Friday, the 13th of August, was one of the best nights of my life and when my final pitch blew by the hitter, I fell to my knees and raised my arms in Triumph. Then my teammates crashed into me and I was pig-piled to the ground. We had just won the first Stan Brown tournament ever and Salem’s first multi-city tournament. We had come back and beat the all-girl Rockford Peaches 7-6. Then I pulled myself out from under the pile and stuck my index finger in the air, number 1, we’re number 1!
After they announced my name I charged out of the dugout, pounded across the soft, green grass, and lined-up next to my teammates on the hard dirt, base path. I scanned the crowd taking in all the faces before returning my attention back to my teammates just as Wesley, our catcher charged out of the dugout. Next to me our left fielder, Josh nervously chewed his nails. After both teams had lined up the CD sung national anthem struck-up as we dutifully removed our caps and placed them over our hearts. As we silently wished the song to hurry along so the games could begin. When it finally ended we huddled up, and on the count of three we yelled “SALEM” at the top of out lungs. Then we charged out to our starting positions and waited for the game to begin.
Michael was our starting pitcher. He started out shakily allowing 2 runs in the first inning, but we countered with two of our own on Matty Ryan’s 2 run double. Which quieted their annoying fans in right-center. After that inning, Mike settled down and allowed 1 run over the next two innings, we countered with one of our own on Ricardo’s flying steal of home, tying it back up. Then, the fourth inning came and almost decided the game, and when their player slid into third-base safely on a 2 run triple, that made it 6-3, it looked as if we lost. Mike pulled it together, though and we got out of the inning without further damage, we could not retaliate though.
Then, in the fifth inning I ran out of the dugout and headed for the mound, picking up the game ball in the way. When I reached the mound I toed the pivot-hole to the way I like it, then I started warming up. The ball felt good in my hands. The first batter lined a hard ground ball back to me, which I stabbed with my glove and tossed to the first-baseman for the out. The second batter couldn’t handle it so I put her out of her suffering by striking her out in three straight pitches. Finally, the third one hit a liner to the left side of the mound, which I lunged, dove, and caught before crashing into the ground and getting an enormous grass stain down my front. In the bottom of that inning with the score 6-4 Zach Lebrun stepped up to the plate and smashed a 2 run double into the outfield to tie the game. Then, he took third on a passed ball. Next, against theist best pitcher, Eric lined a single into the outfield that gave us the lead, 7-6. Now, it’s the top of the sixth, were up 7-6 and I’m on the mound. Adrenaline is coursing through my veins, as the first batter works a full count. Then I stepped off and blew on my hands to warm them up. I threw a low fastball, which she checked her swing on, but she went around according to the first base ump. I yelled in excitement. The next batter just can’t keep up, 2 out. I can feel the electricity in the air. Then the next hitter hits a grounder to short, which the shortstop bobbles, runner on first. The hitter keeps fouling pitches off and eventually it’s 2 balls 2 strikes. Finally the fastball flies out of my hand and she whiffs, and you know what happens next, Victory.
After our celebration we shook hands with the other team. Their hands were sweaty, but I guess ours were too. I could feel their disappointment and I almost felt sorry for them. After that we went off to the side and waited for our trophies. When my name was called there was a lot of cheering so I tipped my cap to the fans before taking my trophy. After we all got trophies we took a couple of pictures with our team, then some with the other team. Then we took a victory lap around the field with of trophies, to the delight of the fans and the dismay of the coaches. Then they blasted the stereo and we danced, but the funny thing was that since the tournament had started I envisioned sinking to my knees in victory after winning the championship. When it was time to go, I said goodbye to my friends and teammates and got in my car. As we drove home I thought, “This really is the best night of my life. So far...”
