A Choose Up Game: One of My Best Games
The teams were picked, and the lineups were announced. I was batting third, and I could not wait to hit. For me, hitting was like eating for a fat man with a tapeworm; I lived for the experience. I knew, even before I stepped up to the plate, that I would get a hit. I was young and brimming with confidence!
After the first two guys on my team made outs, I strolled up to the plate, as confident as Babe Ruth, pointing to center field in the 1934 World Series when he called his famous home run. Digging in and sneering at Donnie, the pitcher, I was determined to smack that ball. The first pitch was a high and tight fastball.
I stepped out of the batter’s box and stared at Donnie. I was thinking fastball for his next offering, and I was right. The ball came in looking huge, and I could even see the red seams on it. Boom! I connected perfectly on that sweet spot on the bat. All batters love that sound’the crack that resonates so solidly. Pitchers hang their heads when they hear that noise; it’s like the strike of chalk on a blackboard’they hate it. The ball jumped off my bat and sailed over the heads of the left and center fielders. It was a shot and a half!
As I rounded the bases, I caught a glimpse of Mr. Ginsburg, the high school coach, watching me make my way around. This felt like Major League stuff.
A Few Innings Later…
As I prepared to bat for the second time, I noticed how much more determined Donnie looked. His brow was crimped, and his eyes were locked onto me. With a runner on first base, he was pitching from the stretch. His leg glided toward home, his arm raised high, and he flung the ball at me. I couldn’t tell what kind of pitch he threw, but what I do know is that I hit a rocket about 15 feet over the third baseman’s head, down the left field line. As the ball rolled and rolled, I scampered around the bases as if I was being chased by an animal. I could see home plate in my mind as I ran.
As I rounded second base, I saw Coach Ginsburg again, now watching the outfielders race after the ball. I hit third base with authority and sped home for my second round tripper in two at-bats. My teammates congratulated me, and the stands buzzed with excitement. I remember my friends jumping up and down, their big smiles lighting up the field.
I felt wonderful. Two times at bat, two home runs, against our high school star pitcher. This game was a fantasy baseball dream come true. That day, I was Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Willie Mays all rolled into one.
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