Thursday, August 01, 2002
Metro softball newcomers learn on the run
By Gary Estwick gestwick@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Scott Connor emerges with muddy face and uniform after sliding home Wednesday.
(Brandi Stafford photo)
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Scott Estridge is not your ordinary guy playing in the Cincinnati Metro Softball Tournament. Unlike many of the participants in the 50th annual tournament at Rumpke Park, Estridge never played softball nor baseball as a kid in Mount Healthy. Instead, he opted for soccer.
After 12 years of playing soccer, he made the switch to softball about three years ago. And so Estridge is learning the game on the run. Literally.
“I adapt pretty well,” Estridge said in between innings Wednesday as his Boulevard Northbrook II team played Niehaus Lawn and Landscaping.
Estridge said the hardest part of the game for him to learn is fielding. But he tries to make up for it behind the plate.
“Batting wasn't really hard for me to pick up,” Estridge said. “It might have been easier on me to play softball and not baseball, because there's definitely a different swinging technique. A lot of baseball players come out here hacking. They pop the ball up.”
The only thing Estridge doesn't like about softball is that he can't use his big frame to slam home runs. Teams in the “D” division are not allowed to hit home runs - they're outs instead - so base hits and walks are key.
“We're just out here to have fun and win a few games,” said left outfielder Steve Toben. The problem for Boulevard Northbrook II Wednesday was its opponent was pretty good at doing both those things. Estridge and his team were ousted from the double-elimination tournament with their second loss, this time 18-1. The game was stopped after the fourth inning due to the 15-run rule.
The two teams played in the “D” division, the lowest division in the tournament, but that didn't take away their competitive nature.
After Boulevard Northbrook II turned a double play, a Niehaus Lawn and Landscaping player replied, “You guys scored yet?”
They hadn't.
Estridge is sure his time to win is coming.
“Oh, yeah,” he said. “We're never going to stop. We'll keep playing until we get better.”
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