Early but late

onday, just one week ago, I showed up at 5:15 for a 6:00 p.m., tri-team set-to starring home team McAllen Memorial and visitors P-SJ-A High (Pharr, San Juan, Alamo) and Mission Veterans. I know: I wasn't on time, but traffic was worse than I’d expected. Mea culpa!

I was scheduled to start behind the plate, so I was already wearing my plate shoes. Turned out to be a lucky shot. I had just opened the door to the dressing room (popped my trunk) when the home team coach showed up. "Hey, Carl, we’ve already started."

"It was supposed to be at six, no?"

"Yeah, but we’re three teams. We don’t want to go too late. We’ve got a guy from the stands whose calling it from behind the mound. While we’re waiting on you." He laughed, so I knew he was going to insinuate to the crowd (scrimmages draw crowds down here) that I was late.

I hustled into my equipment, grabbed my mask, and strode manfully onto the field. The "game" was in the bottom of the first inning, two outs, nobody on. It was 5:32.

Continued...