1 The brisk September wind had the harsh feel of winter. It blew my hair away from my face and chilled me to the bones. From time to time the anticipation of the game warmed me and the rest of the crowd. After all, this was the last game of the season, and it was the game that determined whether the Clippers, our home team, continued to the playoffs. 2 We jumped up and cheered as Matt Loring caught a fly ball deep in left field. "You're out!" shouted the robust-looking umpire. Now our Clippers were tied with the Longhorns 3-3, and the fans were worked into a frenzy of emotion. We had to score a now! Thanks to Matt's catch, we had the chance. The Longhorns took their places in the field and the Clippers were up to bat in their home stadium
3 Someone behind me started clanging a cowbell. "Clippers! Clippers!" the crowd cheered. The stadium shook as the crowd began to stomp their feet on the bleachers Juan Vazquez was up to bat. He was good really good. felt my heart start to beat in my throat. The smell of hot dogs that usually made me hungry was making me sick. I was so nervous. 4 STOMP STOMP STOMP! The crowd was really getting into the game now t was the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Clippers needed to score a run. A curtain of drizzle began to dampen the gusty wind Usually foul weather sent the crowd running for cover, but not now. Nothing could keep them from staying today. 5 The Longhorns' pitcher threw the first ball and Juan took a mighty swing. "Strike one!" shouted the umpire, and it felt as if the entire stadium sighed in unison. We watched as Juan began to square himself into position again. The next ball sailed low and to the left, Juan held back. "Ball!" shouted the umpire. I felt myself let out the breath l had been holding back. The Longhorn pitcher threw two more balls that were out of Juan's reach. Thankfully, he didn't bother to swing
6 The next ball came at Juan right over the plate. His bat connected with a thud, sending the ball far into the outfield. Juan ran like a train out of control until he wisely stopped at third base. Time seemed to stand still as the next two players went through enough balls and strikes to bring the game to the now-or- never point. My nerves couldn't take much more. I thought of all the Little League games I'd won and lost. I knew how Juan felt, and I knew how the Longhorns pitcher felt. The inning stood at two outs as the last batter made his way to the plate. 7 There was no doubt about it. Everyone in the stadium knew that was chance. Singing began to resound in the background: "Take me out to the ball game. Take me out with the crowd. buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack , I don't care if I never get back Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don't win it's a shame. For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, At the old ball game."
8 This is it, I thought. If anyone can do it, Benji can. Benjamin Potter had the best home run record of any player on the Clippers' team. The man to my left was biting his fingers, and l realized I was holding my breath again. 9 The Longhorns' pitcher tossed his second pitch over the plate almost casually. The ball seemed to dangle in the air before Benji hit it and sent it soaring backward into the crowd. The ball looped this way and that, and suddenly found myself right below Benji's foul. People were pushing and shoving as I reached my hand up and caught the treasured souvenir 10 Before had time to bask in the glory of my prize, Benji smacked a home run that sent Juan home. The Clippers won 5-3, and I had just caught a foul ball. It was the experience of a lifetime. What a game!