Teammates Thought Me Wrong (book one)

Chapter 23 - The Way I play Changes

The game was about to start. I didn't look at the moon for a second.

We got home team because we were the number one seed. I ran into the outfield with a ball for the outfield. Shannon was pitching. Lily was catching. Laura was at first base. Taylor was at second base. Gabby was at short stop. Kelli was at third. Skylar was in left field. I was in center field. Sara was in right field.

I threw and caught fly balls between the three of us. Then Lilly called, "Balls in. Coming down." Skylar rolled her ball in as I went to back up the throw. It was a great throw, but Gabby didn't catch it. It reached me and I picked it up and threw it to the pitcher.

It was now the first inning. I played deep in the grass like coach Neil told me to. I was right, because the third batter hit a pop fly towards me. It was not deep so I booked it. I held my glove out and dove. I caught it as I slid on the edge of the grass to the clay. I looked up to see the team going into the dugout. It was the third out. I rolled the ball to the mound and ran to my team.

In the dugout, Coach Emma went over the line up. "The batting order is Shannon, Lilly, Madi, Gabby, Laura, Skylar, Taylor, Kelli, and Sara." She said. "Lindsay is a sub."

I sat in the dugout. "Madi." Said Laura. "Nice catch. Diving too." I laughed. "Oh. There will be more where that came from." I said. I laughed nervously.

I was up to bat now. Both Shannon and Lilly were on base. I was ready. "Ok pitcher." I whispered. "Give me something to hit." She threw one at me. I ran forwards, avoiding the pitch. I wanted to hit a stinking ball. "Ball one." Said the umpire. Soon the count was three balls and one strike. I dug into the box and I waited. The pitch came in and I came out of my shoes, cranking it. I ran as fast as I could. The I stopped at third base. But the ball was over thrown and I stole home safely. The team screamed as was safe.

We were up 3-0 and it was now the third inning. I caught that inning as Laura pitched. Lilly was in center field now.

As the inning progressed, there was a runner on first. "Robber two!" I screamed. The pitch then came in and she took off. I threw it as hard as I could. I closed my eyes. "She's out." The umpire said. I was so happy I almost wanted to howl, but I didn't.

I t was now the seventh inning. And the score was 5-5. The pressure was on me. It was two outs with no one on base. Here was my chance. I took a good look at the pitcher, but at the full moon in the corner of my eye. The pitch came in and I came out of my shoes again. This time it went farther and over that fence. I jogged around the bases and happily stepped on home plate. The score was now 6-5. We won the tournament. My teammates held me up. I had saved the game for us once again.