Balk (Home Stand #2)

by Lacy Hart

  “Hey, Wes, that’s great!” Emil said. “Oh, I have to answer this text from my Mom. She checks up on me every night at this time.”

  Wes plugged in his phone and looked to see if there were any messages for him. All he saw was a brief note from Izzy, saying goodnight and that she hoped he had a good day. He picked up his phone and messaged her back:

  Not bad. Could be better, but I’m actually playing tomorrow. Talk to you after the game. We head back to Washington. I hope the play is going well. Miss you and love you.

  Wes sent the message, then thought about posting a similar one to Kristin, but instead, put his phone down and shut the light off.

  18

  Kristin spent more nights at Wes’ house the last few days because it gave her a chance to both work on the wedding plans going on at the barn and spend some time with Izzy, something she hadn’t done enough of lately in Kristin’s mind. Kristin would either pick Izzy up after rehearsals or meet her at home after work so that they cooked dinner together and talked. Kristin enjoyed every minute of it and got to laugh and relax with Izzy so that she didn’t overthink being in Wes’ home without him.

  It was a warmer evening, nice enough where they opened the back door to the patio to let the breeze wash through the house and provide some clean, spring air. Kristin came home with Izzy after rehearsals, and the two decided to make a simple stir fry dinner of chicken and broccoli.

  “How’s the musical going?” Kristin asked as she chopped the broccoli. “You only have four days until opening night.”

  “I know,” Izzy said as she placed the white rice in the rice cooker and set it. “I’m starting to feel a little nervous about it. I’m going to be in front of all those people acting and singing. It’s kind of scary.”

  “You’ll do fine,” Kristin reassured her. “You know, maybe… maybe you should call your Dad and tell him about it. He has gotten in front of thousands of people each night. I’m sure there are days where he gets the jitters. He might be able to help you.”

  “Yeah, I can do that,” Izzy added. “I know he has a game tonight,” Izzy looked at the clock to see it was nearly seven. “I'll have to wait until it is over. You know he told me he was playing tonight.”

  “Is that right,” Kristin said, not looking up from the onion she was slicing.

  “It’s not on TV since it’s independent ball, but I think it’s on the radio online. We… we can listen if you want,” Izzy said hesitantly.

  “Izzy, we can definitely do that,” Kristin told her as she placed the vegetables in the hot wok and steam billowed up right away. “Just because your Dad and I are… having issues… doesn’t mean we can’t support him. I don’t hate him or anything. I care about him very deeply, you know that.”

  “Have… have you talked to him?” Izzy asked, passing Kristin a glass bowl to put the vegetables in.

  “No, no, I haven’t,” Kristin admitted. “We’ve texted a couple of times, but that’s it.”

  “He’s struggled, Kris,” Izzy told her. “He hasn’t played, and I know he’s feeling homesick… and he really misses you. They’ll be back in Washington tomorrow for their home opener.”

  Kristin tossed the chicken pieces into the wok and heard them sizzle as they hit the oil.

  “Did you want to go to the game?” Kristin asked her.

  “I do, but I can’t, we have dress rehearsals, and I have to be there. Grandma and Grandpa can’t go either. Grandma has an appointment with her oncologist, and they can’t miss it. Someone should be there to support Dad.”

  “Izzy,” Kristin said as she stirred the chicken and then put the broccoli and vegetables back in before she poured the tangy sauce Izzy made over the food. “I don’t know if I can.”

  “Come on, Kris,” Izzy begged. “He really needs someone right now.”

  “Okay,” Kristin said resignedly. “I will go. It will be fun. I’ve never been to a live baseball game before.”

  “You’ll love it, and Dad will be so happy. I’ll text him to let him know,” Izzy said as she picked up her phone.

  “No, Izzy,” Kristin said, as she placed her hand over Izzy’s phone. “Please don’t let him know. I’m not sure how I would be if I talked to him in-person just yet. Let’s keep it a surprise for now.”

  “Okay,” Izzy said.

  Izzy put her phone down and then picked up each dinner plate and scooped some rice onto each. Kristin poured the chicken and broccoli into a serving bowl, and the two went to sit at the kitchen table to eat.

  After a few forkfuls of food, Izzy looked up at Kristin.

  “I didn’t tell you about Bradley,” Izzy said, rolling her eyes.

  “Why, what’s wrong?” Kristin asked as she stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork.

  “He’s all bent out of shape about the musical because there are a couple of scenes where I have to kiss Justin. I mean, he is the prince after all! Ariel is supposed to kiss the prince! I tried to explain to him that it’s just acting, but he doesn’t want to hear it.”

  “Well, I guess it’s natural for him to feel a little jealous when someone else is kissing his girl. Once the play is over, it will all be fine,” Kristin told her.

  “I hope so because he’s making me nuts,” Izzy said. “Boys can be so confusing.”

  “You said it, sister,” Kristin replied, raising her glass of iced tea to Izzy.

  ****

  Wes’ first performance with the Wild Things the night before disappointed him. He batted four times, striking out three of them and getting a single in his last at-bat to break the ice. Unfortunately, the team got creamed 9-1, and the long trip back to Washington seemed like it might never end. Wes prayed that the next game would be better.

