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Second base was also Johnny position. Maybe he would finally get into
a game early. Johnny looked up expectedly at his coach.
"Horace go and pinch run for Jason and take his place at second base next inning." His coach instructed.
Johnny was crest fallen. Horace was a short chubby kid. He could hit the ball pretty well but was not really a
good infielder. He was also very slow. Johnny wasn't a good hitter or fielder, but he could at least run fast.
Johnny watched Horace waddle out to second base. "Horace is as slow as a milk truck with four flat tires."
Johnny thought disdainfully
Two outs later, Ken their first baseman hit a sharp single to right. Horace chugged around third and the coach
waved him home. The right fielder threw a perfect strike to the catcher and Horace was out by three feet.
"I could have made it." Johnny said quietly to himself.
It was now the top of the third inning and Johnny's team was still down 3 to 0. One of the opposing players hit
what looked like a routine grounder to second. The ball however took a wicked hop and Horace misjudged it. It hit
him square in the throat and Horace went down like a sack of potatoes. The coach and one of his teammates helped
Horace off of the field.
"Ok Meyers I guess you are in." His coach said unenthusiastically.
Johnny was so excited he raced off the bench without his glove.
"Here Johnny you might need this." The coach said as he tossed Johnny his glove.
The rest of his teammates laughed and Johnny turned beet red as he ran out to take his position.
There was one out and there were runners on first and third.
"Oh please don't let the ball be hit to me I'm not quite settled yet." Johnny thought wishfully.
Johnny didn't get his wish. A hard hit ground ball was hit to his immediate right. Johnny could handle grounders
that were hit right to him but this was going to be difficult. He tried to back hand the ball but knew he had missed
it. Instead of trickling out to right field the ball suddenly lodged itself inside Johnny's glove. Johnny looked
at it in surprise then stepped on second base and threw to first to try and complete the double play.
Johnny had gotten too excited and had thrown off balance. His coach had told him time and time again, to plant
his back foot before he tried to throw. Now his throw was going to go wild and the other team would score another
run. Somehow, Ken their 1st baseman was able to spear Johnny's errant throw while keeping his foot on the base.
The double play was completed. Johnny shook his head in wonderment and trotted back to the dugout.
"Good job Johnny." His coach said in obvious surprise. Several of his teammates were patting him on his
back.
It was the bottom of the third inning. After two quick outs it was Johnny's turn at bat.
Johnny noticed as he stepped up to the plate that his teammates were getting their gloves and preparing to take
the field.
"I guess they don't have much faith in me." He thought bitterly.
Johnny's stomach felt like mush. He stood at the plate and timidly waved his bat. The opposing pitcher smiled and
seemed to sense another quick out.
The first pitch was inside. Johnny tried to back away but the ball hit his bat and rolled foul.
Strike one!
The next pitch was low, Johnny tried to check his swing but he had already followed through.
Strike two!
The next delivery was way outside, Johnny was too anxious and swung anyway. As he went through his swing the ball
suddenly curved back inside and caromed off of his bat. The ball sailed into left center field and dropped between
the two outfielders. Johnny was so excited he almost tripped getting out of the batter's box. As he rounded first
base he noticed that the centerfielder had just caught up with the ball. Johnny made it into second standing up.
There were yells and squeals of approval from his teammates. His coach looked on in quiet disbelief.
The next batter hit a slow grounder that just made it through the infield past the 1st baseman. The right fielder
charged the ball but he had been playing a little deeper then he should have. Johnny rounded third and ran like
his life depended on it towards home plate. Johnny beat the throw easily and scored his team's first run.
Johnny was hugged by several of his teammates. His coach gave him a "thumbs up" sign. The last batter
flew out and it was time to take the field again.
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