Page 128 of Fake Love

This is definitely not something that I thought I would be doing this time last year.

I thought my career was done. I thought that after my suspension was over, I would never see the mound again, but I guess I was wrong. Very wrong.

I also didn’t think that my mom would still be here or that I would have a beautiful girl in the stand cheering me on, with my number on her back, yet I do.

Never thought that I would play for another team other than Chicago, yet here I am.

People have been calling me the comeback kid and thinking about it, I feel like it’s a nickname I deserve.

The sound of the ball meeting the bat sounds through the park. There’s a stillness as everyone waits for what the play will be and the second that it meets the center fielders gloves, everyone one lets out a collective groan.

That was the third out. The eighth inning is over and now it’s time for me to close out this game.

I’ve stayed in the whole game, pitched over one hundred pitches and feel as if I can pitch one hundred more.

Ben and our pitching staff wanted to take me out, wanted me to rest, I fought against them. There was no baseball tomorrow, there wasn’t going to be a game I had to be ready for, this was it. I was going to stay in the game as long as I could, especially with the tight lead that we had.

I was going to win this for us and now its my chance to do just that.

Throwing my jacket on the bench, I grab my glove and readjust my hat.

It’s time to close this game out and get that ring,

My teammates all watch as I make my way out of the dugout. Aaron claps me on the back and Ben gives me a nod.

Three outs.

Three outs is all we need to become champs.

Three outs all depended on how I throw.

The crowd cheers as I walk to the mound, all of them on their feet, all of them anxiously awaiting the outcome.

I grab the rosin bag and chalk up my hands, keeping them dry.

After two practice throws, I’m ready.

The batter walks up to the plate and I get into my stance and wait for the right sign from my catcher.

When I finally get it I nod.

This is it.

All the turmoil has come down to this.

My mom is going to be okay. I have Jen by my side. I have my career back.

That’s all I need.

I wind up and throw the first pitch of the inning.

A pitch for my mom.

For Jen.

For my team.

For the fans.

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