RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
It’s Valentine’s Day and, in honor of the holiday based on a “celebration of love,” we bring you a poetic tribute to the game we universally adore written anonymously by a reader of Extra Inning Softball…
*****
She’s the pitcher, I’m the batter. We stare.
I swing for timing; I walk to home plate.
“Balls in. Down on two.” Time to step in there.
My eyes become keen. I stand and I wait.
I wait for the pitch that calls out my name.
One sails from her hand, the one that I like.
I am the batter now; it is my game.
My heart fills with hope, while I swing and strike.
The yellow ball flies out deep beyond third.
I don’t watch it go; I’m pushing the ground.
My coach yells “go,” but I can’t hear a word.
My pulse in my ears is the only sound.
On this diamond, I define my name.
I push my legs and run that huge race.
I am the batter. I am the game.
Base after base after base after base.
My coach yells “down!” and I land in the clay
I hear the ball hit the glove with a pop
But the catcher is so far out of my way
I was on a lap that they could not stop
As blue signals “safe,” I let myself smile
Then hop to my feet and pick up my bat
I will be up again in just a short while
Home runs feel great I can’t argue that
Back in the dugout, I cheer for my team
My sisters in clay, we have a bond
We are all out here just chasing our dream
It’s magic I think with a bat not a wand
I’m at my best in this field believe it or not
Good days or bad; we never pout
I love giving this game all that I’ve got
But eventually we have three outs
So  I pick up my glove
And slide on my mask
It’s shortstop I love
I sprint out to my task
A few ground balls to warm up my arm
While the pitcher tosses a few in the zone
We’re up by a few this inning, no harm
We can handle this team if we play as one.
My pitcher throws lasers right to the plate
Catcher’s like a brick wall nothing gets by
The batter keeps swinging, sealing her fate
Fanning a K nothing’s going to fly
Maybe next batter will hit one to me
C’mon coach call inside I want to field
I hope that the coach can hear my plea
I creep toward the batter; refuse to yield.
Crack of the bat and the ball bounces hard
The field is like rock so I charge the ball
Then left-right-left she is not going yard
Look the ball in and then give it my all
I whip it to first and wait for the blue
The runner slows down, she knows the call
His fist hits the air and I get out two
Back to my spot; the pitcher gloves the ball
Strike one and then two come pretty quick
She’s looking not swinging and has to protect
The pitcher gets fancy plays her best trick
And change up flies and she doesn’t deflect
She nails a line drive in the 5/6 hole
No time to think I trust and react
Leap toward the ball with all of my soul
If I miss outfield will have my back
I can’t see but I feel the ball hit my hand
My body lays out across the hard clay
And a loud cheer goes up from the stands
“Out Three” the ump cries and that makes my day.
We line up together and call it a win
A line up of high fives and say good game
Another great game is about to begin
No two teams are ever quite the same.
After long weekends there is no rest
There’s always more practice to do
After all I won’t stop til I’m at my best
And studying yes have to fit that in too
Any chance I get I am out on that field
If it could listen, I would tell it so
It’s more than my life; it is my shield
It pushes me and it makes me grow.
But I have this dream, I can make it true
I know I can if only I try
To wear the team USA red white and blue
Lofty goal, but I aim high
Inning after inning, this game pushes me
Day after day, it’s the field or the cage
Improving my game: it’s what I can see
I envision myself up on that big stage
It takes so much work day after day
More and more, I push past it all
And challenge is what makes me play
This amazing game they call “softball.”