I ran into a guy during senior softball last night. I was running to third base, and I came in a little too fast. He was reaching to catch the ball, and I knocked into him.

Nothing happened. Nobody was hurt. But I felt bad about it. I apologized. It was poor etiquette.

The next thing I knew, the whole world did a wild 360-degree spin, and I found myself sans glasses, on my backside in the grass.

That’s the thing about senior softball. The players are seniors. You’re a senior. Everyone is a little bit … vulnerable. You’re not supposed to knock into people.

One of the things senior softball players try hardest to do IS NOT GET HURT.

So running into someone. That’s not cool.

A winter’s tale

Last winter, during a practice game, I was involved in another minor collision. I may or may not have caused that one too.

I was playing first base. A guy on the other team hit a grounder. Our third baseman scooped it up and threw it to me. But the throw was a little to my left, and in my attempt to catch it, I leaned into the base path and the batter ran into me.

I ended up on the ground. I don’t remember what happened to the other guy. Maybe he fell too. Neither of us was hurt.

Still, in senior softball, if anyone ends up on the ground, people become concerned. The game stops. Players in the dugout stop discussing their holiday plans and look up. Players on the field come over to check on the downed player(s).

Even after it is confirmed that no one is injured, people will linger and discuss what happened. What caused the collision? What were the relevant vectors and angles? Who was going where? And how fast? Was anyone at fault?

A verdict is reached

Of course, senior softball players are quick to give each other the benefit of the doubt. Unless there is grievous evidence to the contrary, it is usually assumed that no one is at fault. It’s a dynamic game. Stuff happens.

Still, there was some debate in this case. Finally, an elder of the group, a grizzled veteran of the senior softball circuit, declared authoritatively: “It was an errant throw.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. I nodded too. It was indeed an “errant throw.”

But was I wrong to try to catch an errant throw? And end up in the base path colliding with the batter? I don’t know. But I resolved to be more careful next time.

The worst collision

The worst collision I have been involved in happened in my first game, during the first season that I played senior softball.

This was in a “rec” league, which is the entry level of senior softball. These are often the oldest men. The most stationary. The most in need of not being run into.

I was new to senior softball. I hadn’t played any form of organized baseball/softball since I was in fourth grade.

For that first game, I was sent to right field since I was an unknown quantity. Could I catch? Could I throw? Nobody knew. I didn’t even know.

RELATED: The secret to senior softball? It’s all about the magic bat

Irfan Khan/Getty Images

The moment of truth

I stood in right field. Several innings went by. And then someone hit a high fly ball in my direction. It was going to land a fair distance in front of me, but if I ran, I thought I could catch it.

I really wanted to catch it. I wanted to prove myself to my new team. I also wanted to find out if I was any good at softball. I really had no idea.

But I believed I could catch that ball. So I ran forward while keeping my eyes glued to that big yellow softball in the sky.

And then BLAM. The next thing I knew, the whole world did a wild 360-degree spin, and I found myself sans glasses, on my backside in the grass.

Don’t run into the seniors!

I had run into the second baseman. And I had done so at FULL SPEED. I was running AS FAST AS I COULD. And I ran right into one of my teammates.

Thank God he was 6′ and 200 pounds and I am 5’8” and 160 pounds.

I sat up and checked myself. Was I hurt? I didn’t seem to be. I looked around in the grass for my glasses.

But then I saw the second baseman. He was down. And not getting up. I put my glasses on and hurried over to him with the other guys.

Oh God! I thought to myself. What if he’s hurt!

The other players were already gathered around. They lifted him up to a sitting position. He was holding his side. Our coach asked what happened. I said it was my fault. I didn’t call it.

They got him standing up. And it turned out he was OK. It was probably just the shock of the impact. For both of us. For me it was like a car crash you didn’t see coming. A violent out-of-body spinning sensation. And then everything stops, and for a moment you don’t know which way is up.

I remember driving home after that game, wondering if my new teammates would ever trust me again. Before that game, I had not really thought about getting injured or injuring others as a possibility.

