Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen

The seven days leading up to Saturday's Game of Champions seemed excruciatingly long. We, the Angels, had two practices on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Sid.The Marks-led Yankees practice on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.We focused on strengthening the basic skills, especially the hitting part. Although the children were very motivated, Bill and I were not so optimistic.After the last season game, Paul.Taylor's mother told us the kid was out of the championship game.The Taylor family had made travel plans nearly a year ago, and the hotel room had been booked. The Taylor couple would take their son to Bermuda for two weeks to play golf and dive. Unfortunately, the date of their departure happened to fall on the champion The day before the battle.Paul's mother said: Ten months ago, who would have thought that our son would be a necessary part of winning the game and the championship game?However, just before the team practice on Monday, Paul's father came to Bill and me with a smile on his face. He brought good news: the family vacation has been postponed by a week, and the top hotel Sonasta Marina Hotel The reservation date has also been successfully postponed.Miracle!Neither Bill nor I could believe how lucky we were.

The main event was scheduled to start at two o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday. However, when we arrived at the stadium at nearly one o'clock in the afternoon, the stands were almost full, and the spectators in the left and right field out-of-bounds areas had already opened the folding chairs. This seemed to be an annual championship game A long-standing tradition.In the grandstand, two vendors in white were already busy selling ice cream and popcorn boxes, adding a special style and atmosphere to this baseball game held on a warm summer afternoon.George sitting behind home plate.McCord was playing a college band over a loudspeaker, trying to get the crowd into the game, a little louder than usual.

Bill trotted toward me as soon as he saw me enter the field through the entrance by the fence.John, I have a few things to tell you, he said as he wiped the sweat from his brow. Behind home plate, he didn't look in that direction when he spoke, and a couple of reporters from the Concord Monitor and the Manchester Trade Union Leader. Coming to cover a Little League game?Come on, it's not a state championship game in New Hampshire! That's right.The reporters said that they came here to see how a billionaire corporate executive disciplined a group of boys under the age of 13. Very good!It really cheers me up.

They are very friendly.don’t worry. I scan the field.There are already four Angels players present.Anthony.Zulo is practicing passing and catching with Timothy, Paul.Taylor was about to catch a grounder Justin threw him from first base.Bill, is there anything else you want to tell me? Well, I think you're going to want to know that Timothy's mother actually came to the game.She sat in the first row behind the dugout with Dr. Mason.She is wearing a white sweatshirt and a pink hat. I see her.Bill, thanks. I walked to the edge of the stands, took off the Angels baseball cap I was wearing, and held out my right hand.Dr. Mrs. Noble was glad to see both of them here.I know this means a lot to Timothy.

Mrs. Noble nodded with a smile.Mr. Harding, nothing can stop me from watching the game today.Nothing can stop me!Hope you guys can win. Thanks.Doctor, it's great to see you again. The old gentleman nodded and shook my hand at the same time.Each other, Mr. Harding.Please also strengthen my gradually deteriorating memory to see if there is anything wrong.Timothy hasn't had his first hit of the season yet, has he? right.Unfortunately, this is the truth. The old gentleman took off his flat cowboy hat and stared at it.In this way, today's game is his last chance. I'm afraid that's true, at least this is the last chance of the season, and it's not easy to succeed.The Yankees are going to send their top pitcher against us, and it's going to be hard for anyone to get a hit from one of those strong pitchers.

Well, he said softly, then I sincerely wish the team you lead can win, and when that kid goes on the court to hit, I think we have to pray very hard. Thank you. After I finished speaking, I turned and turned towards the stadium. At this time, the entire stadium resounded with familiar bars of "March of Notre Dame". Behind the heavy wire fence behind home plate was a folding bridge table, Stewart.Rand and Nancy.McLaren had pre-arranged twenty-four commemorative trophies on the table, gleaming in the sunlight, each featuring a life-size gold-yellow baseball set in a square wooden base, holding a small piece of metal The sign, the player's name, the team he belongs to, and the Brandon Little League Championship Game are engraved on the surface.In our league, there are no losers.

