Softball finale

Today was my final umpiring shift of 2025, and it was a pretty good one. Three games, so not too many, not too few. Teams I generally like to ump for. Good weather. Pretty nice evening to end the year's ump work on. Playoffs and the championship game, and yet nobody brought any extra machismo, which is unusual and very much appreciated.

It was at Bobby Morris Field on Capitol Hill, though. Good field, nice location in some ways, not so nice in others because of the inevitable interference from outside forces. You remember the Cap Hill Softball Bingo Card, right? Well, we had our hecklers, we had our drunk hecklers, we had our various sirens. Foul ball to a vehicle. People wandering onto the field mid-play. But a new one tonight was this: Thrash metal concert in the adjoining skate park.

I could do with never having one of those show up ever again. Two of three games with this noise for a soundtrack:

The recording doesn't do it justice because my phone-camera emphasizes sound it picks up nearest to the mic—usually a nice feature, but cross-purposes to this bit. Trust me, they were loud. Not PA-at-the-stadium loud, but still.

The three games were fun, especially given that the first one was an upset victory (though sad to see the Grounders bounced out early), the second was a dramatic come-from-behind squeaker win, and the third a blowout that everyone had a good time with despite the score. (When you lose by 20 it's good to reflect on the fact that you made it to the last game at all, right?)

The champs were a team known as Slightly Washed Up, living up to their name—if they were more than slightly gone they'd have lost, right? They're a fun bunch and even helped me pack up afterward, always something I remember for when I see them again.

One highlight was a player on the runner-up team that hit two of the longest home runs I've ever seen in a softball game. If you're familiar with Bobby Morris field, you know that there are two softball diamonds on opposing sides of the park; the first of this guy's homers cleared the backstop fence of the far diamond. Not straightaway, but near enough. The second was in a more traditional left-center trajectory but cleared the skate park and landed on the street by the apartment building. The pitcher that served up the first bomb, after her outfielder retrieved the ball and threw it back to her, did a classy thing and gave the ball to the hitter as a souvenir. (I mean, technically it wasn't hers to give, but still, if I'd thought of it instead I would have given it to him too, and since these were the last games of the year we had plenty to spare.)

I didn't eject anyone this year, though there were a few I maybe should have. There were a few truly bad days on the field with complainers and hotheads. But by and large it was a fun time and a good way to earn some scratch. And, of course, it's always good to be out at the park with people I enjoy being around.

So, as we bid adieu to 2025 umping, I say thank you to the players, especially: Megan C., Neal C., Amy B., Frankie E., Chuck H., Woalter G., Joel N., Wyatt C., Ray L.,  Pat W., Chase S., Connor K., Mal G., Gwen M., Alex Z. ("Mr. Atoz"), Rachaele M., Celena O., Emma C., Aidan S., Carrie A., Annabel T., Aaron K., Troy L., Brent P., Brandy B., "Blue Jean" Brandon B., Ed F., Robin D., Aaron Y., and a whole bunch of others I'm not recalling names for just now—oh, and Lewis, the Jasons, Cerissa and the rest of the Leftovers, Abe, other Meg, other Emma, Boyd, Tess, hell, even Kevin, who is sometimes a jerk. 

Not Marcus, though. If I never see that guy again it'll be too soon.

And shout-out to my fellow umps Laz and Ben, you guys have fans too. But just remember, I'm the favorite. :)