Swing

We all ran onto the field and greeted each other while the umpire flipped a coin to see who would be home team. We won the coin toss and went to the dugout to grab our gear and get ready for the game to start.

I ran out to the mound and started pitching where I found not just Fiona in the stands, but Trevor, Coach Macco’s friend and my parents. I played it cool but was slightly confused because my parents had never come to any of my events before hand, why start now?

I pushed the thought out of my mind and focused on the game. Today is the day that could decide the rest of my baseball career. I started throwing and once I got comfortable signaled to the catcher to meet me for a brief moment.

            “Look, when the game starts, the first batter is going down on anything but fastballs, I don’t want them seeing it for themselves yet. It is still our secret weapon, lets keep it that way,” I told him. He nodded his head and jogged back.

“Play ball!” the umpire yelled.

The first three batters were up and out off of a few change ups, a curve ball and a groundout. Unfortunately as fast as I put them out they put our batters out and back to the mound for me it was. First batter went down on strikes. The second batter hit a short fly ball which I caught.

I looked for the catchers sign. He wanted a fastball, shook my head no. Curveball bottom left corner. I wound up and let the pitch float off my fingers.

Crack!

            I watched as the ball roared over me and ran deep into left field. Going, going, I held my breath as I watched Jerry jump for the ball.

The crowd erupted as I watched Jerry snag the ball from over the wall and bring down. I let out a giant relief as I trotted to the dugout.

“Jerry,” I called as he entered the dugout.

“Yea Robert,” he replied.

“That was one hell of a catch. Keep that up and we will be set today,” I told him. He smiled and nodded.

“Just watch your pitches and I won’t need to do anything,” he said.

“Don’t worry; there is one pitch of mine they haven’t seen yet. We have this game under control,” I responded.

We watched as the pitcher got frustrated with our next few batters. Our first batter hit about five fouls before finally hitting a line drive into center field for a solid base hit. The next batter hit a line drive into right field where the fielder made an error causing them both to advance two bases. It was Jerry’s turn up and we all were cheering our head off because we had the momentum going with are side.

Jerry stepped up to the plate and got ready but quickly called time. He took his glove off and put a different glove on. Then he switched base sides, he was batting lefty.

The first pitched flew by him without him even trying to swing.

“Strike one!” the ump yelled.

He knocked some dirt off of his cleats and stepped back up to the plate. I watched the pitcher wind up and without hesitation I mumbled under my breath.

            “Bye ball,” I said. The ball took off from Jerry’s bat as we watched it soar high above the stands, the ball wasn’t just gone, it was out of the park.

We ran out onto the field to congratulate Jerry. It was my bat up next but coach and I both knew I wasn’t batting today, we put a pinch hitter in and with that the inning was over.

The next few innings went by without much happening. Three up three down, no hits no scores. About halfway through the game we were still up three to zero.