Finally, two umpires approached home plate and waved to Sid and me.The tall one is Jack.Laughlin, the presiding judge, and another guy in the blue shirt, the base judge, named Tim.Spelling. Two, said Laughlin in a hoarse voice, today is the only game on the Little League schedule that doesn't have a pre-designated home team.Mr. Max, I will toss this coin later. Before the coin falls, could you call me heads or tails, please?After shouting, there is no choice.The team that guesses right is today's home team, defending first and then attacking, using the rest area behind third base, do you understand?

Sid and I both nodded, and when the coin was tossed over everyone's heads, Sid yelled, "Tails!" Another unexpected stroke of luck.Familiar George.Washington turned his face sideways, facing the crowd upwards.It was my Angels who attacked from the back.Fortunately, the players had already put most of their equipment and gloves in the rest area behind third base, as if they were not afraid to risk their fate. All cheered loudly.Except for Todd who was warming up in the back of the rest area, all the children sat down, and then I slowly walked from one end of the bench to the other, with my hands in the back pockets of my trousers, leaning forward slightly, so that I could See every child's eyes.Finally, I said: You all should be very proud of your efforts to reach the championship game. Everyone contributed to the results of the Angels.Now, I have only one thing to say to the whole team.Yes, the championship game is in front of us, but I ask everyone to play happily today.That's the way the game should be.You're here today, and that's your reward for working so hard all season, but if you're not enjoying your rewards with a smile, you're not going to have much fun.Remember, whether you win or lose, the sun will still rise tomorrow, and your bright future is still waiting ahead.Of course, winning is a good thing, but it doesn't have to be a life-and-death fight.It's just a ball game, so relax and enjoy the day, remembering Timothy.Noble has been telling everyone this season.I pointed at the little skinny guy.You remind everyone again, Timothy.

He stood up, raised his thin arms above his head, clenched his small fists, and said loudly: Never give up, never give up, never give up!The whole team immediately shouted in unison: Never give up, never give up, never give up! The tall referee waved his hand in the direction of the rest area of ​​the two teams, and then pointed to the sideline extending from the home plate to both sides.The Angels trotted onto the field and lined up along the third-base sideline, as did the Yankees, lined up along the first-base sideline, and both sides lined up from the home plate end.George.After McCord played the rousing national anthem over a loudspeaker, Todd marched up to the mound, but this time, Yankees ace GlennGoldston stood beside him, and it was prearranged that the two would lead their respective players in reciting the Little League Pledge.Then, the referee raised the mask over his head, and the Angels jumped up from the rest area, shouting never give up, never, never, never give up! , each ran to the defensive position.

The forty-fourth annual Bolan Little League championship game is about to start. I listen to Bill.West's suggestion, asked Todd earlier.Stevenson stretched out the warm-up before the game, ten minutes longer than usual, and as a result, the tall blond boy played faster than I had ever seen before.He struck out two Yankees batters early in the game, walked the third batter, and then it was the Yankees' turn to hit fourth, when he hit a deep left and center fielder two from Todd. A base hit, so Yankees pitcher Goldsden took the baton and hit.Todd took the challenge cautiously, until after throwing a full number of good balls and three bad balls, Gusden hit an inside corner fast ball and the ball flew between the first and second bases. After making our team two points behind, we finally caught the last out of the game.

