The Game Changer
“EASTON! EASTON!
EASTON!” shouted the crowd. They sounded like a herd of cows mooing. All of the
players on the winning team, with hearts racing and lungs panting, ran out on
the immense dirt diamond. It was so big it could hold 100 people. The clay was
as brown as cocoa powder and was moist enough to play a ten hour game. The
grass was as green as kale and when the howling wind blew, it shook the rickety
old fence. Also you can tell the bases were as white as a cloud and were like a
really firm pillow. Then the team dog piled on one player. His name is Aaron.
He was a nice Italian boy who was a little chubby. He had fluffy brown hair
that was as brown as dirt. Everyone at that field knew the game was history.
The Easton team was victorious against the Fairfield American team. They’re
going to Pennsylvania for the LLWS! It is every kid’s dream to go there.
Although satisfied his team is going to the LLWS and making the game winning
play, he felt like he didn’t help score any runs! After everyone left the field
Aaron stood there thinking with a big frown on his face. Then he said “do I
deserve to be on this team?” “Did I help the team win?” On the way to Aarons
house he asked his parents “how can I get better with my hitting?” his parents
replied “you’ll find out tomorrow” Then they smiled at each other.
Aaron thought about
it all night and he finally fell asleep. The next day was his birthday and when
Aaron opened his last present it was the new Easton Mako composite baseball
bat. “Thanks guys I loved my presents especially the bat” said Aaron. “No
problem” said his parents. “Well that’s
all of them” said his dad. “Wait what’s in my pocket?” Aaron’s eyes popped out
like bowling balls. They were tickets to a Red Sox baseball game. The Red Sox
are Aaron’s favorite team. The next day Aaron and his father went to the game.
Their seats were right near the batters circle. Aaron had a jersey of David
Ortiz (his favorite player) and a hat. When David Ortiz went to bat he asked
Aaron “I heard you’re not confident with your hitting” “want to do some
training with me?” That’s when Aaron had a grin so big it was bigger than the
Joker’s. Aaron was stunned. He was so surprised he was speechless. “Well ummm”
Aaron struggled to say. “Of course I would never let this opportunity down”
Aaron said with a proud voice. “Good I’ll swing by tomorrow to pick you up”
said Mr. Ortiz. Then David Ortiz went to bat. Aaron couldn’t believe it he was
doing training with his favorite player from his favorite team! After the game
Aaron went straight to bed when he got home because he knew he had to get his
rest for the big day tomorrow. But all the excitement kept Aaron up for an hour
before he finally got to sleep. The next morning Mr. Ortiz picked Aaron up in
his glossy Rolls-Royce Ghost. Aaron was jumping in his seat and couldn’t stop
smiling.
“We’re
here” said Mr. Ortiz. When Aaron stepped on the field he felt like an ant. He
thought it was a field for the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk. “Ok let’s get
started” said Mr. Ortiz. “First we’ll get your confidence back”. They walked to
home plate. Aaron stood very far away from the plate in his stance. “Move
closer to the plate” said Mr. Ortiz. Aaron slowly moved closer to the plate.
Mr. Ortiz had a bucket full of tennis balls. Aaron wondered why he did. Then Mr. Ortiz threw a tennis ball really
hard at Aaron! “OWWWW” screamed Aaron. “You have to like the ball to gain your
confidence back” exclaimed Mr. Ortiz. “O-k-k-k I’ll try” Aaron said in a scared
voice. Mr. Ortiz threw five more at Aaron. Then he threw five more four times!
“I’m feeling way better now” exclaimed Aaron. “Ok now let’s do some batting
practice” said Mr. Ortiz. He told Aaron to have a level swing and when you
swing to make an L shape with your legs. So then Aaron went to bat. He looked
as confident as ever and when Mr. Ortiz threw the first pitch SLAM! Aaron hit
clean line drive to right field. Together Mr. Ortiz and Aaron exchanged nods
and they both looked like a sensei.
After doing their
best the Easton team made it to the championship game against Japan. Aaron
didn’t know it but there was a surprise coming. While Aaron was warming up with
his team he heard a familiar voice. “Remember confidence Aaron” Aaron was about
explode with excitement. He turned around and there was Mr. Ortiz! “Mr. Ortiz
you came!” “Of course I did to see you hit the heck out of the ball!” Then
David Ortiz helped with the rest of the warm-ups by throwing in the batting
cage, hitting fly balls to the outfield, and hitting groundballs to the
infield. Aaron didn’t get up in the first inning but he got up in the second.
Aaron walked to the plate got into his stance. The pitcher gave Aaron a smirk
and a dirty look but Aaron gave one back. The pitcher threw heat but that
didn’t stop Aaron. SLAM! Aaron pulled a
nasty double to right field. Everybody cheered and Aaron got fired up. Sadly
though the rest of his team only allowed him to get to third base. Then the
teams switched sides. Aaron got a couple good plays in the field. Then he got
up again in the third inning. Aaron was confident. Really confident. He was so
over confident that he struck out. Then he got all mopey again! “Remember Aaron
don’t get too confident but you worked hard so let it play off” said Mr. Ortiz.
“Ok coach” replied Aaron with a smile on his face. The rest of his teammates
that got up in that inning got two runs by two singles and a triple! In all of
the innings except the first, second, third, and sixth inning it was pretty
depressing for the Easton team. The Japan team scored five runs to make it 5-2.
Aaron became nervous because the end was near. It was the last inning. Aaron
was up to bat. There were two outs, bases loaded, and the count was 3 balls and
two strikes. “Make it a good one” said Mr. Ortiz. Aaron took a deep breath and
then the pitcher threw a meatball down the middle. WHACK!!! Aaron knew that
that was the one. His heart was pounding 100 mph! Then he saw it sail over the
fence and make a rumble on the grass. Aaron hit a grand slam to win the game.
After that everybody starting shouting “The Game Changer”. When Aaron hit home
plate, all of his teammates and coaches lifted him up shouting Aaron! Aaron!
Aaron! All Aaron did was stare out the window on the ride home. He was quietly
processing the big moment. He remembered when he hit the grand slam and took
that great big leap on home plate. He’ll never forget the feeling running and
jumping around the bases. He couldn’t believe it was him. All of his hard work
paid off. He hoped that if he worked really hard he can become the best
someday. That’s what he decided.
