One Last Shot - CHAMPS! (2023 Update)

by Paul Semendinger

August 30, 2023

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The long time readers of SSTN will remember a series I began five years ago titled, "One Last Shot." In that series (the first article is linked), I shared the story of my baseball comeback.

The condensed version is as follows:

• I stopped playing baseball at 16-years old. The highest level I ever played was JV Baseball for Midland Park High School (in 1985).

• Never played baseball again

• At 50-years-old, I began pitching in an over-35 wood bat baseball league.

• We lost every game that first year.

• We won only one game the next year...

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Here's the update:

Last Sunday, we won the league's championship!

I'm still going strong at 55-years-old. I was one of two starting pitchers to take us through the season and the playoffs. We had a great system, Sam (the other pitcher) and I would alternate weeks. One week, he would start and I'd be his relief pitcher, the next week I would start and he would come in relief.)

Two weeks ago, in the league's semi-final game, I started and threw five shutout innings to pave the way for our victory. On Sunday, Sammy got the start. I pitched in relief. To be fair, we weren't our best, but the team was. We won a slugfest 15-14.

***

Life is too short to ever put limits on ourselves. We can always do more than we ever thought possible. Impossible is an Illusion!

Failure is part of life. We all fail. I'm sure I fail more than most people. But, I never let failure define me.

Three years ago, after another tough season, I spent part of the winter taking pitching lessons. It helped. There are always opportunities for growth. We need to seek them out.

I might never win another game, but for this year, I was part of a championship team!

WE DID IT!!!

(Ethan is also on the team. Each team is allowed three players who are under-35 to be on the roster. One of the best parts of my life is having the chance to play baseball with my son. Ethan scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 8th inning on Sunday with a beautiful slide into home. It was great! These are the moments I live for!)