Team Motto

Last night Trey's team the Orioles played the Cubs. After Trey's team hit in the bottom of the 4th inning we were up 3 runs (12-9). If we could just stop them from scoring in the last inning, victory would be ours. With the Cubs top of their line up hitting, we soon found ourselves in hot water. With 2 outs, a man on second and third and the score was 12-11. The Cubs player was down to his #5 pitch- the last one. He swung and got a base hit and they scored two runs. Dang. It was all tied up. Finally we got the out we needed and ended their hitting streak.

Top of the 5th, the Orioles were in the bottom of their line up. Not good. Batter 1, 2 and then 3 went down. Extra innings were needed to decide our fate.

Top of the 6th, the first two Cub players get on base. Trey catches his second line drive of the night playing 3rd base. Out #1. Awesome. Where that came from, I don't know, but we needed it. We managed to get a second out, but they scored in the process. Thankful I had to rush away to the bathroom when Josh's nose started to bleed (he must be related to me!) and didn't have to watch the next runner score as well. 14-12 now for the Cubbies. My heart is starting to pound. Finally we end the inning and have our work cut out for us.

The Orioles first batter is #9 in the line up. Oh my. Somehow he makes contact and gets on base. Finally some good news. That was short lived when batter #9 steps off second base after he got there safe and is tagged out by the shortstop. Ouch. The next 3 batters get up and on base and we score. 13-12 Cubs. Trey's turn to hit. My nerves are getting to me. He whacked the ball to the short stop, getting an RBI, but getting out in the process. Shoot. Out #2 and it's tied up 14-14. Thankfully we have a runner on third. This game has got to end. We still have scouts after and we've had enough of chasing the girls over and under and around the bleachers The next kid gets up to bat. It's 6:45 PM and the sun is directly in the kids' eyes. Swing one- strike. Swing two- strike. The coach tells him he's going to pitch to him from a side angle and that he should stand sideways next to the plate. I'd never seen that done. Great idea, but could it work? Smack. The boy belts it out past second base and we score. Game over. 15-14!

We all congregate around the back of the dug out. The kids are whooping and hollering and the parents are clapping. Wins like that just feel so good! The kids sit in a line on the ground and wait for the coach to talk and give out a game ball. The coach stands there and doesn't say a word. The assistant coaches tell the kids "way to come back, you didn't give up." Finally he speaks. "What do we talk about on our team? What's our team motto?" Two hands shoot up waving with excitement. One is Trey. He knew exactly what he was referring to. He and the other boys blurt out, "It's better to win ugly, than marry ugly." The coach finally cracks a smile. "That's right."