Tangled in South Park

Spring Break: Unwanted Encounter

*The Next Day*

"Come on boys," I breath out, holding my clasped hands up to my mouth.

Not every game is going to be easy, and we all know that. That is the point of the cheering squad. Momentum is a dangerous tool that can change the entire tide of a game. That is why we cheer on our boys as hard as possible. That is why we send out as much positive energy their way as we can. That is why we believe in them even when it doesn't seem like anything is going their way.

Right now, the game is in the top of the seventh tied at four runs. The boys are up to bat with Stan on Third, Clyde on second, two outs and Kenny is up to bat. I have a lot of faith in Kenny to bring in at least one run. Give us that cushion as we go into the bottom of the inning. That we can pull ahead to win this game in spectacular fashion.

"Come on Kenny," I lean forward, waiting for the pitch to come soaring down to home plate.

The pitch comes, looking perfect from wearing I'm sitting, and Kenny must think so to as he steps into his swing. He puts all his power behind this one, sending it right down the third baseline. Right pass the third baseman that can't move quick enough to stop it, and it races into the outfield where there is no one around to get it. Stan easily touches home, and Clyde races by to collect the second run. Kenny stops at third as the outfielder is finally able to grab and send the ball back infield.

The stands are going wild as we are doing anything to cheer on the boys that just brought us ahead. I'm shouting out to Kenny as he is widely smiling, looking over at the stands. He knows that he's helped the team big time with those two runs. Now the momentum is on our side.

"That was amazing," Red plops back down on the bleacher.

"There's a reason that Kenny is in the batting position," Nicole takes a deep breath. "He can bring in runs like no one else, and we needed those runs."

"Oh, he knew that," I take a big gulp of water. "He thrives off that kind of pressure, I think."

"We just have to hope that Stan can get us through a few more innings without giving up more runs," Wendy sighs. "This team is fighting with all they have, and that is a bit scary for us."

"The momentum has shifted over to us, which is the best thing that could have happened during this inning."

"Clyde is what set us up to even get those two runs," Bebe scoffs.

"All the boys worked together to get those two runs," Krystal says. "You don't have to put your boyfriend up onto a pedestal."

"Come on Butters!" I call out with Red.

Butters is able to get a hit, but they get the out at first easily, ending the inning and sending us into the stretch. All of us get up, listening as some kid sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" to give everyone a moment to stretch out their muscles.

"We can do this," I reach down to touch my toes, feeling my lower back stretch out. "I don't know how much my back can take sitting on these bleachers, but anything for those boys."

"Is everyone ready to chant for Stan when he comes out to the mound?" Wendy asks.

The bottom of the seventh goes by without much trouble. Stan is able to get the three outs easily, which means there's only six more outs for us to secure. The eighth goes by with no runs gained for either side, and then the top of the nineth goes by without being able to add to our lead. It doesn't matter though. All we have to do is get three more outs and we win. We've done all we can to get more runs, and now we have to trust in the boys to get three outs.