While the San Francisco Giants were losing, 8-1, to the Pittsburgh Pirates at SBC Park today, just across McCovey cove,in Barry Bonds' Junior Giants Park, another Giants squad was engaged in a spirited contest with the Foster City Mariners. In this game of Challengers baseball (see my post last month), everyone hits, everyone crosses the plate, and everyone cheers for the opposing team.
Several parents were late because it was difficult to find the path to the little ballpark amidst the sea of parked cars and coned-off streets. When they arrived, I helped them take the wheelchairs out of their vans--although they are so practiced that they didn't really need my help--and the kids were there in plenty of time to take their turn at bat in the top of the second.
It may have been the wind, or the ambience from the nearby Major League game, but the balls were flying off the bats today. Some made it to the outfield grass, and a few even cleared the fence. One ball was hit to the leftfielder, but his back was turned because he was more interested in the sounds emanating from SBC Park. When I shouted, he chased the ball down. "Always face the batter"--don't remember seeing that advice in a baseball book.
The runners sometimes bunch up, but no one's in a big hurry.
After the game, the teams cheer each other and shake hands. The players eagerly devour their snack and drink and already are looking forward to next week's game. © 2004 Stephen Yuen
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