Know when to say when...

Well, I'm sad to say that my career as a co-ed softball player has come to an end. Even though it's something I truly love, unfortunately the game is not loving me back, well not the bat anyway. Our first game was three weeks ago and when I got up to bat for the first time, I STRUCK OUT!! That is something that I haven't done since I was a child. I was humiliated beyond words, but I still felt positive that the next time would be better. Well the next time up was a bit better, I walked. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but definitely better than that long walk back to the dugout to face my team. So for the week after I analyzed over and over in my head why I struck out. I had nightmares about it even. It suddenly was consuming me... Well last week's game was undoubtedly one of the worst nights of my life... Three times I got up to bat and three times I struck out!! WHAT IS THAT? WHO DOES THAT? Suddenly I am the person on the team that everyone dreads... "Oh no, not her up again". Yep, that's me, the dreaded. So after last weeks game I vowed to be done and not return to the field again. Well after some persuasion from Taylor, my friend Burke and some other friends I had told about my "problem", I decided to give it one more shot. After work yesterday Taylor and I went to the ball park and he threw at least 50 pitches to me and I hit nearly everyone of them. Then before the game Burke pitched to me and I hit all of those... My confidence was starting to come back at this point...

The first inning went by and I didn't get up to bat, but the next inning I was first up. No pressure I thought, just a nice easy hit right behind short stop and my "slump" will be over. It's now my turn to bat... I knew all I had to do was keep my eye on the ball and swing the bat!! So I did exactly that... Well except for the swinging the bat part!!! I watched the perfect pitch go right by me and I stood there like a statue, not any part of me moving. "STRIKE" that stupid umpire yells. So I tell myself it's OK, I have one more chance (only 2 strikes in co-ed). So again I'm ready and the perfect pitch comes right past me and in disbelief I hear "STRIKE". I knew the swear words were coming and the "swear jar" I had brought was about to be in need of MUCH more that the .50 cents I had put in there before the game even began. I believe I owe it $10.00. Well the night didn't get much better, the next time up I did have a great hit, but unfortunately it was caught, and then of course my last time up was another wonderful strike-out!!

So I have decided it is now time to know when to say when... Enough of this. I am hanging my head down low and saying goodbye for now. I am too competitive to put myself and my team through anymore anguish. The mental block in my head is the winner here, unfortunately. So... So long co-ed softball. Some may say I am a quitter and to that I say... Yes I couldn't agree more!!