March 30th, 2022
Lee is set to make his debut against the Sharks at Challengers Stadium. He has performed well in spring training at both the plate and on the field, going 15-25 (.600) with 2 home runs. The odds of making the playoffs are against the team, though.
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As I stepped out onto the field, the crowd roared. For a few seconds, it felt like I was the greatest ballplayer in the world. I ran out of the dugout and over to everyone else in the starting lineup who was called up already, including Fernando, Jake, and Mike. I gave everyone a high-five, saying, "Let's go, boys," as I made my way to the end of the line. A few more starters on our team were called up before the Pledge of Allegiance was sung. After that, it was time to play ball.
I had mixed feelings about the season, but I did my best to keep my composure despite what the sportswriters predicted about our future performance. I didn't care much about money or fame- I just wanted to play the game I loved to play.
I ran out into center field. The crowd erupted again and continued to cheer me on. I took off my cap as I had done multiple times in the month as a showing of respect; the fans were being so nice. However, I couldn't count on anyone's opinion. My performance was in my own hands.
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The game remained scoreless for 7 innings. We had racked up 5 hits, but we hadn't been able to turn it into runs. That is, until the bottom half of the seventh.
Mike Harris led off and sent a solo shot deep into the left-center seats- 1-0. Second baseman Mark Jones fought to a 3-2 count and got the pitcher to miss high above the strike zone for a walk. Ortiz popped out to the second baseman, which brought the lineup back around to me. The team's manager, Jon Jackson, had put me in the leadoff position in the lineup.
I had another good opportunity to deliver here. I had surprisingly gone 0-3, all of them flyouts. I kept to my routine and took a deep breath before putting my front foot in the batter's box. It was time to do some damage.
I got ahead in the count early and worked it to 2-1. I called time to gather myself. Just hit the ball, I thought.
That's the exciting part of this game- again, almost anything can happen.
Crack. I swung and could tell I had hit it well. I looked up to find the ball soaring towards right, the opposite field. It became pandemonium at the stadium as the ball landed several rows back from the right field wall. I gave the first base coach a big high-five as I rounded 1st.
I had come in clutch in a moment when more action was needed. It almost seemed hopeless and that the other team would win eventually. But that didn't matter. We still had time to win, and we did it. The closer, Sam Parker, pitched a scoreless ninth inning to achieve the opening day win. Needless to say, we were excited about winning our first game of the season. We celebrated in the team clubhouse for a few hours before everyone began to leave.
I came home happy but exhausted from the day's game. I entered the driveway with my mother there waiting for me.
"I'm so proud of you," she said with a smile as I opened the door to my car.
"I just hit it," I replied, "the ball and the wind did the rest of the work." We both laughed before she pulled me in for a hug.
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