I move to the edge of my seat, the ridges in the aluminum bleachers are very uncomfortable. I feel the sun shining on my face. The cool northern breeze brushes across my cheeks and through my hair. The player’s bright white uniforms with royal blue lettering stand out against the green grass. The knees of the player’s pants stained with brown from the dirt, breaking up the white simplicity of the bottom half of the uniform. The pitcher winds up, transferring every ounce of energy from his toes, to his fingertips and, into the baseball. Within the blink of an eye the ball has left his hand and entered the catcher’s glove. The impact of the ball against the padded leather glove makes a popping sound. Strike one. The fans begin to cheer. The batter
It was brutal work that required constant attention - the field was always a little too dry or a little too wet, a little too soft or a little too rough. Like an idol that demanded incessant sacrifice, I would wake up early to tend to the field, painstakingly hosing every inch, only too see my handiwork decimated by collegiate players hours later. Yet the work was never unpleasant - something about merely being in the presence of the field filled me in an ineffable pleasure, so much so that my fellow interns and I would fight over who got to rake the fields each day, lest we be stuck with the ostensibly more interesting task of throwing batting practice to the players. There was something magical about bringing the field back to life after a long day in the summer sun, and each day I did my absolute best to see that those fields received the care that they
Bryce Harper is the player that you love to have on your own team, but opponents can't stand him! He might have a swagger that annoys opponents, but he is one heck of a baseball player and this year he is breaking out to the superstar everyone expected! He is just 22 years of age and he is one of the most feared hitters in baseball. He has battled injuries to start his career because of what some have termed too much hustle, but this year he has put all together. He is hitting .331 27 home runs and 64 runs batted in the no question NL MVP at this point in the season. He might rub fans and opponents the wrong way but he is fun to watch play baseball I just wish as a Braves fan he was in a different division.
I have loved baseball for years, but by the time I was a freshman at Laurel High School, I had precious little experience. The chances of me playing baseball in most high schools were slim, but this was Laurel. America’s favorite pastime was treated there as a vestige of years long forgotten. The athletic director ignored us, the students didn’t support us, and the school funded us just enough to say that they had a baseball program. Tucked away in a forgotten corner of the campus in the gloomy shadows of the tower from which football games were announced, the baseball diamond was the school’s disgrace. The dugouts were dismal cinder block bunkers with peeling paint and a propensity to flood. Grass was scarce where it was supposed to be and
Ever since I could remember, I have always had a great interest and love for the game of baseball. As a kid, I would spend countless hours in the backyard with my grandfather, or even by myself, tossing, hitting and fielding a baseball. When I wasn't in the yard pretending to be Nomar Garciaparra I would watch the Boston Red Sox games on TV with my Grandfather. Even in my early adolescence, as impatient as most are, I had the patience to sit there and watch the Sox.With my eyes glued to the screen with a look of anticipation fixed on my face ready to mimic my grandfather with the excitement of a home run hit or the frustration of Mo-Vaughn striking out. Call me crazy, but I was addicted, even as a young boy, to Boston Red Sox baseball.
As soon as I made my very first varsity baseball appearance, I knew that I had to be the very best I could be or there was never going to be a chance of ever putting on that white and maroon crisp cleaned dri-fit Russel number 18 jersey. My heart was beating beyond faster than it should be at my first at bat because I had always heard “Just wait you haven't seen nothing yet, wait till you face them varsity pitchers.” Players older than me had constantly been saying that throughout my freshman season and it kept repeating over and over in my head like a broken record. Although I had studied the pitcher and had seen with my very own eyes, he wasn’t as good as everyone talked him up to be. I was still overawed and very nervous about messing up.
Once upon a time there was a boy who loved baseball. His name was Andrew. Andrew could play every position on the field. But his favorite position was pitcher and shortstop. When Andrew was playing pitcher he was in control of the game and he liked that, When he was playing shortstop he liked the adrenaline rush when he was making plays.
