When game day came along I had to go down to Papillion field where we were playing that day. I met up with my team and we started to play catch and go to the cages to hit. My coaches were in there throwing us soft toss and live pitching to get ready for our game. I waited a long time before it was my turn to hit in the cages.
It was pretty normal how I was hitting and I wasn’t hitting exceptionally well. Nothing while I was in the cages made me think that I was going to do something good that day. As we headed to the field I noticed the freshly cut grass and the newly prepared infield that was ready to be played on. We walked into the dugout and hung up our bags, while we were wearing our gold jerseys and white baseball pants.
The game started
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The next pitch goes by off to the side and it is called a ball. As the pitcher starts to throw this one I can tell that it is about to come down the middle and I am more than ready to swing. As the pitch crosses the plate I swing, the ball goes soaring and I’m so excited thinking I’m going to get my first home run, but in actuality the ball does go over the fence but sadly it was foul. I didn’t let this get me down, actually it was good, because after that I was more motivated to get a home run than ever because I knew I could do it. The pitcher goes into his windup and gets ready to throw the ball while I’m loading my swing. The pitcher throws the ball and the same thing happens. I waited for it to go over the plate, and I swung. When this ball was hit I was so excited, once the ball went over the fence, I immediately felt like a major league baseball player who had just hit his 500th home run. When it happened, I wasn’t sure what to do, because I was so in shock and I’ve never done it before. In the background, I could hear the crowd cheering for me, and off to the side I could see some kids running after the home run ball. I started to run around the bases with a huge smile on my face. In the crowd, I could see my parents cheering me on as I was running the bases. As I rounded third base, I could see my teammates waiting for me at home. With my last few steps before home, I was so excited. I touch home and
In fourth grade I was 9 years old. At that age I didn't even think of playing sports. I was just like a normal 9 year old. So one day my auntie told me that one of her friends daughters is playing softball for Port City Girls Softball League. Then asked me if I would be interested to play. I answer saying sure I will try it out, so my auntie went and signed me up. So the way that league works is they have a draft to pick their players for their team. Then, the first practice started, I knew nothing about softball so I was brand new at all of it. When it came to one of the next practices one of my older sisters came to watch me and noticed my coach. It was one of her friends! Then my sister told me that one of the players
As the clock struck 3:15 we began warming and limbering our muscles. I stretched my legs as far as they would go to the side and reached for the grass. I ran my fingers through the grass and counted along with the team. I felt my legs slowly begin to loosen with each stretch and sprint that we did. Following our series of warm-ups we began playing catch Pop! The sound of a ball hitting leather filled the outfield. As our coaches approached the throwing stopped and the field returned to silence, the buzz of anticipation in the air. Coach McGownd and our assistant Lori gave us a run-down of the practice plan, which included infield-outfield (IO), hitting drills, fielding drills and various base running drills. As he spoke, a few of the upperclassmen whispered back and forth amongst themselves. I caught bits and pieces of phrases like “come on it’s just the first day” and “how about no”. I stood drinking in every word and ignoring their muttered curses. I had never played softball and was determined to learn as much as I possibly could about the game. Coach McGownd asked us to go to a position we thought we might want to play. I ventured across the field and stood by first base. My parents and a few of my friends had told me that I would make a good first baseman so that seemed like the best choice to me. I had no clue how to actually play the position. My emotions ran amuck, ultimately stopping at optimistic.
Wes and I were a great duo. I had the highest batting average for our age group, and he had the second highest. Wes had five homeruns to my two. As the season progressed, we cooled down. Everyday, when I had a chance my dad and I would practice in the batting cages. I would call Wes and ask him if he wanted to come with us and he would tell me that he was busy playing Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. I would try to tell him that he needed to work on his swing and that I could help him with it.
I started playing baseball right after I moved to Virginia, coming from California. At first I wasn’t that good, because I was only six years old at that time, but it was okay, because the other six-year old were not much better than me. It was the first time I was to play a sport, and it turned out to be my only sport later in
Running around the bases was the best feeling ever, I had never thought this day would come. I’ve always dreamed of playing in the MLB and playing for the Boston Red Sox, now my dream has finally come true. This has been the craziest day ever, finishing running the bases and going into the dugout to get congratulated by my teammates and coaches.
With seconds to spare I arrived at batting practice and began to prepare for my game. I hear coach call out my name and as I he acknowledged that I was there he told me I was pitching. My brain shifted and went into a whole new mode, I was more focused and more determined than I have ever been. This was the biggest baseball game of my career and I 'm starting on the mound. Honestly it couldn 't have turned out any better, the fate of the pin and my team lied in my hands and I loved the pressure. The pressure made me thrive and before I knew it our team was marching onto the field for the national anthem. During the singing of the national anthem I peeked into the crowd and first row down the first base side was the little boy I met on the cart and his dad sitting right next to him. This game was for that little boy, I needed to impress him. I pitched six strong innings and my team ended up winning the game. It was the most exciting game of my career and the best part was being greeted with the best pin in the tournament after such a spectacular win. The little boy ran out into the middle of the field where we shook our opponents hands and in front of everyone in the stadium handed me the only thing I cared about besides winning. I was in the best mood for the rest of the day and I rewarded myself with a nice long sleep. I could only image what the next day had to
My days began with going to the gym early in the mornings and going to the park to practice my batting swings and catches in the evening. I even managed to save up some allowance money to spend on the high school’s softball summer camps. However, my time fell short, and the day of the infamous tryouts had begun. My rambling thoughts were running bases through my head. How will I try out in front of hundreds of other girls? Will they laugh at me? Would I even make it? Will my friends make it? While my anxiety got the better of me, the head coach yelled out my name, and I slowly and steadily walked up to the batting box, and got ready for the pitcher to toss a fastball at me. Time slowed down as I anticipated the pitch; my fingers almost lost the grip on my bat waiting, but then, I saw the softball coming my way. I took a deep breath, and I hit it as hard and as fast as I could; it made it all the way to the outfield. I stood there shocked that I could do that, grinned ear to ear, and did a little happy dance on my way back to the line. My friends were celebrating and came up to high-five me when I got to the end of the line, and the varsity first basemen, a celebrity in my eyes, came up and complimented me on how far I hit the softball. A varsity member had spoken to me.
