Softball recap - Games 1 and 2

Opening day of Major League Baseball signals the unofficial first day of spring. But the first unofficial day of summer begins with opening day of softball.

The last time I swung a bat was last fall and it certainly showed last night. With a runner on third and one out, eager for an early RBI, I went after the first pitch -- and barely tipped it, flipping it over the backstop out of play. The next swing wasn't much better but the fly ball was deep enough to right-center to bring home the run. Sac fly.

The second at bat the bases were empty but the flight of the ball looked the same. Lazy fly to short right-center. This time, however, the fielder muffed the ball and I hustled in to second on the two base error. I'd end up scoring on a single and we'd win the opening game 13-8.

In game two, I tried a different approach. I figured if the ball was outside, I'd push it down the first base line and if it was inside, I'd pull it down third. Leading off the inning, the pitch was way inside and I took it for ball one. The next pitch looked good on the outside corner. Amazingly, I made solid contact and laced it past the first baseman down the right field line for a stand-up double. Finally, a legit hit and again, I'd score on a single.

In the second at-bat, with runners on second and third, I stuck with my new line of thinking. This time the pitch came inside and I lined it between third base and the fielder right down the line for another stand-up double, later scoring on a hit. Back-to-back solid hits down opposite lines.

In my final at-bat of the game, as I approached the plate, the opposing shortstop cautioned, "Watch the line -- both lines." The first pitch I smoked it down the right field line -- but about three feet foul. So on the second pitch I stupidly abandoned my successful strategy and decided to try to line one up the middle. Instead, it ended up being a lame grounder, 4-3 on the putout. Fortunately, we were way ahead and ended up with an easy 25-5 win.

So my final line for the night: 5 at bats, 2 doubles, 1 flyout, 1 sac fly, 1 reach-on-error, 3 rbi and 3 runs scored. 5-3-2-3.