"Oh nothing we were just talking about this crappy book I am reading. There are two teens who both like each other but neither have straight out admitted it and one is too blind and stupid to realize the other clearly likes them. Blablabla....." Cassie babbled on. Mýa, Hailey, and Illa laughed at Zeke's face and what Cassie was hiding and Mýa tried to hide her embarrassment. After Cassie finished talking Zeke smiled and nodded, he then continued his talk with Mabel and Willow, probably super confused and glad she stopped talking.
Their conversations continued for a few minutes. Zeke kept stealing glances at Mýa which she didn't notice but Hailey and Illa did and looked at each other knowingly. Then the coaches came over and told them it was time to start warming up, so the group separated.
Because the team had already played two games, they didn't need to warm up too much. They stretched, threw for a little while, and went into two groups. In one group was, Mabel, Mýa, Cassie, Reagan, and Nora. The other group was the rest of the team, Illa, Hailey, Abby, Willow, Stella, Zalina, and Lola. The first group were pitchers and catchers possibly needed in the game and the other group were the rest of the fielders. The first group started hitting off of a tee and hitting whiffle-balls/weighted softballs, while the other group was hit some grounders and pop flies. When the first group was done they went to warm up pitching and the second group started hitting. Another station was added, bunting, and when the pitchers and catchers were good the team was all ready.
They walked to the dugout, got set up, and waited for the game to start. Once Mýa learned what the batting lineup was and what position she would play she got ready. She was catching first and was going to be the third in the lineup. The goal of this game was to start off strong with their best lineup they could think of and their best pitcher. They hoped to keep the other team low in runs whole they went up in the score. They would then bring in another pitcher hopefully in the third inning depending how many runs they were up and would put Mýa in center field and the original pitcher on third or resting on the bench. They hoped to win this game and play the playoff game with their best pitcher and lineup all ready and celebrating a victory.
Mýa got her catcher gear out and ready, put her bat near the entrance to the field, put her wristband on, redid her ponytail, hung her water bottle on the fence, and put her helmet and batting gloves on the top of her bag. She was all ready. She was super excited and really wanted to win this game, she had been watching the team and thought it was possible but she needed to stay positive and sensible. As she was about to walk over to where Reagan was standing to talk to her and Abby, Zeke called her name.
"Yes, Zeke?" Mýa replied.
"I just wanted to wish you luck." Zeke said, "What position are you playing to start?"
Mýa answered, "Thank you! I am catching the first innings and then might change my position depending how well we are doing."
Zeke nodded, "That's cool, I bet you'll do very well."
Mýa smiled at him, "Thanks!" After she said that Riley ran up to them and gave Mýa a big hug.
"Mýaaaaa!" She squealed.
Mýa laughed, "Hey Riley-Bug. How are you?"
Riley noticed some people looking at her and she hung onto Mýa's leg and hid behind her. Mýa noticed and said, "Don't act all shy now you crazy girl." To which Riley giggled.
The three talked for another minute or two before Mýa said she needed to get back to the rest of the team and be ready to start. They said their goodbyes and good lucks and Mýa went and stood next to her bag. By this time both teams were in the dugout and Mýa got the team together and said they should go do a cheer outside the dugout to start off. They decided to do the cheer Pump it Up.
Mýa and Cassie were in the middle be because they were the starting pitcher and catcher. After doing the cheer they went into the dugout and watched their coach, Coach Karla, talk to the umpire and other coach. After the short discussion and coin toss it was decided that they would be the away team and were batting first. So after checking to make sure her wristband was on, putting her batting gloves on, and putting on her helmet, Mýa stood next to two of the coaches by the main entrance to the field.
She stood near the bats in the position where girls 'in the hole' stood. (The hole stand for the batter who is the third from hitting, there is the hitter, the girl on deck, the girl in the hole, and then the rest of the lineup until another batter goes up.) Cassie was the first batter, the lead off batter, and Mýa watched her walk up to the plate. On the second pitch, Cassie hit. hard ground ball up the middle of the field and got a base hit. Mýa cheered along with the rest of the team then went to stand on the field by the dugout in the on deck circle.
It was now Hailey's turn, Mýa was taking practice swings as Coach Karla gave the signal. When the first pitch came, Hailey squared around for a bunt. The first pitch was a ball so she pulled back. Coach Karla gave her another bunt signal, and the other team already guessed that is what she would do and started creeping closer. This time she put the bunt into place and ran. She got out but Cassie made it to third base. Now it was Mýa's turn.
As she walked to the batter's box by home plate she gave Hailey a high five and told her good job. She stood just outside the batter's box and got the signal from Coach Karla. She told Mýa to hit like she normally would. The first pitch was a high inside strike which Mýa swung at but barely touched it. After her foul ball there were two balls thrown. Her fourth pitch was Mýa's perfect pitch, it was lower and inside. Coach Karla still gave Mýa the hit signal for her whole at bat so Mýa swung at it.
