CHAPTER EIGHT

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WHAT ROUTINE PLAY?

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There is no such thing as a routine play in some games. The other night a "routine ground ball" was hit to the second baseman. Simple enough. It hits the second basemen in the ankle, bounces off in the direction of first base. The second baseman tries to grab it but instead, kicks it with her shoe and falls down. The ball rolls away from her behind first base between the bag and the coach's box. The first baseman turns a round, does a gymnastics split towards the coach's box and dugout area, extends her arm and hand and stabs the ball. She picks it up off the ground just a split second before the runner crosses the base. "OUT" yells the umpire! Just another routine play?

Ground ball hit to the short stop. A quick toss over to the second baseman covering the bag. She tags the runner out sliding into the base as she slides between her legs.

A note here: The weather has been very hot here, no real rain in weeks. The fields are very dry and VERY dusty. Umpires can't keep the plate and bases sweep enough during the games.

"SAFE!" yells the umpire. "WHAT!" asks the secondbaseman. "Look at where you are" says the ump.

The second baseman is a foot behind the bag with the runner lying on the ground between her legs. The tag was made on the chest - as the runners back rested on the bag, with the runner's butt, legs, ankles, and shoes well past "safe". At this time of year the bags and dirt / dust all look the same!

The runner from third was making a routine steal of home after a pass-ball. The catcher grabs the ball, the runner turns back to third. The ball is thrown to the third baseman. The runner turns towards home again. "HOTBOX" yell several players as they move into position.

The runner slips down and is tagged "OUT!" by the umpire. She turns and heads to the dug out only to be tagged out - again - by the left field running in with the ball. The third baseman and the ump look at each other and down at her glove - no ball. It had hit her glove and bounced out so fast that no one saw it in all of the 'hot-box' excitement - except for the left fielder who came in and made the out. Just another routine play.

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