Chapters 27 through 29 Billy's Victory
“Ryan and Michael have the mumps!”
Carl was flabbergasted.
On the other end of the phone, Frank O’Hara relayed the bad news to the Tigers’ coach.
“The doctor said another week to ten days. The boys are disappointed, but we must keep them quarantined and away from the rest of the team.
“Otherwise, you could have a catastrophe on your hands. We’ll get them back out there as soon as they’re over the hump and not contagious anymore.”
“Thanks, Frank. Tell the boys to hang in there and tell them we’re thinking about them.”
Carl hung up the phone. He shook his head. He knew the Tigers’ unbeaten streak was now in jeopardy. But, more importantly, the road to the District Championship was now full of potholes; one slip-up and the Tigers could be spectators on the Fourth of July.
The Tigers had four games left, and they needed to win two of them to clinch a spot in the final.
With just nine players, the Tigers would have their work cut out. One injury, such as Clayton's wrist injury earlier in the season, a parent failing to get their son to the game on time, or a team-hitting slump, could ruin the Tigers’ chance at a title.
Carl Perkins needed to get all those negative thoughts out of his head. The Tigers needed to focus on one game at a time, and Carl would need to communicate that to his players.
Carl picked up the Tigers’ roster from his desk, picked up the phone, and called every parent, setting up a special practice and a meeting with the parents the following day.
Chapter 28
It was just after midnight. Billy had been asleep when suddenly the dream came back. This time, the dream had taken on a strange twist.
There was never a black hole. It was a dugout! Billy could see it clearly now. The figure took three steps, emerged from the dugout, and went into the bright sunlight. The figure turned and revealed its face. It was Billy.
Billy then moved to the on-deck circle. He kneeled. He clutched the Louisville Slugger by the handle tightly with both hands.
He looked out toward the outfield. Out of nowhere, the clouds appeared. The clouds stayed low to the ground. Then lights appeared, first in left field, then in center field, and finally in right field.
The glow from the lights and the low-hanging clouds created an eerie feeling. Suddenly, the clouds disappeared, and a huge figure emerged from the shadows of the lights. The figure was wearing a green uniform and was on the move, heading for the pitcher’s mound. The jersey had white lettering, but Billy couldn’t quite make out the words.
Billy looked at his hands. The bat was gone. He looked up...the figure in the green uniform was gone. It was then he heard the rattle. He was in bed! The covers were wrapped around his shoulders. He pulled his body over toward the edge of the bed.
His bat was rolling back and forth on the floor. His dad’s branded signature was the last thing he remembered.
“Wake up, Billy, it’s time for breakfast,” Joan yelled from the bottom of the stairs. “Coach Perkins called. You have a special practice this morning.”
Startled, Billy glanced at the floor. He jumped down and looked under the bed. He bolted for the closet, pulled back the slats, and next to the boxes of baseball cards was his Louisville Slugger, which was right where he had left it.
Billy took a deep breath and covered up his hiding place.
“I’ve got to tell Grandpa about this.”
Billy sat on the swing.
Chipper was sprawled out on the porch.
They both waited patiently for Belle to roll into the driveway.
George placed the palm of his right hand on the center of Belle’s steering wheel. The horn beeped twice, and Billy and Chipper ran off the porch and jumped into the jeep.
Before they reached Johnson Park, Billy, without taking a deep breath, informed his grandpa of his latest dream.
“Grandpa, you didn’t have the same dream last night, did you?”
“Oh, yes, I did, Billy. Mine was a little different. I saw those same clouds, the lights, and the monster in the green uniform. But I didn’t have a Louisville Slugger rolling around at the edge of my bed.
“I’m sure there’s a good reason for our crazy dreams. But I know one thing for sure. You’re taking that bat of yours to Carbon City.”
George pulled Belle into the parking lot at Johnson Park. Billy looked over at the ball diamond. He saw all his teammates and their parents heading for the bleachers.
“I wonder what’s going on, Grandpa?”
With Cyrus and Johnny at his side, Carl had the players and all the parents sit in the bleachers as he delivered the bad news.