Now, I realized I had literally done the worst thing you can do in senior softball.

Rebuilding trust

At first, my teammates didn’t trust me. Nobody said anything. But it was pretty obvious that I was on an unspoken probation.

But from that moment on, I locked onto the idea to never run into anyone, in any situation, for any reason.

Also, I became the “call it” guy.

Everyone always says you have to “call it,” but more often than not, nobody does, because people aren’t sure if they do “have it” because we’re just a bunch of old guys playing softball.

But boy, for the rest of that season, when it was clear that I was the closest person to the ball, I CALLED IT. I BELTED IT OUT. I SCREAMED IT AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS. The players in the other games, on the other softball diamonds, could hear me.

And then most of the time, I did catch it. Without running into anyone. And by the end of the season, I was back in everyone’s good graces.

Still though, I just ran into a guy last night. And this is my fourth season! That is not good.

So I have to be on guard. That’s why I’m writing this now. To remind myself, in public, in print. What is the most important rule in softball? DON’T RUN INTO THE SENIORS!

​Collision, Lifestyle, Senior softball, Softball, Sports, Blake’s progress 

Pete Buttigieg revealed that his husband and children were the target of what he called a “cruel, politically motivated hoax” involving Child Protective Services.

The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and failed presidential candidate wrote in a Substack article published Friday that someone made a false report against him in attempt to separate his family.

‘I’m used to any number of falsehoods, attacks, and serious problems being thrown my way. What I didn’t understand was what could have led to this kind of visit.’

Buttigieg compared the incident to swatting, where a fake call to police sends officers to a victim’s home in hopes of causing an injurious or deadly confrontation.

“Now imagine the same concept, but with Child Protective Services instead of a SWAT team,” he wrote. “Hadn’t thought of that? Me neither, until a few days ago when a police officer and a CPS worker showed up at our home and politely asked to speak with me.”

The police told him they needed to interview his 4-year-old twin children alone in order to investigate an accusation of abuse they received.

“I was bewildered and troubled, but tried to stay calm. I’m used to any number of falsehoods, attacks, and serious problems being thrown my way. What I didn’t understand was what could have led to this kind of visit,” he continued.

Police separated the children overnight while the investigation cleared them of the allegations.

Buttigieg described what investigators told him led to the investigation. It was a tip from someone who called Child Protective Services.

The caller said that he had spoken to a woman who claimed to have met me at a conference several years ago in Alabama, where she said I told her that I had committed unspeakable violent crimes, and the caller believed my children were still at risk.

The officer said they believed the incident was politically motivated and would not lead to charges because nothing had been found in the forensic interview with the children.

“After the officer, the CPS worker, and the lawyers all left, Chasten and I hugged each other as tightly as we have any time since the day our son was put on life support as a critically ill infant just weeks after the adoption,” he added.

He went on to say that the officials’ time and effort had been wasted by the “cruel, politically motivated hoax that harmed our family.”

RELATED: Buttigieg’s husband has his children pledge allegiance to LGBTQ flag, dresses potatoes as drag queens

Michigan State Police confirmed to MS Now that they had received an “anonymous report” in the case and had determined the report was a false accusation.

“False reports are dangerous and divert law enforcement officers and Child Protective Services workers from responding to legitimate emergencies and protecting vulnerable children and families,” read the statement from police.

Buttigieg called the incident the “ugliest thing” that has ever happened to him since his political career began.

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​Child protective services, False accusation, False report, Pete buttigieg, Violent crimes, Gay couple, Politics 

The fantastic success of the World Cup in the U.S. has soured many Democrats who were hoping it would be a black eye for President Donald Trump, according to a Politico report.

The report found that many believed the complex logistics of organizing the global event might be too much for American officials but that that hope has been dashed so far.

‘What an absolute crock of an article.’

