Rivals (Sequel To Pitcher)

Baseball

Cameron gave me the sign for a curveball. I nodded and began my stretch wind up. The ball rolled off of my fingertips. I felt the rough seams against my hand and the smooth leather in my fist. My catcher set up his frame for me to pitch to, his glove in the center.  My eyes zeroed in on the glove and my ears tuned out the loud crowds. The pitch reached his glove with a loud, satisfying, boom. The batter stared at it and the umpire called it a strike. Cameron nodded at me and I smiled. Two strikes later at the batter was glaring at me like he was gonna kill me. I didn't let him see the delight on my face that came from the strike out. Who's next? I thought to myself with a cruel smile slivering on my face with my head in my glove. I smelled the leather from my glove and the ball. My hands were covered in the clay like dirt from the field. I could also smell the fresh cut grass surrounding me. The smells of the game that had kept me fighting, that had kept me happy.  I belong here. 

Baseball is a game for the devoted. Baseball is a game for those who care. Baseball they say is boring. But that is only because they do not see what is happening underneath. The game is only for those with smart, intuitive, stubborn minds. Although the game has become more about money than anything else. We are all still just a bunch of kids with a dream. A dream we ain't  never given up on. It brings us closer together. It makes whole families form a bond like no other. The moment when teammates become more than just the strangers who you share your favorite game with. The moment when team means family. The moment when the other are all just your siblings, your annoying sometimes lovable siblings. I don't know about other sports but I sure as hell know that baseball is my home. Baseball is my heart. From te second my parents put me on that tee ball team when I wad five It was my game. From the second I wore that number six in my first tee ball game, it was my number. From the very moment I first saw Ryan Howard, he was my favorite. From the very moment that the Phillies won the world series in 2008 they were my team. I would be happy with any team, anywhere, for any pay, so long as I could play the game I love. 

But it wasn't always easy. People believed that a girl had no place playing ball and it was a man's sport. but I learned to ignore them. I held took my anger at the back. Cause when they give you something to put full force into, you take your anger out. 

That's why I love New Orleans because it's the city that's not supposed to be a city and yet it's thriving.I'm the ballplayer who ain't supposed to be a ballplayer and yet I'm here thriving. New Orleans won't judge and loves me no matter what. just like the game of baseball. 

No feeling is better in the world than the feeling if succeeding in baseball. At that moment, I felt that amazing unbeatable indescribable feeling. I succeeded at baseball. 

"Holy shit." I murmured silently to myself. The crowd erupted into cheers and it wasn't long before I was being crushed by all of my teammates. We did it, we won, we're in. 

"Abby, you did it! You got us our victory! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Cameron said, squishing me.

"Uh, Abigail, someone's here to visit you," Cody said smirking, he moved out of the way to show Austin who was currently standing about ten behind the clump of players that was my team. He looked a little uncomfortable, standing there congratulating the opposing team. 

"Austin?" I asked laughing, Austin shrugged back, smiling.

"Austin!" I ran into his arms and crashed our lips against each other. Our arms were wraped around each other. I was lost in a never ending feeling of baseball, love, and happiness. 

"Abigail," He said quietly. 

"Didn't  I do great out there?" 

"Abigail, you did amazing! But there's something I want to say."

"What is it, Austin?"