Splinters has a new champion.

Monday, July 5, 2010

“Colby loved the story up to the part where you say that Donny Roys has the ‘Splinter’ record. Colby worked so hard to break it and now that you’ve written that he doesn’t have it…well…he’s taking anti-depressants to deal with it. He says everyone reads your blog and now they won’t know the truth,” Don told me on his ride back from Michigan after having read my ‘Splinters’ blog.

So…I got the story the way only Don can tell it…which means he was still telling it when he pulled into his drive in Strongsville, just behind Alexander Field. It went something like this.

Colby HAD the record in sight. He was around 218 points with 8 swings remaining. He only needed to top 231, which was one homer and a double and with the way he was stroking…no problem.

But then disaster struck and a couple of grounders, a pop-up and foul tip and he was still sitting at 208 with two balls left. One would have to leave the stadium (20 points) to break the record…something Colby had never done. In fact, only Donny had ever managed the feat.

“I’m gonna hit one out, dad,” he said confidently and with the next swing, sent one high and far. It cleared the home run fence and was headed for the stadium fence beyond with what appeared to be the distance, but the wind held it up just enough and it hit two feet from the top of the fence. Just an ordinary homer and 10 points. One swing left to break the oldest and most prestigious record in the history of ‘Splinter’. A lifetime of training, eating correctly, doing the mental exercises, the goal setting…all for this moment.

Don tossed the ball in the air and Colby’s swing mustered two years of frustration and ambition into a mighty cut. He knew he needed to connect now…when would he ever be so close again. Aluminum struck cowhide with a loud ‘ping’ and the ball soared high, far and true. Again, it cleared the home run fence, but would it have the distance?

Tom Hamilton watched the shot from the broadcast booth high above Alexander Field. “It’s awaaaaaaay back...and....GONE. That one is…out of the park. Colby Alexander is rounding the track, jumping and waving madly. Oh my…is he happy now. He’s doing a back flip in the long jump pit. He sure got every bit of that one. What a blast. And welcome, Colby, to the victor’s circle. You are now the all-time king of Splinter with 238 points, surpassing the Donny Roys remarkable '231'.  Congratulations, young man, you earned it."

On a more mundane level, I went late to the park for a short run. Thirty minutes was the plan…it was still around 90 degrees…and that’s just what and all I did. I’ve been having a bad eating weekend, what with the burgers, cookies, ice cream, cookies, ice cream, burgers…well…you get the picture. Still, I’m holding off on longer runs until the heat breaks. I’m too old and it’s just no fun to run when it’s that hot. Not the safest thing, either. Tomorrow…time with the pack, I’m thinking.

Run duration: 31 minutes.

Training Heart Rate: 140.

Calories burned during workout: 525.