Shape's Softball League

[Shapecity]

My softball team made it into the playoffs this past week. We finished 3rd in the standings and just came off an upset victory over the top seed.

I play SS for my team and lead the team in batting average at .714. Our team is really undersized for this league so we rely on playing small ball to compete. Most of my hits are doubles because the field we play on his huge, and hitting the ball into the parking lot is an automatic out, plus you are out everytime you bat again. So it's really not beneficial to muscle the ball out, but to aim for the gaps and hope it gets passed the outfielders.

The other teams in the league have some former AA and AAA baseball prospects who rip line drives all over the field. In the beginning of the season, we were getting overwhelmed by these teams because we tried to out hit them and it just resulted in easy popups.

We adjusted in midseason by changing our approach to the game. We started using shorter swings and placement to get runners on base and just hit single after single after single, to draw the other teams defense in. There's nothing more demoralizing on defense to match line drive singles drop right in front of your outfield 10 straight times and you can't do anything about it.

It also causes teams to cheat in and then we can open up our swing and get it over their heads. So far this strategy has won us 5 out of our last 6 games, and we're confident heading into the playoffs.

The team we face in Round 1 actually beat in the regular season in the bottom of the 7th. We are looking forward to some sweet revenge!

 

[Really Lost One]

lets go shape! ill be rooting for you guys! woot! woot!

 

[Trip]

LOL you play softball?

Always thought it was a girls' sport.

 

[Really Lost One]

shapes team scored 30 points in one game. a massacre.

 

[44Thrilla]

Does anybody ever strikeout?

I ask because I actually did in a game 2 years ago for my work team. It was my first time ever playing softball and i hadn't picked up a bat in a couple years. It was pretty embarrasing to say the least. I guess I was swinging too hard because I ended up going 3 for 4 after I cut down on my swing. People told me that it was the first time they ever saw somebody strikeout and dive into a base head first in the same game.

 

[Mamba]

LMFAO, omg 44 I am cracking up, I don't know why...it wasn't that funny.

Go get em, Shape! You man fairy, you!

 

[Shapecity]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44Thrilla:</div><div class="quote_post">Does anybody ever strikeout?

I ask because I actually did in a game 2 years ago for my work team. It was my first time ever playing softball and i hadn't picked up a bat in a couple years. It was pretty embarrasing to say the least. I guess I was swinging too hard because I ended up going 3 for 4 after I cut down on my swing. People told me that it was the first time they ever saw somebody strikeout and dive into a base head first in the same game.</div>

Yeah people strike out in the league for the exact same reas on you did, swinging too hard. Most strike outs result from fouling out though. In our league you start off with 1 Ball and 1 Strike on you. Each foul is considered a strike. So if you hit two foul balls you're out.

Some of the experienced pitchers in the league can actually make the ball curve enough to cause you to miss. I guess it's similar to hitting a knuckleball, because there's all kinds of funky movement happening and you just miss time it.

 

[Shapecity]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">LOL you play softball?

Always thought it was a girls' sport.

</div>

It's more of a beer gut tweener athlete sport. It's pretty good exercise and competitive enough to get the adrenaline going. I think you'd be surprised at some of the athletes actually playing in softball leagues. Fielding a 12 inch ball coming off a graphite bat at over 100mph isn't girly at all.