It was the perfect day to play baseball. It was hot, but shady. 

I was catching in the second to last inning. 2 strikes, outside corner strike 3. I still remember the speed on that pitch. 

Next inning I was pitching. There was sweat running down my hair. I was warming up in foul territory. My arm had hurt from last game. My team was chanting, “Austin Austin!” Once I got to the mound it sounded like they were screaming!

I felt confident. I threw a pitch it blazed right past the batter.

I threw another pitch, this time the batter ripped the ball down the third base line. The third baseman threw the ball to first, 1 out. I sighed in relief. I got into stance and threw 3 balls and two strikes. Then I threw an outside corner strike 3. I was one out away. My heart pounded and I threw a pitch. The batter hit a chopper to me. I looked at home.  All I saw was dirt I looked at first. I saw a runner sprinting. I threw the ball to first …

The ump yelled, “Out!” My friends yelled and tackled me. Soon there was a dog pile. I was so happy. 

We had Scoop Shop. At Scoop Shop my friend Chase came over to me and said, “Nice win Austin.” “Thanks.” I replied. 

And that is the story of one of my greatest games I ever pitched, I thought. That was one of the luckiest games I have ever played. My head wasn’t hanging down on my neck it was the exact opposite of that.I was grinning. I said, “I guess I really am a great closer.”