Let's play Ball

Little Tim, he was marveling at all of Grandpa's trophies, and he stopped in front of a series of autographed baseballs. However, one in particular called his attention.

The boy took the baseball from the shelf and was surprised to see a symbol of crossed diamonds engraved on the ball.

"Grandpa! Why does this ball have these squares drawn? "

"Son, that was a long time ago." The grandfather breathed quietly and drew a smile.

"It represents the symbol of the Altarians, an alien race that decided to play a baseball game against our town team."

I was 22 years old then. Our manager had told us to imagine that it was just another team that came to our town to play against us. But, to our luck, that was far from reality.

Among the team of the Altarians, there were beings that measured 8 feet high and others only 4, but they were very fast.

It ended the sixth inning, we lost 6 to 2 runs scored against the aliens. That was when the left-handed Billy told the coach to put him in to pitching.

"Only a miracle will save us now. You better start warming up "

The 7th inning started and Billy was on the Pitcher's mound. The number 22 of the Altarians was batter, it was not very tall, however it was very fast. Mike (our former pitcher) could never throw strikes to any alien batter.

Jack, our catcher, was signaling Billy to use a curve.

Billy nodded and made his first pitch. The 22 hit, but to his surprise the ball went just foul. Making his first strike! We shouted like crazy, the audience got up excited to catch the ball.

Billy had figured out how to deflect the direction of the ball, making them impossible to get off the plate. He kept throwing strikes in a row! Every cloud has a silver lining.

He struck out 3 alien hitters in a row

We were in the dugout and before Jimmy was at bat, Billy told us a few words that ignited the fighting spirit that we had inside:

"Do not give up, we have always been perseverant, even stubborn, to say the least. They can be stronger and faster, but they do not have the resistance to play under this sun. They will never beat us in our favorite game. "

"Let's teach them why we love baseball"

"Yes!" Everyone shouted in unison.

It was amazing how some words changed the destiny of the game.

Jimmy prepared to hit. The number 57, was ready to pitch. Jimmy kissed the crucifix on his chest and then closed his eyes and hit hard. The previous times he had been struck out as he concentrated on using his eyes to see the ball. But this time, for the first time he had hit the ball, knocking it out to the third base.

Jimmy arrived safely at first.

It was Billy's turn, so he took the bat and pointed over the center field with it. Making them understand that he would be hitting a home run. So the Altarians moved away to the bottom of the garden. But to their bad luck, Billy just bunted the ball. At that time Jimmy ran to second base, the enemy catcher was surprised by the play, Billy took advantage to get to first base, then the fastest been of the Altarians came to reach the ball and throw it to 2nd base but Jimmy was safe.

The heat of the afternoon and the 2 plays that surprised the Altariaron, began to take effect in their moods.

It was then that it was the turn of little John, we call him so because he was the taller one, over 6 feet tall.

The Altarian pitcher began to sweat. It was not used to the conditions of heat and stress. The enemy catcher, seeing that pitcher doubted, made a signal to its team mate to base on balls. Little Jonh had been "walked" by the pitcher. We already had 3 men on base.

I was the next batter. After the 2nd strike, I raised the ball to right field. Jimmy ran home base and Billy ran third base. The smallest of the Altarians climbed on top of the taller and catched the ball before falling to the ground. Then he thrown the ball to second base and to everyone's surprise, Billy had reached home base safely. However, they did double play on me and little John.

They changed the pitcher who immediately struck out our next batter.

The 8th inning started, 6 to 4 runs scored. The left-handed Billy again showed off by striking out three Altarian batters in a row. He was burning.

The new pitcher of team Altarian, also was not far behind. He struck out 3 of our team too, finishing the 8th in a very short time.

The 9th started, we continued 6 to 4. The Altarians had their turn at bat. They connected a hit and got to first base, they replaced the player with the faster Altarian.

Billy was sweating. He was sure that the Altarian on first base would steal the 2nd base very easily. Jack beckons him to make another "miraculous" curve. Billy nods but warns Jack, by the sign language that only the local team knew, to throw 3rd base instead of second.

Jack was confused, but Billy told him with his lips: "Trust me".

Billy makes the throw with his magic curve and immediately the first base player runs and passes through 2nd base straight to third, taking it for granted that they would throw the second base as usual. However, when the umpire claimed "strike one", immediately Jack threw to third base. Capturing the fastest player on 3rd base. The scream of the public was immediate. They cheered our team again.

New batter at home plate. Billy makes a throw again and Alterian batter hits the ball that goes down the first base line. I throw myself to find the ball and leave first base alone. Billy runs to first, when I manage to take the ball, I just threw it to 1st base, unknowingly Billy had already reached first catching the ball making the 2nd out of the inning.

The audience went crazy again.

Billy struck out the next batter and with this we completed the 3rd out. Our last chance had arrived.

Before going to the plate, Billy told Jimmy in the dugout: "Close your eyes again"

Jimmy prepares to hit and again closes his eyes at the moment the pitcher makes the pitch, he hears the buzz of the ball and the "Strike One!" from the umpire

Wait for the 2nd pitch and hits with his eyes closed, immediately run to first base, the short stop fails to take the ball in time, surprised by the hit, throws the ball but arrives too late to 1st base. Jimmy was safe on the first.

It's Billy's turn and he's given a base on balls. The Altarians feared Billy.

It was little John turn, then, he was stroke out.

It's my turn at bat. I swing and I hear the umpire say "Strike one!", I see Jimmy and he tells me with signs that I must not use my eyes.

"Do not see the ball, just hear it" I say to myself.

I close my eyes and the pitcher makes the pitch and I listen again to the umpire saying "Strike two!". However, I heard when the ball was coming closer around me.

I get ready again and close my eyes and I swing again, I feel the impact of the ball against the bat and listen to the umpire saying "Foul".

I wet my lips and return to the batting position.

The pitcher again throws and I swing as hard as I can, causing the bat to split in a half and throwing the ball out of the park!

The crowd went crazy, Jimmy and Billy had started to run around the bases, I started running towards first base, I saw all the teammates come out of the dugout, I passed by each base, I saw everything in slow motion!

Excited public, trumpets and cornets cheering our team.

It was the time of our lives.

By the end of the afternoon, I had finished last in the locker room. That's when I saw the extraterrestrial team manager approach Billy and say:

"You were right about humans. They are a very particular species. They deserve to be taken into account and be guided to a better future for them and their planet. "

"When they work together towards a common purpose. They are invincible," Billy added.

I had always thought that Billy was from another world, but this clarified everything. I promised Billy I would never reveal his secret.

The manager gave me the winning ball engraved with the official emblem of their planet.