I nod fully understanding what he’s saying. “Thanks, man, and thanks for the hitting tips today. I really appreciate your time.” It’s a relief that hopefully in a little time my batting average will go higher. It’s the only thing I’ve been struggling with since being bumped up.
Brisk smiles. “We’re teammates and that’s what teammates do. Now, let’s go win a ball game.”
The team retreats to the club house to change for the game and grab a little something to eat.
Jaylinn, Eli, and Fallon are coming to today’s game. I promised to get Fallon tickets and even let her pick out the date of the game she wanted to come to. Then she pleaded her case on where we should go to dinner. I kind of wanted to just go to dinner with Jay, spend a little alone time together, but once Fallon said ‘pretty please’ I was done. The girl’s got me wrapped around her finger.
I know Jaylinn hasn’t had a lot of time to hang out with Fallon lately either. She’s been helping Eli at Fierce a lot so I know she’s excited about spending time with her today. Earlier in the week I sent three of my jerseys home so they’d all have one to wear. I didn’t want them wearing the normal t-shirts that they can get from the store. Jaylinn’s was specially made with Mrs. Cahill on the back instead of just Cahill. She got a kick out of that but complained that it wasn’t made for pregnant girls. She put it on, snapped a picture and sent it to me. It didn’t look bad just a little tight around the hips because of the baby bump. I told her I still wanted her to wear it so she agreed but she’d wear it her way. Whatever, as long as she wore it.
Both teams head to the field to start warming up and stretching. I head to the bullpen to warm up Joely Rodriguez, the young Dominican lefty, who will be starting today’s game.
“How you feel today, Rody?”
The first pitch is strong. “I feel like a million bucks after that rib eye last night. It’s not every day that happens.”
Since we aren’t in the major leagues we don’t get all the luxuries they do, let alone their salaries. “I could not agree with you more, man. Let’s get this win tonight we can’t let these guys come in our house and sweep us!”
Rody gets through his warm ups and the announcer starts calling each player’s name to take the field. When he’s done, the players run out to their positions and remove their ball caps. The announcer comes on to introduce a thirteen-year-old Girl Scout who sings the most beautiful National Anthem followed by the two words that we wake up every day to hear, “PLAY BALL!!”
The announcer turns over the broadcast to play-by-play announcers Nick Crawford and Tommy Huton. Rody toes the rubber as the first batter, Jemile Weeks, digs in the fresh batter’s box. I reach down and run my hands through a chalk line in the batter’s box to help whiten my fingers so Rody can see them better when I give the signs.
I throw down the fast ball command and Rody rocks and fires the ball home right down the middle for strike one. I call for the next pitch a fast ball, up and inside. Rody delivers for ball one. Rody goes for the windup and delivers a change up and Weeks swings over the top of the ball for strike two.
One ball, two strikes. Rody delivers a slider down and away and catches a corner of the plate for a third strike.
One out now and the next batter, Bradley, takes the box. Rody with a nice pitch low in the zone gets the ground ball for the second out.
The power hitter for the Paw Sox, Oritz, takes a sign from his third base coach and steps into the box. I deliver a sign to Rody and he winds up and delivers a ball down low in the zone. Pitch two is now on the way and he throws a beautiful back door curve ball that starts way inside and catches the back corner of the plate. A perfect pitch and perfect location, the only thing a hitter can do with a pitch like that is saw off the batter as that pitch would have been right on the hands of Oritz.
Oritz takes a huge swing at the next pitch and just gets under it popping it up to the infield for the third out of the inning. Rody makes quick work of the first inning retiring all three batters. We go into the bottom of the first with the score of zero-zero.
Rody walks off the mound and as he enters the dugout the team is there to high-five him. “That’s what I am talking about! Way to bring the heat.”
With one out, Montz takes the first pitch. It’s a ninety MPH fast ball that Henson hammers right back up the middle for a base hit. We’ve got something going now with a runner on and one out.
Maikel Franco, the big third baseman, is next. He watches the first pitch for strike one. The next pitch fires a curve ball that misses inside for a ball. Franco swings at the pitch and hits a double down the left field line. We have runners at second and third with one out.
