This Sunday afternoon found me just behind Right Field at Chase Stadium in Phoenix watching the Dodgers play the Diamondbacks.  It was "Halfway to St Patrick's Day" so I attended on the invitation of the Irish Foundation for a Pre-Game Parade followed with Irish Dancing and Music....and discounted ticket prices.

The Parade was cancelled as they never made the required 500 people to qualify.  Never the less they were out in force promoting the Celtic Cause AND did some Pre-Game Song and Dance. The Game started just after.

 It was not a good start for the Diamondbacks and as the end of the 4th inning neared with two outs and the Dodger's at bat, the score was 4 to 0 with 8 hits in the first three innings...by the Dodgers.  Number 27 was at bat and I was busy chatting away when I heard the Crack of the Bat.

I turned to see a high fly coming directly at ME.  It rose like a perfect arc and as it started the descent, my mind was racing...it was my ball but does this 69 year old who hasn't caught a ball in 20 years grab it with my hands....or grab my companion's Irish Baseball cap to try and bag it....HELL NO...I leaned forward just as the ball was ready to knock me out.  A crowd was competing for the ball and had left their seats and were closing in on me...just as the ball struck the back of my seat and ricocheted into my back where it dropped down in my seat right at the crack of my ass.  I just reached around really cool like with my right hand and held the ball high...all the while never leaving my seat!!  It was a perfect moment as everyone applauded and congratulated me.  Then this boy of around 5 years old who had been sitting across the isle in the other section just looked at me and looked at the ball with amazement.  I was amazed myself...but not thinking of my own grandson at the time, I handed the ball to him.  He wouldn't take it until his parents told him to go over and take it and thank the kind man.  He took it back and held it up until they departed in the 7th with us behind them.  Score 4 to 0 and no hope.  I had a winning day though.

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