WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer: March 24, 2006: The White Plains Tigers Softball Team emerged from Hangar 51 at White Plains High School for their first outdoor practice this week. The Roving Photographer captures the promise of that first outdoor practice on O'Donnell's Bluff. The ball club plays in Utica this Sunday, weather permitting in a series of scrimmages against some top ball clubs.

Good Old Ball Days

Lace those cleats, adjust that do, pound that glove

The sun is smiling, warming frozen fields with its love.

Shadows shorten promise new thrills on the infield buff

The Tigers in the Rough have returned to O’Donnell’s Bluff.

Crack of steel on yellow cowhide

Drives hard hops cross chilled infield dirt

Unruly sharp March winds blow in spring’s flirt

 Unseasoned dirt cuffs balls into bad hops, darters to the side.

Ponytail hopefuls cavort, chatter and revel on awakening diamond

Striding and dashing for the first time between the lines of distinction

Where spectators wish they could be but only they, the determined

Have been chosen to follow in the tradition of Tiger conviction.

Lazy cans of corn soar into frowning spring skies,

Long legs stretch and dash cross endless outfields

Frisking like colts, the forever young rejoice in softball’s yields,

Spearing fungos and drives in outreached gloves,  snaring flies.

Perfecting the nonchalance from which to spring into fleet flight

To the edge of the earth, back, back back for the long majestic drive,

Weaving in wary crouch to speed, to dive, to backhand with majestic hand sleight

The joy of knowing you could, you might, you can – what delight!

In sweatshirts and sporting faces flushed by rawhide breezes,

These elite have returned filling, warming the lonely diamond with their laughters

Their talents, dedicating  themselves to the new season’s discoveries

The growth, the achievement the heartbreak, the triumph of softball daughters.

Blank scoreboard sits patiently awaiting games to begin

When its impartial realty shatters, disappoints, grooms, exalts and boasts.

But for now, the Tigers in the Rough delight in going flat out for the first time

On the field rich with names they remember, aspiring to follow the Tiger ghosts.

-- Fastpitch Johnny