By Calvin Price
I step onto the pitchers mound, shake my arm around a bit and make sure my infielders are ready. I kick the golden brown dirt twice as I look into the catcher's mitt. The harsh glare of the sun goes straight into my face but I can see because of my hat. The coach yells, "throw strike!" at me before I get into my windup.
The batter spits twice on the ground before he digs into his stance but I just ignore him and look straight into the catcher's mitt. The other team's coach is saying, "just make contact!" I go through my windup and throw the ball. The batter who thought he was ready swings and misses for strike three.
"Finally an out" was what I was thinking. It was the first inning and I had already given up 3 runs and the bases were loaded. Getting that strikeout was huge. I mean HUGE. It might have been only the first out of the inning but that is one step closer to the 3 outs that I need.
When the next guy stepped up to the plate I glared at him. I knew that this guy is in the back of their lineup so I should be able to get him out. I go into my windup again and throw the ball. PING! The guy creamed the ball up the middle for a base hit and two runners scored. That's five runs in one inning so with the five run rule that they have in winter ball the inning is over. All of a sudden the score becomes 5-0 instead of 0-0. We definitely need some hits and I'm leading off in the inning.
I am now the guy in the batter's box. As I dig in the other team's pitcher is looking in on the catcher's mitt. He throws the ball and I swing and drive it down the 3rd base line and put on my wheels as I round first base and go to second base. The left fielder throws the ball towards 2nd base but I am able to beat out the throw. Soon with a couple of hits and walks we are right back in the game 5-5 and I feel a whole lot of relief.
After I pitch a perfect inning, we go back and get a few more hits and get one run so the score is 6-5. I go out and play 1st base while another of my teammates is pitching. After he gets the first two guys out, the next guy hits a hard liner that I dive to my right on and make the catch. Everyone in the stands is saying "nice catch" and I go back to the dugout. Then in the bottom of the sixth inning, the last at bat for the other team, their first three batters get hits making the bases loaded with no outs. Their best hitter step up to the plate and hits a hard groundball right to the 3rd baseman who fields it, throws home and then the catcher throw to me at first for the double play. That play puts runners on second and third with two outs, a lot better situation for us. The next guy, however, hits a soaring fly ball to the center fielder who has to run very fast and then at the fence he makes the catch and the game is over with a score of 6-5 and we win!