The Run

Bottom of the 9th
2 down
Score was tied at 0-0

The batter goes up to the box
Thoughts race through his mind
Mariano Rivera is pitching
Seattle Mariners vs New York Yankees
We cannot lose this one

He gets ready
And steps in the box

Cameras flash
The crowd screams

His arms felt like lead
His muscles all tense
But he takes control
His mind overpowering his body
He felt relaxed

The first pitch comes in
It's a 4-seam fastball
He lets go
It was a ball

He calms himself down
Stepped out of the box to take a breath
And back in again

The next pitch comes in
It's a slider
It's coming into the strike zone
He swings
And misses
The count is 1-1

The crowd was louder than ever
He was getting distracted by the flashes of camera

Suddenly a pitch came in
Strike

He shook himself awake
And let his mind take over again

The pitch
A curveball
He stays calm and let the ball fall in
A ball

Another pitch
A 2-seam fastball
He checked
Just on time
A ball

Full count
Sweat was trickling down his face
His arms felt like rubber
But he told himself
I must and I will do it

The pitch
A changeup
It was coming in perfectly

He swings

The crowd roared as his bat made contact
The ball flew

Far

Going

Going

He runs
Silently praying

Gone

He let go a sigh of relief as he stepped on the plate
Victory is sweet