In the seventh and final inning, Danny suited up in his catching gear as Alex returned to the mound. He clipped on his chest protector, placed his helmet on his head, and pulled his mask down over his face.
“Play ball!” shouted the umpire.
The first Rays batter struck out. The second batter popped out on a fly ball. Danny caught the ball for out number two. The game was almost over.
“One more out!” shouted Danny as he made an effortless throw to the mound. His yips were far away now. He didn’t have to worry about them anymore.
Danny positioned himself behind the plate and watched as the next Rays batter stepped into the box. He was confident this would be the last batter of the game.
But he was wrong. The batter hit a line drive over the mound, and the next batter squeaked a hit between second and third base.
Just like that, the Rays had runners on first and third. With another hit, the player at third could score and the game would be tied.
Danny pushed his mask off his face and took a couple of steps in front of the plate.
“You can do this!” he shouted to Alex. “Don’t worry about the runners. Just get this next guy.”
Alex nodded, and Danny returned to his position. As he crouched, Danny glanced toward the runner at first base. Then he took a quick look at the runner on third.
“Play your game,” he whispered to himself. “Your arm is as strong as ever.”
Alex stood on the mound for several seconds.
Danny slowly tucked his throwing hand behind his glove and extended his left arm in front of him.
Alex peered into the box. He went into his slow windup.
Danny waited.
The world went quiet. Danny kept his glove slightly open, ready for the pitch. He held his breath as Alex kicked and threw.
Then he saw it.
The runner on first had broken into a sprint. He was trying to steal second.
Danny had only an instant to think as Alex’s pitch flew toward him. A bad throw to second meant the runner at third would score and the game would be tied. But a good throw meant an out. And an out meant the game would be over. Danny knew what he had to do.
The batter swung at the ball and missed.
Danny caught the ball. He jumped out of his crouch and gunned a throw toward second.
The shortstop ran over to make the play. The Rays runner charged hard toward second base.
The runner slid into second base feet-first as the shortstop caught the ball and tagged him. Danny knew it was going to be close.
The umpire leaned in toward second base. His right fist shot into the air. “Out!” he yelled.
The Dodgers shortstop held the ball high over his head and jumped into the air in victory. Danny raced out to the mound. The rest of his teammates joined him in a mob around Alex.
“We beat the Rays!” shouted Alex. “We actually did it!”
“Thanks to your awesome pitching!” said Danny.
“And your awesome throwing,” said Alex. “I think you finally beat the yips.”
“The yips?” said Danny. He smiled. “What are those?” He and Alex laughed. “But now we have a new challenge,” Danny said.
“What’s that?” asked Alex.
“Winning the city championship!” yelled Danny.
“I like the sound of that!” Alex replied. Together, they walked off the field in victory.
