Personal Narrative: My Senior Year Of Baseball

My senior year of baseball was quickly coming to an end. I knew the only games we had left were the playoff games. It was the first round of the state playoffs. We were the fourth seed, so we had to play a number one seed. I knew it was going to put our team to the test, but I knew we had a chance to beat them. We had a good last practice before game day, and I felt confident in my team and felt like we were ready for the game.
That night after practice my coach told me something I would never forget; he said, "Look, no matter what happens tomorrow at the game, you have been one of the best players I have ever coached and I want you to go out there tomorrow knowing you are going to win."
I replied to the coach and said, "Thanks Coach, that is an honor coming from you. I am going to give it my all because it could

possibly be my last time ever being on a baseball field."
It was finally game day, and I had been waiting for this game for a long time. I only had to go to school for one class, then it was time to get serious. We had a lot of young kids on the team, so they did not have much experience. I had been in that situation before, and I knew the hype this game had around it. When we got out of school; we had to rush to the field to get ready to leave.
Before we left the field, Coach Puckett said to us, "It is time to get serious boys, and this is where boys turn to men."
I had a player's meeting, and I said to my teammates that, "This is it for me boys if we lose, but either way I am proud to call you all my teammates. I would do anything for you all, and all I ask from you is to just give it everything you got for me."
I noticed a few players tearing up, so I knew had got to them and knew that they were going to give it all they had.
On the way to the game, my best friend was sitting with me, and he also was a senior too.
Dupri said to me on the way to the game, "This is it, win or go home. Win or lose, I love you man, and we gave it all this season."
I replied and said, "I know boy and I am going to miss playing with you when this is over."
After we got done talking, I started to tear up, because this was potentially my last game ever.
Some other players noticed my eyes watering and asked me, "What is wrong with you, my boy?"
These players asking were young. They did not really think about it the way I did, so I replied and said, "Don't take any of this for granted because your next few years of baseball are going to fly by."
We had a long ride to eat, and we were not going to stop before we got there. Most of the other players were sleeping, but I wasn’t because I was just trying to enjoy the moment because I knew this could be it.
While we were hitting, Coach Thompson called a meeting, and he said to us, "Do not be nervous about this game, because most of you have been playing since you were five years old. So let us have a good round of batting practice and get ready to play."
Before we got to the field we stopped and ate Cracker Barrel. I thought we were about to be able to eat good, but I was wrong.
When we pulled up Coach Puckett said, "I already pre ordered everyone hamburger steak, so you all would not get bloated before we play."
I guess he was right, because I would have gotten a lot to eat. I did not really like hamburger steak, but I had to eat it.
After we got done eating Coach Puckett called me over and asked, "Are you ready to play?" I replied and said, "Yes sir coach, I have never been more ready for a game."
That is when he said, "Good because you are starting at pitcher."
I thought to myself for a minute and replied, "Really coach?

I am ready and I am going to give it my all for you."
Now we were back on the bus heading to the game, and I was getting my mind ready to play. I was listening to music when we came upon the baseball field.
We arrived two hours early; the coach said to us, "I want you all to get your minds ready to play and prepare yourself for a battle."
That is just what I did. So, an hour passed and it was finally time to start getting ready to play. We walked down to the field, and the other team was warming up. When I saw them; I just knew we could win.
That is when Coach Puckett said, "Do not take it easy on these players just because they look small."
We warmed up and it was finally game time. We were the away team, so we got to hit first.
Before we started, we had a meeting with the Coach and he said to us, "This is what we have been working for all year, so now let us show them what we are about."
After he got done the assistant coach chimed in by saying, "I think we are ready to play, so let us go out there and get the

win."
The first half of the inning went by and we did not score. So, it was my chance to see what I could do.
Before I went out Coach said to me aggressively, "Go out there and attack the hitter, and get ahead in the count."
I replied to him, "I got you coach!"
I was warming up and the inning was about to start. I had many emotions running through me, and I knew this moment was for me. I struck out the first three batters, and I was up to bat when we came back in.
I was coming up to bat, and I hear a player scream and say, "Get you one boy, its your time to shine."
Several innings went by that were scoreless. It is the seventh inning we were hitting, but we did not score. So it was my turn to go out there and see if I could hold them. The first batter that came up; I walked him.
I heard the coach yell and say, "Do not give up you are okay. Just get the next batter."
The next batter that came up; I walked him also. So, there was a man on first and second with the best hitter up. He came up and got a base hit to right field, and the man on second scored. We had lost and there was nothing else I could do. I cried so much, because it just meant so much to me. I felt like I lost everything at that moment, and I did not know how to handle it.