by Joe Gribble
one of the ushers nearby and waves him over.
“Can you bring these two ladies to the dugout? They’re the Bandits’ special guests.”
The usher leads Julie and Sarah toward the tunnel, and Bob turns back to the game as he waits on them to arrive.
Q is still at bat, swinging against two strikes. He connects, sending a line drive between shortstop and third. He races the throw and beats the ball to first by a hair.
The Bandits' dugout erupts in a cheer, and the people in the stands are on their feet, applauding the play from both teams.
Q turns and trots back to the bag, high-fiving Ramiro, who is coaching first.
Julie and Sarah arrive at the tunnel, escorted by the usher. Bob trots over to them.
“Wow,” Julie says. “What did we miss?”
“Just some spectacular hitting,” Bob says. “Come with me.” He leads them to the dugout.
“Hang out here for a bit,” Bob says. “I have to go coach third.”
The girls watch as JJ steps up to the plate.
JJ swings at the first pitch and connects solidly. The players on both teams watch as the ball flies over the fence in right field….JJ’s first homer of the season.
Bob slaps both Q and JJ on the butt as they trot past third and head for home.
The entire Bandits team awaits Q at home plate. They lift him onto their shoulders and carry him back to the dugout.
The rest of the game goes much the same way. Aja repeatedly throws out batters, only suffering a few hits. Unfortunately, in the third inning, one of the hits is a homer that drives in an opponent already on base. The score at that point is four to two in favor of the Bandits.
In the fifth, Ramiro also connects with a homer, driving Shinji in from second.
The scoreboard ripples toward the final inning, Bandits leading, seven to two.
As Aja strikes out the final batter, the team erupts in cheers, rushing to gather at the pitcher’s mound. They share high fives and chest bumps all around before heading back to the dugout.
As they gather their equipment, Bob starts handing out tickets for the other semi-final game, scheduled for the next day. “Great game, guys. Our old friends, the Badgers, are playing tomorrow. We play the winner for the championship day after tomorrow, so I want you to watch tomorrow’s game closely.”
Bob hands Aja a ticket. “Especially you, watch their batters. See what they like, what they don't.” He hands Aja another ticket. “In case your dad wants to come.”
---
Small Arms Range Complex
Bob runs the target out to the twenty-five-yard distance.
He raises the pistol, both eyes open. Aims. Exhales.
Bang…bang…bang...
Smoke from the pistol drifts upward.
Bang…bang…bang...
Bob shifts his feet.
Bang…bang…bang...
He ejects the clip, braces the pistol against the side of the range head, and quickly loads it. He fires the second clip in quick succession.
Bang…bang…bang...... bang…bang…bang...
He stops, places the pistol on the counter and hits the button to bring the target close. It zips toward him. Getting closer... closer. Stops.
A smile creeps across his face. Holes, all within the second ring, mark the target.
--
Dayton Dragons Baseball Field
The Bandits sit behind the Dragons' dugout, two rows back, watching the semi-final game between the Badgers and the Belmont Bees. They’ll be facing the winner tomorrow in the championship.
The Bandits are wearing their jerseys, eating popcorn and hotdogs and drinking sodas. While enjoying the game, they’re also intently watching both teams, looking for weaknesses they might be able to take advantage of in the final game.
The game is good, but it quickly becomes obvious the Badgers will be the team to beat. In the top of the first inning, the Bandits watch as the Badgers makes a double play, second and first, ending the Bees' chance for an early run.
When the Badgers are up to hit, they’re a slugging machine. The first Badger pops a short fly ball over the shortstop for a single.
The second batter gets a double, putting runners on second and third.
The next Badger at bat is a familiar face—Smith steps up into the batter’s box.
“There’s our friend, the jerk,” Ramiro says.
“Just watch him,” Bob says. “Especially you, Aja.”
Smith steps into the first pitch. He swings hard and launches the ball out over the right field fence for a home run.
“That was a fastball,” Bob says to Aja. “If you want him to strike on a fastball, it’ll have to be a real smoker.”
Aja nods. “I’ll bring the smoke, Coach.”
Smith trots the bases, waving at the crowd like a conceited celebrity.
As Smith rounds third, he spots the Bandits in their jerseys behind the Dragons’ dugout. He slows, points at Ramiro, and yells, “Hey, Mescan! Remember me? I'll run over your ass again tomorrow. And bring that raghead fella, too. I wanna hit a few homers offa him.”
