Letters

154

Katana's POV

"Alright Pups." I say as I grab my red glove from Cairo. "Let's do this."

Appa and Socks yip so we leave the dugout and head onto the field with my teammates.

As Appa and Socks and I walk to the mound, my pitching walk up song, a m a r i by J. Cole, starts playing.

When we get to the mound, Appa and Socks sit on the grass and watch the infielders throw while I throw my 8 warm up pitches.

After I throw my last warm-up pitch, I walk off the mound as Emma throws the ball down to 2nd base then I squat next to Appa and Socks.

"Mama will see you two in a second okay?" I ask then Appa and Socks lick my face.

I smile at Appa and Socks and kiss their heads then I watch them walk back to the dugout, hop up onto one of the bench's, and lay down so they're covered by the cage and net.

Once Appa and Socks are safe, I walk to the back of the pitching mound, squat down, then I write my Dad's, Oksana's, and Oleksandr's initials into the dirt.

After I do my final pre-start routine, Casey throws me the ball then I walk onto the mound and step onto the rubber.

"...And joining us for the first inning we have the pitcher for Team USA Katana Solo." I hear Joe Buck say in my ear piece as I rub the ball between my hands. "Katana how we doing?"

"I'm pitching in a game for the first time since high school so I'm doing pretty good." I say. "How are you two?"

"Doin good." Joe says as Jordyn Huitema is introduced then she walks to the plate

"What pitch should I throw to start off the game?" I question as I put my glove on and put the ball in my glove.

"I wanna see that fastball I've heard about." John Smoltz says.

"You got it." I say then I motion to Emma I wanna throw a fastball first.

Emma nods as Jordyn gets into the batters box then I get into my stance and grip the ball in my glove.

Once Jordyn's ready, I take a deep breathe, do my wind up then I throw my fastball to Emma.

A moment later I hear a loud pop as Emma catches my pitch.

"And that's in there for strike 1 at 99 miles an hour." Joe Buck says.

"Wow." I hear John Smoltz say as Emma throws me the ball.

"Still got it." I say with a smirk.

"I'll say." Joe says then Emma signals for a slider.

I nod and grip the ball correctly then I take a deep breathe, do my wind up, and throw my slide to Emma.

After the ball leaves my hand I watch it start at Jordyn's head then slide back into the zone which causes Huitema's knees to buckle.

"Oh wow." John says as Emma throws me the ball. "I see why the Rockies drafted you."

Well that makes me feel good.

"Was that a slurve?" Joe asks.

A slurve is a baseball pitch in which the pitcher throws a curve ball as if it were a slider. 

"That's my slider." I say.

"That's nasty." John says then Emma calls for a knuckleball.

I nod and grip the ball correctly then I take a deep breathe, do my wind up, and throw my slide to Emma.