There were no games in Lakeland today, but thanks to an invitation from the Dover crew, a handful of Lakeland players still managed to get their softball fix. For me, it was my first trip to Dover — and let’s just say, it was definitely a different Game Day experience. 😂
We arrived to find that a late-night storm had left the fields looking a little less like softball diamonds and a little more like waterfront property. But senior softball players are nothing if not determined.
Batting practice got underway on one field while everyone carefully avoided the small lake occupying second base. Meanwhile, our game field was given some time to dry out, players were eventually sorted onto teams, and somehow, against the odds, we were ready to play ball.
There was just one little problem.
The sky looked like it had other plans. 🌧️
Apparently, the solution was speed softball.
If starting with a 1-and-1 count sounds harsh, Dover introduced us to something even better:
ONE. SINGLE. PITCH.
That's it. One pitch. Swing, take, hit it, miss it — whatever happens, you'd better make that pitch count. 😂
And I'll give them this: it certainly moves a game along.
As for the actual game recap...well, that's where things get interesting.
I was asked to write one, only to discover afterward that the other team didn't have a scoresheet. Apparently detailed recordkeeping wasn't part of today's festivities either. 😂
So, based on the one scoresheet that did survive the Dover experience, we know this much: it was a close game.
There were plenty of three-up, three-down innings, several innings where teams managed to put the full five runs on the board, and when the home team came to bat in the final inning, they were holding onto just a one-run lead.
The job was simple.
Get three outs and the game was over.
Four batters later...
Three outs. Ballgame.
Not exactly enough information for one of our usual play-by-play recaps, but considering we started the morning dodging puddles and raindrops, watching the clouds, playing one-pitch softball and apparently keeping only half a scoresheet, I'd call getting an entire game in a victory all by itself. 😂
A big thank you to the Dover players for the invitation and hospitality. We definitely appreciated having somewhere to play and getting some softball in today.
But after our little road trip...
I'll be pretty happy when we're finally back home on our Southwest Complex fields. 🥎 See you back in Lakeland on Wednesday!