a subdued shadow to the point where the field lights had to be turned on. While it is dangerous to look directly at the phenomenon, which is why I have put a stock photo on this blog rather than one that I took, the effects were clearly apparent. It didn't really change the game a whole bunch, but it was really cool to be a part of.
Last year I joined my first ever softball team. I did this primarily because of the book The Baseball Fan's Bucket List, which stated that every fan in their lifetime has to be a part of an organized softball or baseball league. Since we don't have a city-league baseball league, I felt softball would be the best option to fill this directive. The team I was on last year was pretty awful, but I still had fun playing. We didn't win a single game, but slapping base hits, stretching doubles into triples, preaching defense, and smart strategy made it all the more enjoyable. While it wasn't baseball per se, I considered it a part of Baseball Extravaganza.
The team I'm on this year is an interesting mix of people. My best buddy and his wife organized it, but last night was the first time our entire team played with each other. It took a few innings to get to know everyone, but everyone seems really nice and committed to having fun.
Despite our best efforts, we lost a pure heartbreaker. Our team had a three run lead going into the bottom of the seventh. We got the first out with relative ease, but the other team had the tying run on third. It was at this point that I made a tactical mistake: I should've yelled to everyone to bring the infield and outfield in to try and cut down the run at home. I didn't pass it on, and the other team ended up hitting a ground ball that we pooched for two un-earned runs and the loss. It was a tough way to start the season, but now I know how to make the adjustments in the future.
We take next weekend off, but our 11-week season will continue through the summer on Sunday nights. I'm reasonably confident that we can win some games and be a player in the standings at the end of the year.All that aside, I'm really excited to get outside, play the game, hang with my friends, and add another chapter to Baseball Extravaganza 2012.
On Saturday, I will be heading up to Seattle for the Puget Sound trip. I'll draw up an entry here in the next few days.
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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