Being a girl and playing in major league baseball is not the easiest thing in the world, that's for damn sure. So far, I've had very few issues with my teammates or opponents, and it seems like many of the guys understand how hard I have worked to get to where I am. The guys who don't realize that usually just don't say anything to me. Simple.
"It's game day, I bet you're excited!" My teammate and best friend, Andrew Benintendi, ruffles my hair as I walk into the clubhouse.
"So excited! Ready to show the Yankees who is really the best in this rivalry!" The team cheers at my comment and we all enter the dugout just before the start of the game. We are all so ready.
Every single player on this team has their head completely in the game, resulting in us having a 9-3 lead in the bottom of the 8th. The yankees are looking very frustrated as I step up to the plate, ready to hopefully add to our lead.
I watch intently as Gerrit Cole winds up and sends a perfect pitch my way. My bat connects at just the right angle, sending the ball sailing into a gap in center field, and I sprint as fast as I can past first base. When on the way to second, I notice I won't make it if I don't slide. I put all of my weight and effort into throwing myself at the base, accidentally knocking over DJ LeMahieu in the process. He didn't like that very much.
"You stupid bitch." He stands up and dusts himself off, looking at me with disgust. "Can't even slide without taking someone out. This is why dumb girls like you shouldn't play at this level." He comes closer to me and points his finger in my face. Our respective teams react quickly and are all surrounding us, not sure how to approach the situation.
"I think you're just jealous because I can hit a ball better then you could ever dream." Before I can say anything else, his hands land on my shoulders and shove me onto the ground with so much force it knocks the breath out of me. Everyone gasps, and I know without looking that all my teammates are ready to jump in and beat the crap out of LeMahieu, but before anyone can, someone else does and none of us would have expected it.
Stepping in between LeMahieu and I, the 6'7" figure of Aaron Judge towers over him. "Who the fuck do you think you are. I may be your teammate and all, but no real man would EVER lay their hands on a girl the way you just did. That is just downright disrespectful and I would punch you so hard right now if I didn't have the amount of self control that I do. Umps, you can't just let that slide, neither can you, coach." Aaron looks around at everyone before spinning around and reaching his hand out to me.
Gladly, I take his hand and he pulls me back up to my feet with no trouble at all. "I'm sorry, you don't deserve to be treated like that. Nice hit by the way, you're amazing at what you do any no matter what anyone says you deserve to be here just as much as all of us." He smiles an amazingly bright smile down at me, making me blush and smile back.
"Thank you so much, but you didn't need to defend me like that." By now the game is stopped because the Umps and coaches are talking about what to do about LeMahieu. The teams have gone back to the dugouts and only Aaron and I are left talking alone by second base.
"Of course I did. No girl deserves to be touched like that. Especially not one as beautiful as you are." He winks at me and laughs, before looking down and kicking the dirt at his feet. A serious look spreads out across his facial features, and I can tell he is thinking about something. "Look, I never thought I'd get the chance to say this to you, but I think you are the most gorgeous and talented girl I've ever met. I know we play on rival teams and rarely see each other but I really would like to get to know you. Even if it's only just a little bit, because I would never forgive myself if I didn't at least try."
A smile spreads onto my face from ear to ear. "I'd love that, Aaron, I really would."
"Meet me in the parking lot and we will get ice cream after the game, okay beautiful? See you after." He points at me and laughs as he jogs back to his dugout, and I make my way back to mine.
"Getting a little friendly with Judge?" Andrew laughs at me and punches my shoulder. I glare at him for a second before looking across to the Yankees dugout, seeing Aaron already looking over here. I pray the rest of the game goes quickly because I already can't wait to see him again.
I truly do believe that despite the rivalry and distance, this could be the start of something amazing.