Ramiro stands and flips Smith the bird.
“Chill, Ramiro,” Bob says, pulling Ramiro down into his seat. “Ignore that jerk. We’ll take these guys easy this time. Just don’t let him get into your head.”
The rest of the game goes as expected, and the Badgers take it to the Bees. The final showdown will be between the Bandits and their rivals, the Badgers.
---
Dayton Dragons Baseball Field
The Bandits come through the tunnel again, into a totally packed stadium. The Dragons’ baseball field is even more crowded than when they played two days earlier.
Aja leads the way onto the field. He stops as he trots toward the dugout, and checks out the stands. “There's not an empty seat!”
Shinji turns and looks. He keeps turning and turning, taking it all in.
Aja shoves Shinji toward the dugout, almost knocking him down.
Major Kepler and Julie come out of the tunnel, carrying a large cardboard box between them. They bring it down into the dugout and put it on the bench.
Kepler opens the box and digs down into it. He pulls out a new blue baseball jersey. He unfolds the Jersey and reads the name aloud. “Shinji.” He tosses the jersey to Shinji.
Shinji holds the shirt up and smiles.
“We have new jerseys for everyone,” Kepler says. “As of today, this is America’s team.”
Shinji turns the jersey around for everyone to see. Where it previously said ”Japan,” it now says ”U.S.A” in red, white, and blue letters. A U.S. flag adorns the right sleeve.
“Where’s mine?” Q asks.
The team crowds Major Kepler and his box of jerseys As Shinji pulls on his brand new jersey. Kepler starts tossing shirts to the rest of the team. “Pauli... JJ... Mayday....”
The team changes in the dugout, pulling on their fresh jerseys.
Julie, standing outside the dugout, begins taking pictures of the team as they change and model their new shirts.
Bob comes in, already wearing his new baseball jersey. “You guys look awesome.”
One of the Badgers, standing near third base while his team is practicing, watches them intently. Listening….
“Ramiro...” Kepler holds up Ramiro’s new uniform. “Where’s Ramiro?”
“No one's seen him,” JJ says.
Pauli stands up, holding his cell. “He called me this morning. Wanted me to tell you they're leaving.”
“What...?“ Bob asks.
“He said to tell you he's sorry,” Pauli says. “His dad’s real worried they're gonna’ be kicked out of the country.”
Julie steps into the dugout.
“They aren't getting deported,” Bob says.
“We wanted to surprise him,” Julie says. “I have their naturalization papers with me. They've been approved.”
“But Ramiro don't know that,” Pauli says. “His dad sure don’t know i
t, either.”
“Call him, JJ,” Bob says.
“He said not to bother,” Pauli says. “He said he won’t answer. He said he was going to help his mom pack up the apartment and they were heading out this afternoon.”
Bob turns to Major Kepler. “We have to get to him, let him know.”
“I have a squad car,” Kepler says.
“Julie, we can’t let him leave. He has to know they approved his citizenship. You have to go get him and tell him. Try and bring him back here...” Bob says. “We need him.”
Julie turns and grabs Kepler’s arm and starts pulling him toward the dugout entrance. “What are we waiting for?” They rush out of the dugout and head into the tunnel.
Bob looks over his bench, wondering what to do. He shakes his head. “Shinji, you're catching.”
Shinji’s jaw drops. “Me?”
Bob continues the assignments. “Mayday, take right field.”
Shinji still can’t believe it. “But, Coach... I can't catch.”
“Sure you can,” Bob says. “Get the catchers’ gear on and get out there, let Aja fire a few fastballs at you.”
“Coach,” Shinji says, “I don't like frickin’ fastballs.”
The rest of the team laughs and heads out onto the field as the Badgers come in from their warmup.
Shinji buckles the shin guards, then pulls on the chest protector and tightens it. He trots out of the dugout and stops just short of home plate. He looks down at the plate, then up at the pitcher’s mound.
Aja is just arriving on the mound. He palms a baseball and steps on the rubber, waiting.
Shinji exhales deeply, and then steps in behind the plate and squats down, pulling down his face guard. He pounds his fist into his glove, fidgeting. Waiting for the inevitable. He finally settles into position and concentrates on his pitcher.
Aja goes through his strange windup and fires a fastball.
Shinji can barely see the deadly missile through
