It was a scorching late July day in Hammond, Louisiana, and I was drenched in sweat as if I had just taken a dunk in the community pool across the park. The game was just about to begin; my team and I were eagle eyeing the opposing team, otherwise known as “The Bomb Squad.” It was so quiet that I could hear my own sweat hitting the bench.
The umpire broke up everyone’s concentration by yelling, “Play Ball!” We were considered the home team, and our defense stormed the cherished diamond. After nodding off the first three signals from the catcher, Nate went into his wind up throwing a heater to the “Bombers” leadoff batter. WACK!! Resounded throughout the park as the Bomber’s bat connected and sent a laser right to me, and I ran and touched …show more content…
Wyatt was up next; he hadn’t had a good day – his only time up to bat he struck out looking. The Bomber’s pitcher was playing with him shaking off pitching signals, but Wyatt hung in and watched the first ball bounce off the plate. Wyatt stepped back and stretched, eyed the pitcher and the scoreboard. He stepped back up to the plate and watched two balls sail by him. The count was 3 balls and no strikes. The pitcher nodded after getting a new signal from the catcher and a 78 mph fast ball flew over the plate and the umpire yelled, “Strike One!” Wyatt stepped out of the box; after taking a few practice swings, he stepped back in the box readying his stance. The pitcher had his next pitch; it was right down the middle, but Wyatt was caught watching. “Strike Two!!” yelled the umpire. The crowd took a deep breath; the excitement and anticipation were tangibles. The whole season came down to one pitch – one pitch. The count was full – 3 balls and 2 strikes. The nervous energy vibrated through the stands, the dugouts, and the field – everywhere but in the box. Wyatt sifted his feet in the box, and drew the bat back, and eyed the pitcher . . . waiting. The pitcher had his signal. It seemed we were suddenly dropped into a movie and everything was in slow motion. The pitcher went into his wind up and let it rip. Wyatt swung; “SMACK!” The ball flew over the outfielders’ heads and the fence and abruptly came to a halt in the middle of the parking lot in someone’s windshield. Jack, and then Wyatt jogged around the bases for the winning run. The scoreboard read
The umpire broke up everyone’s concentration by yelling, “Play Ball!” We were considered the home team, and our defense stormed the cherished diamond. After nodding off the first three signals from the catcher, Nate went into his wind up throwing a heater to the “Bombers” leadoff batter. WACK!! Resounded throughout the park as the Bomber’s bat connected and sent a laser right to me, and I ran and touched …show more content…
Wyatt was up next; he hadn’t had a good day – his only time up to bat he struck out looking. The Bomber’s pitcher was playing with him shaking off pitching signals, but Wyatt hung in and watched the first ball bounce off the plate. Wyatt stepped back and stretched, eyed the pitcher and the scoreboard. He stepped back up to the plate and watched two balls sail by him. The count was 3 balls and no strikes. The pitcher nodded after getting a new signal from the catcher and a 78 mph fast ball flew over the plate and the umpire yelled, “Strike One!” Wyatt stepped out of the box; after taking a few practice swings, he stepped back in the box readying his stance. The pitcher had his next pitch; it was right down the middle, but Wyatt was caught watching. “Strike Two!!” yelled the umpire. The crowd took a deep breath; the excitement and anticipation were tangibles. The whole season came down to one pitch – one pitch. The count was full – 3 balls and 2 strikes. The nervous energy vibrated through the stands, the dugouts, and the field – everywhere but in the box. Wyatt sifted his feet in the box, and drew the bat back, and eyed the pitcher . . . waiting. The pitcher had his signal. It seemed we were suddenly dropped into a movie and everything was in slow motion. The pitcher went into his wind up and let it rip. Wyatt swung; “SMACK!” The ball flew over the outfielders’ heads and the fence and abruptly came to a halt in the middle of the parking lot in someone’s windshield. Jack, and then Wyatt jogged around the bases for the winning run. The scoreboard read