Itch to play has returned

I want to play.
It had been about five years since I had stepped foot on a softball field — in cleats — before I got a text from Eric Butcher early last week. He asked if I’d be interested in playing for his team in Saturday’s softball tournament to benefit the families of Julie DeHoff and Lexie Gierhart, who were killed in a June accident in Wells County.
I warned him that I hadn’t played in years, and after he assured me he wasn’t worried about winning — we didn’t — I agreed to take the field.
Butcher had been my teammate for several seasons in Jay Community Center’s fall co-ed softball league. As a group, we were average to good over about a five-year span, winning the league once.
But I had long since given up the sport.
In agreeing to play this weekend, I had one goal: Do not get injured.
I figured this would be a one-time thing, a quick step out of retirement for a good cause.
Through the first game, that remained a pretty safe bet.
I made maybe one play at first base. In my lone at bat, I hit a dribbler that ticked off the pitcher’s glove and went to the second baseman. He easily threw me out as I did something resembling a slow jog toward first base.
We won by forfeit Saturday night to send us into day two of the tournament Sunday, and it was then that the softball bug bit me. A few more plays came my way at first, and I managed to slap an RBI single up the middle in my second at bat and later came around to score.
That was all it took.
Despite my team having suffered a second run-rule in as many days, I found myself wanting more.
I played Little League baseball in Avon, Ohio, for about 10 years starting when I was 5. After stepping away from the game in high school, I began playing softball for my uncles’ team when I was 18.
As the new guy, I generally served as catcher and low man in the batting order (which is probably where I belonged anyway).
My favorite play came when a batter hit the ball back to my uncle Chris, the pitcher, with the bases loaded. He threw to me at home for the force out, a play easily made. I then turned and threw to first, attempting a double play.
Though the first baseman, John, was at the bag, he apparently wasn’t expecting the throw. The ball hit him square in the chest.
While we didn’t get the extra out, we did have plenty of laughs at John’s expense.
It’s little memories like those that make playing the games so much fun. And it only took a handful of innings back on the diamond Saturday and Sunday to remind me how much I enjoy the sport.
Now I find myself hoping to be able to catch on with a team in JCC’s co-ed league again.
So, if there’s anyone out there looking for a soft-hitting, not-so-slick fielding, slow softball player, I’m your guy.