WHAT A PLAY!
Ryan Rowe
Sunday, June 8th, 2003
Montréal, Québec, Canada

It was a warm night in the West Island, and Dan Michaud had invited me to a local baseball game. They were playing at Alexander Park, only a few blocks from my home, which is adjacent to a thoroughfare named Jacques-Bizard. The lights were blazing down on the field as I made my way across the grass. The game hadn't started yet. The Hit Men were about to begin playing the Chez Paul.

I can't remember the last time I watched a baseball game on a neighbourhood baseball diamond, but I can certainly remember why it's been so long. Mosquitoes! As I scratched and bruised myself in an attempt to rid my airspace of the pesky bugs, Amy (Dan's girlfriend) and I chatted amiably about her pursuit of a Bachelor of Education at McGill University, my trip through Latin America, and Dan's phenomenal ball-playing skills.

In this local league that counts only four teams among its ranks, high-scoring games are the norm. Not this one! Dan's team, the Hit Men, kept their wily opponents to 10 runs against their respectable 5. Dan hit a few good ones out there, and Amy dutifully kept track of the points for each team on the scoresheet in front of her.  It must have been the lucky red bat. After the game, a round of handshakes between teams was exchanged, and it was off to the bar for a few pitchers of beer. Remember that if any player strikes out without a hit, there's a pitcher on his tab!