“PLAY
BALL”
By Diane LeJeune
Excerpt from Chapter Two: The Most Difficult Play in Baseball
I
will never forget Danny’s first baseball game.
He was so animated. I think he
was even more excited about this game than he was about starting Kindergarten. His #9 jersey was light blue and the team
wore blinding, white baseball pants. He
had his glove, his hat, his dark blue socks pulled all the way above his knees,
and his new black, rubber cleats on as he ran onto the small baseball field; on
this first Saturday in April, he was ready to “play ball.”
I knew this kid was meant to be a ball player. He was motivated and focused unlike most of the five year olds running around in the outfield playing tag. Then it happened: early in the game, I believe it was the third inning, Danny made an unbelievable, defensive play.
Danny was playing short stop. He was set in the ready position a bit closer to second base than to third. He was just over the pitcher’s shoulder on the right. The game was tied at 18-18. There were no outs in the top of the third inning with five year old baseball players on first and second bases.
The batter hit a hard, line drive shot straight to Danny. Danny, without flinching or hesitating, held his breath, did not blink an eye, lifted his glove shoulder height and caught the line drive with total confidence. Out one! He quickly looked to his left, took a few steps over and stepped on second base since the runner had already taken off to third base and did not tag up. Out two! Danny then, with his glove, tagged the little runner coming from first base who had not gone back to tag up as well. Out three!
I knew this kid was meant to be a ball player. He was motivated and focused unlike most of the five year olds running around in the outfield playing tag. Then it happened: early in the game, I believe it was the third inning, Danny made an unbelievable, defensive play.
Danny was playing short stop. He was set in the ready position a bit closer to second base than to third. He was just over the pitcher’s shoulder on the right. The game was tied at 18-18. There were no outs in the top of the third inning with five year old baseball players on first and second bases.
The batter hit a hard, line drive shot straight to Danny. Danny, without flinching or hesitating, held his breath, did not blink an eye, lifted his glove shoulder height and caught the line drive with total confidence. Out one! He quickly looked to his left, took a few steps over and stepped on second base since the runner had already taken off to third base and did not tag up. Out two! Danny then, with his glove, tagged the little runner coming from first base who had not gone back to tag up as well. Out three!
All three boys were out and in one amazing play, the inning was over. Danny had made an unassisted triple play; the most difficult thing to do in the game of baseball. It was a baseball miracle. Our family went crazy and the crowd screamed wild. It was an awesome play that happens just once in a lifetime. Danny, of course, had made the play at five years old and in his very first baseball game. This was, we hoped, a sign of things to come.
First Draft
© 2012 Feeling Good Entertainment, LLC
& Diane Carter LeJeune
You're a very good writer. How fun!
ReplyDeleteWell, thanks Denise. I hope that you're enjoying these memories!
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