“The good news is we still have enough players to field a team. We are currently in first place and need two more wins to secure a spot in the district finals.
“As for your parents, it’s imperative that you get the kids to the remaining games on time. One slip-up, we forfeit. And we don’t want that to happen.”
All the parents shook hands with Carl and the coaches. They all promised to do their part.
Milton Turner, Willie’s father, was the last parent to leave the bleachers. “Coach Perkins, don’t worry about a thing. This has been such a great season, and we don’t want to upset the apple cart. I promise I’ll have Willie on time...every time.”
“Thanks, Milton. I know you have a long way to go to make the games and the practices. That’s just the kind of support we need.”
“We have the greatest parents, the best fans, and the best team we’ve ever had in the history of the Johnsonville Little League. With everyone’s help, we can do this.”
With the meeting over, Carl was free to talk to his players, one-on-one with each of his nine.
Billy and his teammates knelt before their coach and listened.
“This is what we’re going to do.”
Chapter 29
Billy sat in the dugout and watched Carbon City’s starting pitcher, Buddy Watkins, head for the mound.
The last time Billy faced Buddy, he saw nothing but balls in the dirt. Billy moved to the on-deck circle and watched the Cubs’ right-hander finish his warm-up pitches.
Billy noticed that Buddy’s delivery was much better. Every one of his pitches was right over the plate. Just maybe, Billy thought, this would be the day he would finally get the bat on the ball.
Billy looked toward the visitors’ stands. His grandpa gave him the “thumbs up” sign. Billy grabbed his new bat by the handle. He waved to his grandfather, grandmother, and mother. All three stood up to cheer him on.
Joan said, “Look at those dimples. Oh, what a sight to see. Mom and Dad, I have the strangest feeling something good is going to happen.”
Billy stepped into the batter’s box. He planted his right foot in the far corner of the box and took his stance.
The umpire yelled, “Play ball!”
The first pitch was in the dirt. George shook his head. Joan and Claire raised their hands as if to say, “Here we go again.”
On the next pitch, a gust of wind ripped across the infield.
The ball was heading for the outside of the plate, too far for Billy to take a cut at, but the gust of wind brought the ball back over the plate.
Billy swung and connected.
The ball sailed over the head of the Cubs’ shortstop, Timmy Tuttle, and headed for the gap in left-center. It rolled past the outfielders and didn’t stop bouncing until it banged up against the fence.
Billy was off and running.
He shot out of the batter’s box. He rounded first base, then second, and went in, standing up at third base with a booming triple.
Carl Perkins stood up. “That’s what we needed.”
Billy raised both his arms in the air.
He had his first hit.
There would be no stopping the Tigers.
Lenny followed with a single up the middle to score Billy. Willie doubled. Timmy followed with his third homer of the season, and the Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead.
The Tigers scored two more runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth en route to an 8-0 win. Carlos pitched six innings of shutout ball, striking out three and walking only two.
Billy made two diving catches at shortstop and teamed up, once again, with Clayton for two more double plays — the duo’s seventh and eighth twin-killing of the season, as the Tigers improved to 7-0 to keep their unblemished record intact.
The Johnsonville fans stood up, applauded the Tigers, and headed for the parking lot. The ride back to Johnsonville would be a joyful one for all.
George, Claire, Joan, and Billy climbed into the Crown Victoria and headed home.
Billy sat in the back seat. He was a happy camper. Billy had walked three times in the game, but his lead-off triple had broken the curse. He was batting a thousand. One for one!
“How do you feel, Billy?” George said.
“I feel great, Grandpa. I couldn’t believe that pitch in the first inning. It looked like it was going to be outside, and all of a sudden, it came right over the plate.”
“It was a great hit,” Claire said.
“It was just wonderful,” Joan said as she squeezed her son’s cheeks. “It is nice to see those cute dimples, too.”
“Ah, Mom,” Billy said, looking down at his bat. He put his mitt over the handle and placed the palm of his right hand over the knob.
Once again, he felt his hands tingle.
He replayed the first inning in his head over and over. It was a feeling he wanted to have again...soon.
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