The big game was finally here and the team went through it's warm up drills while waiting to take the field. Kelly sat in the stands with some of the other parents; she was disappointed that Bill could not be here to watch.
Kevin finally took the mound and took his warm up pitches; he did not want to give the other team too many looks at his plethora of pitches. He has a fastball that clocks around the mid nineties, a nice breaking curve ball, a hard sinking slider and a circle change to keep hitters off balanced. He was finally warmed up and was ready to face the first batter from the other team.
Kevin struck the guy out and then the next guy as well, the third batter grounded out to the shortstop. If this inning was a sign of things to come this would be a long day for the other team. The first three innings were scoreless for both teams; both pitchers were pitching very well. Kevin was piling up some great stats for the game, five strikeouts so far and he had a base hit.
Jack on the other hand was not fairing too well he struck out swinging his first time up and nearly dropped a routine fly ball. Jack was getting ready in the on deck circle to bat again when the guy leading off the inning hit a double it was up to Jack to try to move him into scoring position. The coach gave him the bunt sign and Jack nodded his acknowledgement of the sign. Instead of laying down a bunt on the ground he watched as the ball bounced off his bat and into the air.
The catcher made a great play and dove to make the catch; the runner on second had already broken for third. The catcher flipped the ball to the pitcher who turned and made a great throw to second for the out. Jack removed his helmet and slammed it down in disgust, as he was walking off the field the umpire threw him out of the game for poor sportsmanship.
"You are out of here!" he shouted.
"What you got to be fucking kidding me!" Jack said turning back around.
"You heard me kid." The ump said.
"Jack, c'mon man." Kevin said pulling him by the arm towards the dugout.
"Fucking bullshit." He muttered allowing his friend to pull him off the field.
Jack sat down in disgust while Kevin took a seat next to him; Kevin sat there quietly for a moment. He always seemed to know what to say when Jack was having a rough time, yet did not know what to say at the moment.
The inning was over and the coach came to the dugout while Kevin ran back out to the pitchers mound. The coach is a large intimidating older man, he was very knowledgeable on the game, and even though he was firm with his players it was more of fatherly type firmness.
"Jack, I never thought I would ever see such an outburst like that from you." He said.
"Yes sir." He replied not wanting to make eye contact.
"Kenny you go take over for Jack on the field, Jack I want you to just sit quietly and watch the rest of the game." He explained. "Think about your little outburst."
"Yes sir." He replied. "Good luck Kenny."
"Thanks Jack." said the kid taking his place.
Kevin continued to progress through the game, it was now the bottom of the seventh and the game was still scoreless. Kevin had already had a great game with twelve strikeouts, one walk and given up only one hit. Now his team was threatening again, this time with two outs and runners on the corners.
Kevin was up to bat; he took his place in the batters box and stood to await the first pitch. The other pitcher was pretty tired he threw a ball, then another and then one that Kevin fouled off. Finally the kid threw a curve that seemed to hang in the strike zone rather than breaking. Kevin swung his bat and crushed the mistake for a long drive to left center, the ball bounced off the wall and the runner on third scored.
In high school baseball they only play seven innings so this was the game winning hit and everyone ran out to congratulate Kevin. The team was now the state champs and they had to hang around the field for team photos. When all the hoopla was done with the coach said they could all ride back with parents or on the bus to the motel. Then get ready to go to the team dinner at a local restaurant.