Personal Narrative Essay: The Game Of Baseball

In total I had joined 6 baseball teams in my whole life (17 years). I don’t want this problem to ever happen again so I’m not planning on joining anymore teams for now, but I may join one during college. I still like baseball even after all these years. Baseball has always been a part of my life. It’s been something I’ve played, it's been something my grandfather has enjoyed, my aunt, and pretty much my whole family. But at the end of the day I think that it was one of the best decisions that I had ever made just because I have more time to do stuff and time to spend with my family members and friends from

I went home full of excitement and quickly recounted to my mom the success I had that day at baseball. I went to bed that night with more confidence than I thought possible and looking forward to another day of baseball. Made my way through school that day visualizing my performance that afternoon for tryouts. With more excitement than nerve I began the second day of tryouts. Thursday we worked on throwing and catching skills, friday was batting. An area in which I struggled a little more than others but with confidence pouring out of me I stepped into the box. Even with the confidence boost working on my skill I struggled heavily and was not happy with my performance. So trying to keep my confidence up I tried to finish that day of tryouts but I could tell that the coaches were less pleased with my performance that day. There’s not a much faster way to be served a large slice of humble pie than to realize you may not be all that you once thought you were. So keeping that in mind I finished the day doing my best. When we gathered together to make final cuts I could feel my heart beating in

Every year I play for a baseball team but for some reason this season was more special than all the other years that I have played. My team was full of all different kinds of people like kids who took the game to serious, kids who were really funny, kids who were really shy, and many other people, also there was my coach, he was a good guy but he really serious about the game and if you did something bad he would get really heated. My team was really good that we made the state tournament with other really good teams. We played really hard and the tournament was two game elimination, and we only lost one game. After working really hard we made the championship game.

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.

I pull up in my driveway and look at the home run ball. It had a big mark right on the seams. I walk up stairs and put it right next to my trophies. In that moment I realized you don't have to be the biggest or the strongest to do something great. Also I realized that you should never doubt yourself and with hard work and dedication you can be at the top of your game in anything you

Several years ago, I was talking to my late grandpa who had gone to see Hall of Famer, Ken Griffey Jr. give a speech to some young children. After his speech, a dad stood up and asked “Mr. Griffey, you and I have something in common. I have been playing baseball all my life just like you. We are about the same age and we even come from the same hometown. The only difference between us is that you are a celebrated All- Star ballplayer, and I-- despite decades of hard work-- have never been able to play past college ball. This breaks my heart. I have dedicated my whole life to baseball, but to no avail. My spirit has been completely diminished by all the rejection and disappointment. I was wondering if you have any advice for me, but please do not just dismiss my question and tell me to persevere. I have heard that too many times and

But I went out and I tried out for the team. Try outs for high school baseball was so different from middle school baseball. Before tryouts started we had days were we would work out before baseball tryouts started. Some days we were in the weight room and other days we were on the field. We tryout days were here barley any body got cut from the team and if you didn’t make it he would posted anything up and make people feel embraced he would just come up to you and tell you that you did not make the team. It was the first time in a long time that I had played baseball and it was the first time that I made the baseball team for a school. I played for the JV team and my position were catcher and outfield I was number 15 and I liked playing for the team it was so

In the bottom of the inning, with the chance to win, I would make the first plate appearance of the inning with hopes to start it off with a hit. Before our at-bats, Coach Sullivan talked to the team saying, “This is the moment you have all worked for. This is where all that extra work will finally pay off. This is a moment you will remember for the rest of your lives. Now GO GET ‘EM!” So I ran in the dugout, grabbed my helmet and bat, and began getting ready for my at-bat. As I was preparing Coach Sullivan came over and gathered up the next few batters, including myself, and said, “Right now! This is your time! Go do your best and good things will happen!” I was as prepared as ever when I finally stepped up to the plate to start the inning. As the pitch came towards me I swung the bat and felt a POP. I looked up to see the ball soar into the outfield and land as a base hit. The next batter was Ben Beis who, on the first pitch, watched a ball in the dirt which got past the catcher allowing me to advance to second base. Ben then did a sacrifice bunt moving me from second base to third

