Fanfare in the stands: a pop-up ball and a grand slam

Fanfare in the stands: a pop-up ball and a grand slam

She was just one of the 
young fans pressed against
the net safeguarding
spectators from
foul balls.

The sweet spot where players
walked off the pre-game practice
field into the dugout.

Where requests for fist bumps and
autographs were tossed about 
like calls for popcorn and
hotdogs.

Of the all the eager fans, she
was the most patient, and
persistent.

Before the first strike was called,
she was back in her seat, her
plastic sandal sporting a new
new pattern: autographs
scribbled like graffiti   
in black Sharpie. 

Toward the end of the first inning
when a wayward ball hit the dirt,
she was watching.

Anticipating, knowing. 

The outfielder might toss the
ball into the crowd. She stood,
ready to make eye contact, to wave
for the ball that would be lobbed
over the top of the net. And it was.

Right to her.

By the middle of the third inning
when she and a friend left their
seats, we noticed their absence,
but not much else.

Not until we saw them on the
field, the winning team in a game
of minor league fanfare.

By the time the Slugger climbed
onto the top of the concrete dugout
and raised his fuzzy mascot mitt 
in the middle of the fifth, she'd 
polished off a slice of pizza and
a generous helping of chocolate
ice cream served a plastic cup
shaped like a baseball cap.

Still in the game.

When Slugger paused, looked to
the left, then right, once again she
was on her feet.

Slugger! she called out.

He turned toward her and let go of
the hot dog sealed in promotional
wrapping. A pop-up down the third
baseline ... dropping right into
her outstretched hand.

And that was it, she had a grand slam.

The home team won the game
with an 8-5 lead in the middle of the
ninth making it a good night for
the team and fans alike.

Especially those who knew
how to play the game.