It was our turn to attack in the next game, although the first bat Anthony.Zurlo got four walks, Justin and Paul double-doubled for easy-to-handle infield grounders, and then Todd hit two walks over the left field wall, scored two strikes, and missed with a swing out. In the second inning, we managed to deal with the Yankees hitters one by one, but in the second inning, we got the same treatment, Chariot and Charles.After Barrio got both walks, the Angels hitters went out one after another.The great chance to score is gone.Next, according to Bill and I's plan in advance, we placed the three Angel players on the sidelines into the defensive lineup in the three innings, Chris.Lane replaced Anthony.Zullo at second base, Dick.Andros replaced Robert.Murphy stood in left field, Timothy.Noble trotted to right field, replacing Jeff.Gaston. Sid.Max also did a little scheduling.His scorer and Bill were next to home plate to inform each other of the two teams' bench names. They had reported to the official scorer of the game earlier. Sitting next to Nancy and the commemorative prize at a folding table. At the beginning of the third inning, the Yankees' first hitter caught Todd's fastball and swung it. The ball flew along the third base line and just entered the third baseman's glove.I still don't understand Paul.How did Taylor catch that ball, but he succeeded, flying backhand and fell to the ground, stunning the audience.The audience jumped up and applauded for at least five minutes, causing the two referees to walk up to the mound and raise their hands to signal everyone to be quiet. The fans who had praised Taylor for his feat, reluctantly returned to their seats.It was one of the best defensive performances I've ever seen in my life.Then Todd struck out the second hitter, and the next hit was the Yankees' lanky catcher, who swung a high fly to center field, Charles.Barriou easily caught out and ended the Yankees' offensive in three innings.While title contention has its pressures, neither team has made a mistake so far, except that the Yankees still hold a two-run lead when it's our turn to bat three innings down. Standing on the coaching bench behind third base, I began to feel a tinge of despair.Goldston threw the ball very well this time, and his pitching performance showed no signs of softening at all.We must try to break through.The first hitter Chris.Lane made his way to the strike zone, and when he looked at me, I gave him the cue bunt quickly.He missed the first ball, the referee called a strike, and then he hit a near-perfect bunt, the ball rolled to the third base line, but it was not beautiful enough to give a perfect score.He was out and within half a step of getting to safety.The next stick is Justin.Nurnberg.I was tempted to give another bunt signal, but I didn't.He hit a slow and weak ground ball to the right of the pitcher. Goldstein caught the ball steadily and blocked Justin's attack in time, so that Justin, like Lane, was only half a step away. Block out.Paul.Tyler looked at me nervously as he stepped into the strike zone.I didn't give him any codes.This is the right decision.Paul caught Goldsden's second pitch, an inside corner fastball, and it flew all the way over the left-field wall for a home run!Now we are only one point behind.Then it was Todd's turn to hit, and he hit the ball toward center field, but it didn't fly far enough to end the inning with the Yankees still ahead, 2-1. In the fourth inning, Todd seemed to be playing harder than the first three innings.The Yankees didn't have half a hitter who could hit the ball out of the infield.Three up and three down. Kimball, Barrio, and Andros, Bill called out and announced the first three hitters for the bottom of the fourth inning as the Angels walked into the dugout.Give them a good beating!That's it!Let's have a scoring game!He yelled as he walked up and down the dugout, patting the baseball caps on the heads of every Angel. never give up!Timothy shouted, and the other team members immediately followed in unison.Never give up, never give up! The first batter of the inning got a walk.If someone other than the chariot was on base, I'd try to make a sacrifice bunt to send him to second, but the big guy was too slow to run, so I asked Charles.Barrio let go and went to fight.He hits a strong grounder and rolls toward the shortstop, who catches it cleanly and throws a fast pass to second base, and the second baseman catches the ball and turns and throws it to first base.Double kill!Dick, who played next.Andros swung and struck out, and the game went into the fifth inning with us still trailing by a run. The Yankees' first hitter in the fifth inning was picking a bat in front of the tee when Sid also moved to the coach's bench behind third base, trotting up to our dugout. hey john!he shouted. What's the matter, Sid? It's a good game like never before, isn't it?These kids are not bad!Both teams are great!I smiled and nodded. The Yankees' first attempt of the inning was a batting bunt, but he hit it midair and Todd caught it easily.The next hit was the Yankees' first baseman, a stocky left hitter who took two strikes, hit an inside corner, and slammed a powerful level ball toward right field straight into the Flew towards Timothy. Oh, not good!I heard Bill yell, and I saw Timothy throw his hands over his head, move his feet slightly so that his right foot supported his thin body, and the ball snapped into his new glove, and the sound was heard all over the room , for a while everyone was quiet.The