Championship Game

Championship Game

            The day was Saturday, the 24^th of April. It was a warm sunny day, with clear skies, a beautiful day for baseball. Walking up to the field, you could just smell the scent of fresh cut grass. As a breeze of wind went by you could also smell the scent of fresh spray paint down the lines to each foul pole. The stage was set, the number 1 seed in the division vs. the second seed. Did I mention that we were playing our rivals? Both teams hated each other a lot if that wasn’t already obvious. For the past four years it was Radford and Waipahu in the championship game, they took two and we took the other two. This was the deciding game between the rivalry. There really isn’t a better matchup for this championship game. To add to all of the hype, this championship game was televised in Hawaii!

            I remember on the bus ride to the field, I was thinking to myself, “This is the big game baby we got to go harder than ever.” I was only a sophomore that year, playing on the varsity level, so I was sort of feeling like a bad ass. So we’re at the field warming up and, then my coach called me over to talk to one of the announcers for the game. He asked to take a picture of me for the broadcast later. Of course I agreed to take one, and in my head I was thinking, “Don’t look stupid.” After all was said and done with the announcer, my coach pulled me aside and said to me,

Coach: “Don’t let that shit get to your head man, you’re better than that, just play the game right.” Me: “Yes coach” Coach: “Get ready, your starting at third.” Me: “Yes coach.” I mean what else was I going to say? So the game gets under way, at first it was a pitchers dual, it was all defense in the first four innings, just until my second at bat comes around. I get a pitch to drive and I put a good stroke on it into left field. That hit, started a rally. We ended up scoring three runs in that frame. As quick as we scored those three runs, they came right back with three of their own. Then we scored one more run to retake the lead. From then on, for most of the game it was again nothing but defense. I remember having to turn two, to stop them from another rally. It was a hard ground ball towards the 6 hole, I had to get the throw off on the run, so it was quick to second and off to first for the double play. My thoughts during that whole play was “gotta get it out quick”. And as I looked on, I saw the play develop quite nice. The next batter after that play, had flew out to right field, which made the inning come to a close. It was our turn to bat, and during my at bat, Waipahu fans were screaming, making obnoxious noises, and even ringing a cow bell. Yes, I said a cow bell. I guess they brought anything and everything to make noise and try distract us. The things fans will do for their team. Anyways that’s all I could here during that inning, was the damn cowbell. They ended up just keeping the lead to just one run in the final inning. Our coaches were hoping that the one run lead was enough to finish the game. Our fans were hoping the same thing as well.

            So, the first batter of that final inning was a tough one, he had a ten pitch at bat. He was fouling off balls left and right, until our pitcher caught him looking on the outside corner. The next thing you know, the umpire rang him up, Umpire: “Strriiiiiiiiike 3, you’re out!” Of course Waipahu’s fan section was not liking the call. We thought we had the game in the bag after that, but man did Waipahu fight back. The next two batters had back-to-back singles followed up by a 1 out walk. Now this right here, we were panicing at this point. Up to the plate was one of their better hitters in the lineup. He was already 2-3 with a single and a double, we couldn’t walk him because that would tie the game up. So we had no choice but to pitch to him. To everybodys surprise he struck out on three pitches! Man was that a time where your butthole is super tight. Anyway, the next batter was one of the ok hitters in their lineup. So our pitcher and the batter, battle a bit and he works the count full. Its bases loaded, two outs, the count was three balls and two strikes, the next pitch was probably the biggest pitch of the game. If it is a ball, the game would go into extra innings, and if it was a strike, the game would be over. This was another time where everybody was on the edge of the seats. At this point in time I was getting set for the pitch to come as if the ball would be smoked right to me. If to my right I would grab it and step on third, if to my left I would have to throw to first. So here comes the pitch, the batter swings,*tiiiing*, and it’s a high drive out to left field, our left fielder is going back, back, back all the way to the wall.

            Keep in mind that if it turned out to be a homerun, we would lose. But if he caught it, we would win. Well, either way, I would say it was a great game played by both teams, we gave it our all and played like winners. At this point, I was just happy to be playing the sport I love to play, well ahead of my time. Anyway, our left fielder, Bobby, was really on his horse heading back towards the fence, I was really scared because from where I was standing, he was running out of room to run and the ball was still in the air. Turns out he was running to the wall while tracking the ball in flight, as he was taught to do by our coach. Once he found the wall, he took a three or four steps in towards the field, and the ball finds the pocket of his glove. Right then and there, everyone knew the game was over and the Radford Rams hold off the Waipahu Marauders to win the OIA White Division Championship. Let the celebration begin.

            Everyone on the field ran towards the mound and we started a big dog pile on top off our pitcher, because he pitched a hell of a game. Even the players from our bench slammed open the fence door and ran out to join the celebration. It was a very proud moment for everyone from the Radford fan base. We defeated our rivals in the championship game. Tonight, we celebrate, and then it’s onto the state championships.