Four Words

Chapter 4

I started softball practice the usual way - with a 2.4km jog (or 1.5 miles). As usual I finished it in about 18 minutes, which is in our team one of the slowest when we have top sprinters who can finish the run in 13 minutes. Ugh.

"PT today," our C Div captain XJ said, holding the gym keys up.

All of us groaned.

Here's a brief description of our Physical Traning (PT):

- 15 × 3 sets of weights

- 10 sets of curlers

- 15 × 3 sets of sit ups

- 12 × 3 sets of resistance bands

- 5 sets of agility ladders

- 25 × 2 sets of tire batting

By the time I finished the PT I was drenched in sweat and my arms felt SO sore and heavy and we just got started on practice. Ugggggh. Luckily for everyone Coach suggested we play a mini game, which was way better than doing fielding drills which I particularly sucked at. Grounders drills are so not my thing.

Coach seperated us into 2 groups and shit, I'm not in her team. Meaning I'd have to bat against her. I glanced at her, only to see her smirking at me.

I smiled. A challenge at last? Bring it on.

~♧♤¤♤♧~

I didn't get to bat until the second inning of our mini game. I had timed her pitch well, thanks to the 3 batters before me. Now it was 1 out, runners on 1st and 2nd.

This is a common scene found in every softball game and I knew what I had to do. Just to be sure I checked the signals Coach was giving.

One out, runners on first and second. Your job as the batter is to advance the runners...

I stepped up to the plate, tip of my bat touching the centre of the plate. Then I sank into my stance.

Right from the go, I knew it was a strike coming. But take one for the team, they say. Out of the corner of my eye I watched the runners take off from their bases. I felt the catcher shift behind me.

I waited until the ball passed me before swinging in mid air. This gave the runners about half a second (according to softball tips) before the catcher could fire to second. My body would block third base as I was a right handed batter.

"Strike!"

I smiled as I saw that second and third base were now occupied. Now I just need to hit.

I was determined to get on base, but if I couldn't, well, I know plenty of ways to take her down.

I held up as the second pitch came it.

"Ball!"

And the third.

"Ball!"

My hands tightened around the bat grip. The count was two and one. Most likely she would give a strike - she definitely would not want to walk me.

The pitch looked good, straight as a arrow and spinning beautifully. I stamped my left foot down, thrust my right hip out and felt my shoulders swing out, power radiating through the bat from my arms, waiting to punch into the ball and knock it away.

The connection felt good, the solid thuk as bat met ball in mid air. I finished my swing like I've been drilled a million times to and dropped the bat and charged to first base, eyes never leaving the orange cushion.