A fine night for Slo-Pitch

Tuesday, May 19 vs Glencairn Mennonite Brethren
Tuesday night was a beautiful night to be on the diamond - warm and clear with just enough wind for Cal's "curveballs".
We had twelve players out, which was almost exactly what I was expecting. Thanks to all of you for letting me know when you plan to play. Steven M and Nathan M brought their roommate Mark ? out. David Neufeld played his first game of the season, which will be shortened for him given his impending move to South America. We also had fans - Romy C, who played in our exhibition game, George F (dad and grandpa of Dave and Mackenzie), and Kathy and Anna A who "watched" from the outfield playground for the first part of the game.
As for the game, we continued to hit reasonably well. Like last game, we had runners on base in most innings, scoring in three of them for a total of seven. Steven M showed why he won last year's Jackrabbit award, twice using agressive baserunning to score from second base with two outs. Dave F and Nathan M each reached base every at bat, and all but two hitters reached base at least once, according to my records.
Our defense turned two double plays, both involving third base. One was the traditional bases loaded grounder to third, which calls for stepping on third and throwing home. The other saw Mackenzie catch a fly ball in left, and throwing out the runner who didn't tag up. (Glencairn learned that "there is no rally that cannot be killed by incredibly stupid baserunning", to quote Dennis Burkhardt.) Other heads up plays came on "errors". I think on a total of three dropped infield pop-ups or liners we still recovered to get a force play, which gets basically the same result.
This week's tip: Infield fly rule. If there are runners on first and second, or first, second and third, and there are less than two outs, then on a fly ball (pop up) that is a reasonable catch by an infielder, the batter is automatically out (whether the ball is caught or not). Runners may run after the ball is caught or dropped if they wish, but there is no force play since the batter is out. Remember this when you are umpiring and running the bases.
Next week we play on Wednesday, May 27 at 7 pm, home vs Stirling on Diamond B. I am expecting Nathan M, Steven M, Sal U, Peter J, Peter S, Mackenzie F, Dave F, Scott A (pending baby), Cal J, Cam J, and Tracy K. I have regrets from Mark D-H. I don't know if Alan and Lynn are planning a honeymoon after Friday or not. Best wishes for your wedding and marriage.
Shirts: Tracy has a lead on getting us some team shirts. Please let me know if you have ideas for what colour you would like, and for lettering (i.e. FMC, or First Mennonite, or East End, or some other words instead or in addition).
See you next week.