audience stood up and cheered when Timothy caught the fly ball.Timothy just smiled and nodded while throwing the ball back to Justin at first base.The next Yankees hitter was struck out, and now it was the Angels' turn to hit.Bill announced that the first three hitters to play were Rodgers, Noble and Lane. Yankees pitcher GlennGoldsden did not feel tired at all, and there was still no lack of good shots in the number of goals.However, our class.Rodgers surprised the team.He managed to get both good and bad numbers, then hit a waist-high fastball well into the middle of the field between left fielder and center fielder.Although I knew that the chance of the ball was not good, because the center fielder had already caught the ball, I still waved to the class who passed the second base at full speed, and motioned him to run towards me. Both the runner and the ball reached the third base, and I held my breath. breathe.Ben slid into third base with one foot, perfect form, and the third baseman's glove caught the ball with a flick, just missing Ben's right foot.Hit safely!yelled the judge, and now the crowd in the stands burst into noise and whistle, and the volume grew louder, because Timothy.Noble slowly walked towards the strike zone, and the tie was only six feet away from the home plate! The little man stopped, and just ten feet away from the strike zone, he picked up a handful of dirt with his hands and rubbed his palms.He turned and looked at me.I gave him a signal to let go and call.He nodded.Then he slowly stepped into the strike zone, lifted his trousers, pulled the visor of his visor, and put himself in a strike position.In that moment, Bill and I saw something we had never seen in our lifetimes, not even when we were playing.All the Angels stood up at this moment, leaned forward, leaned their elbows on the edge of the top wall of the rest area, concentrated on watching Timothy's every move on the field.It was very quiet!There was complete silence, the whole team seemed to be praying!Suddenly, the spectators in the grandstands were so quiet that the whistle of the train could be heard as far away as Concord. Timothy cocked his bat several times and waited.Glancing at the squad behind third base, Goldsden made a precise throw, throwing a slow ball to Timothy and drifting toward the catcher.Timothy smiled and backed out of the strike zone.A bad ball! After returning to the strike zone, Timothy set up his stick, squatted down slightly, and waited for the next ball.Goldsden's second pitch was a fastball with a heart on the strike.Timothy didn't swing.A strike!The next pitch was another fastball.Two strikes!I turned and peeked at Mrs. Noble and Dr. Mason.Both stared down at their hands, as if they couldn't force themselves to watch what was happening on home plate.The next pitch was a slow one, and Timothy ignored it.He walks out of the strike zone.Two balls.At this moment, the number of balls is two good and two bad!Timothy walked slowly back to the strike zone, tapped his bat on home plate, and held it upright behind his shoulders, ready to go.Goldsden swung his arm vigorously again, throwing a waist-high ball and hitting the center of the plate.Timothy swings.The stick hit the ball firmly!The ball bounced off the turf to Gusden's left, then weaved across the unpaved field between first and second base, narrowly slipped past the first baseman's catcher's glove, and rolled toward right fielder. , Rolling slower and slower, the right fielder hurriedly chased to pick up the ball.class.Rodgers ran back to home plate from third base and easily scored a tie. Timothy stepped on the first base bag with both feet, and he was very proud!I'll never forget the look on his face with a big smile on his face and his baseball cap raised high in triumph.Timothy looked at me, waved, then turned to wave to his mother and the doctor, and Mrs. Noble and Dr. Massenther had stood up and applauded, as had everyone in the stadium. At this moment, our Angel team's lineup has reached the peak group, the score has been tied, and no one is out!Sid.Max called a timeout, walked slowly to the mound, and discussed the strategy with pitcher Goldsden and the infielder.While waiting for the game to resume, I walked from the coaching bench behind third base back to the dugout.The team's next bat Chris.Lane was waiting to step into the strike zone, but as Nunberg, Taylor, and Stevenson gathered around me, he ran back to the dugout to join the discussion. Guys, I said, I think now is a good time to go on the offensive.When the ball comes just take it easy and swing the bat the way you've been hitting all season and I have a hunch you're going to win a championship.Then you can go on summer vacation, understand?No need to mow the lawn.No need to weed the garden.No need to do housework.What do you guys think? They all laughed and nodded in agreement. At this time, the chief judge said loudly: Everyone, can the game continue? Sid patted the pitcher on the shoulder and trotted back to the Yankees dugout. Chris.Lane walked into the strike zone, and the referee pulled up his mask and shouted: The game continues! Lane swung at the first pitch, hit a lob to left field, and got caught.One is out.Timothy, who represents the leading score of the team.Noble, still at first base. Justin.Nunberg seemed overly eager.Even though the first and second pitches were significantly lower than his knees, he still hit the bat, but when the third pitch came up close to his chin, he slammed it into right field, creating a A