Out of Left Field: Marlee's Story

by Barbara L. Clanton

  In fact, Marlee hadn’t given the game itself much thought. She was too preoccupied with talking to Jeri and the post-game trip to Susie’s house. She had never done anything like this before and her nerves were on edge. And she had no one to talk to about it, either. No one. Her mother was waiting for an answer so she said, “Oh, yeah. Lisa and I have been working on my change-up during practice. She thinks I have the sneakiest change-up in the whole North Country.”

  “Oh? And what does Coach Spears think about that?”

  Marlee laughed. “I don’t know. She just wants me to strike out more batters than I walk.”

  “And how’s that working out for you?”

  “Well, if you’d come to a game, you’d know,” Marlee teased. “No, actually it’s working out pretty good, I guess. Lisa gets so mad when I walk somebody. It’s not like I do it on purpose. I just lose my grip or my concentration or something.”

  “Well, I’m sure you’ll work it out. And,” her mother smiled, “I’ll be there Friday rooting for you.”

  “Hooray,” Marlee said. “She finally puts away the real estate listings.”

  “Well, actually,” her mother said sheepishly, “I’m checking out a listing in East Valley before the game. You’re taking the team bus, right?”

  “Oh, Mom,” Marlee responded exasperated. “Yeah, I’m taking the bus. You don’t have to drive me. And Susie’s driving me home late Saturday, remember? God, I can’t wait to get my license in June.”

  “Great, then we’ll be competing for the van.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re feeling okay. I’ll be downstairs.”

  “Okay, Mom.”

  When her mother left the room, Marlee picked up the phone and checked the dial tone. It was working just fine. The last time she had spoken to Susie was right before her cousins came to visit. That was almost five days ago. Way too long. She picked up the phone again. The dial tone was still strong. She passed the time by cleaning her room until about 9:00 p.m. and then finally decided to take matters into her own hands. She dialed Susie’s number.

  The phone rang twice.

  “¿Alo?” Oh, no it’s her grandmother. “Uh, hola. ¿Esta Susie en casa?”

  Marlee asked if Susie was home in her poor Spanish.

  “¿Quién?” the Grandmother shouted.

  “Uh, Susana. ¿Esta Susana en casa?” Marlee hoped the name change would work. It was like unlocking some kind of code. Too late now, but she wished she had taken Spanish instead of Latin.

  “¿Quién habla?”

  Marlee had no idea what that meant. She said, “I’m sorry. I don’t understand. Is Susie home?”

  “Aay. No, no,” Susie’s grandmother shouted. “Susana esta con Christy.” The phone clicked in Marlee’s ear. Susie’s grandmother had hung up.

  Marlee wasn’t sure, but she thought the grandmother had just told her that Susie was at Christy Loveland’s house.

  Chapter Ten

  Rivals

  “TOO BAD WE weren’t allowed to take the Mustang,” Jeri said from the back seat of the old yellow school bus. The Clarksonville bus had just passed through the oak tunnel of C.R. 62 and crossed over the East Valley town line. The heady smell of newly mowed grass permeated the spring evening as the Clarksonville softball team pulled into Sandstoner Fields.

  “That would have been cool,” Marlee said from the other back seat.

  “Yeah, we could’ve hung out at Christy’s or something after the game. Her parents must be home, though, because your new friend Susie would have invited us to hang out, otherwise.”

  Marlee heard the sarcasm in her friend’s voice loud and clear.

  Lisa sat right in front of Jeri and said, “I love playing under the lights. I wish we had lights.”

  Lisa had steered the conversation in another direction, so Marlee ran with it. “Yeah, and real dugouts and real bleachers and a real bullpen.”

  Jeri added, “And a real fence in the outfield, not that stupid old wooden thing. I’m gonna get hurt one day.”

  “Awww,” Marlee and Lisa cried in sympathy.

  “Oh, shut up, both of you.” Jeri turned to face Marlee. “So, uh, Susie didn’t say anything about hanging out after the game?”