She hit is just right, she ended up hitting a hard line drive between where the third baseman played and where the shortstop played. It was in the air until it bounced a few times in the outfield before the left fielder stopped it. Mýa ran to first base and rounded the base looking at the ball, Cassie had ran home. The left fielder threw it to home and Mýa ran to second base. After the play, both Cassie and Mýa were safe. Now it was Lola's turn to hit.
•~~~•~~~•~~~•~~~•~~~•~~~•~~~•~~~•
Hey! I wanted to make sure you guys could understand everything I am saying. I am a softball player and huge softball fan so all of this makes sense to me, but I know there are people who haven'teven heard of softball. I am afraid that I am not making this easy to understand for you guys.
On a softball field there are 9 positions each played by a single player and the field is a diamond shape. There is a grass outfield and a dirt infield. There are two teams. The home team plays in the field first, with softball gloves to try to get three outs. The away team hits first, they want to get as many runs as possible so they want to hit a lot before the other team gets three outs.
There is at least one Umpire on the field every game, most of the time there are two. The Umpires call the outs, fouls, safes, and all play decisions. One Umpire is behind the plate, behind the catcher, they call strikes and balls and make decisions for home plate or bases they have a better view of. The other Umpire moves around and tries to get a good view of any runners on the base and where the ball is so he can also call outs. If a team needs a quick break they can call time and an Umpire will allow it.
The 9 positions are..... The Pitcher; They are in the very middle of the dirt infield and pitch to the catcher, they also help tell the team what to do on plays and the ball always gets back to them.
The Catcher; They squat behind Home Plate and have to catch what the Pitcher throws to them. They make sure nothing gets passed them, when a runner tries to steal a base they try to throw them out. They make sure runners don't take leads off a base too far, always charge a bunt and try to make the out, and protect the plate to try to get runners out if they run home. They also talk every play and control the field.
First Baseman; Their position is next to the first base which is the first base q runner runs to. A lot of the time the ball is thrown to the first baseman who has to catch it and make the out. The ball can't get past them and they also always charge on a bunt.
The Second Basemen; They stand between first base and second base. They get the ball and throw it to the correct base depending on where the runners are. When a runner steals 2nd base they yell out and get behind the base to make sure the ball doesn't go past them. On a bunt they cover 1st base because the first baseman should be running towards the bunt then covering home.
Shortstop; The shortstop yells during all steals, a steal from 1st to 2nd, from 2nd base to 3rd base, and from 3rd to home plate. They are between the 2nd base and thirds base They field the ball and throw it to the correct base depending on where the runners are. They also have outfielders throw to them if the ball is in the outfield so they can make a throw to the needed place. On a bunt they cover third or second base depends on where the runners are. On a steal from 1st to 2nd they have to catch the throw and try to make a tag to get the runner out.
Third baseman; They stand near 3rd base. They have to field the ball and throw the the correct base or tag third base. On a bunt the third baseman has to charge it and either throw it to first or if they don't get it they have to try to get back to third base. If a runner is stealing from 2nd to third they have to cover third base and try to catch the ball and tag the runner.
Center Fielder; They are in the outfield in the middle. They are behind 2nd base a way back, between the right and left fielder. They have to catch all the balls in the air they can and have to make sure nothing gets passed them because there is no one behind them. They also back up 2nd base on steals and bunts, follow the ball, and will back up the right and left fielder. They control the outfield, tell them where to go, and make sure there is no hesitation and outfielders will throw the ball right after it is caught.
Left Fielder; The stand between third base and the shortstop a way back. They back up third, cover on some bunts, back up steals. They also catch the ball in the air, constantly talk, keep the ball in front, back up the ball in the infield, and back up the centerfielder.
Right Fielder; The right fielder stand between first base and the second base in the outfield. They have to back up all throws to 1st basically after every pitch they need to back them up. They catch the ball, keep it in front, talk a lot, and back up the centerfielder.
All other teammates sit on the bench and can be put in when some players get tired or hurt. They might be all time hitters for a game or two. The Catcher helps control the whole field, the Pitcher helps controls the infield, and the Center Fielder will control the outfield.
The other team not in the field will hit. You get 3 strikes before you are out and 4 balls before you get a walk. When you make contact with the ball but it doesn't go into fair territory, between two lines on the field, it is a foul ball and is considered a strike. You can keep hitting foul balls until someone either catches one or you swing but miss the ball. After 4 balls before you get 3 strikes you get to 'walk' to first base, but you normally run or jog. A bunt it when you put your bat out and just tap the ball fair then run. An infield fly out is when there is a runner on at least 1st and 2nd base and an easy to catch pop up in the infield is hit. If there is 1 or no outs then even if the player doesn't catch the ball, the batter is called out.
This is a simple explanation. You did not need to read it and it is similar to Baseball so if someone know that sport this isn't needed. I just wanted to make sure everyone understands the basics because this sport is important in the story. It is part of the plot a bit and will be mentioned in the future.