I’d also made a life-long promise to my uncle Rick that I would never leave a baseball game before it was over Uncle Rick took me to a game when I was six The Porcupines fell behind by ten runs and I wanted to go home If you leave early you might miss a thrilling comeback he’d told me You might miss a walk-off home run Never leave before the last out Chad I won’t I told him and I meant it The Porcupines ended up losing that game but they did get a grand slam in the eighth inning We would have missed it if we hadn’t stuck around Tonight there was no way to keep both promises unless the Pines scored really soon Victor Snapp’s deep voice boomed over the speakers Now batting the designated hitter Sssssammy Sssssolarisss Victor Snapp had been the announcer for the Pine City Porcupines since before I was born He was my idol I wanted to be a baseball announcer when I grew up Come on Sammy I shouted Sammy was the best hitter on the team He swung at the first pitch The ball sailed into the outfield The Finches center fielder ran after it It’s a gapper said Victor Snapp He said that whenever a ball got between two outfielders My heart nearly leaped out of my chest The ball hit the fence and rolled back toward the outfielder Sammy took a big turn at first base then stopped
I went to fetch the bat Solaris stretched that double into a single I heard someone shout It had to be Ernie Hecker Ernie had the biggest mouth in Pine City and he always shouted stuff at the players and umpires This time he was right Most baseball players would have reached second base easily on a hit like that Sammy took his lead off first The pitcher didn’t even look at him There was no way Sammy would try to steal a base Now batting baseman Teddddddddy the first Larrrrrabeeeee Victor Snapp announced Teddy hit the ball hard and it sailed to the right field corner The outfielder caught it Sammy took a couple of steps toward second then changed his mind and stayed at first The crowd groaned again Most runners would have tagged up and advanced a base Now batting the right fielder Danny O’Brien Victor announced Sammy must have heard the crowd boo because he did something crazy The pitcher threw an off-speed pitch to Danny and Sammy took off He kicked up a cloud of dust and started toward second Danny didn’t swing The catcher threw the ball to second The second baseman took two steps off the base to catch it He ran back to the base and tagged Sammy Sammy was out by a mile I could have stolen that base from up here Ernie Hecker shouted Sammy Solaris is caught stealing said Victor Snapp
And so we head to the tenth inning Sammy returned to the dugout and slumped onto the bench Good try Sammy I told him Nice of you to say that he said I didn’t signal for you to steal a base said the Pines manager His name was Harry Humboldt but everybody called him Grumps You’ll know when I do because it’ll be never That’s when it’ll happen Never Ah come on I just thought I’d get into scoring position Sammy replied I missed the rest of their talk because Wally tugged on my sleeve You got a phone call Wally was the clubhouse manager He was my boss Thanks It’s probably my dad I’ll have to go home That’s all right Wally said You should go home We want you kids fresh for tomorrow I went back to the locker room to take the call The phone was the old-fashioned kind with the receiver wired to the base and the base stuck to the wall I’m waiting out in front said Dad Are you ready I just have to change Hey ask Dylan if he wants a ride too said Dad Sure Dylan was the other batboy for the Porcupines He was working in the Finches dugout for tonight’s game We took turns helping the opposing team See you in a sec I told Dad
