Page 91

We are downby three runs. How the fuck are we down by three to the New York Wildcats? They are the second to last worst team in the league. How the fuck are we losing to these assholes?
Spencer and Davis aren’t on the same fucking page.
When the pitcher shakes off every pitch the catcher is calling for, and throws what he wants, it’s bound to give up hits. Then everyone else has forgotten how to throw the ball, catch it, or make a fucking out. I swear every throw to Anderson at first has led to him jumping or having to stretch like fucking Armstrong.
But here we are, bottom of the ninth. Bases loaded, and Anderson is up to bat. We need to bring these runs in. We need a miracle Grand Slam.
The team is up on their feet here in the dugout. Spencer is icing his shoulder. I’ve been watching the closing pitcher, and he loves throwing to the inside.
“Psst. Anderson,” I call him over.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Inside. He will throw one outside and everything else is inside. He favors it. First one outside to catch you reaching. Then inside for the rest.” I nod to him.
“Thanks man.” Kayce rolls his shoulders and steps up to the plate. I can see him let out a long breath as he looks back at the catcher. And then he gives him a wink.
I chuckle because that is such a dick move. That is such a Kayce move.
He readies the bat, and the pitcher sets. The Wildcats’ pitcher looks over at the runner on third and quickly glances at the one on first. He winds up and throws outside.
“Strike!” the ump yells. Oh, did I mention this was also a reason we are down three runs? This umpire sucks a bag of dicks.
“Come on, blue! That was way outside the box!”
“Get some glasses! That wasn’t anywhere near the strike zone!”
The team yells out at the bad call. But I just watch Kayce. He turns toward the umpire and catcher and fake yawns, putting his hand up to his mouth. I let out a chuckle.
He’s egging them on.
He sets up at the plate again.
The pitcher waits for his catcher to give him the sign for what he’s going to throw and nods. He sets and looks over at third then back at the plate. He throws, and Anderson jumps back, the pitch almost hitting him.
“Strike two!” the umpire yells.
And Coach about loses his shit. He storms up toward the plate, and the umpire and him go at it. Coach sends a parting shot and walks back to the dugout, mumbling to himself.
Anderson turns toward the dugout and winks at me. This cocky son of a bitch. I see him turn and face the catcher and saysomething to him. The catcher flips off Anderson and shakes his head. Anderson gets himself set behind the plate.
I watch as the pitcher goes through his routine and throws. The sound of the crack of the bat has my heart stopping. I watch as the ball changes trajectory and flies in the direction of left field. It slices through the air, and our eyes track it as it goes higher and higher. Like the air is carrying it away from us.
My eyes widen as I watch it head toward the stands over left field. I hold my breath, praying it keeps going. The left fielder runs back, watching the ball as he goes. The ball starts to drop, and the left fielder jumps with his glove stretched out.
I swear the entire stadium has gone silent.
The ball sails right over the glove and into the stands, where fans fight over it. And the entire stadium erupts in cheers as Anderson rounds the bases after hitting a Grand fucking Slam.
Holy shit. I let out a breath. We just won by the skin of our teeth.
Anderson rounds third, and we all sprint out there to meet him at home. Someone brings the water jug, and after he crosses the base, the water gets dumped on him.
After all the high fives and handshakes, Kayce and I are walking back, and he gives me a sly smile.
“What did you say to the catcher?” I ask him.
“I called each pitch before it was coming down the plate. I said that I knew he was gonna throw the first one outside. Bam, outside. So, next pitch told him I knew it was coming inside. When I set up for the third pitch, I asked him if his pitcher actually knew how to throw straight over the plate. Or if he actually just sucked enough that he had to get lucky that the ump makes bad calls.”