Page 174 of Payoff Pitch

I drown out the noises of the capacity crowd, doing my best to avoid the weight of the moment. It’s just me and the pitcher in a theoretical game of chess.

The first pitch comes in a little low and I don’t swing, but it’s called a strike. Deep breaths, Bailey, deep breaths. It’s only a gold medal on the line.

The second pitch comes in; I’m set to swing but pull back at the last second when I see it’s coming in high. The ump calls it a ball. Phew.

I’m dripping sweat. I can feel it covering me like a blanket. Everyone is depending on me. Score Arizona. Score Arizona. Tie the game up.

I swipe my cleats through the dirt and get myself set in the box. I lift my bat just above my shoulders. You’ve done this thousands upon thousands of times, Bailey. Just watch the ball hit the bat.

The pitcher winds up. I peek down and see the catcher set up inside, meaning the ball was likely called to be an inside pitch. I need to turn on it. I track the ball as the pitcher releases it, get my bat out in front, andcrack.

The sound is almost deafening. I know the second I makecontact that it’s gone. Time momentarily freezes as I stand there in awe watching the ball easily sail over the left field wall. A home run. I just hit a home run to give our team the lead. In the Olympics.

My jaw drops and my hands find my head as I stand in disbelief. Arizona, approaching home plate, laughs and yells out, “You might want to take your trot around the bases, girlfriend. Smile pretty for the cameras.”

Oh shit. I need to move. I take off in a dead sprint, even though I don’t have to. I think I might even twirl once or twice. The crowd is going berserk. As I’m rounding second, I find my family, who are going absolutely insane. Harper looks like she’s going to jump out of the stands. Tanner has tears streaming down his cheeks with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. The twins don’t truly know what’s going on, but they’re feeding off theexcitement around them and jumping with Harper. How special is it that all three girls got to be here to witness this moment?

As I round third, I see my entire team waiting at home plate for me. They’re screaming in excitement, encouraging me to come to them. I charge at home plate with my fist held up proudly in the air.

As soon as I slam my foot down on it, it feels like a hundred hands are slapping my helmet, arms, and back. Kam lifts me up and twirls me around, screaming out, “My sister, the hero. The unbreakable Bailey Hart Montgomery.” She then pulls me close and whispers, “I’m so fucking proud of you.”

So am I.

She places me on the ground and tearfully hugs me. “You’re the eighth wonder of the world, Bails.”

I hug her back. “I love you.”

With two outs in the seventh inning, Kam makes a defensive play to end the game that she’s probably the only shortstop in the world capable of making.

And then absolute mayhem ensues. There are screams of joy, a dogpile, and lots of tears. We did it. It’s almost hard to believe. Our group has been talking about this day for fourteen years. Since our first day of college. Here we are, all these years later, and it’s come to fruition. All four of us had huge hands in the victory. We couldn’t have scripted it any better.

As we break apart, I’m pulled into what feels like a thousand media interviews with just as many cameras on me. Kam is standing behind them with a huge grin on her face.

Unable to wait any longer, I motion for my family to join me. Harper sprints onto the field and into my waiting arms. She’s getting too big for this, but I certainly won’t deny her this moment.

The twins aren’t quite as fast as they waddle out and both latch onto my legs. Tanner smiles as he approaches. New tears find his eyes as he leans down for a short, hard kiss. Damn, his kisses still make me weak in the knees.

He stares at me, looking sexy as sin in his aviator sunglasses, USA hat, my jersey, and jeans. “My wife, the hero. I never had a doubt.”

I can’t help but stare back. He’s just so—

The reporter I’m currently being interviewed by interrupts my thoughts and says, “Tanner Montgomery, we’d love to chat with you about your thriving women’s division. You’ve been instrumental in getting female athletes better pay.”

He lifts his head and curls his lips in amusement. “Today I’m merely a husband proud of his wife. She just had one of the biggest clutch moments in Olympic history. Let’s focus on that right now. She’s living proof of someone overcoming obstacles. Defying the odds. Hard work. Sacrifice. She’s a role model for millions of young girls, our three included, both on and off the field. Keep your eye on the ball, Karen.” Her name isn’t Karen. “Celebrate my wife. She deserves it.”

The reporter doesn’t know what to say, so the next one takes her turn. She asks what my plans are for the future. I’ve been super clear that I’m retiring after this game. I have nothing left to prove. All I want is to be with my family.

I smile at Harper. “I plan on doing a lot of coaching. I’vecoached this little prodigy during the off-season for years, but now I want to coach her in the summers too. Next year she’ll be eligible for the Little League World Series, and you can bet on us making it there.”

The reporter looks surprised. “Oh, she must be very good to play at that level.”

Kam interrupts by throwing her arm around my neck. “Harper is the fucking bomb.”

I roll my eyes at her mouth but Harper giggles. “That’s ten dollars in the swear jar, Aunt Kam.”

Kam feigns shock. “I was singing your praises, you little shit.”

Harper smiles while shaking her head. “Now it’s twenty.”