“The only thing you have to know,” Mom said, “is you have to keep ahold of the walker at all times. If you need to slide, make sure you are close enough to the bag because it’s like basketball and traveling…you can’t take an extra step or you’ll be out. Once you let go of the walker, you either have to dive or slide.”
“How many innings are there?” I asked.
“Three,” Mom said.
I frowned. “Three? That’s it?”
“That’s all most of us can handle,” she said. “Afterward, we have a tailgate party in the parking lot and drink mimosas and beer.”
“Let’s play ball!” the umpire called and brushed off home plate.
The first inning went fast…three up, three down. I played centerfield and never once saw a ball. I also didn’t get a chance to bat, which was fine by me. I was the last batter in the rotation.
The second inning was more exciting. The other team scored a run, and then when it was our turn at bat, we actually scored a point. Judge Thurgood hit an in-the-park homerun. Unfortunately, our next three batters got out with no runs coming in. There was no way around it…the last inning would see me at bat.
At the top of the third, we were able to stay strong and the opposing team didn’t score anything on us. With this being the last bat, it was up to us to break the tie and win.
As I jogged toward the dugout from the outfield, I spotted Jacob and Daniel leaning against the fence. I had no idea how long they’d been there. When I caught Jacob’s eye, he smiled, waved, and gave me a thumbs up.
“Let’s go, centerfield,” Mimi called out. “You’re lagging behind.”
Grumbling under my breath, I stepped into the dugout and tossed my glove down on the bench.
“You’re up,” Gilda said.
I picked up one of the abandoned walkers in the batter’s circle and hobbled up to the plate. I set the walker just outside the batter’s box and picked up the discarded bat off the ground. The umpire put the oversized ball on the rubber tee, and I swung as hard as I could.
The ball popped off the tee and onto the ground. I’d hit the rubber part of the stand…nowhere near the ball.
“Strike one!” the umpire called.
I scowled as the umpire placed the ball back on the tee. Planting my feet once again, I wiggled and shifted my hips until I had my stance.
“Easy out!”
Startled, I looked down at the eighty-year-old catcher. She smirked and slapped her fist in her glove.
Wiggling into my stance again, I stepped into the swing and the ball whizzed past the short stop. Of course, it didn’t hurt the guy was probably ninety and had fallen asleep.
Grabbing the walker, I took off as fast as I could to first base. Mimi gave me the universal signal to round the base and go to second. I was almost to second base when I saw the ball flying my way.
“Slide!” Mimi screamed.
I had no idea how I was supposed to slide. I was barely going two miles per hour. There was no momentum going for me to slide on the ground. Right before I hit the bag, I let go of the walker, dropped to my knees, and stretched out prostrate on the ground to touch the bag…just as the second baseman beamed me upside the head with her glove.
“Safe!”
While elated to hear the words, I was momentarily dizzy from the impact upside the head. Trying to stand, I lost my balance and took down the second baseman. She landed on top of me with a thud.
“Geez, lady,” she cried. “What’re you trying to do? Break my other hip?”
“Can’t!” I gasped. “Breathe!”
“Time!” Gilda called.
The first-base umpire helped the older lady up, while Gilda lifted me up off the ground. With a smack to my shoulder that nearly sent me toppling to the ground again, she congratulated me and jogged over to where she coached third base.
Grabbing the walker, I apologized to the second baseman. She scowled and told me to watch my back.