Jordan Brink is up. A lot is riding on his strength in his legs. Brisk hits a long fly ball to deep left center on the third pitch but the left fielder is camped underneath. Two outs and one run in.
Russ Canzler is up next. He swings at the first pitch and hits a line drive out to the third basemen for the third out of the inning.
The first inning we lead one to nothing. It’s a start we need.
The top of the second the Sox couldn’t score so we’re still leading one to nothing.
I’m up to bat at the bottom of the second. I dig one foot into the batter’s box and look down to get a sign from the third base coach. The first pitch is down the middle for strike one. I gather myself and climb back in the box.
Deep breath, Coop.
The second pitch comes and I try to hit the ball knowing damn well that I shouldn’t have tried on that one. Now I’m frustrated.
Someone from the dugout yells, “Hey!”
I glance over and see Brisk pointing to his own head followed by saying, “Let’s go.” It’s a universal sign reminding me to use your head and stay within myself.
I dig back in and on the third pitch I hammer it to center field for a base hit. “Finally,” I mumble to myself.
Duran is up next. He lays down a horrible bunt, luckily for him I got a fantastic jump on the ball and make it to second easily as the catcher picks up the ball and throws out Duran at first for the first out.
The boys’ high-five Duran for doing his job and getting me over to second base.
Nick Davidson is up next. The pitches wind up being a ball but I straight steal. The Catcher pops out of the box and fires the ball to third trying to get me out but throws the ball too high and it sails over the head of the out stretched arm of the third baseman. It rolls down the left field line, I pop up and break for home and score easily on the error by the Soxs.
We’re now leading two to nothing.
I trot to the dugout and get greeted by attaboys and slaps on the ass for the hustle on the bases.
Brisk looks at me, “Like every pitch is your last, kid, attaboy.”
“Thanks, man.”
At the top of the third we’re struggling. Rody gives up a ball ending in the Sox scoring. I call a time out and head to the pitcher’s mound.
“How do you want to go after Brentz?”
Rody is frustrated but determined. “Let’s stay inside and low and see if we can’t get him to roll over on a ball.”
“Okay, let’s roll!”
I settle in and Rody delivers one strike after another hitting his corners and striking out Brentz to end the inning.
As the team gets to the dugout the pitching coach looks at Rody and says, “Good work. Way to show some mental toughness out there. How’s the arm feel?”
Rody nods. “Good.”
“Okay, you’re back out there next inning. Keep battling.”
We battle it out for the next several innings, each giving up a few hits but never sending anyone home to score until the eighth inning. The Sox now lead three to two.
What an amazing performance by the team today, down by one and we score two runs late in the eighth to take the lead and win the ball game.
I got the game ball today, with two huge hits and scoring two of the three runs today. When we wrap up and reach the dugout there are a few young kids waiting. “Cooper, Cooper!” They shout.
A young boy holds out his Iron Pigs’ baseball cap. I look over and say, “I will do you one better, kid. What’s your name?”
“James,” the little boy replies.
I reach to the bat rack and pull out my bat. I scribble ‘To James my favorite fan’ with my signature under that.
Brisk pulls up beside him. He takes one of the hats from another little boy and starts to sign it. “This is what it is all about right here…the kids, never forget that.”
I glance over towards Fallon and nod in understanding. We sign a couple more autographs for each of the kids there and retreat to the club house.
“Thank you, Brisk, for everything. I learned more today about the game than I have the past few years. I owe you one.”
Brisk replies, “You just make sure you make it to the big show so you can come catch for us in the big leagues…that will be thanks enough.”
Normally I’d shower and grab something to eat here with the guys but not tonight. I shower quickly, get dressed and out the door. Montz yells out that he’ll knock on the door before he comes back to the room. I keep walking and ignore him. He’s constantly telling me that I’m missing out on all the cleat chasers. I told him he should be thanking me because there are more for him.
I push the door open and the heat hits me in the face again. Damn hundred degree weather is really getting old.
“Uncle Cooper!” Fallon yells running right for me. I drop my bag down and catch her mid-air.
“How you doing, squirt? You have fun at the game?”
She giggles. “Yeah, but you look silly.”
“Silly? How come?”
She rolls her eyes as Eli and Jaylinn reach us. “You’ve got all that stuff on.”
