Buildings; I saw real buildings. That made me happy because that meant there were real facilities at this park. There were more than facilities; there was also a town pool and stores within walking distance. The cherry on the cake, of course, was internet service. And since it was the second day of the NHL draft, I was very happy about that. However, most of my updates were coming directly to my phone from my friends in Ottawa. It was still a bonus.

Of course, I was harassed by Ranger Fan John who didn’t even say ‘Hello’ before stopping me in the lot.

“Hey Dee! You know Garth Snow. Can you introduce me so I can ask him if he would trade me two $20s for a $10?” The other softball dads got a good laugh out of that, as it was in reference to last night's unconventional moves the Islanders GM made during the first round of the NHL draft. I know. You don’t care. John boy and I do. I resisted hitting him with my laptop case.

Saturday's morning game was actually the Riptide’s 2nd game of the tournament. They played with 9 girls all weekend.  Friday the 19th Kira didn’t make it up so that she could attend her 8th grade formal. This was the graduation weekend that conflicted with many of the girls' social calendars.

The 9 that played on Friday did capture the win at 5 - 1. I received a text message from Maureen on Friday while I was at the Coliseum. It made me smile.

“They won but it wasn’t pretty.” announced the little bright screen on my phone.

Wins don’t have to be pretty. They just have to be wins. Ashley did a great job at 3rd in Kira’s absence and Kate pitched a great game getting herself out of jam after jam and giving the attending parents heart attacks. They played the NJ Sparks with only 9 girls. Annie went 2 for 2 at the plate with 2 singles and 3 RBIs! Rachel had a sacrifice that scored a run and Kate pitched a great game with 10 strike-outs.

They weren’t as lucky with game 2 of the tourney. They lost 5-2 to the Morris County Belles. Ashley did have a shot to right field that brought in the only Riptides runs as the Belles pitcher was throwing nothing but heat.

During the layover I was able to sit under the awning or by the truck and check out what was happening on day two of the NHL draft. I was also getting hourly updates on my cell from my two buddies in Ottawa. I can truthfully say that I was the only person on that field in New Jersey that was having that experience. I can also say that I was the only one on that field that actually cared.

Saturday’s Game 2 vs. the Thunderbolts was a pitcher’s duel. Princess Kate pitched a great game with 8 strikeouts. She didn’t stop there as she also had the game winning hit in the bottom of the 6th inning and the Riptide won 2 -1. It was one of those games that you just couldn’t believe. Leanne went 2 for 3 at the plate with a single and a double. Gabby was 2 for 2 with two singles and a walk. But that hit that bounced up off third base that brought in that 2nd run, well… that’s one for the books for sure.

The drive to the hotel was interesting as New Jersey is the “land of no left turn” that drives every ones’ GPS just a little batty. It seems they don’t like to recalculate after those numerous illegal U turns those of us with New York plates like to make in order to actually GET to our destination.

The hotel was lovely and well appointed, but those at the desk were not exactly bright as they couldn’t give us keys that worked or directions to the room. We wandered like the over burdened, over packed gypsies that we are from elevator to elevator carrying what most people could live a month with. We were staying for only one night. I can’t help it. I like to be prepared.

It was too late and the girls were too tired to go anywhere, so Princess Di put on her cruise director hat and ordered Italian food to be delivered to the lobby for all of us. These impromptu dinner gatherings are actually my favorite part of the weekends. We sit, we drink, we talk and we watch the girls laugh and huddle together in the PJs just enjoying each other’s company. Actually, that’s exactly what the parents do… sans the PJs.

I dragged out my cards and Patti brought out her magic crystal. My cards were dead on for those I read, and Patti’s crystal scared the daylights out of me. Yep, there’s magic on the Riptide, in more ways than one. Sandy was still hard at work on those socks. The Sons of Italy were hard at work on the beer.

The team seeded 5th of 16 and had 9:45 game scheduled against the 12th seed. It had been a long day, so the lobby party ended relatively early by our standards as we had to meet back in the lobby by 7:30 am.

Morning comes too quickly and the mad rush to get three people showered and dressed with one bathroom is always a coordination nightmare. I decided to help out a little. I woke at an un-godly hour and jumped into the shower before either one of them stirred. I even made that small pot of coffee they leave for you.

The breakfast buffet was $12.95 a person, as a team we opted to forgo that expense and head toward the field with a quick stop anywhere … but there. Dan managed to find the only Burger King that not only didn’t have anyone in it; it was also situated between two stop lights and four roads. Ha! Land of No Left turn had nothing on us this time. Heading toward the field in the right direction this time was easy and didn’t even require a GPS, which was good since we don’t have one. I AM the GPS in the truck. I get to read the MapQuest directions while Danno drives. I could make him feel like he has a GPS system and start using some sort of accent or perfect enunciation. But I digress.

 

The 12th seed was the Lady Red Birds from Greenwich. We had a little time before the game, so Patti and I decided to take a little walk up to the shopping center just across the street in search of coffee and ice. We found the most amazing Italian bakery this side of Brooklyn. I was in my glory, but didn’t want to leave more food in the truck, so we only walked back with coffee. I had plans of hitting that shop again on our way out. Visions of a fabulous pasta dinner with really good semolina bread and fresh pastry danced in my head.

