I made it, Ma

later part -> first mlb game

Huffing loudly, Craig Counsell had to make a choice. Keep Davies in, or show the world- nation- their fresh pitcher. It was a matter of letting this inning get out of control, or finding someone he knew in that bullpen who could try and control it. This inning had already brought in four runs, and most of them from walks.

He grabbed the phone. "Get Vuksan warming up, I need her ready by the next few batters," throwing it back on the receiver, he leaned against the rail by the dugout.

~

I can't honestly do this. Skayler thought, heart pounding as she started warming up. She heard her brothers voice snap back at her own thoughts. You will do better than Davies. You will stop this inning from getting crazy and you will do great. She smiled softly. 

She pushed off the mound a few more times before trying to pick up speed. She breathed quickly, looking at the pitching coach in the bullpen. 

"You ready?"

She smiled. "Yeah, I'm not crazy about warming up," she looked at her glove. "Well, I like it but I just want to get this inning done," she started laughing near the end.

He nodded. "So do I, so I think with this lineup you'll do best with your left hand," he tossed her right glove, having her carry both out of the bullpen and then tossing the left one to Craig.

"Alright, kid,"

"'m not a kid,"

He huffed softly. "Alright, I'll need you to finish this inning for me. If Davies says anything, anything at all, ignore it. He is getting pissed," they both laughed. She breathed deeply. 

"Don't worry, I got this," she smiled. "Just like I whooped your ass back in the day," they laughed before venturing out to the mound.

Craig slapped his hand against Davies back before looking at him. "Alright, kid. You've done good this inning but we need to end this. Take a break in the bullpen. We've got this," Davies huffed angrily and stormed off. Craig turned to her. "End this inning and don't rein in anything. Give them your nastiness and make it hard to hit," she smiled at him, her stomach flipping as her heart pounded.

Standing on the mound she pulled back and threw a few after warm-ups to Grandal. 

"Now pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers, number 84. Skayler Vuksan," the announcer called through Miller Park. A hush went around, everyone watching intently. 

The umpire called for the batter to step up and re-starting the inning.

She breathed deeply. She got a slider signal. High. Pulling her foot in a line, kicking the dirt up and then pulling her leg back she pushed forward and threw it hard.

"Ball,"

The fuck? She nearly scoffed, shaking her head softly. It was in the zone and she had heard the entire park make a collective 'boo'. The next two pitches were also balls (though they were right down the middle). 

Her head was pounding. Shoulders tensing up.

The next ball she threw went streaking down the middle. The batter swung and missed. 

"Holy shit," the soft hiss from Grandal said everything. His mask was off and he was staring at the scoreboard. She turned, everyone was silent. Her heart nearly stopped.

105.6 MPH

What the fuck?

Cheering echoed throughout the park, she could faintly hear Counsell shout, "That's my pitcher!"

She laughed softly. 

Turning back around, she waved her glove around for a few seconds before getting the ball back. The next two pitches (which were now hovering around the 100 mark) were both called strikes.

Her eyes shone, glinting softly in the light. She smiled before striking out the next two batters.

As they hustled in, she got a few people slapping her back.

Craig bounded up to her and grabbed her tightly.

"Yeah! New record, Skayler!" He called out to her.

"Yes, I'm right here. I can hear you. I may be deaf now," she snorted.

Everyone hustled up, congratulating her.

Craig shook his head. "Thats the girl who whooped the Brewers' ass years ago. Keep this up, girl," he pat her back once more before leaving her to throw her stuff onto the bench.

She watched the boys continue getting ready for the next inning. She continued playing with things, not knowing exactly what to do. This was her very first inning in the league, and she just broke a record. 

"Hey, nice job kid," Braun put his hand against her mid-back. "Keep this up," he smiled.

She smiled back. "Yeah, thanks. Will do," she thought about her brother, who used to be her best friend but was now someone she couldn't dare think about. She still heard all of his words of encouragement flowing through her mind.

"Vuksan! You're in the hole!" She grabbed her helmet, bat and gloves before standing by the dugout entrance. 

She hustled into the circle and couldn't tell how long it took for her to get into the box.

Standing to bat left-handed, she bit her lip. One foot outside and the other set up. Spinning her bat in hand she leveled it out before setting up.

The first ball was low, almost in the dirt.

The next was down the center, to which she fouled off.

The one that she bombed was one that was low and just in the sweet spot. She raced to first, rounding towards second and hitting third. Looking back, Skayler made a split-second decision. 

Go for it.

The stop sign had gone up but she knew. She just knew that she could make it.

She would be the tying run and she needed it. Diving in to home, she slid underneath the swiping hand of the catcher and stood up.

"Safe!"

Skayler nearly collapsed. 

I pray to god you were watching, Ma.

She was nearly in tears as she got back into the dugout. 

She felt someone wrap themselves around her before she gave out and started sobbing. Her helmet was pulled from her head before her knee hit the bench, to which she allowed herself to just collapse on it and nearly fully on the person.

"Hey, hey, hey. You're all good. What's wrong?" Yelich. Was she actually seated half-way on his lap? Her heart seemed to skip.

She pulled back slightly. "I'm so sorry, I don't know," she muttered, feeling him pull her back towards him, his warmth making her slowly stop crying.

"It's 'cause of your mom, isn't it?" She nodded wearily into his chest before starting to cry, albeit quietly, again. Her mother was found having had been attaked, after a break in and was now currently six feet deep in the ground.

It was a touchy subject, as Skayler had lost so much sleep over that. She'd spent the last few months sitting with her mother, until her passing three months back.

And Craig had agreed to let her start the season later.

She felt his hand running up and down her back, his other hand was holding her close by wrapping around her waist, just above her belt.

It seemed strange, straddling one leg of someone she was close to. 

But she had to calm down. She needed to be ready for the next inning.

Skayler thought she felt him press a kiss into her hair, but it could've been him just placing his own head atop hers.

Don't get your hopes up. Everyone will eventually leave you, as they all have.