Clouds mugged the sun of light as the day progressed. Dusk filled the air on the baseball diamond where I would leave my legacy. Forth, was the championship game to be played, and the pressure of the starting pitcher, was not fazing me. In the zone, we said the Little League pledge. Jolts of excitement filled my muscles as I recited the piece that I know all too well. Warming up, I was controlled, and was ready to bring it. The game began with a bang. Strikeout after strikeout I fired, giving my all every single pitch. ‘BOOM’ went the glove after every pitch, whizzed right by the petrified batter. However, this was not much different for our team. Just two hits filled the board, I and my teammate Ian Keth. Scoring off of this was efficient,
I am a baseball player who loves to play baseball and very good at it,
Blood, sweat and tears. All for one sport you love. Going to the fields, putting my cleats on and batting.(Cumulative) From the time I stepped on the diamond, I knew softball was going to be something I was good at. Usually most people start off playing t-ball and work their way up to the big leagues. Not me. I started my third grade year. Of course I was hesitant (nervous), but I got over that fast enough. I played every position possible. I was a strong hitter (usually making it on base every time). But that’s 10 u. Over the years, I became exceptionally good at softball. I had many compliments on how good I was. Parents were telling my parents how good I was. But that was only the beginning.
I step up to the plate. The hot lights of the Mets stadium hit my face. Clayton Kershaw was pitching. He is the best pitcher in the MLB. The pitch comes. It was a slow hanging curveball right over the middle. I swing will all my might. I hear the crack of the bat and I see the ball fly over the fence. I trot around the bases and I am approaching home plate. I step on home then I wake up.
I have known Lauryn Banks my entire softball career. Three words that come to my mind when I think of Lauryn are dedicated, supportive, and extraordinary. She is truly one of the most incredible teammates that I could ever have the honor of playing with. Lauryn is the epitome of hardwork. Our high school has an extremely competitive softball team. However, this did not discourage Lauryn. After making JV her sophomore year, she worked incredibly hard to make Varsity her junior. Not only did she make the Varsity team, she was by far one of the most stand out players on the team. Her hard work paid off when she was awarded second team all district infielder. Lauryn is both vocally a leader on the team and a leader by example. Whenever the team is down Lauryn is always there to pick us up.
it's a hot Texas Sun beat down upon my neck a fast ball whizzed past my bat and into the catcher's glove after you had another strikeout. I trudged back to the dugout thoughts of failure filled my mind of my confidence slowly vanishing. I wasn't accustomed to anything less than success before high school. I prospered in youth athletics while living in South Dakota. I had a phenomenal baseball coach to transform my robbed potential into success on the baseball diamond. Unfortunately, my father's Air Force career demanded that we move before my baseball season. Without me my team went on to win the city state championships advancing all the way to the Little League World. When I was younger my family moved to not affect my athletic performance the difficulties began I was torn from my tight-knit community in Northern Virginia and forced to adjust to life in West Texas prior to the start of my freshman year. I struggled to regain the close friends and relationships I left behind for the first time in my life.
MY FIRST BASEBALL TROPHY When i was 6 yrs old, I lived in Burleson, Texas. The whole time I lived there I was playing paseball constantly. My very first season of baseball, I was 6 years old. It was a very hot season of baseball. On the very last game of the season it started to rain, and even though it was raining we still played the game.
I always consider myself to play Major League baseball; as I grew up; I realized that I would need a backup plan. By the seventh grade I noticed that I liked to do hands on activities and problem solve difficult tasks. I displayed all the interests of an electrical engineer. I believe that the interest really may have started at an even younger age. My father has been a maintenance technician for almost 25 years. In say that, I enjoyed watching my dad fix things which sparked my interest in fixing things, or at least look into the engineering field.
Sweat rolls down my face in endless rivulets and my shoulders ache. Encouragements filter in from the crowd and my teammates. I can detect the distinct smell of leather and dirt creating an intoxicating mix that will forever remind me of the long spring months spent on a diamond, playing my heart out. The catcher gives me a signal, and I nod, communicating that I like the pitch. I size up the batter with what I hope is an intimidating look on my face. I manipulate the ball in my worn Rawlings glove and step onto the mound. I take a deep breath and pray to God that I use the correct form and timing that will give me the perfect change up. My heart starts to pulsate erratically as I rear back and throw, swinging my arm three hundred