The ball field has always been our second home. A constant through the seasons of our lives. And so, it was fitting that Brian and Amanda finally met on a ball field at Tower Grove Park, as their teams played against each other early into the summer season. In fact, they’ve played against each other in this league for seven years, but remained strangers. Finally, it was the right time, as Amanda parked near Brian on a Thursday in early May 2022. Walking up to the same field, but just in front of him, she quickly caught his attention. Brian got a single in his first at bat and chatted up the lovely first baseman, Barbie, asking if their right fielder was single. Barbie replied that she was…even though she really didn’t know. And although it had no impact on the outcome of this fateful night, Amanda wants to be sure we include that in Brian’s second at bat, he hit a rope to right field, but she tracked it down and robbed him of what could have been extra bases. It was definitely the right time to ask out this petite right fielder with range. But Amanda had sworn off dating, so when Brian approached her after the game, she quickly ducked into a group of teammates and left him hanging. Swing and a miss. Thankfully, Amanda’s wise teammate, Kevin, caught wind of what was happening, and chatted up Brian until Amanda mustered the courage to let Brian ask her out. In a nod to Amanda’s Italian roots, they went to Milo’s on The Hill for their first date. Her sister Becca was there too and she made sure to snap a photo and introduce herself. After dinner and gelato at the piazza, Amanda and Brian spent hours sitting on the front steps of St. Ambrose talking. It’s been Game On ever since. Like any team, we know we’ll have our wins and our slumps, and probably some bad umps. But we’re committing to taking it in stride, side by side.