Standing in the batter box, anxious. Looking forward I see the pitching machine signaling green. First ball comes almost nailing me in the thighs, but lucky enough I was able to get out quickly. I wasn’t ready for such a fastball. I just kept my cool and kept swinging. And that was when I heard “CLANG!”, my first ball hit went straight back at the pitching machine.
Once I released it, I knew that he was going to hit it. CRACK! It was a 500 foot home run to give them a one run lead. My perfect game was over. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Will hit a triple, and my teammate, Kris, hit a sacrifice fly to center field. It was tied 1-1. Next, our first baseman, Jose Alvarez, hit a homerun for a walk off win! We were victorious! The following day, I received a call from Amaro, saying that he would bring me up to Triple A Lehigh to challenge my game, and that my contract would stay the same, unless I make it up to the Phillies that year. In my AAA debut, I pitched for two innings and allowed eight runs. I felt like I would be sent down to Clearwater again. However, in my next game, I pitched for a complete game allowing just four hits and only one run. Against the Pawtucket Red Sox, I pitched for eight innings, allowing two runs, and only three hits. The next game, I pitched for nine innings, allowing two hits, earning zero runs. The following day, I received a voicemail from Amaro, and he
It was a hot Saturday morning in April and it was turning into a perfect day for baseball. I was hitting lead off for our team, which means first in the batting order. I was the first one to see this pitcher and most of the time the leadoff man can set the tone of the game with his at bat. We had all watched the pitcher warm up, like we always do, and felt like he was “hittable.” The pitcher began his motion and threw the first pitch. It flew by me and popped the catcher’s glove as I thought “Dang, this guy is throwing gas.” “Strike one!” yelled the Umpire. The pitcher was throwing a little bit faster than I had expected, and I was not prepared on the first pitch to hit what he was throwing. At that moment, I thought about my morning prior
It was one of the biggest games of the year our rival East Riverside Academy. I was in the dugout throughout the first inning. Then one of our best player Steven fell and hurt his foot badly, then for a random reason coach, Chavez put me in the game. I wasn’t very
The horn blew and the game started, Dedham won the face off and is running down the field at a faster pace than I was used to. They shot the ball! I couldn’t move my stick quick enough to save it, so I threw my body in front of it and got hit right in the shoulder. It hurt a lot, but what I hadn’t realized was that it hit my shoulder and reflected ten feet away from the net where my player caught it and ran down the field and scored. The other team didn’t know what hit them. It was the half now and the score was three to nothing in our favor. Our couch told us that we needed to keep up the good work.
A year later, I was again chosen for the team. This time, I worked my way from being a back-up catcher to the starting 3rd baseman in two weeks. But after going 0-2 in my first two at-bats, my coach took me out of the starting line-up. Again, I pinch-hit, and was very successful at it. I even hit what turned out to be a game-winning homerun. We later reached the championship game again, but we lost it for the second time. This time I was more frustrated than I could ever remember being. I was slamming my hand into walls and almost crying. I was really acting very childish.
The announcer began announcing our team to start the introduction for the game. Since I was the lead-off batter, my name was echoed over the park first. It was at this time that the feeling elevated; the feeling that makes every baseball field so special. As my teammates yelled for me, while I ran to the nearest baseline and faced the crowd, the feeling gave me goose bumps and raised the hairs on the back of my neck. The feeling is so amazing that it will keep me playing baseball for as long as possible because it makes my love for the sport that much more. I can't even begin to explain the complex feeling I get when I walk on a baseball field, but that feeling will always be cherished and hopefully when I pass on my love of baseball to others, they will too understand what that special diamond makes me feel like.
My teammates parents holding their breath hoping that will help me. My heart was pounding and I was thinking of everything and nothing at the same time. The pitch was coming outside. I made contact, not as good as I wanted. The ball was hit hard to the shortstop. When I turned out of the box to run to first I thought to myself this is gonna be a close one. This is when the silence stopped. Everyone in the stands was yelling, cheering me to run fast. There was a time in my softball career when I could finally hear if I was out or safe. Paying close attention to the sound of the base, sometimes hard like cardboard, sometimes soft like a pillow. This one was hard and almost sounded hollow when I stepped on it. Not even a millisecond later I heard the ball slam into the first baseman's glove. I broke down after the bag and looked directly at the ump on the opposite side of the field. He threw his arms up and waved them horizontally, yelling,”SAFE!” My team ran out to clap the other team's hands trying hard not boast to them. Running towards my teammates, my first base coach slap me right on the butt so hard I jumped up a little. After the game he made sure to say sorry to both my mom and me for it. Then like always, Terry, my coach, talked to us about the