My teammates and I were over-confident and had made some early mental errors. This allowed Cascade to earn three runs in the first inning, while we got none. In the huddle after inning one, our coach said, “Where’s the energy boys? You guys look flat out there!” In the next few innings, we found ways to pick up two runs, only while allowing Cascade another. It was a defensive battle, as neither team could get any runs. By the time we reached the sixth inning, the score was tied four to four. I started to get nervous, as I knew I would have a pivotal at-bat this inning. The first batter got on base with a walk. Our team, was very excited as he was the winning run. Our excitement instantly faded, as the next two batters struck out. This left me up with the last out. Our man on base had stolen to second, putting him in perfect scoring position. My teammates yelled from the dugout, “Let’s go Hinch! You got this big guy.” My coach said to me, “Alex, sit back and drive the ball. Make sure it’s a good pitch!” I could feel the pressure of the moment, but wanted to be the guy to get us the win. The at-bat started off slow as I got two strikes and two balls. On the fifth pitch, I got a ball right down the middle. I made a big swing at the ball and felt it come off my bat. Immediately, I started sprinting towards first and was signaled to go for second. The winning run had scored and our team went wild! We had won the game, and left Cascade with two victories. From this point on, I was much more confident. My teammates also felt a new sense of belief in me. The rest of the year was very enjoyable and left me with many new friendships! It was a summer I will always

The next practice I was putting my gear on slowly like usual so my best friend Trinity could get there before I had to go practice with another girl, since Trinity was really the only one who was interesting to talk to. When she finally got there, we starting practicing normal catch with the softball. After I finished telling her that I wanted to try pitching, and after a lot of convincing her that I could do it, I tried my pitch. It was to low, and Trinity got it as a ground ball. “I told you you can’t pitch, let’s just practice the normal way.” I said no, I needed to become a pitcher, to help my team and help me to not always be at 3rd base.

Before I knew it, I was entering my very last baseball season. At this point in time, I have yet to hit an over-the-fence homerun. I would swing for the fence so every time that I would hit the ball, I would be so disappointed with myself because it didnt go over the fence. I knew that I had the capability to hit an over-the-fence homerun, but it was the fact of putting the power to use at the appropriate time.

The following morning my nose still hurts but I have a game to play so there is no time to dwell over it. We show up and the kids we are playing are throwing seventy, which isn’t that fast for us. I was fairly confident that we are gonna win, all of my teammates were being cocky as usual. The game started and just like that, we are losing by 4-runs, none of it was my fault. We commited 6 errors in the 1st inning, I had never been more disappointed in any team i had played with, ever. We ended up losing but I didn’t worry about it because I was going out to dinner after.

Three years ago I tried out for the baseball program Slammers. Slammers is one of the elite baseball programs in Colorado. When I heard about the organization I knew I wanted to play on that team. The problem was I had to try out. When I tried out I felt like I did my best, but the outcome wasn’t good. Unfortunately I didn’t make it. The coach told me my arm strength needed some work. I was devastated. After that the search for a team was on. The team that I ended up on was the Colorado Blizzard (a team not as good as Slammers). Every practice that year I worked and worked on my arm strength. From throwing weighted balls to long toss. After the year was over I felt like I got much better and hoped I was good enough for Slammers. That offseason I kept working and working. Then I finally got another opportunity to try out for Slammers again. Before that tryout I went to a field with my dad and just made sure I was looking clean. When the tryout came I worked really hard-- hustling, listening, and doing my best. Two weeks later I got an email that said I have made Slammers

Bottom of the 9th. Two outs. Crack! A shallow fly ball in the air a few feet behind me, I quickly turned around to sprint and catch the ball. I’m looking up as I attempted to track the ball in the blinding Saturday morning sun and bang! As I became encompassed in darkness, my seemingly lifeless body hit the ground. I blacked out for fifteen seconds. I was then helped up by a fellow teammate. The first words to leave my lips were “Did he catch it?” I looked up, but rather than seeing cheerful teammates and fans, I saw faces of dismay. Rather than celebrating or saying “Good game” to the opposing team, I see my coaches sprinting out to check on me. I was stumbling off the field being held up by two teammates as if I were a drunk teenager on New Year’s Eve. They sat me down on the cold metal bench so I could regain my balance. As I began to leave, I was approached by the trainer.

It was a bright sunny day with the weather not scorching hot and a perfect day for baseball. The grass was green and very cold and watery. The first time I hit a homerun I was so amazed especially cause I’m not a big hitter. I was almost up to bat, and I really wanted to redeem myself cause I was walked both times I was up. I really wanted a good game because most of my family was there so I can impress them.