After yet another Saturday baking in the sun on the bleachers, my sunburn was getting quite ugly. As I was headed to our cooler for our 30 SPF sunscreen, Joe reached into his red magic bag of tricks and pulled out a bottle.

“Here. Use this, it’s SPF 50. It’s liquid shirt.” I totally needed it, and Dianna helped me out making sure I didn’t miss any more spots on my back that were now pretty much like raw meat. Tending to myself, I missed how Danni got on second base during a particular inning.

Not that I keep a really good eye on these things, but I did want to know. BTGOG was the answer I received.

“What?” I asked thinking it was some sort of softball term I had never heard before.

“By the Grace of God.” was the answer.

The final was 7 - 2, as the two runs they earned early in the game were the only ones the Redbirds would see. Annie had a great play throwing out a batter at first base all the way from right field. Danni C brought in an RBI single getting on that base BTGOG, Kira bunted in an RBI single, Kat had a double, Kate went 2 for 3 and Gabby had a bunt single, but she was so disappointed that she didn’t get to bat while bases were loaded because we timed out. She wanted to see what she could do; whether she could be that hero. We all wanted to see it too.

There wasn’t much time between games, as game 2 was scheduled for 11:30 am against the Howell Heat. They could have been called the Howell Heavies as some of the girls were heavier than me, and I’m pretty hefty. Ok, truth be told, at least one of them was heavier than my husband. Now, I'm not trying to be politically incorrect. I'm trying to figure out how girls who are athletic and playing ball can be THAT big. To me, it's a contradiction.

“I wouldn’t want to get between her and the last donut.” came from the peanut gallery on the bleachers.

Father Dan decided to have a “blessing of the bats. “ This was a first for us. We usually have high priestess Patti throw a little positive energy to the bats, but a blessing? Well, that was different.
With two out in the first three minutes of the game, Kira was robbed of a double, which she clearly beat out, but Blue said “OUT” and even under protest the call stood.

As if the softball gods were angry with the call, the lightening horn sounded and everyone was called off the field. I had never head of this before, but you could hear thunder in the distance. We packed everything up and the team went under the main concession roof and waited.

The delay was short as there was no rain. We knew the field would be fine. I chose to sit in the truck for a few minutes just to let the game get interesting. By the time I decided I was ready to go back out into the elements, the score was 0 - 0 with Kate pitching.

A few field errors and Kate getting smacked in the foot with a ball that took a wicked bounce took the girls off their game and they were down 3 - 0 very quickly.

With the Riptide up to bat, the Howell pitcher was throwing pretty wicked and struck Gabby out and then walked Kira. Leanne was up to bat, but I couldn’t find Nancy. She must have been hiding as usually this type of pressure keeps her as far from the action as she can get without needing binoculars to see the game. A big hit moved Kira to second and Kat came up to bat.

“To the SUN 21, to the SUN!” Hmmm… that was a new chant. I liked it. Much better than the

“Rah Rah, take off your bra.” chant that one of the parents came up with.

Kat responded with a huge hit that brought Kira home and put the Riptide on the score sheet. Next up, Annie was walked and the bases were loaded once again. Ashley came up to bat and landed a really good hit, but Blue had another bad call at home plate. He called Leanne out on HELP from the other Blue who couldn’t have possibly seen reality from his vantage point.

Once bases were loaded… AGAIN… Rachel was up to bat. Quick thinking made Kat steal home on an infield error. It was now a ball game with the Riptide coming back at 3 - 2. The other team began to oppose the call. Oh well, the Riptide got one back.

With runners on 1st and 2nd, Kate was up at bat. “Help yourself out here Kate.” the coaches encouraged her. She has had some really good at bats in key situations. But she couldn’t pull one out this time and was out at 1st.

The Heat were up at bat, an infield hit and a bad throw from 3rd made for a brilliant split save by Kat at 1st.  Despite her efforts the first batter was safe. Their next batter up found a hole in the outfield and the runner advanced.

The third batter in the order laid down a bunt that was scooped up by Kira and thrown to Kat and … here we go again… the horns sound across the field. The lightening detection system senses lightening within five miles of the field, which is very cool. But this was turning into an exciting game, they didn’t want to stop. Danni C had already turned in a double play snagging a line drive and throwing a base runner out at first. Kira had a nice shot to left field, even if she was thrown out at 2nd base. Leanne was 2 for 2 with 2 singles and Kat had an RBI single. These girls were ready to strike while the iron was hot.

Problem was… the iron was drowned out by a monsoon that swept across the field. We sat in the truck for about 15 minutes, hoping for it to stop. But it didn’t. Dan looked out the window at the fields that were dry before, now turning into mud.

We drove around to the other parking lot and started to watch a mass exodus. “What’s going on?”

“We’re done Dee. The fields aren’t playable now. This will take hours. It’s over.” he told me as Kira jumped into the truck looking like she ran around in the shower. I watched the Riptide cars leave the parking lot. I was incredibly disappointed. If I had to be filthy and fried, at least I wanted to know who was going home with a trophy. The answer that afternoon was…. NOBODY.

But it could have been them. But we’ll never know now.