It all started months ago. My roommate Rich was already playing softball and my boyfriend, Chris, had been playing for years. The last time I played softball was – don’t laugh – when former President Ronald Reagan was in his first term. Needless to say, I was rustier than the Tin Man when Dorothy first found him.

I told both Chris and Rich that I wanted to play softball. Both were very encouraging and softball fever was contagious in my household. Soon, my other roommate, David, who is Rich’s partner, and who had never played, caught the fever as well.

Within a few weeks, David and I were up early Saturday morning for the first of several America’s Finest City Softball League’s (AFCSL) clinics, where members of the board watched dozens show off their softball skills and then rate them for a team best suited for their skill level. I went to the clinic thinking I was going to be snickered off the field and then at the end given a firm, polite handshake, thanking me for trying out. It was just the opposite. Everyone involved was very supportive and encouraging, and at the end of the day the board rated me and told me that I would be contacted by the coach of a team, who is looking for players.

Within two weeks, David and I were assigned to a new “D” Division team, put together with other participants at the clinics to form a new team. For your information, “D” doesn’t stand for “drinking.” D Division teams are those whose players are just starting out with varied beginning skill levels. Our team was unique, in that it was a new team with members who had never played together.

I was very anxious to get started. To make it even more fun, my roommate David was on the same team. It also turned out my boyfriend had agreed to be our coach. Rich was going to co-coach, and David was going to manage the team. I was just going along for the ride.

I met my team soon after that for our first practice. First thing that came to mind was that we looked like a bad version of the Bad News Bears. For a couple of weeks, we bounced around the field in an attempt to find our strengths.

Then news arrived that our team had an official sponsor! The wonderful folks at Anthony’s Fish Grotto stepped up to the plate and we became “Battered Up.” And we all know what sponsorship means – uniforms.

The uniforms weren’t ready, so David and I went shopping for all of the important things, like shin guards, batting gloves and the all-important cup. Sadly, with the lack of uniforms, we lost those two games. Well, we really didn’t lose; we were trampled.

The uniforms arrived, and the morning I walked up to the field and saw my team in uniform I thought that we actually looked like a team! Yet, although my heart sang “We are the Champions,” the other teams still bulldozed us.

Each week we still lost, but that began to change as our skills improved and we began to gel. Instead of scores such as 3 to 23, it was just runs apart. The 14 individuals who started playing softball had become Anthony’s Fish Grotto’s Battered Up – a real team. We faced defeat after defeat. It never seemed to bother any of us… much. I know I enjoyed being there, cheering each other on and laughing at our consistency at losing. I play catcher for all of the games and had the chance to talk and joke with the players of the other teams and the referee. No arrogance or pretense. They were all great guys and gals. Soon other teams were rooting for us. It was very empowering.

Then, the day came that all teams dream of, especially ours: We were playing another D division team, the Cherrybombs, and we came out hitting and got a small lead. Our defense was great and we held them scoreless the first inning. I couldn’t believe what was happening, but we were staying with them run for run, inning for inning, and when the dust had settled we were victors. I was so proud of each of my team members. They all looked so happy. Oddly, the team we beat looked really happy for us as well. Even members of the team that we were going to play next were watching and gave us a standing ovation. Teams in other divisions were congratulating us as well. It had finally happened; we had a one in the win column.

I realized then how proud I am to be part of Anthony’s Fish Grotto’s Battered Up! Softball team, how we had developed new friendships and how without the support of the AFCSL none of this would have been possible.