Another Way
The cold brisk air whistled, a Saturday morning baseball game. The Hartland Hawks against River Port Bulldogs in the semifinals if the Hawks won the game they would play for the championship. The score was Hawks five, Port three. I was playing shortstop with my shoulder aching a little bit. I saw the kid for Port step up to the plate he had a muscular frame and a big bat. Bang! The ball hit the dirt and skid off a bad bump, I dove and I felt a horrible shock of pain in my left arm like boulders crashing down.
Our coach came running in long strides with a trainer that supervised the tournament. I rolled over on my side and you could immediately tell that my arm was in a lot of pain, I stood up to a standing ovation. I hobbled off the field and slowly walked to the shapeless bench, my face grimacing in pain. My brother came over to where I was sitting, his bright green eyes and jet black hair. He plays lots of tennis at a nearby high school with many trophies and awards hanging in the halls. My mom and dad came over and instantly knew that my arm was bent at an odd angle.
“Vince you need to see a doctor that arm is bent at an odd angle.” I waved goodbye to coaches and parents.
When we arrived at the hospital the doctor took an x-ray
“Son, you are going to need a cast for your arm you broke it.”,
“I caan’t pplay in the ggame tomorrow”, I stammered. After the cast was taken care of my mom and dad filled out paperwork and thanked the doctor for everything. My dad, mom, brother, and I exited the hospital and hopped in the car. We drove home, my mom could only talk about how bad she felt for me along with my dad. My brother just stared out the fogged up window. When we arrived home I climbed out of the Mercedes and called my coach immediately and I told him that my arm was broke and that I can’t play tomorrow. He told me that the team won and played hard and wished I was there. I thanked him and he thanked me and that was that.
Afterwards, I watched the Giants destroy the Dodgers in L.A. As I was watching the game the announcers were talking about how baseball has incorporated a lot of signs and signals. I had thought of an idea I could possibly steal the other team signs and that could help my team win the championship game. I turned off the television and told my brother my idea. He thought it was great
“Vince, I love your idea I hope that you help your team, however if you give the wrong sign that could lead to a big turn of events”.
“I would try to find the signs however there could be a consequence”.
I decided to study how other teams scouted and used film. By the time I completed how to scout and steal signs the time was eleven o’clock.
I woke up with my dad and brother standing over me shaking and yelling at me to wake up. I yawned and dragged myself out of bed my dad and brother assisting me to the car. My mom decided to stay home she got the flu last night. I was yawning and moaning the entire time. When we arrived at the baseball complex my team was warming up on the all turf field. The parents were piling in along with coaches, parents, and friends. I got out of the car and approached my coach and teammates they were excited to see that I showed up even with a broken arm.
After the team warmed up the all came in and signed my cast
“Hey Vice try not to get hurt all the time”, everyone laughed. Our coach broke us down
“1, 2, 3”, “Hawks”, we all said.
The game started very slow both teams couldn’t hit the score was zero to zero after the first inning. The second inning I was looking at how the first and third base coaches gave signs and the hitter or pitcher did them. They were all very different and I couldn’t find out what they were calling. The third inning stayed the same although each team was getting base runners on. In the top of the fourth there was a man on first with two outs “Coach call a pitch out the runner is stealing”, he looked at me awkwardly and gave sign to our pitcher. The pitch came and the runner took off. The pitch was high and our catcher, Benny threw a strike down to second base where our shortstop caught the ball and tagged the runner.
“Out”, the umpire yelled. The crowd started to clap and my coach gave me a high five
“thatta boy”, he exclaimed.
The other team looked bewildered that we got the right call. The game continued the same way the score staying zero to zero. The top of the fifth we were in a jam there was a runner on first and second with one out and their biggest hitter up at the plate. The fans were getting into it and the atmosphere was getting louder. Our pitcher, William was in a big spot it was a three-two count. The pitch came right down the middle the hitter smacked it deep center field our center fielder, George raced back and stretched out it hit his glove with a smack, he quickly raced up and threw out the runner tagging from second to third. The crowd went crazy with cheers.
Bottom of the sixth, the final inning our team at-bat with nobody on and nobody out. The score was still zero to zero. Our leadoff hitter worked a walk and our number two hitter bunted him over to second base. Our third hitter, William who pitched a great game hit a ball deep right center field the right fielder dove and caught the ball. Luckily the runner tagged and ended up at third base.
Runner on third with two outs in the final inning. I was studying the other team coach he kept touching his nose, the pitcher threw the ball it was a fastball for a strike. The coach the touched his hat, the pitcher threw the ball for another strike it was a curveball. Then the coach touched his nose again I signaled over to the third base coach it was going to be a fastball. He called time and told Jose that it was going to be a fastball.
The pitch came in and Jose swung the ball soared over the left field fence for a walk off two run home run. Jose got dog piled at home and the crowd went crazy. I thought if I jump on the dog pile it will hurt my arm. I decided to jump on the pile anyways.