First Crush (Sandlot)

Part 4

Maya Hart

"I didn't bring a glove." Maya admitted stepping onto third base.

"That's okay we will just have you bat then. You brought a bat didn't ya?" Smalls said walking up to Maya questioning her.

"Relax Smalls. She has a bat, she even has a ball too. You didn't see her blasting them not even twenty minutes ago?" Benny tipped the boys hat over his face. Maya chuckled a little bit then decided to walk over to home plate and bat.

"Oh Maya I didn't even introduce you properly. These are the guys: Scotty, we call him Smalls. Hamilton Porter we call him Ham. Michael Palledorous "Squints". Allen "Yeah, yeah" McClennan, Kenny DeNunez, Timmy, Tommy and Bertram. Then you have me if you didn't know most people call me Benny." Benny took his time to introduce the crew and Maya admired that and smiled to the boys. Benny smiled back and the boys noticed the awkward eye contact between Maya and Benny and "Oooed" before they dispersed to take the field. Mostly because Benny shooed them away.

Maya was more than nervous as she took the plate. She was hitting some practice balls earlier but that was for herself and because her heart was craving that feeling again. After watching those boys play the other day made her itch for the feeling again.

But now it was different. Everyone would be watching. Now she will have to tell her dad how she actually played again. She gripped the bat telling herself how badly she can't strikeout.

"I'm ready DeNunez." I said and took a deap breath.

"And time for the circus to begin folks." Ham whined from his postion as a catcher.

"Can it Ham. Let her be." Benny said from the makeshift dugout.

Maya didn't say anything as she watched DeNunez wind up then throw the fast one. She missed terribly. Throwing yourself lobs is different from an actual pitcher. But she noticed he loves his fastball so she prepared herself for the second pitch.

DeNunez pitched the ball and Maya didn't think twice before she slammed the ball against the fence. It was so strong it would have gone yards past the fence if it were shorter.

"Wow! That's amazing! Half the guys here haven't hit the ball like that! Including me!" Smalls said astonished.

Maya was really proud of herself and jogged away to get the ball as the boys whispered amongst themselves.

"Hey! Sweet hit but let me show you how it's done." Benny said to Maya cockily as she returned with the ball. He still had a cheesy grin on his face.

"Oh really?  Let's bet on it. If you hit it over the fence on your first try I will do whatever you want but if you don't... I get your blue hat." Maya spoke putting her hands in her pockets.

Benny pondered the idea and shook on it before taking his stance.

"Get ready Maya. I never give up a challenge." He said and eyed the ball as it came his way.

Benny hit the ball harder than he ever has before and everyone in the lot was in astonishment as the ball got gutted in midair. The stringy inside of the ball landed near the fence and the crew gathered around the skin of the ball.

"Oh. My. God." DeNunez said as they all looked at the ball.

"Only a handful of people can do something this legendary." Squints said adjusting his glasses.

Benny smirked at Maya.

"So do I win?"

"No. I said over the fence. It broke before it even got near it. Must be an omen." She teased reaching for his hat.

"Hold your horses. The hit Benny just had was incredible! Out of technicality it's safe to say you can call it a tie. You decide if you both win or both lose." Bertram added.

"Fine we both lose. None of us get anything." Maya decided and Benny agreed just because it was what Maya wanted and he figured he would do anything Maya wanted. He couldn't stop thinking about her.

"So now what? We have no ball." Ham groaned.

"Why don't I get the one from across the fence from yesterday?" Maya said walking towards the fence.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" The boys chorused.