Answers

We played with a full roster today, which may explain the 5-1 and 6-0 victories over Oberlin and Rutgers at Camden, respectively.  If I know anything, this may be the best defensive Bluejays’ team of the past four years.  And fast.

Bella and Ele, the two missing players, are obscenely fast left-handed slap hitters.  They basically don’t exist in baseball outside of Ichiro Suzuki.  But in softball everybody tries to load up on fast lefties who can dink, bunt and slap their way on courtesy of the shorter base paths (60 feet vs 90 in baseball).  This is at the heart of the small-ball approach to the game.  Clare belongs at the other end of the spectrum, long ball.    

The other thing I know is my daughter is a streak hitter in the extreme.  Today, Clare went 3 for 7 with two doubles, four runs scored and an rbi; the single was headed for extra bases until the Rutgers right fielder made a great play just to knock the ball down and keep it from skipping past her.  No games tomorrow, so we’ll have to wait until Monday to see Clare if stays hot.

We get a nice off-day with a spring training game, Mets vs. Braves in Orlando.  But another softball family won’t be so fortunate.  At one of the other fields today, our conference rival North Central went up against Tufts.  The Tufts pitcher beaned a North Central batter, who went down, tried to get up and then appeared to pass out; she had to be taken away in an ambulance.  The games we play can bring joy or sadness.

They also carry a degree of risk either way.