Page 130 of Payoff Pitch

Sulley giggles. “Now I really need to see this team in action.”

Arizona nods. “Cool. I wanted to go anyway. We’ll sit together.”

Actually, Arizona and Sulley being there could be good for the team. I look at the two of them. “Why don’t you two give the pre-game speech? The girls will flip for both of you.”

They both happily agree.

“Listen,bitches, it’s your time to shine. This is war, but we’re not taking any prisoners. It’s kill or be killed in the dog-eat-dog world of Little League softball. Make those fuckers bleed.”

The kids all giggle at Kam. Annoyingly, they freakin’ love how she talks to them in a straightforward manner.

I smile at the absurdity. “Most importantly, have fun.”

Kam scoffs. “Fun? They can have fun at the afterparty, not during the game.”

I sigh. “Anyway, we brought in two special guests to talk to you tonight.” I motion toward Arizona and Sulley, who have been hiding behind a tree so we could give them their grand entrance. “I give you Arizona Abbott and Sulley O’Shea.”

The girls all scream like they’re rock stars as they approach our huddle. Four of the girls are so starstruck that they start crying.

Arizona smiles. “I’ve seen a few of your games this season. You guys are even better than mine and Ripley’s team when we were your age.” The girls all gasp. “Ripley has been my teammate since we were five. Kam and Bailey since we were eighteen. Trusting your teammates is very important. Make sure you all love and support each other no matter what. Mistakes are part of the game at every level. It’s how a team supports one another, and moves on, that separates the good and the great teams.”

Sulley nods in agreement. “Arizona is right. Being a good teammate is important. Loving what you do is important too. Make sure you have fun out there.”

Kam tries to interrupt, but I cover her mouth. The girls all giggle.

I place my hand in the middle, and the team follows suit. “Hiss on three. One, two, three,” They all collectively hiss. Hissing was my compromise with Kam because she can’t stand the name snakelets and the only substitutions she could come up with were perverted and completely inappropriate for this group.

We’re in the last inning. This is the tightest game of the season. We’re only up by one run. The other team brought a few new players tonight. I can’t know for sure, but I think some of them are a few years older than they’re supposed to be in this league. I’ve been hearing our parents chirping about it in the stands all night. I had to go over at some point and tell them to simmer down since the girls were feeding off that negative energy.

Our pitcher has thrown a good game, but she’s getting tired. The bases are loaded and there’s only one out. I call a timeout andwalk toward the mound as I motion for the entire infield to join us. I look at our pitcher. “You’re looking a little tired, Stacey. You’ve pitched a great game. Maybe it’s time for me to bring in someone else.”

She takes a breath and then shakes her head. “I want to finish, Coach Bails. I can do it.”

I nod. “Alright. This batter is their best one. She’s been hitting line drives all night. Can you keep the ball low in the zone? We want to induce a ground ball. You don’t have to try to strike her out. Trust your team behind you.”

She nods. “I’ll try.”

I look at Andie, who we moved over to shortstop when Sapphire was struggling earlier this season. “You and Harper pinch the middle. Let’s see if we can’t induce a double play.”

They look at each other with uncertainty. We haven’t turned one the entire season. They’ve tried three times, but the runner at first base always beat it out.

“This batter isn’t fast. I think this is our best chance to win the game. Stacey is gassed. We don’t want them to score a run and have to go to extra innings. We need this. I believe in you both.”

They pound their gloves and nod. Harper says, “We’ll do it.”

I walk back to the dugout. Kam looks at me. “Why aren’t we playing shallow? The play is at home.”

I shake my head. “Stacey only has enough left for one batter. This girl hits too hard. It will get through if we play up. I’m having Andie and Harper pinch the middle. I told Stacey to throw low. I’m going for broke on your double play.”

She twists her lips. “It’s risky.”

“It’s our best shot.”

One of the parents sitting in the stands yells, “You guys need to come in. The play is at home.”

Kam narrows her eyes at him and shouts back, “Shut up, Norman. You’re not the coach. Spare all of us and put on some deodorant for once.”

The parents all chuckle. He’s definitely the overly sweaty, smelly dad.