Crossword Genius

Pains in rear from nasty infection for the duration of the game (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

softball

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'pains in rear from nasty infection for' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'duration of the game' is the wordplay.
'duration of' becomes 'soft' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'the game' becomes 'ball' (ball game is a kind of game).
'soft'+'ball'='SOFTBALL'

'the' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for softball that I've seen before include "played by young American" , "sport!"" , "Junior variant of baseball" , "game" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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