  Marlee tried to clear the lump in her throat. She still hadn’t told Jeri she was staying in East Valley. She hadn’t told her she was going to Susie’s for the night. She just hadn’t known how. She shifted in her seat on the bus and said, “Um, well, actually...” She stumbled over her words and wished Lisa would give them some privacy. Tell Jeri the truth. “Um,” she said again, “Susie invited me to come to her house after the game tonight. To stay over, I mean.” She cringed and waited for Jeri’s reaction.

  Lisa turned away from both of them, finding sudden interest in her teammates in the front of the bus.

  For the longest while Jeri didn’t say anything. She just turned away from Marlee and looked out the bus window.

  Say something, Jeri, Marlee willed.

  Finally, Jeri turned back to face Marlee and said coldly, “Whatever.”

  “Jeri, I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. I didn’t know how to tell you.” And that definitely was the truth.

  The bus pulled up behind the visitors’ dugout and Jeri bolted out of her seat before the bus came to a full stop.

  “Jeri, hold on.” Marlee struggled to get her stuff. “Jeri, c’mon.” She sat back down and watched her go.

  Unable to move, Marlee watched as her teammates filed off the bus. She finally found the strength to pick up her gear and trudge off the bus herself. The cool evening air revived her a bit, and although she didn’t really need to, she yanked the hood of her sweatshirt over her head. She dragged herself to the visitors’ dugout with the hood pulled low over her eyes. She spied around for Susie and found her in the home team dugout laughing with Christy. She didn’t know how she was going to pitch that evening with the myriad thoughts running through her mind. Confusion over why Susie hadn’t called, anticipation for their upcoming night together, anxiety over pitching, excitement over her mother finally coming to a game, and now regret that she had hurt her best friend’s feelings.

  Coach Spears intercepted Marlee before she had a chance to get to the dugout. “Marlee, I know I don’t have to tell you, but, I’m going to remind you anyway. This game is huge. We only have one loss. They,” she gestured toward the East Valley dugout, “have no losses. If we’ve got any kind of shot at a trophy, we’ve got to beat them tonight.”

  “I know, Coach. Believe me, I know.” Marlee had known, but with so many things to think about she couldn’t make herself focus solely on the game.

  “Okay, then. I’ll leave you to get ready.”

  Marlee put on her cleats and looked for Jeri, but Jeri was already warming up with some of the outfielders. She took a deep breath and vowed that when she got back from her weekend, she would tell Jeri everything. Yes, everything. Marlee had to do something to salvage their friendship, even if it was the scariest thing she’d ever have to do. That resolved, she took her warmup laps around the field and concentrated on getting ready for the game.

  Marlee finished her last lap and found her glove in the dugout. Tall and strong and intimidating in her full catcher’s regalia, Lisa walked up and said, “You ready?” They walked toward the bullpen behind the left field fence. Marlee waved to Susie who was warming up in the outfield with some of her teammates. Susie smiled and waved back but shrugged her shoulders as if to say she wanted to come over and say hello, but had to warm up with her team. Marlee nodded that she understood and settled for watching her out of the corner of her eye.

  On their way out to the bullpen, Christy Loveland and her catcher were on their way in. Marlee stopped to say hello, but Christy kept right on walking and said icily over her shoulder, “Ready to lose? Again?” The East Valley catcher snickered and covered her smile with her glove.

  Marlee stared after her. What was that all about?

&nbs
p; Lisa grabbed Marlee by the arm and pulled her toward the bullpen. “C’mon, Marlee. We’ll show her who’s gonna lose, eh?”

  Lisa worked Marlee through their usual pregame routine and after a while, Marlee felt warm, but let Lisa run her through a few more pitches. Lisa threw back a pitch, stood up, and approached Marlee. “Hey, what’s going on with you and Jeri?” she asked quietly.

  Marlee’s jaw dropped open and she stared at Lisa wide-eyed. She finally found her voice and asked, “What? What do you mean?” Marlee knew exactly what Lisa meant, but wanted to find out how much Lisa knew. She walked toward her catcher, the ball in her glove.

