Running Bases With You

Chapter 17

Hi guys! I finally found some time to update! I hope you all had a lovely Easter! 🐰💞🐣 Enjoy the chappie!!

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(Unedited)

*Annabeth's POV*

"C'MON IRELAND!"

I sigh and plop myself back down on the metal bleachers. I can't believe this.

"What the hell are they doing?!"

Ireland is playing Manchester today and the game isn't going so well. Ireland is three runs behind and I'm basically pulling my hair out over it. What can I say? I'm a softball fanatic, and it drives me mad when my home team is losing and I can't do anything about it.

I run my fingers through my wind blown hair and wrap my jacket tighter around me. It's below freezing outside, and a few snowflakes are flying around every now and then. The cold is almost unbearable, but watching the game distracts me from the feeling of my numb fingers and toes.

Another crack of the bat, and it's a fly ball to left-center field. One of our players easily catches it for the third out, and I breathe a heavy sigh of relief.

I put my head in my hands. "Oh, thank God.."

I feel my mum pat my back and she pulls me closer to her.

"Just watch, darling," she smiles at me. "Just wait and see. Don't get too fired up yet."

I almost ask her what she means by that, but I hear another bat make contact and forget about it.

It shoots straight through the gap between second base and the shortstop. Finally, a base hit!

Next batter comes up to the plate and hits one up the middle. Another base hit.

By the time the inning ends, the score is now five to four, Manchester still leading.

The seventh inning rolls around and it's time for Ireland to step it up. They need to win this game.

The first hitter comes up, Jennifer Rainy. First pitch is a ball, second pitch is a strike, and she nails the third pitch down the third base line. The tying run is on base!

The second hitter, Chelsea Green, bunts and moves our runner around to second, but gets thrown out at first.

The third batter pops one up into right field and is out number two.

"Oh God, oh God, oh God."

I start to get nervous, and I don't notice that I've been biting my nails, or that my right leg is bouncing all over the place. My mum laughs at me as I stand on edge and I look at her like she has gone mad.

"What? You do realize that we could lose, right?" I raise an eyebrow at her as she only shakes her head.

"Annabeth, there's something very important that goes for every athlete." My mum turns to me for a moment.

"Yeah? What's that?" I say, not really paying much attention.

She smiles. "Always trust your team, even in times of trouble. As long as you trust each other, things will turn out for the better."

I give her my full attention now, and look at her puzzled. She's no longer looking at me though, so I turn my head back towards the game as I ponder on the thought.

Our fourth batter, and possibly our last hope, steps up to the plate.

Next batter is number eleven, outfielder Makayla Creele.