Pitcher (Aaron Nola Phillies)

Trades

Abigail POV

I packed my bag silently in the hotel room. Austin came up from behind me and hugged me, I smiled and turned around. It's not like Austin and I are dating we're just friends who are sharing a room. Austin began massaging my pitching arm so I would be ready to pitch today. I wasn't nervous, I never got nervous before a game. We hailed a taxi and took it to the field Austin found his seat. When I got into the clubhouse everyone was silent and gloomy at first I didn't understand but then I remembered that Carlos was traded last night. A wave if sadness came over me, I had watched him on tv several times when I was younger and I had learned so much from him as a teammate. His knowledge of the game had always helped me in fact whenever he caught me I always learned something new. We were all pretty miserable about it especially Cameron who had learned everything from him. Cameron knew all of his tricks so he was super good but he was still pretty miserable. Carlos was a part of the 2008 World Series team and had caught 4 no hitters I was really hoping to be number 5. Carlos's traded also meant that Ryan was the last remaining 2008 player and the oldest on the team,he had definitely been playing the longest. We all begged the coach to let us take Carlos to his plane back to Philly where he would retrieve his stuff. The irony was, he was traded to the team we were currently playing, the Dodgers. 

"This is too sweet of you guys to drop me off! I'm gonna miss you guys so much! Good luck this season!" Carlos said as we dropped him off, he hugged all of us. When we returned to the locker room I told the boys that we should win for Carlos. The biggest problem was that I had to face former phillies star second baseman and legend chase utley tonight. The boys were sidetracked by that too and I was a bit worried since he's such a good hitter. Before the game Ryan  hugged chase which was honestly really sweet. Utley batted lead off which meant I'd have to face him first. When he stepped up to the plate the crowds went wild. I took a deep breath and just told myself the chase utley's just another batter to strike out. I tuned out the sounds, batter and game. My eyes zoned in on Cameron's glove. I threw a curve that utley whiffed at and missed. The next pitch was a slider that had perfect movement chase stared at it thinking it was a ball. The last pitch was a 92 mph fastball. Utley swung and missed. My teammates cheered and I saw Austin cheering in the stands extremely loud. The next batter also struck out and the one after him flew out to Freddy. 

"Great job, Ab!" Cameron said as we entered the dugout, I nodded. 

"Cameron can you try to hit a homer tonight?"

"I always do!" 

"I know but try really hard tonight!" He nodded and walked off to somewhere. 

"Hey smith!" I heard Austin call my name. He was sitting next to the dugout so I walked towards him. 

"Hey Nola!" I fist bumped him.

"You're not half bad! In fact don't tell Aaron but I think you may be better than him!" 

"Thanks but you're defienetly a better hitter than Aaron and I combined!" 

"Don't be stupid! I know Aaron's terrible at hitting and could never improve, but if you focus on hitting than you could be amazing."

"No way!"

"Sure you could, you have the right body for it. You just need to work on your skills." He hoped down which caused a security guard to come running to stop him I told the guard it was fine. Austin set me up in a stance then smiled and spoke.

"I'm about to teach you the greatest trick to batting ever. You ready?" I nodded.

"Use your haters to your advantage, take all the hateful things people have said and take it out on the ball." 

"Thanks Austin I'll remember that." I walked onto the field and struck out the side which was great. I spent the next inning sitting in the dugout drinking water and thinking over next innings plan. I'd strike out several batters again since I'm a strike out pitcher. The team was hitting great and Freddy came up to me and told me that I was in the hole with no one out. So I grabbed my helmet and batting gloves. The batter up walked with bases loaded so we were winning 1-0 in the second. I stepped into the on deck circle for the first time since the fights and practiced. The batter before me hit an rib single that kept the bases loaded. While I walked to the plate Austin nodded. I focused on the pitcher I watched the first pitch wind it's way to me. I thought about everything everyone had told me I thought about how hurt Aaron was. I thought about the people who thought I couldn't do this and swung with all my power. The bat hit the ball and made an amazing sound. The ball was going far a thought popped in my head that it was out but I thought that was crazy. But I saw how angry the pitcher was and how happy my team was and I saw Austin cheering his heart out. The ball landed in the crowd in fair territory. I had done I had hit my first big league home run and it was a grand slam. I flipped my bat and trotted around the bases. All of the team high fived me and attacked me. They were all cheering me and  pushing me. After me Odubel hit a homer and then Cameron. We eventually got out and then I stayed in the rest of the game. I hit a double and we won! We were all so happy and Austin squished me when he saw me. Everyone was super proud and happy. It was the best game ever.