The Winning Play
Nate
It all started on September 21, 2007 at North Durham fields. North Durham All Stars were playing Virginia All Stars. It was a fall night. I was playing short stop with my best friend on 2nd. I was telling the infield to turn 2. The field lights were on overhead. You could hear the birds flying over and also hear the fans screaming. You could smell the freshly cut grass. I could taste the sunflower seeds in my mouth. I could feel the sweat rolling down my arms into my glove. I kept looking at how big the other team was. I was only 14 and everyone else on the team was 16 or 17.
So it was the bottom of the 9th and we were up 4-3. They had a man at 3rd and 1st. A base hit would win them the game. The pitch count was 3-1, 3 balls and 1 strike. The pitch went and it was a 2-seam fastball. It went straight in the outside corner. As soon as the pitch went, I went to 2nd base to cover if there was a steal. The batter swung and made good contact with it right up the middle.
I dove for it and got it on the second hop. When I dove for it, dirt got in my face and I got a huge cut on my elbow and knee but I kept my eye on the ball. And when I was still on the ground I pitched it to the second baseman, who stepped on the base and then threw it hard to the first baseman. We ran into the dugout and congratulations went around everywhere.
After we shook hands with the other team I felt a bad pain in my left hand. My pinky finger looked way different from my left hand to right. I finally figured out that I broke my pinky. I didn’t realize it because my adrenalin was pumping. I got a splint for it and I forgot about it. After all that happened my team got the big cooler of water and dumped it on our coach. We won the championship! After the game and the celebration we went to my coach's house for a cookout. That was the most memorable moment in my life making the winning play.