DWA

 Win

            “And there’s a single to right by the Yankee shortstop Hentzman. Oh wait here come Baker around third trying to beat the throw home. Here it comes, one-hop, the catch, Baker looking for a way to avoid the tag. Oh he absolutely derails Bill Hunter who’s trying to block the plate. Did he hold on? No the Yankees win beating the Brewers 3-2 and win the World Series!”

I feel the Arizona heat fighting the cool breeze coming through my car window. We’ve had Spring Training for the past few weeks, preparing for the first baseball game of the season. My radio plays softly and I think about last season, the play at the plate during the last game of the World Series. How Bill had to be carried off the field. I really want to go back and so does the rest of the team

I pull up to the field in my car as we’re about to start the final spring training session. This is good because I am dying to get back to Miller Park for our home opener next week. Ever since we lost the World Series last season we’ve been itching to go back working harder, getting stronger and staying focused.  We have a good chance again this year since we picked up some minor league prospects after a few guys went into free agency. We’re about to start practice so jump out of my car and grab my equipment. I run onto the field as we begin warm-ups.

Practice seems to go quick today; the usual except for a pep talk for the first game, which we’re all ready to play. Once practice is over I drive back to my house and pack my things. I drive to the airport to fly back to Milwaukee. The flight is easy just a couple hours talking with my teammates in our first class seats, all excited for the first game.

The few days before the first game go fast, a few workouts here and a BP season there. Then final we get to play, a warm afternoon with a sellout crowd, which isn’t surprising since we were just in the World Series. I walk around the field between warm-ups and BP and give some autographs to kids. I remember how I used to miss school to come to home opener with my dad as I step into the cage for BP.

We stand on the first baseline as the anthem plays ready to play. It ends and the first pitch is thrown by a teenage boy probably 16 and the announcer yells “Play Ball!” We run into the dugout grab our gloves and take the field. I dig in at shortstop as our starter Carlos Martinez warms-up on the mound. As the first pitch is about to be thrown I realize our opponent is none other than the Yankees.

The hit comes straight at me and I’m a little slow to react but I make a nice backhand play and throw it to first for the out. The next two batters don’t make it out of the infield and we end with a three up, three down inning. We run into the dugout patting Carlos on the back. I pick up my bat, batting gloves and helmet and stand by the exit of the dugout. I’m the three hitter so I always get to bat in the 1^st inning. Robert our lead-off hits the second pitch for a single. Jeff goes up to bat and strikes out on a nasty curveball. My turn, I walk into the batter’s box and swing at the first pitch and I bomb it over the fence. “Homerun,” the announcer yells. And Bernie goes down the slide. I get back to the dugout and I am congratulated with high-fives and pats on the back.

The inning ends with two straight outs and the game goes on with a few scoreless innings and the Yankees finally score two runs in the top of the 9^th. We couldn’t tie it in the bottom of the inning so we went into extras. Top of the eleven the Yankees had Baker on second with a chance to score on a single. Freeman there third base man hit a liner on a one hop to Jim our right fielder. He catches it in his glove and does a crow hop chucking it home as hard as he can. Bill catches it as Baker tries to derail him again. This time Bill is ready, I see Baker have one moment of hesitation and that’s when Bill knocks him off his feet definitely breaking a few of Baker’s ribs. He was the last out so we head to the dugout all pumped up.

First person up is my good buddy Joe. He takes the first two pitches and hits the third on a line drive to center. Joe is really fast so he has an easy double. But the ball bounces of the wall weird and gets past the outfielder again. He rounds third as the throw comes in and continues for home. This will be a close play at the plate. The throw makes it to the catcher but is a little high so Joe slides under the tag for a walk-off inside-the-park homerun. Everyone is out of the dugout celebrating with Joe. What a game.

The rest of the season was a breeze until the playoffs. We had a few tough games but we were still able to make to the World Series for the second time. The first few games of the seven games series were back and forth with wins and losses so it came down to the seventh game which we are playing right as I tell you this.

 I walk up to the plate and dig into the soft dirt. The first pitch comes in and I swing and miss for strike one. I take the second pitch in the dirt. The third comes in at the outside edge of the strike zone. I swing breaking my bat but it just squeezes through over second base for a single. I’m able to steal second and score off a double by Joe.  

The next few innings go by quickly until the 9^th. The Twins came back to tie the game but our closer Romar Wolf was able to finish them without the lead. We’re standing in the dugout watching as Robert and Jeff go up to bat but end up with outs. I’m stuck thinking how we’re going to win this. I’m up and I know I have to get on base. As I ready myself the nerves kick in and I don’t know what to do.

As I stand there I watch the first pitch go straight through the strike zone. Then I think you’re a major league baseball player I made it all the way here and I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment two outs and a chance to win it. The pitcher winds up again and I start to feel the sweat on my brow, it’s my job to deliver at least a single. I watch as the ball hits the dirt “Ball one,” the umpire shouts. The next pitch is perfect breaking slider left up in the zone I ready myself and “SMACK,” a hard line drive to left with a chance at the fence. I watch as the outfielder jumps up at the fence to rob me of a dream homerun. Thinking it’s all over I barely notice the ball skip off the end of the outfielder’s glove.  The stadium explodes with cheers and my team goes insane, tackling me putting me at the bottom of a dog pile. It hurts but I don’t care we won the World Series what more to ask.