How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

75- Like The Sound Of That

Anthony

Today was just like any other day, except this day was one of the most important days of my life. Behind Daisy being born and the day I'll get married, nothing will top this.

"Where's my baby" I ask Clara as we lay in bed.

"With Grandma and Grandpa. They wanted to get her a coat for tonight. It's supposed to be cold and she's all but grown out of her preme clothes and into normal baby clothes" she happily announces.

"Seriously" I ask.

"Yeah" she smiles.

"Wow... that's awesome. Look at our little girl go" I say.

"She's pretty great" Clara admits.

After laying in bed without any distractions for the first time in forever it was time to get up. Eventually the day wears on and we were needed elsewhere.

We grab a lunch and chill out until my parents come back with Daisy. Clara feeds her and I get her changed for the big game tonight.

"You know, your dad is in a game seven winner takes all tonight. I'm kind of nervous" I admit as I pull her arm through the hole of her onesie. "The only other time I was this nervous was when I purposed to your mom. And I know she would have said yes but I was still nervous. Like I know I can win this game, I don't see how it would end any other way. But it still makes me nervous. Anyway, I just want you to know that no matter what happens tonight, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. If I win, it'll be the second best night of my life so far. And if I lose, I didn't really lose because I have you" I say.

"You know she can't understand you" Clara teases as she stands in the bedroom of the hotel we were staying at.

"I know but she's such a great listener" I joke like she did the first day we got to hold her.

"She doesn't have much a choice" Clara reminds me.

"Well she's all ready to cheer me on tonight" I say picking Daisy up. I set her in my arms at she looks up at me. Her lips pull into a smile as I adjust her little outfit.

"That makes two of us" Clara smiles.

We get to the baseball field and we go our separate ways. Although this is game seven of the World Series in Cleveland I expected a lot of cubs fans to be in attendance. So I know my girls will be in good company.

As the game gets started we were right where we wanted to be. We had the offense going and the pitching and defense was on fire too. Dexter led the game off with a home run and even Grandpa got in on the fun. And even though we had the game in our hands it quickly slipped through our fingers. A two run homer tied the game late in the eighth off of our dominate closer and we ended up going into extra innings tied by that same score.

And to further complicate things, there was a storm system expected to pass and we were to evacuate the field until further notice.

We walk into the locker room and it was kind of dead. All the life was sucked out of us with one swing of the bat. So now all we can do is wait to see what the future holds. What was once so certain was now unsure. And to me, not knowing is still the scariest thing in the world.

"All the players in the weight room" Jason Heyward announces. "Now!"

We all pick ourselves up and follow him to the weight room. It was cramped and smelled bad but it was away from everything else.

"Do you guys think that they've won" Jason asks. "Because last time I checked it's a whole new ballgame... and no one won more ballgames than us this year" he reminds us. "A lot has changed, I'll give you that. But as far as I am concerned no matter who we have out there... we are the best team on that field. And we can only prove that if we act like that team" he says.

"He's right" I agree.

"Now I'm not going to be like Anthony here, prancing around naked to rocky music. I'm afraid we don't have enough time for that" he jokes. "But we get to take the time that is out on that field. Hit by hit, out by out. We have what it takes, and it's going to take all we got" he explains.

"So let's do this" David yells.

"Let's do it" I agree.

After a 17 minute rain delay we take the field again. Before people even got back to their seats Kyle had himself a base hit and was lifted for a a pinch runner on first base. Kris followed that with a sac fly then I got walked to the open first base.

In walked Ben Zobrist who was a World Series champion a year before. He might not be as flashy as everyone else on this team, but he's still a stud.

And he also gives us the lead once again in this historic game seven.

After that it all happened rather quickly. I come in to score then all the sudden it was the bottom of the tenth and we had a runner on first and a one run lead.

Then it finally happened. That one out you wanted so badly that you were scared you would mess up. The out you dream of making when you were a kid. The ball hit the back of my glove and made that beautiful popping sound. I quickly raise my hands above my head and hop off the first base bag. I run across the field and into Kris' arms as we sail through the sky. Everyone joins us as we celebrate on the field. After everything we've been through and a long season we finally won. It was all over.

I get pulled to the side for a interview which I happily do. I keep my eyes peeled for my family as they start to let them on the field.

"Is there any better feeling than this" they ask and I kind just stand there.

"There's no words. It's unbelievable. What all went into his one moment, it's so heavy. I can't even explain it" I admit.

"Rumor has it you're getting married next weekend. Does that change now that you've won" they ask and I laugh.

"Absolutely not. This is just turning out to be the best month of my life" I admit.

"What are you going to do now" they ask and I finally find Clara.

"I'm going to marry the love of my life" I say as I pull her into my chest. I kiss the side of her head as she wraps her arms around me.

"And who is this cutie" the man asks as Clara makes sure Daisy was comfortable in her arms.

"This is our daughter Daisy Claire. She turned three months old today and has already has quite a exciting life" I admit.

"I'll say" the guy laughs. "Well we wish you nothing but the best. Congratulations on the win, the kid, and the future wife" he says.

I liked the sound of that.