Champions

The season was winding down. It was my last game as an Oriole in Cass City Little League. Our team had been successful all season and it had shown, we were in the championship. It was the day before the game and we were having our final practice before the big day. Everyone on the team was excited to see what the outcome would be. At this point in our lives it was the biggest game we had ever got a chance to play in and we wanted to make it count.

After a sleepless night, and a long day of school it was finally game day. It had been overcast all day and everyone was hoping we would be able to play the game. We got our uniforms on and took the field. I was the pitcher for the game against the Red Sox coached by one of my former coaches and playing against a long time teammate that got traded that year. At this time though it was all about winning. My dad being my coach and my cousin both gave me a pep talk before the game and I was ready. I pitched two scoreless innings before the rain came. We sat in the dugout waiting for it to pass, but it never did. The game got postponed tell tomorrow. At this point we were in a bind I wouldn't be able to pitch if we played tomorrow so we hoped for the rain to keep coming down.

The next day came I immediately woke up and ran to the window. The rain had not stopped all night and the chances for another delay was looking good. Later over the intercom at school they announced the game had been once again postponed to tomorrow. A sigh of relief came over me and I once again began to prepare myself for the next day. Another sleepless night and a long day at school had passed and it was game time once again. When I was warming up there coach watched with anticipation. Then I toed the rubber on the mound. He blew up. He argued that i couldn't pitch due to my pitch count, yet it was legal and he had to deal with it. I knew at this point we had won the intimidation factor of the game and mentally scored another run.

The game went on and it was the final inning. We were still up two to nothing when the final batter for there team came up. They had a running at first and the batter was my teammate from last year. I had to take a deep breath to calm my nerves before this happened. He was the best hitter in the league, and I was nervous. The first pitch was thrown and it was a strike. The rest of the pitches I threw were a blur. I just remember throwing the nastiest curve ball for strike three. The whole team charged the mound. That day ended in a picture a pitcher of me my dad and my cousin holding the trophy and throwing up some number ones. The picture still hangs in our garage today and brings back these great memories.