Page 47 - Greet HWY 68 Loop Magazine September 2025

LOCAL ATHLETE

“HIT IT WITH THE STICK”

“He doesn’t want the man to hit the ball.”
“Then why even throw the ball near him?”
BY MIKE DOVE, CORRAL DE TIERRA “Because he has to get the ball over the plate.” the ground. If they do, the man with the stick is out. If they
“What is the plate?” don’t and he can run as fast as he can to first base before one
“It’s the white, almost diamond shaped thing in the ground of the orange men throws the ball to the other orange man on
in front of the man with the stick.” first base, then he is safe.”
“Why do they call it a plate? It’s not in the round shape of a “Where is first base?”
plate at all.” “You’ll see when one of the blue men hits the ball. He’ll run
“That’s just what they call it. If the throwing man puts it to first base.”
over the plate, and the man in blue doesn’t swing the stick, it’s Just then the batter hit a foul ball, and she exclaimed, “He
called a strike. A strike is a valid pitch. If he misses throwing hit the ball! He hit the ball! Why didn’t he run?”
the ball over the plate it is called a ball. It’s an invalid pitch.” “Because his hit was invalid. It wasn’t in the field of play,
Then he described the next several pitches as valid or between those biggest white lines that go all the way to the
invalid based on the arm gestures of the man wearing the outfield fences.”
black suit and what lit up on the scoreboard. “What’s the outfield?”
She exclaimed, “I think I have it. Valid or invalid. Ok. What And so, it went! Baseball is entertaining, even if you can’t
happens if the man hits the ball with the stick?” explain it. Go Giants!
“If the man hits the ball into the field in front of him then
the men in orange try to catch the ball in the air before it hits Are you or someone you know passionate about athletics and sports? Share that story! Contact
Laurie.Martin@n2co.com or phone 272-4620.

Mike is our resident running expert. Having fun for years, Mike is an integral component to many runners’ groups
and has participated on several running event committees. He has completed numerous marathons, including our
own Big Sur International Marathon. Mike lives in Corral de Tierra with his wife, Julie.

TAKE ME OUT to the ball game. As I am writing this, my San
Francisco Giants are still in contention for a wildcard playoff “Why does he throw the
berth. I call them “my” Giants because I was born in San
Francisco and have been a fan since they moved to the West ball so fast? Doesn’t he
Coast in 1958. want the man with the
My wife and I went to a game recently and I want to share
with you a very funny experience. We had a couple sitting stick to hit it?”
behind us, and the young woman was from Germany. She had
never seen a baseball game. Her partner’s explanations were
patient, well thought out, but also very funny. We laughed “He doesn’t want the man
along with them during the game. to hit the ball.”
His first comment was, “The man in the orange shirt,
standing on the dirt in the middle of the grass, throws the ball
toward the man in the blue shirt. He’s holding the stick. He “Then why even throw the
tries to hit the ball with the stick.”
Her immediate question, “Why does he throw the ball so ball near him?”
fast? Doesn’t he want the man with the stick to hit it?”

46 September 2025 Greet HWY 68 Loop 47