Sweet Redemption By Oscar McPhee

The American Journal of Sporting Opinion
24 May 2008
Vol 35, pg 57-62

"Sweet Redemption"
by Oscar McPhee

It has been a trying week for Austin's ACCION Attaquers. Monday saw them demolished by Anthony's Knuckleheads 22-2 in a tribute to every fielding mistake that could possibly be made. Tuesday practice was rained out, but I had a team meeting in which I got on them, not for losing by that much, but for some of them wanting to throw in the towel and quit. I care about building character more than I do about wins and losses, I said, and to give up after an embarrassment like that would show weak character. We then elected team captains (BJ and Rafael) and watched Rookie of the Year. They laughed.

Today started out on several sour notes. For one, team star Treavis had to sit out because I foolishly let him play for Shameeka's team last Saturday. He hit two homers, and the kids on the other team recognized his giant afro and complained that he shouldn't be allowed to play for both teams. That and after two innings we were down 6-0, and I could see the kids starting to have flashbacks to Monday's apocalypse. After a particularly bad inning, I yelled at them to "WAKE UP!", and Manny and I explained that they were going to be playing small ball the rest of the way - working the count, making the pitcher throw strikes, singling and doubling him to death when he did. Worked like a charm. Final score of game one, 9-7. Game two, 10-5.

Honestly, we got lucky when the other team made some major mistakes in the field. Our baserunning is shady at best, and we'll have our hats handed to us by Anthony again if we run the bases like we did today. But right now, the important thing is that Austin's Attaquers stand at 2 wins and 2 losses. And the emerging confidence of our team was noticeable - Rondel surprised me by smacking two doubles, Yennsee made an electrifying debut behind the plate, even Tyler made solid contact! Once we get Treavis' roid magic back, I hope the team's swagger can carry them into at least a competitive game vs. the Knuckleheads.

Onward!