Gauge and I had been dating for over two years and were still going strong. Gauge was in his senior year of college, and I in the beginning of my junior year. Our schedules were insane; it seemed like we were busy nonstop. I felt like I barely got to see Gauge anymore, but I suppose that's how it went when you were both college students participating in athletic programs.
I pulled my catcher's mask down over my face and squatted behind home plate. We were playing our district rivals today and so far it had been a tough game. We were winning by two points at the moment, but it was the bottom of the 7th, and our opponents had two girls on base; one on first and one on second. We only had one out, so we knew anything was possible.
Our college's baseball team had just joined the crowd, cheering us on loudly. They had just won their game and were hoping for the same outcome for us. Gauge was in the crowd now and I heard him holler out, cheering us on. Our pitcher, and my best friend, Katie, threw two strikes to the batter. Her next pitch came in perfectly and the batter jumped at the chance. I heard the crack of the bat on the ball and saw the ball fly into left field. I knew as soon as it was caught the two girls on base would tag up and be sprinting to the next base. And I also knew that the girl who would be heading to third was VERY fast and would probably try for home.
I was right.
I planted myself in between third base and home and waited as the ball hurdled through the air towards me. The throw was a bit short and I dropped to my knees to catch it- just at the same time that the runner slammed into my left shoulder. I managed to keep hold of the ball, and I heard the umpire shout "OUT!"
That was when it hit me. Searing hot pain flashed through my shoulder and down my arm. I had started to stand up but the pain was enough to buckle my knees again. I clutched at my arm and sat back onto the dirt, tears burning my eyes. Our coaches came jogging out onto the field and knelt down beside me, poking and prodding; only making it worse.
I then heard the only voice that I wanted to hear at that moment, Gauge's. "Babe, you ok?" he asked as he knelt down in the dirt beside me. His face was streaked with dirt, and the remnants of "eye black" was still on his cheeks. His uniform was wet with sweat and had dirt stains all over it. It looked like he had played a hard game.
"This shit hurts..." I muttered in response to his question and he nodded, his eyes worried and solemn. My coach then told me that they needed me to go to the hospital and would call an ambulance. I agreed to going to the hospital but Gauge insisted on driving me there. He had driven his truck to the game. Plus, it would save me the embarrassment of being carted away with flashing lights.
Gauge helped me up onto my feet and we walked off of the field. Even though the game was over, due to that double play, the crowd still remained and clapped as I walked off, making me blush bright red. I hated attention like that. Gauge lifted me into the truck, causing me to grimace a bit in pain.
"You gonna make it, love?" asked Gauge as we headed towards the hospital. I smiled at the question.
"Yes, smart ass, I am sure I will survive," I said in answer and smiled over at him. Over two hours later we walked out of the hospital, my arm in a brand new, very uncomfortable, sling. I had dislocated my shoulder in the collision, and it was fixed now. But damn if it didn't still hurt a whole hell of a lot.
