One of my passions, especially these days, resolves around the game of Squash.  Not, it’s not racquetball if your wondering, it’s a totally different game.  I play three or four times a week, if I can manage it, and try to workout on the off days to stay in shape.  It’s a grueling sport, and can be particularly tough on bodies as they age.  I know, as I’m currently 47 and often end up paying opponents half my age in club and tournament play.  It’s good fun though.  There’s nothing like trashing a twenty something to make you feel young again.  Only wish it happened more often.

Last week was an exciting one in my squash career, as my team that participates in the local city league managed an upset in a very hard fought match that was a playoff semi final match.  We barely squeaked into the playoffs, buy getting just enough points in our last regular season game.  Mind you, it was against the last place team in the league, though we needed to win the match decisively to get enough points to advance.  As it turned out, we ended up winning all our games and ended up with five more points than the team we displaced from the playoffs.

The reward for making the last spot in playoffs with our league (and most sports leagues), is that we got to play the number one team from the regular season on their home courts for the first round of playoffs.  Not an easy task, as we’ve never beat this team.  Never beat them this year, and never beat them last year either for that matter.  Even on our home courts they always got the better of us.  This was a daunting task to be sure.

Sometimes though, it’s better to be the underdog.  No pressure, no expectations.  Except maybe from ourselves.  I knew we’d be hard pressed to beat them in the lower positions as they’re are a very deep team talent wise.  As it turned out, we did lose the first couple of matches.  In a best 3 out of 5 format, losing the first two matches is never a good place to start.   But, our 3 position is very strong, and easily won the match 3-0.  I won out 2nd position by the skin of my teeth.  My opponent actually had match point in the 5th (8-6), but served the ball about a quarter inch into the serve line.  The ref called the server down.  Good thing, as I couldn’t even return the serve.  I ended up coming back, and winning 10-9.  Our final number one game went to the 5th game, and was won by our guy 9-7.

Afterwords, I’m not sure who was more in shock.  Us or them.  Either way, I’ve been on cloud nine ever since.  Can’t wait to play the final match this week on our courts.