Slugger (Sequel to 'The Jet') Benny Rodriguez

Chapter 22

Sitting in the dugout, sporting an Oakland Athletics jersey and hat, you were figiting nervously whilst listening to the coach give you directions.

"You get to throw the first pitch. Now if you can get it as accurately as you practiced, it will be sure to make all the papers tomorrow." He said, patting you on the shoulder. This was it, your first event. You were more than anxious to say the least. The way your palms were sweating with the pressure of how tightly you'd clenched your fists. The shaky feeling racking through your neck and shoulders that made you feel a bit unsteady.

"So what happens after this? If I get in all the papers and stuff, what next?" You tried to shift the subject from the current time, and to what may come after. Perhaps it could help to calm your brain down a little bit.

"Well, then it means we're in business. You'll be Oakland's golden girl. We gotta come up with a cool nickname for you though. Kinda like Benny, his is 'The Jet'." He told you as though you'd not heard his nickname a million times, and spoken it more.

"Yes, I know. But what would mine be?" You kept talking faster by the minute, and your breathing also increased. You were very nervous, as pitching was not your forté, and if you messed up, it could ruin the entire plan for your 'career'.

"Hey, Elzwerner... You need some water or something? You're as pale as a ghost." He asked, his hand landing on your shoulder in concern.

"I'm fine, I'm just... not as good a pitcher is all." You admitted. He nodded, but didn't know what to do to make you feel better, but he knew who did.

"Rodriguez! Get over here will ya?" He shouted down the row. All the guys were sitting and having a conversation together, but Benny was quick to shoot up out of his seat and jog down the line.

"Yes sir?" He asked sweetly. He didn't even notice your anxiety filled state, sitting on the bench beside him, not until the coach pointed it out.

"Help her out will ya? She's getting cold feet." He told Benny.

Your husband instantly knelt beside you and took your hand in his, kissing your knuckles and leaning close to you to help you with whatever was wrong.

"I don't have cold feet. I'm just.... not a good pitcher. I can only get sixty five at best, and my accuracy is only on point about theory percent of the time. I wish I could just hit one. I know for sure I could crack one up." You muttered, rambling softly though they could hear every year.

Benny and the coach looked at each other as if they had the same lightbulb idea at the same time.

"Is it too late to change the commentators opening script?" Benny asked him.

"Not if I go right now. I'll be right back, ask Rowan to pitch for her and get her a bat." The coach said, leaving quickly out of the dugout.

"You want mine or do you want the thirty one inch?" Benny turned back to you, smiling through his question.

"Thirty nine inch, just incase. And tell Rowan to give me the hard curve." You responded with a smirk. He smirked right back at you, standing and rushing around to alert Adam about having to pitch, and to find you your Louisville Maplewood bat.

You stood up, shaking off the nerves you had from thinking you were going to pitch. Now you would be just fine, for you knew it was like clockwork everytime you took the plate. Baseball was life, and you were good at it. Real good.

You stepped up on the bar to see the crowd. It was massive. Every game in this stadium always was, because people can far and wide to see Benny the jet play. Now they were about to see his partner in crime take the field as well, and they had no idea. You heard voices yelling your name, so you looked over to see yours and Benny's mom, holding signs with yours and Benny's names on them. Little Eva was dressed in a to my version of her daddy's jersey as was Vivi. Vivi sat on Your mother's lap and Eva stood in a seat, waving her little arms when she saw you.

You smiled and waved back at them, blowing a kiss to your sweet little baby girl.

You backed off the rail and climbed down into the dugout. Adam Rowen, number 27, came strolling up to you, a ball in his gloved hand.

"You sure you want the curve?" He asked mischievously. You rolled your eyes and nodded.

"Yes, and make it low. I wanna see how far I can drive it." You replied, turning to face Benny, who was running up to you with your bat. You'd had this bat since you played with the sandlot boys, and you adored it to pieces.

You grabbed the bat and squeezed the handle a few times, trying to get a good feel for it since you didn't have any time to warm up. It didn't matter, you knew the pitch you were getting, so you wwere perfectly fine to strut out and hit one.

The coach was the last one to approach you, and wasted no time in making himself known.

"Alrighty, script is changed.... You better whack the shit outta this ball." He told you, partly joking. Everyone was now counting on you to make this hit, and make it good. "Now get out there."

You took in a deep breath. You could do this. You knew you could. Adam smacked your back before running out onto the field, embracing the cheering screams of his fans. He went to the mound and started throwing a few practice pitched with the catcher.

You seemed disctracted, for you almost forgot you also had to take the field.

"You're gonna blow em all away. You always do." Benny said from beside you, kissing your cheek and smiling before pushing you up the steps and onto the green.

You stumbled out a bit before turning back to him and shaking your head and smiling like an idiot. You mouthed the words 'I love you' before turning and running to the plate, your bat rested on your shoulder.

"I love you too, mi amor." He whispered to himself as he stood in the dugout.

-

After you nearly busted the ball into the second level of the stadium, making the hit a homerun, you went back into the dugout, watching the game intently. You'd never gotten to watch Benny from the dugout before, as normally friends and family were out behind the dugout in a special viewing area. This is so much better. Being on the same level of Benny and watching him play felt so surreal, and it reminded you so much of watching him play at the sandlot.  He had of course gotten better with every day he played, making him practically professional by now, even though he was considered the rookie.

By the ninth inning, it was pretty clear that the Oakland Athletics were the winners of this game, and when it finally ended, everyone around was cheering.

You were all having a great time, romping around in the dugout, but now it was time for fans.

All the players came out and stood on top of the dugout, letting the fans come and get autographs and Polaroid pictures taken with them. You only went straight to your girls, hugging them and letting Eva tell you all about the game.

While Benny was in the middle of signing things, he thought he'd heard his name being called. He looked around but didn't see anyone. He stopped to take a picture with another fan, but as soon as the camera flashed, he heard it again.

"Benjamin? Is that you?" I turned around to see a girl about my age with a quizzical look on her face.