Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Coming Soon: The Demolition Derby

Yesterday, I broadcast a baseball game on the radio between two teams of 7-year olds. But not just any game, it was for the state championship of Tennessee.

Normally, we have a policy against doing "coach pitch" games. But with it being for the state championship (and the fact that right now I'd broadcast a rousing game of parchesi at the old folks home in order to make a few extra dollars) we made an exception.

For me, it was the first time I’d seen one of these games since I played in one.

And from the first pitch to the last out, it was pure excitement. A routine grounder to the pitcher? Not so routine. And the great plays were rewarded with absolute bedlam.

Bats almost as tall as the players, gloves bigger than their heads. And everyone slides into every base…

And if a kid gets hurt…players, coaches, umpires and mom comes to the rescue.

Our team won, 8 to 7. They celebrated with Happy Meals, said “it hadn’t yet sunk in” and drove back home with a police escort leading the way.