Quick shout-out to my Austin softball team, the Ball’rz, for sticking with me for a full decade. I realized the other day that I joined the team in 2017, and I was recently introduced to someone by the coach as the longest-standing member on the team. Which is kind of nuts. There are other guys who’ve been with the team longer, but they’re missing a season for injuries or whatever.
Just racking up some of the milestones of my tenure:
- Qualified for 5 World Series bids, attending ones in Minneapolis, Columbus, Dallas and Las Vegas
- I couldn’t attend the first one in Kansas City in 2019 because I was recovering from back surgery (ouch) but I DID manage to put together our first benefit show to raise funds to help send the team there
- 5 benefit shows organized
- Finalist for Rookie of the Year in 2017 (which is a weird honor to get in your 40s)
And then, as I’m sure you heard, I got my first walk-off strikeout as a starting pitcher this past weekend. Felt good and was fun. Do I have a future as a pitcher? I’d be psyched to be a reliable backup. We’ll see.
I’m still one of the fastest guys on the team. As long as that keeps up, even as we get new generations of players, I’ll stick with it. Plus it’s good for interval training. Another ten years? Let’s say 3-5 and I’ll see how I feel. Check back in 2030…
