You may be asking yourself, "What is this?" Well it's almost the weekend and summer weekends mean slow-pitch softball. Still haven't answered your question have I?
As you know, Rennie and I play adult softball. Rennie has pitched slow-pitch for years. Even after his cancer he still continues to stand on the mound and pitch to men and women 53 feet away, the closet infielder to the batter. So your still asking yourself, why does an adult softball player need a mask? Not even for batting but for pitching?!
Well, it can be dangerous. The pitcher's mound is in the middle of the field. So many players try to stay away from hitting "the middle." The reason is because it is so close to the batter, it's considered an unwritten rule to not hit at the pitcher...
...BUT IT HAPPENS, and happens often.
The reason it happens is because a batter, usually a man, hits "up the middle." It may not be on purpose (most men are able to control where they hit), it may be on accident but regardless, a man hits "up the middle." This pisses off the opposing team and the middle is now "open." Meaning that any player can hit at the pitcher and it's consider appropriate behavior.
Back to why Rennie has a helmet for pitching, when Rennie was 21 he developed cancer in his nasal passages. After the first surgery to remove the cancer, he also lost his cheek bone and part of his top jaw bone. Therefore he has a large mouth piece that supports the eye socket muscle and gives his face features.
Many other pitchers wear a helmet to protect themselves from those hits "up the middle." I have been after Rennie for years to buy a helmet but he refused, thought of himself as invisible or that it wouldn't happen to him.
Enter into our lives, Gavin. I again urge Rennie to get a helmet to wear for Gavin's sake. Lo and behold a helmet is bought. THANK THE LORD!!
If you don't believe me about players hitting the middle, check out softball players hitting the middle on youtube. It happens nightly and it can be deathly.
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