“That’s his gear to keep him safe, remember?” Eli explains to Fallon. “Good job tonight, man.”
“Thanks.”
I set Fallon down and pull Jaylinn into my arms. “Good job, baby.”
I kiss her once on the lips. “Thanks.”
Jaylinn links her fingers with mine and we walk back towards Eli’s car. “You ready for some pizza?”
“Yes!” Fallon cheers.
“Lead the way,” Eli laughs.
When we get to the restaurant Jaylinn takes Fallon to the bathroom to wash her hands. The waitress comes over and we order two beers and two waters.
“So how are things going?” I tread lightly and leave the question kind of open to see where he’ll go with it.
Eli takes a long pull from his beer and sets it back on the table. “Rough.” I pick at the label on the bottle. “Still waiting for Layla to get the justice she deserves,” he clears his throat and shifts in his chair. “Maybe then I’ll get some real closure.”
Brian Hopkins is still sitting in jail awaiting his sentencing. He’s charged with attempted murder and first-degree murder. Eli had a feeling it was him but he didn’t physically see him before he was knocked out. Since Brian already had Layla on the ground and they were a few feet away, someone else was there with them and that person is who hit Eli. Brian is the only one who can answer that question but he refuses to give up the information. He claims he can’t remember who it was because he was too high and drunk. It’s a copout.
“Yeah,” I agree. From what I heard last he still hasn’t been to Layla’s grave since the funeral. Mrs. Del Luca has called Jaylinn a few times since everything went down saying how worried she is about him. He barely eats and hardly leaves the house unless he’s taking Fallon to school or he’s at Fierce. The only person who can get him to do anything is Fallon. Everything right now rises and sets with her. I’m sure it’s got to be hard for Eli. Fallon looks so much like her sister.
He blows out a breath. “It’s so fucking hard, you know? Everywhere I look or go I’m reminded of her. She’s everywhere,” Eli shakes his head. “Fallon and I trashed the treehouse,” he chuckles. “It wasn’t one of my finer moments but when we were done I actually felt a little better.”
“Stress reliever,” I laugh.
“Yeah,” he turns his head to look towards the parking lot. “I miss her.”
I take a drink of my beer needing to give him and myself a second. “I’m sorry, man.”
“Let’s eat.” Fallon shouts as she rounds the corner.
I glance up towards Eli hoping he’ll pull himself together before Fallon notices but a smile is already breaking out across his face.
Jaylinn slides in beside me and wraps her arms around mine.
“What’s it going to be, squirt?”
“Bacon!”
Everyone laughs. “Bacon, it is.”
The waitress comes over to take our order and replaces our beers with fresh ones. Jaylinn asks Fallon how her summer is going and what she’s been up to. Eli and I talk about the next few games I have coming up.
“Oh,” Jaylinn sits backs and puts a hand on the side of her stomach. “Give me your hand.”
I give her my hand and she puts it on the spot where her hand just was. “Give it a second.”
Eli and Fallon are staring at my hand resting on Jaylinn’s stomach and I get a twitch to drum my fingers. When I do it, I feel these little pushes against them. My eyes snap down to her stomach. “Was that…”
Jaylinn smiles and nods.
I do it again and a second later I feel a little push again.
“That is kind of weird,” Eli laughs.
“I want to feel,” Fallon says climbing from the booth and sliding in next to me. I take her hand and place it where mine was.
“The baby is playing. Tap your fingers gently.” Fallon does as I tell her and she quickly yanks it back. “It moved,” she scrunches up her nose.
Jaylinn laughs. “Yeah, the baby has been moving around and kicking a little lately.”
Now I’m obsessed and don’t move my hand until our pizza arrives. It’s amazing how you can already love a baby you have yet to hold in your arms. And it astonishes me to know that Jaylinn’s body is changing to adjust for the baby she’s growing inside her body. It’s like a miracle, her body adapts to growing another human being, and things got squished around to accommodate this little person,
our baby,
growing inside of her.
When we’re done I suggest that we go walk down to the park. I’m not ready to let Jaylinn go already. I settle the tab and we walk out. Fallon and Eli are racing to see who can get to the park the fastest. Of course Eli is letting Fallon win. Jaylinn and I are hanging back taking our time walking hand in hand down the street.