  The following day, Wes put his uniform on, as usual, and headed out to the field for pregame warmups. He stretched and exercised, took a brief jog in the outfield, and even took some fielding practice at first base, although there were no plans for him to be in the field tonight. Wes always wanted to be prepared just in case. He also took his regular batting practice, though he was allowed more swings tonight because he was in the lineup.

  The combination of it being Opening Day, and Tom promoting the fact that Wes was going to be in the lineup, ensured that the stadium would be at capacity. The stadium only held about 3,200 people, but by the time the grounds crew groomed the field and painted the lines, the place looked filled and buzzed with anticipation.

  As excited as Wes was to be in the lineup, he was also a bit disappointed because he knew he wouldn’t have anyone in the stands rooting for him. Izzy told him she had dress rehearsals, and his parents had a specialist appointment that his mother could not miss. Wes texted Kristin, as he always did, but this time to let her know he would leave a ticket for her if she wanted to come. He never heard back from her, so he wasn’t expecting her to show up.

  The game against the Lake Erie Crushers would be a tough one. Lake Erie had a good team and had scored a lot runs already in the young season, which didn’t bode well for the Wild Things, whose pitching struggled to start the season. No matter the outcome, Wes was just happy to get a chance to show what he could do in front of a home crowd.

  The Wild Things took the field to thunderous applause from the crowd. Each player on the team got introduced separately and tipped their hat, and it was apparent what host families had each player by the smatterings of extra applause received when they were announced. It then came time to announce the starting lineups. Emil was announced as the leadoff hitter, and the crowd gave him a good ovation, knowing he was the one player doing well so far. When it came to the fifth slot, and they announced Wes, he jogged out onto the field and was shocked that he received a standing ovation from the fans. Wes smiled and waved his hat genially as he soaked in the appreciation before stepping back into line.

  As the rest of lineup got announced, Wes scanned the crowd behind home plate to see if Kristin appeared. He knew what seat they had given her since the field level seats w
ere actual seats, unlike the bench seating that occupied most of the stadium. He saw that her seat remained empty, and his heart sunk a bit.

  While the Wild Things were pumped up for the start of the game, and the fans were into it, the Lake Erie Crushers silenced everyone in the top of the first. The first two batters each doubled, and then a hit batter, a walk, and a grand slam made it 5-0 before the Wild Things even got off the field. The crowd grew despondent despite the antics and games that went before the bottom half of the inning started.

  Emil got the game started right for the team by singling to center and stealing second, and Felix, batting second, bunted for a base hit, but the next two batters struck out. That brought Wes up to the plate. He stepped into the box to face a live pitcher in a home game for the first time in over a year and suddenly felt eighteen again and a kid just starting out. The pitcher in front of him wasn’t more than twenty-one or twenty-two and looked a little in awe of Wes standing there taking his practice swings. The Crushers manager shouted out to his pitcher, “Come on, Langford, you got this! This guy’s too old to do anything.”

  Wes glared over at the opposing dugout and spotted the manager of the Crushers, and recognized him immediately - Wendell Roth. Wendell was a minor league player Wes saw in Pirates camp for a few years that never made it beyond AA ball and now managed instead. He gave Wendell a nod and dug in at the plate.

  The first two pitches to Wes were high and away fastballs. Wes glanced at the scoreboard, thinking he might see how fast the pitcher threw, but the scoreboard didn’t record those stats. Wes figured he was in the low 90s, which was good, but not unhittable. It made him wonder if the pitcher had a change of pace or curveball to throw at all.

  Wes found out quickly when Langford laid a change-up in that sat right in the middle of the plate. Wes took a smooth swing and saw the ball jump off his bat and loft high and deep to right field, quickly clearing the fence just to the right of the scoreboard. The stadium erupted with cheers as Wes made his way around the bases, and Emil and Felix greeted him happily at home plate. Wes took a quick glance over and saw Kristin’s seat still empty.

  The dugout was elated at the turn of events, and it sparked a rally, so the Wild Things scored one more run, making it 5-4 after the first inning. The teams went back and forth, with neither pitching well. When Wes came up again in the third, Langford, who struggled, wanted no part of him and kept everything in the dirt so that Wes walked. The same happened when Wes came up in the fifth, and again in the seventh, and the crowd booed each time he got a free pass to first.

  By the time the ninth inning rolled around, the crowd had grown anxious and on edge. The score was 8-7 Crushers, and they had just brought in their best reliever, Steve Matthews. Emil led off the inning with a single and Felix bunted him over to second. Unfortunately, the next batter struck out and then their cleanup hitter, Forrest Duncan, hit a weak foul pop up caught by the third baseman. Once again, it was left to Wes.

  Wes knew they wouldn’t walk him now. He represented the winning run, and the Crushers wouldn’t take the chance of putting him on base. Matthews pitched to him, and threw two wicked fastballs, one on the outside corner and then one under Wes’ chin, causing him to bend out of the way. Wes saw Matthews’ cockiness and figured Matthews would throw another fastball.

