Boston Metro Conference Midsummer Classic

 

On Sunday, July 22, under a bright summer sun and with dry temperatures tickling 80 degrees, more than 50 members of the Boston Metro Conference of the New England Synod gathered at William E. Smith Fields in Boston to enjoy a co-ed softball game and cookout.

A father and daughter team from UniLu, Vic and Elsa Forberger,        practice their swings in sync before coming to bat.

 

Pr. Don Larsen, University Lutheran Church (UniLu), Cambridge, Mass., led members of UniLu, the Lutheran Church of the Newtons, and St. John, Sudbury, against Pr. Nathan Pipho, Good Shepherd, North Quincy, and members of Good Shepherd and Resurrection, Roxbury.  Almost 35 people played for one of the two teams, while almost two dozen spectators enjoyed the game under beautiful shade trees that lined the back stop and third base line.

 

The game was played using “Chicago-style” softballs provided by Pr. Larsen.  In “Chicago-style” softball, fielders do not wear gloves since the ball is much larger than a regulation ASA softball. People, young and old, took their turns at bat and in the field for a game that was relaxed and enjoyable. 

 

Thanks be to God there were no broken bones or injuries, but as Pr. Larsen said a couple days after the game, “We had great fun on Sunday, though I am still feeling the fun in places I had forgotten about!” 

 

Spectators had just as much fun as the participants.  When one spectator was asked by a player about the game she said, “It was a lot of fun. Didn’t you hear us cheering you on?” After the game, players joined spectators in feasting on grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and other goodies provided by members of UniLu and Good Shepherd.  Many people commented that they were looking forward to another game next year, while one high school student from Good Shepherd said he wished there was another game “next month.” 

 

“It was exciting to see how a conversation that Don and I had about softball late Friday night at the Synod Assembly in June turned into a fellowship event that brought together so many people from the conference,” said Pr. Pipho, dean of the Boston Metro Conference. “With so many people talking after the game about doing it again next year, it looks like this might be the inaugural game of more to come!”