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Mr. Ed -> RE: Former Twins News (7/20/2015 2:22:33 PM)
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http://m.kxly.com/sports/big-league-softball/34170668
Former Major League Baseball player Ryan Doumit finds new love for sport by playing Softball with his childhood friends. KXLY 4 Sports Reporter Sarah Wheeler has the story.
Moses Lake, Wash. -
Three months out of the year slow pitch softball takes over Lauzier Memorial Park in Moses Lake.
"Twice a week, usually Tuesdays and Thursdays, there's a 7:45 game and a 9:00 o clock game," said former Major League Baseball player Ryan Doumit."
Teammate Ricardo Gamez added, "our team, we're kicked back, we like to have a few beverages and just make fun of each other."
Unlike most softball teams, this one is loaded with big-time talent. Starting at shortstop is 10 year big league vet Ryan Doumit, but he like to just be one of the guys.
"I try to be incognito," Doumit said. "I try not to be that guy, i want to blend in, I want to be just another guy on the team."
After spending the last decade between the Pirates, Twins, and Braves, Ryan Doumit has finally returned to his hometown of Moses Lake, much to the chagrin of his opponenents.
"He actually hit me off my left butt cheek in tournament play and left seams there, and it hurt," said opponent Abraham Escamilla.
"You saw it, he's still got it. Defensively too, he's by far the best player out here and for good reason obviously," added teammate B.J. Garbe who was also a first round draft pick coming out of high school.
Since there isn't much action behind home plate in softball, you won't find Doumit playing his normal position of catcher.
"Where's the place on the field that has the most action? You know, because I want the ball hit to me and at shortstop I've seen plenty of action," Doumit said.
While most young baseball players dream of playing in the big leagues, Doumit was dreaming of one day coming home and joining up with his friends.
"Last couple of years playing in the big leagues, I've always thought about, man, I can't wait for that day to come when I can play slow-pitch softball with my friends and just enjoy it," Doumit remembers. "This is my big leagues. This is the big leagues but smaller field, smaller crowd, and a lot less stress so I'm having a great time."
He's having a great time with his oldest friends, and newest teammates.
"I've known half of these guys on this team my entire life so I'm just another guy to them," Doumit said.
Gamez added, "he's always been that regular guy since I've known him. He's a big league player, but he's always humble."
You might think this team would be unbeatable with a couple pro's on the team, but they are struggling to string together the wins.
Doumit said, "I think the only stat we keep is wins and losses, and I think we're a game below 500 going into tonight so hopefully we can remedy that."
Win or lose, it's good to see a player have so much fun on a diamond so much smaller than the ballparks that kids dream of walking on.
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