  Wes was right, and the ball was on the outside corner again. This time, Wes reached it, sending it screaming down the left line, not where the Crushers had the outfield shifted. The ball took one hop and hit the fence, dying there, but the left fielder was shaded so far over towards centerfield that he had to race towards the ball to get it. Emil jogged home from second base and Wes, knowing he had to find another gear to make it, ran harder than he had in a long time. He slid feet first into third, ahead of the relay throw, and popped up on the base safely.

  The soreness appeared back in Wes’ ankle the moment he got to the base. He hadn’t tested it well since bruising it all those months ago and sliding on it may have aggravated it slightly. He reached down to rub it while the Crushers manager went for a mound visit to talk with his pitcher.

  John Clines, who coached third along with managing, came over to Wes.

  “Nice hitting,” he said, patting Wes on the back. “You okay? That was a lot of running and a rough slide. I can put a pinch-runner in if you need it.”

  “I’m okay,” Wes huffed, resting his hands on his knees.

  As the Crushers met on the mound, Wes glanced behind home plate. There, with her blond hair tucked under a Wild Things hat, sat Kristin. She caught Wes’ eye and gave him a thumbs-up sign as she smiled. Wes smiled back, standing up straight. He suddenly felt reinvigorated and ready to go.

  The Crushers moved the infield and outfield in, hoping to cut down the potential winning run. Wes took a small lead with their third baseman, Bobby Marsh, standing in the box. It was then Wes got an idea. He took a bit of a more significant lead, going down to meet where the Crushers’ third baseman was stationed. Wes knew he could lead as far down as the third baseman was positioned and still get back to third in time if he had to, but he also figured that leading that far down the line would rattle Matthews.

  Matthews looked over at Wes again and again, and Wes bluffed running down the line, so much so that Matthews stepped off the rubber to compose himself. Wendell Roth yelled to his pitcher.

  “Matthews! He’s an out of breath old man! He’s not going anywhere. Concentrate on the batter!”

  Wes smiled and then retook his big lead, bluffing once more, and this time winked at Matthews as he did. Matthews was stunned, so much so that he flinched on the mound while still on the rubber.

  “Balk!” the home plate umpire yelled and waved Wes home.

  Wes trotted down the line and stepped on home plate, scoring the winning run as the crowd went wild. Wendell Roth sprang out of the Crusher’s dugout, red-faced and screaming at the umpire about the call, but it was correct. Wes’ teammates all came out and jumped around him as Wes laughed. He caught a glimpse of Kristin clapping and smiling in the crowd as he headed into the dugout.

  The team celebrated its first win in the locker room while a fireworks display went on in the stadium to entertain the crowd. Tom Killian rushed into the locker room with a couple of photographers to get pictures of Wes for the team’s website and social media, and for the local newspaper. Wes did his best to get through all the questions and everything else as quickly and as politely as he could because he wanted to get out to see Kristin. Once the last interview ended, he dressed as fast as he could and left the locker room.

  Wes halted just outside the locker room. Emil and Felix both stood there in their street clothes.

  “Wes, come on out with us. We’re going to celebrate! I mean, as much as we can celebrate at Chili’s anyway,” Emil told him.

  Wes gazed passed Emil and saw Kristin standing there, about twenty feet away. She was wearing the yellow dress that Wes had bought for her last spring because he loved the way it looked on her.

  “Sorry boys,” Wes said, as he parted the way through Emil and Felix and went over to where Kristin was.

  “You came,” Wes said softly. “I didn’t think you were going to be here. I left the ticket for you but your seat…”

  Kristin interrupted.

  “I know, I’m sorry I was a bit late getting here, and then they couldn’t find the ticket for me, it was a big mess. I’m sorry I missed your home run.”

  “I don’t even care about that,” Wes answered.

  Wes took Kristin’s hand, and they started to walk away together. Suddenly, Emil, who had dashed over, cut them off.

  “Wes, aren’t you at least going to introduce me to your pretty lady friend?” Emil said with a smile.

  “Kristin Arthur, this is Emil Stanton,” Wes said as he rolled his eyes.

  “Pleasure to meet you, Emil,” Kristin said politely, offering her hand.

  Emil gave her hand a light handshake.

  “Your boyfriend here is a stan
dup guy. He’s been a big help to me, looking out for me and everything. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

  “That’s great, Emil,” Kristin replied. “I saw you play tonight. You were terrific.”

  “Well, thank you, Kristin. Hey, this young lady is beautiful, kind, and sweet. How did an old grump like you land her?” Emil asked. “Kristin, you don’t happen to have a sister, do you? I could use someone like you in my life.”

  “I do have a sister, Emil, but she lives in Georgia. Sorry.”

  “Well that is a shame,” Emil said, shaking his head.

  “Okay, enough of this,” Wes interrupted. He spun Emil around and pointed him towards Felix. “Felix is waiting for you. Go to Chili’s and have a good time. Here.” Wes reached into his wallet and pulled out fifty dollars. “Dinner is on me, go.”

  “See, Kristin,” Emil said with a smile, holding the fifty, “the man is always looking out for me. Nice to meet you.”