Let the softball games begin!

Last year Rob and I were very warmly welcomed on to the Tornados softball team. We really enjoyed playing and had so much fun with the people, it made us more active and gave us yet another excuse to visite the pub. The Tornados ended the 2011 season with only one win and were relegated to a lower league but despite such poor stats, everyone decided to come back this year and we're all at it again.

We've already had three games and true to last years form we have 0 wins and 3 loses! However, we are having fun and team losses don't mean that individual players having played well or the games weren't good. Our team lost our star pitcher and we are struggling to fill the place. Everything else is top notch and we are looking good, so hopefully individual successes can come together for a win soon. My coach keeps pushing a positive mental attitude, good, if not cheesy, advice which I often scoff but have been trying to take on board nonetheless. 

Speaking of individual successes... Rob and I have started out with a very decent season indeed! In two games Rob beaned the ball out of the park for a home run and a grand slam! He's had two amazing catches in centre-right field and has even had a quick go at pitching! 

My first two games were both nerve-wrecking displays of incompetence, but then, after one practice, I showed up to the third game with a positive mental attitude and a new batting stance. The game was intense with an opposition that was both obnoxious and overly-competitive, a dangerous mixture that leads me to constant shouting, goading and over-excitement, my three best personality traits!

I was put in as catcher and I made a few great catches and aided in one or two outs. My fielding also involved a shouting match with a batter about how close I could stand to the batter and I was knocked over by a runner quite heavily which almost lead to an all-out brawl! I was very fired-up and cheered (shouted) throughout the game at full capacity. When it came to batting I was three for three, three hits, three at base... the best I've done since I started playing, the new stance really help. The final score, or the fact that we lost on the 'mercy rule' doesn't really matter, I had a good game and people had a good time! 

All this hard playing and shouted ended up with me being voted 'Babe Ruth' (MVP) at the pub after the game. Something I found surprising and flattering, I've never been MVP at anything! One of my fellow teammates voted for me because I was a 'The voice of Britain!' referring to my loud cheering. I felt great about the game and also felt a tad bit more British at the same time. Here, here!!! 

A ballot for me declaring me 'The voice of Britain!', a very proud moment!