single hit sent Timothy to second base.The next hitter to play was Paul.Taylor, with two good and three bad balls, hit a strong grounder toward second, and the Yankees fielder caught the ball and threw it to first, so Timothy advanced to third, Justin slid to second, Make Todd.Stevenson stepped up to the strike zone with two outs. On the first two balls, Todd swung hard, but missed.Then he stopped outside the strike zone, took several deep breaths, stepped into the strike zone again, and hit the next pitch that Goldsden threw. The ball flew over second base and hit a single. Timothy ran Going home for the lead, Justin hit third base.It's a pity that Chariot hit a fly ball to right field and was caught. The fifth inning ended, but now we took the lead for the first time. Only three more outs can win the league championship title. Timothy not only made the tie score The bag is safe, and he himself even ran back to the home plate and won the lead for the team! I walked Todd with Todd to the mound as the Angels moved to the field.How's the arm, big man?I asked, trying not to sound worried in my tone. He nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow.very good.no problem. I rubbed his right shoulder lightly.There is still a way to deal with three more hitters, right? He nodded again, without a smile on his face.no problem.real. The Yankees' first hitter hit a lob to left field after getting two good and three bad balls.One out!Todd then threw four walks to get the second hitter to first base.The next bat went out with a strikeout.It's one out and the Yankees hit the line next.The top hitter in batting time finally got four walks from Todd after knocking four throws in the direction of the left field line.Now the Yankees' tying run went to second base, and the lead went to first base! Bill on my right.West said softly: I said, Mr. Manager, you should go to the field and have a chat with our pitcher, that is now. I jumped up and yelled a timeout, and walked slowly to the mound.With his back to home plate, Todd was staring down at the ground, pounding his right thigh with the glove. How are you feeling, buddy?I asked. fine.fine. Are you a little tired? No.I am fine.real. The next guy on the field can play very well. Can you suppress his firepower? He just nodded.I patted him on the shoulder and slowly ran back to the rest area. Todd stepped onto the pitcher's plate, turned around, took a quick look at the runner on second base, and immediately threw a waist-high fastball through the middle of the plate. A strike! Chariot snatched the ball from his catcher's mitt, swung it over his head, and threw it back to Todd.Todd didn't make a big swinging throw, but immediately stepped on his left foot and threw the second ball directly to the home plate. The batter and catcher looked surprised. Two strikes! Bill turned to me with a smile and said, John, do you see what Todd is doing?He's terrified that you're going to take him off the bench, so he's pulling out all the stops trying to get the Yankees hitter out as fast as he can before your ass comes off the bench to replace him. At this moment, Chariot also realized what his partner's intentions were. He squatted down and returned to the catcher's position, and then threw the ball back to Todd.Todd was quick to get into position again, throwing a fastball, again without swinging his arm up, through the center of the plate. Three strikes! we won! The boys on the team whistling and screaming rushed to the mound, lifted Todd on his shoulders together, and marched triumphantly around the infield. These Angels shouted repeatedly that we will never give up, we will never give up. do not give up!The entire audience stood up and applauded.Next, when the Angels were approaching third base, another person, like Todd, was suddenly lifted up on the shoulders by everyone. It was Timothy!His fists were clenched, his thin arms were dangling up and down, and his teammates lifted his thin body as high as possible. When the Angels finally reached home plate and put the two winning heroes on their shoulders back to the ground, the standing audience continued to cheer and whistle, and the applause seemed to never stop. Finally, players from both teams lined up to receive the award.While the loudspeaker played "Impossible Dream", the Yankees and Angels received commemorative medals successively.Stewart.Rand, out of obligation, shook hands with me at the end of the line, and suddenly I remembered when and where I had last heard the song: in front of the microphone on the bandstand in the town of Brantown public square, I'm waiting to address the townspeople who have gathered to welcome Sally, Rick, and me. Later, as the shadows from the sun grew longer, I was about to leave the field when Timothy ran up to me, still holding his souvenir prize.Mr. Harding, I want to thank you again for everything you have done for me.my bicycle.my gloves.All because of you.I really appreciate you. I bent down and picked him up, burying my head in his small chest.I really shouldn't have done this, because I actually choked up.Timothy, you don't have to thank me, I should thank you.What you have done for me is much more than what I have done for you. do i have ithe asked, with a clear look of doubt on his face. Yes, yes, and I love you. Mr. Harding, I love you too.He held up the commemorative prize in his hand.Thanks to you, I am now a true champion. I kissed him on the cheek and bent over to put him down.Timothy, you have always been a champion.Always will be.