Girl Next Door

Chapter Thirty-Eight

For the next few innings Risa had been waiting her turn. She was really anxious to show off her skills and prove most of the the boys wrong about her. She had been cheering for Kyosuke the whole time they were on defense. Kyosuke of course, couldn't wait for Risa's turn at offense as well.

At last her turn came. After breathing deeply she rose from the benches and walked over to the diamond carrying her bat with her. All eyes were on her. Team Touma's players eyed her viciously, as it would appear that she had less experience in baseball than them. But Risa was determined to prove them wrong.

Risa took her place at the batter's box. She put on a sort of a "game face" as she swung the bat over to her shoulder. The pitcher on the defense team stared into her eyes intensely as he clutched the ball in his mitt. Risa felt nervous, but tried not to show it.

Meanwhile Mio, Yukie and Ichiro anxiously waited for the hit which was to come.

"Oh, it's Risa-chan's turn!" said Mio, excited.

Ichiro watched intently as the umpire yelled "Play ball!"

The pitcher for Touma raised his left foot, then pushed down on the rubber with his right and threw the ball towards the catcher. But Risa was quick. Within a fraction of a second of the ball reaching the catcher she had hit it, much to the opposing team's shock. When she realized she had hit the ball, Risa wasted no time and ran as fast as she could to touch the four bases.

"Oh, my gosh, she hit it!" exclaimed Mio. "Go, Risa-chan, go!"

"Amazing..." said Ichiro. "She actually hit it. And that was a swift throw from that pitcher too."

Yukie watched intently as Risa touched first base. The outfielders for Team Touma scrambled in different directions as they tried to catch the ball. As they were occupied, Risa heard the cheers of her team as well as the cheers of her family and friends, and she ran ever more furiously towards second base.

Meanwhile Hinako was cheering for Risa as she sat in between her mother and Mori.

"Onee-chan, you go, girl!" she yelled out, throwing out her clenched fist.

Mori eagerly took photos with her camera.

"This'll go on the school paper," she put in.

"She's a good runner," remarked Matsuko. "I'll give her that."

"Just like her father," put in Granny Sakura with a grin.

Risa has just cleared second base, and by that time the right fielder for Touma HIgh had caught the ball and threw it to the third baseman. Too late though, as the fleet-footed girl had ran past him. In no time at all she had returned to home plate and was met with a loud roar from the crowd watching.

It was a home run. Yoshiba had won.

Risa gasped as she looked at the score card. It was 30-25. She was so elated that she knelt on the ground and laughed cheerfully, almost breaking into tears.

Kyosuke was also very happy for Risa that she yelled at the top of his voice, "SHE MADE IT! I TOLD YOU SHE'D MAKE IT! YEAH, RISA!"

Matsuko, Granny Sakura, Hinako and Mori all got up and applauded cheerfully for the team.

Within seconds Team Yoshiba ran over to Risa and flooded her with compliments and congratulations.

"Thank you all so much..." replied a tearful Risa as her teammates surrounded her.

"Yeah, way to go, Risa-chan!" said Takeru. "I knew you'd win us the game."

"Hey! Let's hear it for Risa!" Kyosuke yelled out to his teammates as they cheered even louder for Risa.