Batter Up

9th Inning

It's the last inning. The last chance we have to extend our lead for a little extra cushion going into the last half of the inning.

We could use as many more runs as we can get. I know we've held the lead most of the game, but that's the thing about this game; it only takes one inning, one up to bat, to change it all.

Not to sound too dramatic or anything.

There's totally no pressure on Yelena as she gets ready for her at bat.

I don't know how Yelena ends up being first to bat for so many innings.

But by this point Yelena definitely knows what she's doing and you can tell she looks comfortable standing in the batters box as she stares down Clint.

Clint knows she isn't an easy out, so he tries to throw a few to get Yelena to chase them: she doesn't fall for it.

Instead she waits for the perfect pitch right down the middle, hitting it into short left field and giving her a single to start us out for the inning.

"C'mon, T'Challa! Put these peasants in their places!" I hear Spencer shout before seeing T'Challa chuckle at her.

Unfortunately the encouraging words from Spencer are not enough to get us another hit as Clint somehow manages to get the prince to swing and miss three times.

Rhodes was up next.

I had high hopes that he would get us another hit.

As I'm watching the show down between Clint and Rhodes, Spencer stands next to me and grabs my hand without saying a word.

I don't question it, I just give her hand a gentle squeeze as we watch the at bat unfold.

And that's when Rhodes hits one out to right field and by some miracle Thor can't get to it.

Rhodes is on first with Yelena on second, one out.
It's Peter.

"Let's go, spider boy! Show them what you're made of!" Spencer cheers once again.

"Is there something wrong with spiders?" I question my wife.

She turns to me slowly, "you know how much I love spiders, princess."

And for some gosh damn reason, that sends a chill through me. I can't explain it. It's Spencer.

Peter hits the ball hard out to Bucky in left field. Yelena and Rhodes both take off.

It looks like it's going out of the park.

And we're all ready to jump out of the dug out and congratulate Pete as he runs into home.

But.

We're cut short.

Bucky does some crazy super soldier move and jumps like 5 feet in the air to snag the ball before it passes the fence, stealing peters home run from him.

Then it's a mad dash for Yelena and Rhodes to get back to their bases as they realize that meant they didn't tag up.

But Buckys throw is too strong and they were too far away already. All he had to do was throw it to Hope at second who was on the bag prepared.

And just like that, our 9th inning is over, only giving us a two point lead against the 'Ol' Timers', as Spencer liked to call them.

Peter, Yelena, and Rhodes all walk back with their heads down.