“I think that there was a little bit of like liberal wishcasting that this would maybe be a disaster to sort of stick it to Trump,” said Democratic strategist Rob Flaherty. “It hasn’t yet been.”

It went on to say that Democrats have pivoted from criticizing the tournament in anticipation of its failure to praising local officials rather than crediting the Trump administration.

The Politico report was unwelcome on social media, where many on the left expressed their outrage.

“This is the most hilarious stretch I’ve ever read,” replied A.J. Delgado, who identifies as anti-Trump. “Yes, nothing makes Dems more uncomfortable than Dem-mayor Boston; Dem-mayor Atlanta; Dem-mayor Miami and more doing a great job hosting. This is like saying Dems are struggling with the Knicks’ success.”

“Why would Democrats grapple with it being that it’s democratic cities that benefited from it? Pretty stupid headline,” responded Leslie Marshall.

“What an absolute crock of an article,” said another X user.

“Truly stupid claim. Conservatives make everything political & divisive. The media was so much better when it simply reported events,” said another critic.

“Article is trash. Dems arent uncomfortable with #WorldCup success,” replied one detractor. “You can enjoy games, events and Europeans amazement of American culture while also thinking Trump is POS. Cup just showed Europeans think Trump is POS but still love USA.”

RELATED: Atlanta stadium accused of promoting Islam at World Cup match

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle responded to the report by praising Trump’s role.

“Thanks to President Trump’s bold leadership, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest and most historic sporting events in history,” he said on social media.

“Another win for the American people and the world,” he added.

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​Democrats, World cup, White house, President donald trump, Politics 

President Donald Trump went on the attack against the far-left socialists making inroads into the Democratic party after a series of primary victories.

Three far left extremists defeated their establishment centrist counterparts in elections Tuesday in New York City, leading to recriminations and chaos within the Democratic party.

‘They’re not social Democrats. They want to completely destroy the traditional American way of life.’

Trump offered a preview of his speech against the far left movement in a post Friday on Truth Social.

“These are not social Dumocrats, these are hard core, godless Communists,” wrote the president. “This is the most serious threat to our Country since its existence 250 years ago. Isn’t it ironic, we’re celebrating a very important Birthday, and instead of speaking about Christ, Freedom, and Victories of all different kinds, we’re speaking about yet another threat to the Foundations of America.”

He added: “They’re animals! In many cases, not smart but, in some cases, they are.”

Trump then expanded on his statement in a speech at the Faith and Freedom Coalition policy conference at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.

“They’re not social Democrats. They want to completely destroy the traditional American way of life,” said the president.

“The Democrats have taken a tremendous turn left. And many of these people, I looked at some of the people that got elected the other night in New York,” Trump added. “These are these are in many ways stupid people in some ways and intellectually probably pretty smart, but they’re people that want to destroy our country. They hate our country. They hate our people.”

He then said the Democrats were not fighting the communist takeover of their party.

“They’re after Christianity more than any other religion. It seems to be more and more throughout the world,” the president continued. “Maybe because we’re doing so well. I don’t know. Maybe if we weren’t doing well. But you see the numbers, how they’re growing, how the churches are filling up. It’s a beautiful thing to see. I mean, look, it happens to be during my presidency, so I don’t mind taking credit for it. I’m very proud.”

A group of Democrats did come together to oppose the socialist takeover of their party. 13 Democrats signed a pledge to defend America against extremism from both the left and the right.

RELATED: Woke ‘Squad’ member appears to confess to undermining Trump embargo on Cuba

“The United States has never been stronger. We have never been wealthier. We’ve never been prouder to be an American,” Trump said.

“Since 1776, America’s story has been a tale of freedom, overcoming oppression, good defeating evil, and faith overcoming every challenge and every foe,” he added. “We had everybody was winning, and we’re going to continue stronger, maybe stronger.”

The president finished with a prayer to God to continue blessing the U.S., and walked out as “Y.M.C.A” by the Village People blared over the speakers.

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​Christianity, Communism, Democratic party, President donald trump, Socialism, Politics