Eighteen B: All We Do is Win, Win, Win

This past Friday the @MNTGreenMachine team played in our softball league playoffs. If you’re not familiar with our team, then let me start out by saying we’re kind of amazing and we won last season. The league is co-ed and we play double headers every Friday night. Some might say when we walk up to the dugout (sometimes right at game time) that we are scruffy looking and easily beatable. WELLLLL after an undefeated season, I beg to differ. Some teams gave us a run for our money, but we ended up beating everyone by 8 runs or more. The best part about our team is that not only are the boys good (often times a given) but our girls are just as good – so good that we rack up RBIs and can play infield and outfield positions. This works to our advantage because on defense we have to have at least three girls on the field and for every two guy batters, one girl has to bat.

Our first game on Friday was at 7:30pm. Even though it was freezing outside, our team was ready to play. Note to mention: since we like to have fun during these games and not take things too seriously, the @MntGreenMachine house brings a Gatorade jug full of some alcoholic concoction. Oddly enough, some people on our team actually play better once they have a few drinks in them. Friday’s brew was hot apple cider, and in the freezing temps it was greatly appreciated. So if we won our first game, then we played another one right after for the championship. Needless to say, we won the first one! Also to note I had to RBI’s which is very exciting for me considering those don’t come too often.

During our first game, another team shows up on the sideline – about 30 minutes before the scheduled championship game (more time to stretch I guess?) I ask the umpire if that’s the team that we play in the championship game, and he said “Yup, unfortunately”. Now the reason he semi rolled his eyes is because no one likes this team (and by no one I mean the @MntGreenMachine and that umpire). They are cocky, intense (it’s just co-ed softball guys, RELAX), and aggressive (and not in a sports manner, just aggressive period). During our first game against them one guy went as far as to scream at the ump for making what appeared to be a great call. Another guy’s nickname on the team is “Hollywood”, so when he stepped up to the plate I naturally thought he was going to smash it out of the park…but to my surprise he grounded out to second…

Our team likes to win don’t get me wrong, but we also play because it’s really fun and we like to have a good time. That was our attitude going into the second game…with a splash of intensity for wanting to beat this team really bad. SURPRISE after 7 innings we won!! It wasn’t easy though – the game was pretty close and they made some great plays but our bats were alive that night! I even threw my first batter out -- from catcher to first base. Now, I know what it feels like to be like my brother or dad. It felt really great to beat that team, and it felt even better taking our team picture with our keg trophy in front of them. Only thing that was missing that night was PR who is still recovering from ACL surgery.