In the end

35

**Week Later**
It was almost freakin snowing and coach is making us play our last tournament. We drove all the way to Des Moines, Iowa, to play. Mom and dad said they might not be able to come, but I was cool with it. Jill was here to cheer me on and be our bat girl. I pulled on my hoodie, which had our colors, orange and blue, and my softball number along with my last name.

"Lance, will you bring this to the concession stand?" Coach J asked me. I nodded and she handed me our roster. I was lead off batter and was put at centerfield. I smiled and dragged my bag behind me as we walked up to the concession stand.

"Sorry can't sell ya anything until the games start." The lady says sweetly.

"Oh no, I was told to give you our roster." I smiled back and she nodded. She took it from me gently and walked back to the back and copied it and handed it back to me. She waved me off and wished me good luck.

"She was nice." I smiled to Coach as I handed her back the paper. It was 7 am and freezing cold. I shivered and we set up our dugout.

I walked over to the field and the grass was still wet. Coach made us warm up in the clay.

**
"Does anyone want water?" Jill asked as we were doing agilities.

"Yes please." Everyone responded and she laughed. We came back into the dugout and coach told us we couldn't play in our hoodies. We groaned and pulled off the only source of heat from our bodies. We were all wearing Sleeves under our uniforms to keep us a bit warm. I slid my glove over my batting glove and started to throw with my friend Joanne. We call her Jo Jo for short.

"Oh my god Court stop throwing so hard." She laughed teasingly at my failed attempt at throwing.

"Oh shut it" I laughed and caught her high ball. I pegged the ball at her glove and she smiled.

"That's better." She winked.

**

It was the fourth inning of the first game and the sun was finally starting to come out. I was playing centerfield and was moving on every play. Our outfield was really strong, only our left field having two errors for the whole season.

There was a girl on First and a girl up to bat. I was pretty good at calling where the ball would land, but today, I was on fire. The girl was a left handed batter and was going to head straight for left field, our left field man wasn't prepared at all.

"Jensen! Squish!" JoJo called from short stop and she moved closer to me. The ball went sailing over the infield and I ran to back up Jensen, she was tracking the ball and it was farther back than she was. She ran backwards and snagged the ball mid air. She threw it to JoJo at short and she got the girl out on second, a double play for the win.

"Dang girl, I thought you were gonna drop that." I laughed and so did she. We ran back into the dugout. I was up to bat so I tied on my elbow guard and pulled my batting gloves on. I was timing the pitcher and was ready to end the game. We were tied at 2-2. They were a good team.

Coach gave me the signal to bunt, but to drag bunt. I was a switch hitter, so I was ready. Umpire said to play ball, I walked over to the left handed batters box and did my normal ritual. I kissed the barrel of my bat through my mask and stepped in. I faced the pitcher and smiled. She glared at me and I shrugged it off. I watched the first pitch, far inside, ball. I nodded and stepped out of the box.

I stepped back in and got ready to bunt. I saw the pitch and it was perfect. I took my steps and laid down the bunt. Perfect. I booked it for first and made it before the tag. I smiled and untied my elbow guard and handed it to my first base coach.