It was the last night for tryouts, and tonight we would find out if we made the team or not. I was worried. I was scared I would not make the team. I had never not played ball in the spring. My senior year could be the first. But, tonight was better than my scene yesterday.
I took a deep breath as I hung my bag in the dugout. Everyone's eyes went to me as I was in the dugout. I felt uncomfortable, but tried to hide it.
"Hey" the guy next to me said. His dark hair and somehow darker eyes definitely put him in the handsome category. "You're that Sam Connors girl, right?"
I hesitated before answering, "yeah."
"I'm Roger," he said sporting a crooked smile, "you uh–I watched you, yesterday at tryouts," he said, frowning at himself as if he made it sound weird. "You did good."
I hesitated, still on guard, but returned the smile regardless, "Thanks." I did not remember him at tryouts yesterday. He seemed like a hard person to forget.
We stood there for a moment of silence before he added "I just want to say good luck with making it on the baseball team." He put his hands in his pockets.
"Thank you," I said, giving him a smile. I wondered if he was at tryouts yesterday, or was he already in the team.
"What position do you play?" I asked, hoping I could jog my memory to remember where he played yesterday,.
"Shortstop," he said proudly. I knew there was no way he was at tryouts yesterday because I watched both the second and shortstop position closely to see my competition. "Does everyone know who I am?" I asked, my cheeks flushing red. Everyone must know me as the girl who had an outburst on the baseball field.
"Yeah, kinda" Roger said, using that crooked smile again. I warmed up it's Roger getting to know him a little more. He was funny, always smiling, and loud. He joked off to everyone, and he made me feel like I was not an outsider. He seemed to know Jason well which I soon found out he knew both Victoria and April too.
I saw Ryan, walking around observing both Roger and I. I rolled my eyes at him as he walked up to Roger. I saw him mouth to Roger, what do you think.
"She's good," Roger said loudly which made Ryan give a sideways glance at me.
Ryan rolled his eyes at Roger and walked away approaching others.
"He does not like you," Roger said, pointing out the obvious.
"Well I don't like him either," I said, throwing the ball to Roger.
Roger made a face when the ball hit his glove.
"He's not bad," Roger said, still smiling. "He's just mad that you showed him up yesterday."
I did not say anything and just glared at Ryan. I did not do anything other than defend myself. If I wanted to play baseball I had the feeling I would have to get used to the fact that I would not always be wanted. As the night went on Roger introduced me to most of the guys. Specifically, he introduced to me everyone on the team which lead me to believe he was also on the team.
I found that there were many others there who were trying out for the team. There were only five open positions. Maybe I was going to be one of them, but the possibility of me not making the team was also high.
"Hey," I turned to the boy with the tan skin. I had seen him yesterday at tryouts and he seemed to always wear a smile. It was a good look for him too. He was tan and had dark curly hair. "Can I give you a tip?" He asked.
"Sure?" I asked.
"You're really good, but when you're batting I noticed that you stand like your playing softball," he said, demonstrating my batting stance. "Don't bend your knees so much, stay relaxed and I think your swing will improve."
I was not sure if my appreciation showed on my face but he smiled back, "thanks," I said genuinely.
"Here," he handed me a bat "go ahead and try."
"Okay," I took the bat from him and did not bend my knees as much as I usually do.
"Yeah, that's better" the tan boy said. "I'm Anthony, by the way."
"Nice to meet you," I said, swinging at my hips and asking, "where do you play?"
"First base," he said proudly. "What about you?"
"Usually, second," I said with a smile.
"Okay nice, Ryan plays there now, but-"
Ryan played second. My chances of making the team lessoned with every minute.
"Okay bring it in guys!" Coach said. We all jogged in and Roger gave me a little shove when he caught up to me, "race ya."
I broke out in a sprint and only lost to Roger by a step. I laughed along with him as we neared everyone else. "Dang you're fast," Roger said, giving me another little shove.
"No, you're just slow" I teased. I laughed again and when I looked up Ryan was giving me a death glare.
"Okay, it's hard to have to cut a lot of you but understand that we only have five positions to fill," coach said looking down at his clipboard. "Jeffery Daniels, Jacob Cannon, Seth Parker, Miles Dannon, and Jayden Triepke."
I was not going to lie, my heart completely dropped to my stomach. I swallowed hard. I thought I would make the team.
Roger put a hand on my shoulder. I did not look him in the eyes. "Sorry Sam," he said, I heard the genuineness inside his voice.
I was a girl and I should have known I was not going to make the team. I wanted to play baseball so much that the thought of not playing hurt more. Roger told me he was sorry once more before joining the rest of the team in welcoming the incoming freshman.
I gathered my things and walk out to my car. When I got out to my car I sat stunned in the drivers seat. I knew it was prideful to expect to have made the team but I really thought I had.
If I left without knowing why I did not make the team I would always wonder if it was because I was a girl. I opened the door to my Volkswagen and started back for the field. Everyone was gone except for the coach and Ryan.
I started jogging back to the field to find the answers I was begged for. I did not see anyone at first but could hear coach and Ryan in the dugout. Ryan was complaining per usual. If on cue, Ryan walked out of the dugout as I approached. He glared at me and then continued walking past me. I was surprised more when he did not feel the need to gloot.
I walked into the dugout clearing my throat to announce I was there. Coach seemed to be heated either from Ryan's complaints or just with the tryouts in general.
"Oh," he said, looking up once at me and then continued to packing his bags, "what can I do for you?"
"I want to know why I didn't make it on the team?" I said, trying not to sound demanding, "I'm good, and I won't let you down. I can play third or I can–"
He cut me off before I could give him my sales pitch, "Samantha," he was slightly chuckling now, "you made the team."
"What?" I asked dumbfounded.
"I just wanted to talk to you before I officially told all of the guys," he said to me. "Ryan was supposed to let you know after practice to stick around…." he said trailing off. I wondered if Ryan had ever planned on telling me. "But my son and I don't agree on many things and this is one of them."
I choked a little. Ryan was the coach's son? I swallowed to respond but the coach continued. "Samantha, you're a girl, and some teams are going to try to take advantage of it-"
"I don't care," I rushed out, interrupting him. I did not care if baseball was going to be more rough play than softball could ever be.
"It's not going to be easy." His voice told me he was serious, but so was I.
"I don't need easy," I assured him.
He chuckled again, raising his hands in the air in surrender, "I didn't think so, but just remember, the guys are not going to be easy on you either."
"I don't care," I said, crossing my arms again. "I'll do whatever it takes," I reassured him.
"All right. Well I for one am very excited about this season and can't wait to see what you can do." he said, giving me a smile before, walking away to continue closing up the field.
"I won't let you down."