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Bam … Kapow … Whack

20200122 Pickleball IMG 0765As I peered through my camera lens, I saw the angle that the attack came from. A pickleball player at the net wanted to go cross court with a smash. She went cross court and she smashed it.

Unfortunately for her and her teammate, I was standing out of play as the ball crashed into me, serious injury just a moment's notice away...ok, so I'm being a bit dramatic.

They lost the point.

“Yes, I was aiming for you,” said my plotting attacker. “You were targeted.”

Everyone laughed as the eight players taking up residence on the two air-conditioned pickleball courts at Bentsen Grove RV Park continued on with their games. Another 10 or so people waited their turns at what Larry Vermeersch said is the only indoor air-conditioned pickleball court in the Valley.

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Softball, camaraderie and hot dogs

20200115 From the Cheap Seats 1Claude Laplante stood on the pitcher’s mound and looked toward home plate.

Walking up for his at-bat was a tall, lanky lefty. Laplante was familiar with his dangerous foe — he found an opening between first and second in his last bat, ripping a shot that rolled all the way to the outfield fence.

20200115 IMG 0641 softball

You’re up again already?” Laplante joked before delivering him the pitch – this time tossing some chin music directly at him.

Of course, this was Winter Texan softball and not the Major Leagues, so the batter caught the ball, fans and players alike laughed and joked about the “brushback” pitch and the game continued.

But on the very next pitch: Boom!

Read more: Softball, camaraderie and hot dogs

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