Danny’s blue all-star team put up a good fight, but lost to the red team 3 games in a row. The odds were against them with the other team having players from the #1 Cardinals. The Cardinals had fudged the assistant coach rules to get 4 #1 draft picks at the beginning of the season. And the villainous “coach” Pat Swindall didn’t help matters coaching from third base his team to bend every base-running rule.

The blue team played with honor, though, and lost the last game by a slim difference of 15 to 14. Danny made us all proud the whole season. He learned a lot and applied what he learned. He has an excellent throwing arm and the fiercest most determined batting stance in the league.

In the 9th inning of the last game, down by 5, with 2 men on and 2 outs, Danny stepped up to the plate. His mother began saying prayers that the season would not end on Danny’s bat. SWING. Strike 1.

Danny had some terrific stats. He almost always got on base. And I was amazed at how often he would get a hit on the third strike. He has nerves of steal. The praying continued. SWING. Strike 2.

Kathy started jumping up and down in a kneeling position. I started gritting my teeth. Certainly it hadn’t all come down to this? I was afraid he had used up all the 3rd strike hits any kid could expect in one season. SWING. CRACK!

He hit one of the longest balls he had ever hit out to left field. It dropped between two red-stars. One blue-star scored and Danny landed at second base.

I was relieved. Kathy immediately went to the restroom after climbing down from the fence.

The next bat would be the moment of glory for the blue-stars when terrible fielding allowed the batter, Danny, and the other base runner to score. Pat Swindall looked exasperated. The game was tied and the blue-stars were delighted. They wouldn’t win the game, but it was a good day for baseball.