Corning, NY
1:45 AM
It’s 80 degrees and the sun filters through the trees behind me. I step into the batters box. The dirt kicks off my shoes. I stare ahead intently at the pitcher, Nate. The shift is on because I bat as a lefty. The foul lines were freshly painted on this morning. Welcome to the finals of the Woodycrest Memorial Whiffle Ball Tournament. The pitch comes in a big swooping curve, I shift the weight from my back foot and explode forward. The yellow bat an extension of body, it moves forward to the white ball with the precision of a 5 year old. I swing hard and whiff. My body recoils and the inning ends.
We are in Corning, NY at my Aunt and Uncle’s house. My cousins Colin and Kevin and their families made the trip in from Charlotte and Charleston respectively. Kevin and I were unlikely choices to make the finals, but there we were. The crowd of about 30 milled about, mostly not watching us and catching up. This group of guys go way back. I am not part of the group, only the younger kid who used to tag along. I saw my first nudie movie here. I needed a 2PM nap as a 17 year old at a previous tournament. I still get grief for that. There are a lot of stories, but don’t compare in numbers to all of the strangers and stories I heard about from these guys.
Nate and Spern ended up beating Kevin and I 5-2 in the 7 inning finale. We couldn’t hit. I started off with a couple of HR’s but that was it for us.
The tourney ended with not much fanfare, and we moved on the next phase of the day, the bonfire. The grill had been kicking all day and I had a couple of burgers. The night came and it was time to clean up the field and head down to Meads Creek for the fire. This is another tradition here. I brought in my sleeping bag and a couple of blankets. Young Andrew was to sleep on the floor of the sun room.
There is something about a fire. About 15 people grabbed chairs and made the circle. I didn’t talk too much because of all of the stories going on that I didn’t know much about. You hear about athletic contests from the past and fights and girls and crazy nights. It’s fun to sit and listen.
The night could not have been any prettier. They live out from a city so the stars were right on top of us. The bathroom was the brush above Meads Creek. It was very peaceful as I made my way to the bushes, staring up to the sky and listening to the water run over the rocks. The moonlight shining off the water. I stayed at the bathroom longer than you normally would.
Big K and I ended up closing it down and eating some munchies. Aunt Margie always has something good in the fridge. We are both worn out from the day. K is tight from swinging the bat like Reggie Jackson – with purpose each time.
A lot of the Harrison clan will be in town tomorrow to meet the new kids, Maisie and Jaime. My family is coming in at 10:30. My Aunt and Uncle from Boston will be here too. Kids will bring families together.
Time to call it a night and make my spot on the floor.