Slugger (Sequel to 'The Jet') Benny Rodriguez

Chapter 20

A few days later, you were sitting in the dugout of the Oakland A's practice field. You were watching Benny play around some with his friends. Benny had said that when they were done, they usually kept the place open an hour more he for locking up. You hadn't hit a baseball in nearly five months. Not a real one at least, for you had been practicing with Eva and her little wiffle ball set. It made you upset to think that you hadn't hit or even caught a ball in the longest time.

Baseball was your life until you met Benny. When you met him he became your life. Now you had two baby girls and they were your life too. They made you so incredibly happy, and brought nothing but joy to you life. Still you felt something was missing, and it was no mystery what that something was. Baseball. You needed to play some to be able to feel like you were in control. You always played baseball to feel close to your dad, and even though he would be so proud of you for all of this, he would also want you to keep yourself planted in your roots. You may have been a girl, a girl that would never be allowed to play professional baseball, but you sure as he'll wouldn't sit around and waste your talent. You couldn't play in the MLB because you we're a girl, no because you weren't good enough.

When practice was over, the boys headed for the showers, leaving you to stand up, and climb out of the dugout. You were wearing Benny's old jersey from when he was younger, along with his green sleeved baseball tee. You wore regular jeans, that were cuffed at the ankle just like when you were a kid, and finished everything off with your favorite pair of shoes, PF Flyers. Guaranteed to make a kid run faster and jump higher.

You had a Dodgers hat tucked under your belt, and didn't put it on until everyone had left, because this was an Oakland Athletics training field after all.

In a spur of the moment thought, you smirked at yourself before tucking the remainder of youer hair into the hat, just for old times sake. It made you feel fourteen again. Made you feel as though you were young, and you and Benny were still just those same kids, sleeping over at each others houses, and going out with your friends to play baseball. You were so innocent back then. So was Benny.

You grabbed your bat, which was actually Benny's bat, and walked out onto the field. The pitching machine was stood at the mound, and you went over to set it. Normally you'd start it on the highest setting you could, but you hadn't hit for a while, so you figured you would warm up. 60 mph seemed to be a good warm up.

Once you'd set it up, you ran to home plate, swinging the bat a few times just to get used to the weight. You took a deep breathe and stepped on the pedal to activate the machine. The metal arm dropped and scooped up a ball and the next moment, it pitched it at you. It came rather slow in your opinion, but you hit it anyway, letting the ball fly like a rocket into the outfield.

You figured you would be okay with a faster pitch, so you walked over and set the machine to 80 mph.

That was the highest that the machine could pitch to you, although if you tried hard enough, you could pitch faster. You went back to the plate, stomping on the pedal instantly, waiting for the pitch.

From the dugout, your movements were watched by the head coach. He didn't always stick around after practice, but he had heard a crack of the bat to a ball and wondered who was still playing. When he saw the jersey he thought he knew who it was. He was the pitch coming, and waited for the swing, when it came, he knew it would be far out, for Benny's power swing was always far better than anyone else on the team.

The ball landed in centerfield, the hit was a line drive, straight down the middle.

You were about to stomp the pedal again, but the coach stopped you.

"Hey Rodriguez!" He shouted, making you jump at the sound. You didn't think anyone was here but you turned around to face him anyways. You couldn't be she if her was talking to you thoigh, so you pointed at yourself, silently asking if he was talking to you.

"Yes, you! Come over here!" He yelled, making an arm movement to bring you closer. You began jogging up to him, and as you got closer he began to see you were definitely not Benny.

"Yes sir?" You asked him, you didn't think you were in trouble, but you didn't want to seem disrespectful anyways.

"Well uh... You are definitely not Benny Rodriguez." He said, scratching his head. He was honestly quite shocked at this point.

"I'm his wife, sir." You explained, taking your hat off and letting your hair fall down to your shoulders.

"Oh yeah, that explains it." He said sarcastically, still in shock of what he just witnessed.

"Benny told me I could but a few after practice was over. He said that everyone usually just leaves." You tried explaining further, but the man still seemed confused.

"Yeah, they do. You know, you hit just like your husband. It's incredible, your swing compared to his is almost identical. I didn't even know you played." He said, chuckling.

"I didn't think you knew I existed." You replied honestly.

"How could I not? Your the only thing the damn kid talks about. You and those girls of yours. He tells us all how he's the luckiest guy around. Sometimes we can't get him to shut up." He joked, but it was true, Benny never shut up about you.

"That sounds like my Benny." You admitted, although when he talked to you, you never wanted him to shut up.

"Yeah, he's a great kid. He's different than the other guys we got here. He's softer, more gentle." He told you, making you smile at the thought. "It's funny, the other guys tease him about it, but they can't even hack it like he can. And apparently like you can."

"I wish. Benny actually taught me power hitting, so I guess that's why our swings are so similar. He definitely can hit harder though." You told him, but he shook his head to you.

"Not from what I just saw." His mind lit up with a lightbulb, and he had what he thought was a great idea.

Now came the question, a simple one that seemed insignificant, but one that the answer to would affect the next several years of your life.

"Would you by any chance be interested in sports advertising?"

Lol wanted to give y'all one final chapter without chaos.... enjoy it while you still can