Before the Big Game
It started as a beautiful day for a game of baseball. Two teams from small towns came together for a chance to show scouts and their coaches that their life time of hard work was all worth it. Two bright yellow high school buses would pull up with a group of kids ready to take on the adrenaline of the game. One bus with maroon writing and one with purple. The purple bus filled with boys amped up on C4 and ranch flavored sun flower seeds. They were ready to unload and show off their purple and black uniforms one last time as high school seniors.
Boys that once came to Dwyer Stadium to watch some of the best locals and future baseball stars play, were now standing on the cold gray cement of the dugout, rather than sitting in the silver metal bleachers that would leave those deep lines on your legs when you stood up.
One boy would have some of his deepest dreams come true. Hayden “The General” Ewell would play in his first game at Dwyer under the hot bright lights that would beat down on the perfectly groomed field. This game would determine if he was going to be picked by a college scout to move on in his career.
Each team would grow comfortable with the dugout they were assigned. The Gophers in the home dug out and the Bees in the visitors. As the teams suited up in their gear they would all take in the sweet smell of the freshly cut grass and admire the pride the groundskeeper put into their work. Hiking up their socks over their cotton gray pants followed by lacing up the cleats that soon would be covered in dirt and grass stains, the tension would rise. Small talk would sooth the nerves of the team while the coaches converse about how their team has been doing.
The General would take a swig from his blender bottle looking out into the field where he will soon stand up to bat. His parents would arrive in all purple gear, his mom topped off in a gold and purple scarf and his father with a Pavilion athletics hat. They greeted him at the long fence surrounding the stadium before entering the stands to watch their son play in his favorite sport, one of the many he excelled in. He was nervous but his cocky attitude would not let that show. His teammates surrounded him as they hyped up for the game. Hayden was the captain of the team as well as life time friend with all his teammates. They would all chatter about how after this game they would celebrate with beers out in the back woods of someone’s house. Win or lose they were happy to just be there.
Minutes from the start of the game as the sun went down, looking down from the press box, Coach Matthew Roth would be huddling up the group of boys before the big game. Not only would this be a great night for baseball but it would end the season for the Golden Gophers as honored the Seniors and their families. They would all chant and put their hands in, lifting them with smiles that would last a life time. Each took to their position as the Bee’s lined up to bat. Each players hand would become clammy in the dark color glove, making eye contact with one another as a sign of good luck to each other. The first Bee would walk up the home shaped base and settle his feet in to his stance, rising the bat above his right shoulder. The pitcher would take a deep breath and get ready to take his first throw of the night. The ump would holler to the players “let’s play ball” and the game began.
