The Feeling of Accomplishment

I here my name called.

"Your on deck!"

I put my gloves on and pick out my bat among the bats strewn against the fence. Walking out to the circle, I prepare myself to face the enemy. I watch her and start timing her pitch.

"Wow she's fast. I can do this. I've seen faster."

BLAM! "Strike one!

"Come on! You can do it! Hit the ball!" I watch my teammate and wonder how well she'll do. I cheer her on and know that our victory depends on the team as a whole. Hoping, waiting, and watching as she engages in battle. Finally, it comes, that perfect pitch. She swings. The crowd errupts and proud parents cheer on their child as she runs. Rounding first, she looks up and realizes she has a chance. She takes it.

"Go two!" yells our coach.

She takes off. If you blink you see her standing on the bag at second wiping dirt off her uniform, but if you had watched, you would have seen her sprinting and sliding just out of reach of the swiping tag. She holds up her hand for a timeout. She stands up and looks to her coach for approval. The big grin and fist pump is enough for her. Job well done.

I hear the shouts of glee from my teammates in the dugout and the cheers from the stands. My thoughts come back to my at bat. I hear him. "Let's go Taylor! Hit the ball number 4!" Looking up I watch for the signals that tell me what my job is for this at bat. He goes through the motions. Swiping his hand across his hat, running his hand along his belt, and then grabing his ear. "Alright now hit the ball!" He gave me nothing. The signals meant I could swing away. I step inside the white box, smeared by the cleats of my teammates and the opposing team. Thoughts fill my head. What pitch will she throw? Where will it go? Gauging her motion and timing her movements, I rock back. She glares at the catchers glove and releases the ball. In it comes and I decide it's too far away from the plate.

Blam! "Strike one!"

My ears turn red. It was a ball. I get mad at the ump for calling a ball and look up to my coach. He knows I was right and nods his approval. "Let's go! You're 0-1 now!"

I step back in the box and prepare. In comes the pitch. I swing with all my might.

"Blam!" Strike two!"

My coach gives a disapproving look and tells me, "You're pulling your head out! Stay back and connect! Now she's got you down two. Come back and get 'er!"

I'm mad now but trying to stay focused. I see my teamamte standing on second cheering me on. I step into the box and wait. The pitch is thrown and I like it, a lot. I swing and feel it connect. That perfect feeling when the ball hits the sweet spot. I feel it take off and I drop the bat to run. First is my goal. I'm running as fast as I've ever run. It's the longest 3 seconds ever. I hear the base coach say, "round and go two!" My foot hits the bag. "Thump" and I keep going. I see that it will be close. I fear I won't make it but keep going full speed. I slide and a cloud of dust engulfs the base. I feel a tag but think I beat it. The dust clears and the ump delays in his decision.

"SAFE!"

The fans errupt. I stand up and see my coach and teammates yelling and cheering. That feeling wells up that I did something big and that smile won't come off.

Accomplishment. It's a great feeling.