Retirement?

I've played baseball/ softball since I was 5. My first baseball experience was t-ball Barney's Auto Supply with Lewisville Little League. We won the league championship that year, but since then I've mostly played on losers. I went from being a short stop and first baseman to outfield most of my little league career which ended after my freshman year in high school.

I took up intramural softball after that in college and played all four years with the Theta team. The best team I played on was in my freshman year where we lost in the semifinals to the team that eventually won. I started off playing 2nd, but a member of the frat decided he wanted to be 2nd base so I moved to the position I eventually stayed at, catcher. One of my best softball moments came in that semifinals game that I hit a triple (I promise I'm not lying. I honestly hit a triple. Actually I hit two that year.) and knocked the go ahead runs in the top of the last inning. In the bottom of that inning, the guy who took over 2nd booted a ball that would have been the third out and we lost. I was sure I would have made that play.

I took up playing church league softball during my college years and played with Elmcrest, playing mostly in the outfield. I took a couple of years off when I moved to Kazakhstan. I wasn't even smart enough to take a glove with me. When I got back my friends and I formed another church league team at FBC Lewisville. We were one of the worst teams ever put together. But I remember beating a team that I can't remember the name, but they were big time almost pro softball players and we beat them one time. They were so mad. The next game we played, they run ruled us.

I've been playing the last three years since we moved to Nashville with Forest Hills. I played a little first base, a little 2nd base when we've been desperate, but mostly I've been at catcher. I settled at catcher, because no one else has ever wanted to be catcher. I knew that I would be able to play consistently. I also was able to see the whole field and be what I'm really probably best at, which is coaching and trying to direct the defense. I had a umpire tell me last year that I was a very intelligent player.

As this year has winded down, I've come to wonder if this should be my last year playing softball. There have been a couple of things that pushed me in that direction. First of all, I hurt my back a couple weeks ago and had to miss a game. I think I pulled a muscle when I went down into the catchers crouch. I tried and tried to stretch it out, but I couldn't. I played the game and even tagged a guy out at home, but I couldn't hardly swing the bat and since we had enough players, I decided to go home instead of playing the 2nd game. I was able to play the next game, but it made me nervous. I've had injuries before, mostly to my ankles as I've sprained both of them. But never had I done anything like this.

Also, I seem to have lost the ability to hit the ball. Since I took up softball in college, I've been a good hitter or at least I've been consistent. I mentioned the triples I hit college. Really there was no wall down in left field so I basically hit it a long way and out ran the outfielders. If I had had any speed, I would have scored. Now I can't hit it very far. Another skill I had for years was to be able to hit the other way and hit it hard. I had a number of doubles going that way back then. Well, not enough. I was too afraid to even try to go that way even though I remember basically how to do it. But above all, I just hit the ball solidly just about every time I got up. Now I'm having a harder and harder time to get good hits on the ball. I've done ok, but sometimes I wonder if I actually help the team.

Finally, although I'm still one of the few who want to play catcher. I'm basically limited to that position. I played a game at 1st early in the year and did fine, but I definitely can't play the outfield or middle infield. I'm stuck. I don't like being a one position player.

So should I give it up? Nah. I mean, I may not being a place where I can play next year. If I'm at FH and they want me to play. I'll play. I have fun with the guys and while we aren't any good (as usual for me), it's still fun.