a balloontwister’s aliya saga

big softball game last night. Beit shemesh first place B division…(us) against Dimona first place team in the A division.

Apparently this year they split up the teams into 2 divisions, so we only play the division a guys once.

Good thing.

These guys smoked us. On the bright side with the courtest rule we got to go home a bit early.

Yup.. 15-0.

As I was getting a ride up I was told that these guys are the Black Hebrews. Which meant. These guys are faster and we had to lock our doors. Apparently its an event playing these guys as they bring a bus of people from the town and have a rooting section. Only a few of the wives were there and maybe 10 kids. I started the game in centerfield and was the designated fielder. MEaning I didn’t hit. I was dissapointed until I saw this yellow blur. Turns out it was the softball. This was was firing smoke. We got 2 runners on base the first inning and that was just about it. I actually did get to bat next time around the the batting order. FOuled off a bunt. Fouled 3 more and then hit one straight back which the pitcher couldnt handle and I wound up on first. Unable to sit still as the bottom of the order was coming up.. I took off for second… and got thrown out as the catchers throw was on target and the tag was right on my head.

I hate say anything bad about the hold land of Israel… but….

The dirt did NOT taste sweet. It tasted like american dirt as I caught a mouthful sliding head first into second. dirt in my mouth. Eyes. pants. helmet and cap rolling away. It was so bad that 2 innings later I got sick of the dirt in my gum and I had to throw it out.

SO I think we had three hits. in 5 1/2 innings. We didn’t play that bad…but alot of hits fell in the outfield and they ran and stole bases on us at will. Weird. They have these big kippas. Fringes on their red jerseys. They have names like yehuda. Shmu-el. Shlomo…. but.. they didnt hang around for ma’ariv after the game. We davened with Blue after the game (slang for umpire). I actually had an interesting shaylah maybe the rabbi can answer this. During the game one of the players had some signs… 38…. 41….. I remarked afterwards that perhaps he can’t count with a brocha, bec. last night WAS 41. Well, the good news is… I didn’t get hurt and not I have a good excuse to shower on friday.

Tonight the balloon chug resumes as we have to get the guys / girls up to speed on flowers and flowers baskets perhaps.

Well, thats it for today… so far.

u.d.