A Topps League Story #6: Batter Up!

A Topps League Story #6: Batter Up! — page 1

A Topps League Story #6: Batter Up! — page 2 — Grmdg I said It was the best I could do Good morning to you too He handed me a plate of food and I sat down to eat I felt a lot more awake after a few bites Thanks but what happened to Mom Usually she made breakfast on Sundays She’s playing golf with friends he said They wanted to hit the links before it started raining Speaking of which maybe you won’t have to work today Sounds like it’s going to come down pretty hard later I sure hope not I was a batboy for the Pine City Porcupines the Single-A team in our hometown It was really fun and way better than sitting around on a rainy day Dad was right The sky was dark and gloomy and looked like it might let loose any second with a storm But they don’t cancel baseball games unless they absolutely have to I walked to the ballpark and got ready for the day’s game against the Centralville Cougars I made coffee set up the bat rack and made sure the supply chest was full The players started coming in I bet we don’t play today said Wayne Zane He was the Porcupines catcher Hope I can get some bull-pen time in said Ryan Kimball the closer A closer is a pitcher who only plays late in the game when the team is protecting a small lead Diego Prado said something in Spanish Diego was a bench player That meant he mostly sat in the dugout and waited

A Topps League Story #6: Batter Up! — page 3 — Sometimes he would get a turn at the plate or an inning in the outfield He says he hopes to play every day Lance Pantaño translated Lance was a pitcher from Puerto Rico and was fluent in both Spanish and English Diego was from Mexico and spoke only Spanish I knew how Diego felt That’s what it was like for me when I played Little League I got to play but never for the whole game You’ll get a chance Just be patient said Sammy Solaris the designated hitter You’re good in the outfield and you’ve been hitting well in batting practice Lance started to translate but Diego waved at him to stop Entiendo he said which must have meant I understand It was drizzling when the game started The umpires met and decided the game could be played It wasn’t raining very hard at least not yet The fans wore ponchos or raincoats Some made their programs into hats In the top of the second inning a Cougar batter hit a fly ball to deep left field Danny O’Brien ran after it skidded on the damp grass lost his balance and fell down The ball bounced all the way to the wall Danny tried to get up but he was clearly hurt Myung Young ran from center field to get the ball The batter ran all the way to third base After the play the trainer helped Danny off the field Are you all right I asked Danny as he passed through the dugout He looked like he was in a lot of pain I just twisted my ankle he said I’ll be OK

A Topps League Story #6: Batter Up! — page 4 — Prado you’re in said Grumps the manager of the Porcupines His full name was Harry Humboldt but everyone called him Grumps He made the change on his scorecard

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