From left, me, Natalie and April hang out at Arooga’s in Harrisburg after out first kickball game as members of Pitch, Please.
I love sports and mostly* everything about them.
I grew up swimming competitively, but I’ve never been all that good at athletic ventures that involve kicking, hitting or catching a ball. I’m also not a great runner.
I played on rec soccer, softball and tennis teams, but my career on each was less than illustrious. (Side note: There was one fluke softball season in which I recorded a hit at every at bat. No fancy schmancy home runs, just some solid base hits. Don’t believe me? Mom and others have the stat sheets. The angels were at home plate that season.)
I continued swimming in college and played intramural volleyball and softball, but since then have not been a member of an official non-work-related team.
The team aspect was something I missed — a lot.
Enter fellow Twenty & Change blogger April Trotter.
Her boyfriend, Kyle, decided to captain a Harrisburg Young Professionals kickball team (Pitch, Please) this summer and asked if I would like to join.
I jumped at the chance, even though the whole point of the sport is to kick a ball and run like lightning around the bases. Something I previously mentioned I’m not that great at and have not done since grade school.
I joined the team more to meet new people and have some fun after work on Thursday nights this summer than to win a golden kickball — or whatever you get for winning, other than bragging rights, of course.
The team held a practice before the season started so members could meet each other and we could learn to play as a team. After practice we took a team-building trip to the closest bar for some dinner and a brew.
Team morale was high going into our first game. And then we saw who we were playing.
All I can describe it is as Space Jam. When the Monstars are completely crushing the Looney Toons because of their size and athletic prowess. Except the little guys didn’t win in the end in our case. We got beat … badly.
This photo was taken after Pitch, Please lost its first kickball match. April seemed pretty happy that the game was over.
But we bucked up and lost graciously, went out for a round of beers and called it a night. (I can’t say the same for the other team, they were not very nice.)
And last week Pitch, Please rebounded with a respectable 9-2 win.
While the team might not make the National Kickball Association Championship we are going to have some really good times for sure — as long as we don’t play those Monstars again.
Do you play intramural sports? What other activities do you do for fun in York and surrounding counties?
*Golf, in my opinion, is a snooze fest.
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