Bloody Monday

Another umpiring shift at Capitol Hill, another game shortened due to lacerations.

Am I bad luck for teams playing at Cap Hill? Consecutive shifts there now have seen a player—two yesterday—get smacked in the face with a thrown or batted ball and have to leave the game. Last week it was a split lip, last night it was a forehead gash. And a bloody nose earlier. And an oblivious bystander got clocked in the head by a deep foul hit into the darkness as well, although that one I was unaware of at the time (I was informed later by the left fielder, who witnessed the impact).

Of course, I've done plenty of games there that didn't feature any blood or injury, so I know this is just the random nature of sports. But it does seem like I've seen more than my fair share of blood on the field this year, and we're only in March.

Also, we had a couple of interesting spectators last night. One I initially put in that Cap Hill Bingo category of "guy talking to no one as he stumbles by the field," but instead he was on a hands-free bluetooth phone call. His side of the conversation was audible to the catcher and myself and we agreed that this guy had some stories, probably invented but at least distorted in his telling. This youngish guy was complaining to whoever was on the other end of the call about how "Trump gave [his] ribbon to some asshole" at the State of the Union, that though he had the medal, the ribbon went to some undeserving shmuck who got feted for it on national TV. He went on about other things too, like how he was barred by a court from seeing his mom in the hospital and that's why he didn't have money to fly back to DC. He seemed quite the character.

The other spectator was a different type entirely (though it turned out he was also a veteran). He introduced himself as Alfred and was taking photos. He said he wanted to take the opportunity to get some experience shooting sports as that wasn't something he had in his portfolio. Nobody minded, so he hung around the sidelines with his camera and promised to share the pictures later. Nice guy.

In the first game, a fly ball carried to center field and the center fielder, Josh, drifted under it to make the catch, only he somehow missed it with his glove and instead took the ball right off his schnozz. He left the game bleeding. He stuck around in the dugout, though, and by the time that game was over and his team was heading out Josh was no longer losing blood and was in good humor. His team lost, too, which added insult to injury. Alas, but I'm sure he's fine now.

The second game ended abruptly on an ambitious infield play trying to nail a runner at second for a double play. The throw from third to second sailed a little bit and struck the second basewoman in the forehead and down she went. She was lucid and alert, but blood was pouring from the wound.

Enter Alfred.

Fortuitously, Alfred was an Army medic, so he offered his assistance—which we all gladly accepted, especially since my first aid kit was truly unhelpful in this situation. It was not a serious injury, just—as any head wound is—rather bloody, and when I got a look at the gash (peeking over Alfred's shoulder) I could see it wasn't particularly long, but it was deep. Though it would likely have healed fine if merely treated with a couple of butterfly bandages, Alfred nonetheless recommended stitches so it would heal faster, so the player and her fellow-player partner left for urgent care. We called the game at that point.

I'm grateful to have crossed paths with Sgt. Alfred the amateur photog and ex-Army medic on this occasion and look forward to seeing the pictures he took, though he made sure to note that he wouldn't send photos of the bloody injury to anyone but the player involved. [EDIT: Alfred sent me some of the pics, but just the ones with me in them (two posted below). Much more curious about the rest of them.]

Not sure "bloody injury" or "made use of Army medic" will make it onto the Cap Hill Softball Bingo Card anytime soon, but we can add them to the potpourri of incidents at that particular field. It's been quite the week.