Who Says Softball Is Just For Kids? The Huff-N-Puffers Disagree

Author's Note: This is only a first draft of several Huff-N-Puffer's articles being wrote. Stay tuned for more on this topic

 "Play Ball!" It's that time of year again in Parma-summer. The clear blue skies, sunshine, hot dogs and cool nights can only mean one thing for America's favorite past time-Tribe Time. But for the men of the various Huff-N-Puffers teams it's softball time. Time to dig out tennis shoes, baseball bats and catcher mitts and hit the four ball diamonds at Parma's James Day "Nike" Park early every Monday and Thursday for a friendly game of softball. But don't let their ages fool you. These guys mean business.

As the second game of today's double header starts, already the tension's of teams reach dangerous levels. The disagreements begin and they haven't even reached the fourth of today's nine innings. It can't be blamed on the heat, as a comfortable breeze blows through the park. No, the tensions of this game is the teams desire to win. The away team is already hurting from the first game where they lost 13 to 19. The desire to at least break even must flood their minds, but one cannot say for sure. At the top of the third, it's already a tied a game. With bases loaded, the tension only rises as no out is in sight for the away team. By the bottom of the fourth, the away team takes the lead, but the outfield starts their own disagreements, almost in the same style of the home team. It's still anybody's game though.

Looking at the way the men on these teams hustle, one would never guess that they are anywhere from early sixty to eighties and even nineties. They're not the Tribe (The Cleveland Indians to non-Cleveland fans), but they could easily give them a run for their money. The away team's sense of humor is evident, as they're joking about their upcoming trip to Vegas while the home team now up to bat, tries to nurse what their claiming as unfair calls and the dread that they could possibly loose this "high profile" game.

"Levity and arguments," as one of the home team's player tells me from third base, "makes for a great game." I have to agree. Except, one would think that there are children playing the game. But I have to agree-levity describes this game perfectly.

As the game reaches the bottom of the eight, tensions have mellowed. Well, sort of. With two outs and runners on first and second, the home teams continues to fight for a comeback, but fails. At a score of  21 to 13, it can still go either way. Yet, regardless of how this game ends, the after game drinks at the Crystal Keg will help make everything alright. With three outs away from the end of today's game, no wait, scratch that, two outs, watching the men of the Huff-N-Puffers have helped to disprove the myth that softball is just a kids game.