[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Then, the catcher yanked off her hockey helmet, whipped in over her shoulder and caught me right in the forehead! We had to hold up the game about five minutes while I got my bearing and got my feet back under me. It left a nice red welt on my forehead.

The other was a throw to first by F2 on a bunt. This field did not have a double first base (it's optional in our state). The batter-runner was good all the way up the line, staying just foul. But as she made her last step to first, she naturally made it inward toward the bag. The throw nailed her in the middle of the back just as she touched first. The defensive coach pleaded for an interference call, but I told him the runner had a right to exit the running lane just as she reached the bag- or else she could never touch first!

And then...I got nailed again.

A batter swung at a way inside pitch, got it off the handle and shot it straight back. The ball just barely caught the edge of the little ear flap of my mask, but somehow sneaked around it and drove right into my left ear! It opened up a gash on my ear that was gushing blood. It didn't really hurt much- ears just bleed a lot! This one looked a lot worse than it really was. It took another 5-10 minutes to get the bleeding stopped and get myself back into game mode.

Now, this one I've replayed in my head a few times. I really feel that I was properly in the slot and didn't flinch or turn my head. I saw the ball come off the bat and toward me. It was just that the pitch was so far inside- the batter actually stepped backward and had to pull her hands in right against her body- that the ball came off the bat at an odd angle. The ear flap of my mask took some of the brunt, but since my mask is loose and this was kind of a "sideways" hit, I think that it pushed my mask out of the way and let the ball get me.

Oh, yeah- we played seven innings in about 90 minutes, the home team won, the weather was sunny and warm, the season is finally underway and I made it through my first game just a little bit bloody and bruised! Here's hoping that everyone has a great season.

Sorry you had to take such a beating.