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Shadows Softball 2008: In Which God Emerges as a City Paper Fan

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Record: 0-5 (.000)

That record above notwithstanding, every member of the City Paper softball team brings a special talent to the table. Me, I’m very good at filling in the tiny boxes on scorecards. It’s something you get a lot of practice doing on the Shadows bench. The opposing team scores a run, I fill in a box. The first inning of our second game against the National Press Club hadn’t even ended, and I wound up doing it one, two, three…thirteen times.

So, Andrew’s prediction was right on the money. But a funny thing happened on the way to what promised to be our sixth devastating loss in a row. One of the umpires noticed a lightning bolt not far from the Layhill fields; raindrops started falling soon after, and the game was called. So though we got our asses kicked twice Saturday, the only ass-kicking that counts was our 18-5 loss in the first game.

Unlike some nerds, we don’t keep official stats for our players. But pitcher Tim Carman bravely endeavored to calculate what that 13-run pasting would’ve spelled for his earned run average. Here’s his report:

I will assume, for argument’s sake, that every run was earned. That translates into an ERA of 175.41, which would, I think, earn me a spot in the starting rotation for the Kansas City Royals.

I blame my high ERA on a number of things:

1. My inability to throw strikes.

2. Shortstop Jason “The Croquet Wicket” Hutto

3. The National Press Club

4. God

5. Ted Lerner

6. The high price of food

In the end, I have to thank the umpire for calling the game before the first inning was over. I believe those stats will not officially count. In your face, Press Club!

Photo by Express‘ Holly J. Morris

6 Responses to “Shadows Softball 2008: In Which God Emerges as a City Paper Fan”

  1. Michael J. West Says:

    So God’s a City Paper fan not because he allowed you a victory, but because he postponed your sixth loss?

    Are you sure that “sadist” isn’t the word you’re looking for in place of “fan”?

  2. MS Says:

    It was the greatest non-game we have ever played. And rain with T-storms are in the forecast all week long. YEAH!!!

  3. Mark Athitakis Says:

    The Shadows’ God is the Old Testament God—He’s persistently angry, so He’s not about to, you know, *win* a game for us. But He’s not without the occasional spasm of mercy.

  4. Andrew Beaujon Says:

    I would have bought the sadism argument had the ump called another rain delay, then sent us back out, and so on. But never has the “mercy rule” ever seemed so divine. So I’m with Mark on this one.

  5. Michael J. West Says:

    Weather be thy name….

  6. Amanda Hess Says:

    I hit the ball!

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