April 4, 2013. Canyon Lake, Texas. Softball 8th Grade.

I loved every minute of the game at Abigail's softball team.  The girls in their spiffy uniforms looked terrific with their black baseball pants and orange knee socks and orange shirts.   The opposing team looked even better, wearing white pants and dark blue shirts tucked into their white pants with their blue socks.  But Abigail's team won, just barely.   The girls looked great with their gloves and eye shades.  The only problem is that they can't catch or throw well, which in softball is a problem.   And the game is so complicated that learning all the rules is difficult.

Our team is up by three runs and we are at bat with the bases loaded with two out.   The runner at second base moves off the base.   The umpire waits for the pitch and immediately calls the runner out at second  because she left the bag too soon.  The inning ended but the culprit was dumbfounded.  I heard her say to the coach,  "I see that all the time in the baseball games.   Nobody told me that rule."

A girl hits a pop fly that she thinks will roll foul so stands watching the ball instead of running to first base.  The catcher runs to catch the ball but it bounces out of her glove while the catcher is on the field. The umpire calls Fair Ball.  Finally, the batter begins to run to first but by then it was too late because the catcher threw the ball to the first baseman who tagged the runner out.  "I thought it was going to roll foul", said the batter.  Oops.

Watching an 8th grade softball game requires a sense of humor but the girls try hard and enjoy the game.  Next year, Abigail will not play softball in the Spring.  "Too much standing and waiting", says our Abigail.  But I loved it!!