"Home Run" Highlights Perfect Loss

Joe McDonald's 4-for-4 performance -- including a three-run "home run" -- made light a 14-9 loss to the 1st place team in Normal's Sunday night co-ed softball league.

The team's 36-year old leadoff hitter and left-center fielder beat out a ground ball to third base to open the game, then outraced an attempted force play at second base on the next play.

Two innings later he came to bat with two runners aboard and two out. Seeing the third baseman playing off the bag, he tried to pull it down the left-field line to knock two runs home. Instead, he hit a sinking liner toward left. Stumbling out of the batters box, he barely avoided tumbling as he loped toward first for the apparent single.

Then he heard the screams.

Looking up, he saw the left fielder chasing the ball as it rolled speedily on the short grass toward the fence. Sensing the chance, he motored around the bases before a throw could be made home, giving his team a 4-2 lead and his teammates good reason to pound his back in celebration.

All ten of the fans cheered wildly, none more pleased than world-renowned artist-saint Dena McDonald.

The next time up, he took a pitch on the outside corner and dumped it down the right field line, which landed fair before spinning into foul territory. Following the double, he trotted home when his team's pitcher drove a ball into the gap in left field.

A 7-run inning sealed the victory for the opponents, but not before McDonald smacked a leadoff double in the last inning. When the next hitter grounded to third, he dashed to third as the throw went to first. When the first baseman threw back to third to try to nab him, it trickled toward the dugout and he sprinted easily home.

After the game he cheerily dusted off his newly-torn, dirt-caked sweats en route to an Avanti's dinner date. Despite the highlight reel, his personal favorite accomplishment was this:

"My back feels just fine!" Clearly, the pregame stretching and toning routine prescribed by his physical therapist has brought great progress, the kind that may keep him sliding into bases for years to come.