It was the top of the seventh inning. If we don't make something happen here, it really will be game over.
I took my practice swings seriously, trying to focus on keeping speed with the pitcher on the mound. It's been some time since I had to concentrate this hard on batting right. Good thing I still practiced every time we were at The Cages.
I paused to watch Noah's at-bat, hoping he would get on base. He swung and missed on the first two pitches, unable to keep up with the fastball. The pitcher threw a curve, breaking away from Noah's swing, but the edge of his bat made contact. The ball dribbled down the first baseline as Noah took off sprinting. The first baseman scooped the slow grounder up and tagged the base before Noah could get there.
The West Valley fans got loud as they were one out closer to being crowned the champions.
Noah came back and Kelvin stepped up. I watched as Noah took his glove out of his bag as he sat down, like he knew we were going to be able to take the field one more time.
I gripped the new bat in my hands a little tighter and took a few more serious swings. I stayed focused until I heard the sound of a bat hitting the ball. I whipped my head to the field and saw that he was able to hit a grounder as well. But to the shortstop, who fielded it easily. Two outs.
The fans were stomping, clapping, and yelling as Garret stepped up to the plate.
I swallowed a lump in my throat and stood against the dugout fence with the rest of my teammates.
"Come on, Garret!"
"You can do it!"
Garret was in the lefty's box, facing us. He grinned just before getting into the box. He pulled his bat back in a slow manner like it weighed a few extra pounds.
The pitcher squinted at his catcher's signs. Nodded. Got set. Started his motion.
"Strike!" The umpire yelled.
Garret didn't even swing. He just watched it go by. The crowd got louder. Only two strikes away.
The catcher gave the ball back to his pitcher. The pitcher got set once more, nodded at the pitch selection, then started his delivery.
Garret took a step forward almost at the same time. He timed his swing well making a solid connection as that fastball came in. The ball came off the bat, going down the left field line.
"Get up!"
"Stay fair!"
"Go! Go!"
My teammates started to yell and jump up and down as we watched the ball soar. It barely cleared the wall. But it still made it! Home run! Tie game!
There was a roar through the crowd as Garret ran the bases, practically skipping. He tagged home plate and ripped his helmet off. "Let's gooo!"
The crowd responded with chants of his name, drowning out the West Valley fans.
The whole team swarmed around Garret as soon as he entered the dugout. They pushed him around with such excitement, that you would almost think that we had won the game.
Zeke was there to remind us that we had not. "It's not over yet! Let's make that homerun worth it!"
"YEAH!" The echo resounded throughout the dugout.
With the bat in hand, I moved to the hole spot just beside the dugout entrance.
Garret tapped the top of my helmet. "What did I tell ya??!"
I grinned, the excitement felt contagious.
Garret got pulled away by the guys on the team, still celebrating.
No one lost their excitement. Even when Julian grounded out to third to end our offense.
I hurried back to my bag to change out my gear.
Before taking the field, Zeke held us back for a minute. "I know we're all riding high from tying the game, but it's not over yet. Don't get carried away. We have to hold them here." He looked directly at Dave. "No walks. Don't be afraid to let the ball fly."
Dave nodded. "Kelvin and I talked it over." He smiled. "Better not let them drop."
With that, we took the field, getting into position.
Dave started with batter number five. I could tell Dave was doing his best to switch up the speed and aim for good corner spots in the strike zone. On a 2-2 count, the batter launched the ball up. It flew to center field, falling into the glove of Zeke who only had to jog a few feet forward. This is probably what he meant by letting the ball fly.
Grounders could sneak through spots of the infield and turn into singles and doubles. With the ball in the air, it wasn't hard for players to get under them and make the catch. The only thing I worry about it though, is that I don't want them to fly over the outfield fence. That would mean game over.
My fear came too soon from batter six, he crushed the ball to dead center. I could only watch as Zeke chased it down, jumped, and slam into the outfield wall.
"Oo." The crowd gasped.
The hit didn't faze Zeke for a second. He had to do it to make the catch. He got the ball out of his glove and threw it in to Noah. "Two outs!"
"Two outs!!" Noah said energetically, giving the ball to Dave on the mound.
Dave smiled before facing the next batter. This was the batter who had smacked a double off of him when Dave first came into the game. Dave couldn't get the ball pass him, watching a few foul balls go down the line. On the fifth pitch, the seventh batter got a good hold of it, hitting it in my direction.
But it was a high line drive. I jumped with all my might, but came up empty handed. I quickly turned around, just in time to see Mahki sprinting in and laying flat out to make a diving grab. He fell onto the grass and slid forward, before hopping up and showing off the ball in his glove.
"Out!"
We did it! We defended the tie and now get another chance to bat in extra innings!
I smiled like the rest of the team as we hustled back to the dugout.