  “I mean, you’re best friends. What’s going on?”

  Marlee wanted to say, “It’s none of your business,” but didn’t. Instead she said, “Why? What’d she say?”

  “Marlee, she didn’t say anything. It’s just obvious that something’s going on.”

  Marlee looked away. She couldn’t think of a single thing to say, so she didn’t.

  “Geez, all right,” Lisa continued. “It’s none of my business. I just thought maybe I could help is all.” She grabbed the ball out of Marlee’s glove and said, “C’mon, let’s go back.”

  When they passed the bleachers, Marlee waved to her mother in the stands. Her mother waved back and shouted, “Play well. And have a good time.”

  Marlee shook her head and said under her breath, “Have a good time. Like I’m going to the movies and not about to play a death match with my mortal enemy.”

  “Okay,” she shouted back to her mother and walked to the captains’ circle. With Jeri not speaking to her and Christy acting belligerent, Marlee didn’t know where to look. Thank God the home plate umpire didn’t ask them to introduce themselves so Marlee didn’t have to speak to either one of them.

  Marlee’s Cougars got up to bat first since they were the visiting team. Christy promptly struck out Jeri, the lead off batter, in three pitches and then struck out the second Cougar batter with four pitches. Marlee got up to bat determined not to go down swinging against the mighty Christy Loveland. She stepped up to the plate and saw Christy sport an evil grin. Marlee pretended not to see it and pulled her bat back to get ready for the pitch.

  Coach Spears called out, “The release, Marlee, watch her release point. Nothing else. C’mon.”

  Marlee heard Lisa yell, “C’mon, #3. Save my ups.”

  Marlee dug in her heels and got ready for the first pitch. She watched the release point only to see a Christy Loveland fastball heading straight for her head. She spun away from the oncoming ball and fell to the ground. Dazed, she sat up and waited for the world to right itself. Lisa’s was the first face she saw.

  “You okay?” Lisa helped Marlee up.

  Marlee dusted off her uniform. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

  ”The ball missed your head by an inch.”

  “Really? What was that all about?”

  “I think that was your warning shot.” Lisa jogged back to the on-deck circle.

  Coach Spears put a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, it didn’t hit me.”

  “Okay, well just take a second to get your breath.”

  After a minute, Marlee stepped back in the batter’s box and dug in once again. She refused to let the “warning shot” affect her game. She focused on the release point. Another fastball, this one right down the middle of the plate. Marlee swung and hit a long fly ball to left field. Susie tracked it down easily. The Cougar half of the inning was over. No hits, no runs.

  The East Valley team got up to bat in its half of the first inning and Marlee struck out the first two Panther batters and readied herself for the third. She recognized her new friend, Sam, the East Valley second baseman.

  “Hey, P,” Sam shouted and tipped her helmet in Marlee’s direction.

  P? Marlee was momentarily confused, but then it came to her. She answered, “Hey, 2!” and tipped her hat back in greeting. She heard Lisa say something to Sam, but couldn’t quite make out what she said. Marlee fired her first pitch. Strike one. She heard Lisa say, “Geez, I told you it was gonna be inside. You should listen to me. This next one will be another fastball low but outside.” Lisa put her mitt in the low and outside position and called for another fastball. Marlee didn’t know what to think, but threw the requested pitch. Sam swung and missed. Marlee smiled and heard Lisa say, “Really, you should listen to me. What do you want? Curve? Change? Drop? Rise? Another fastball?”

  Sam answered, “Fastball.”

  “Wow. You’re actually requesting a McAllister fastball. Brave, very brave.”

  Marlee was bewildered. Lisa had never done anything so cocky. She thought Lisa was going to ask for a different pitch just to fool Sam, but then Lisa flashed the sign for fastball, so fastball it would be. Sam swung late and missed again. Strike three. Strike three for the third out of the inning.

  Marlee watched Lisa stick out her hand to Sam and say, “Nice try, Sam.”

  Sam grabbed Lisa’s hand and shook firmly. She said formally, “Why thank you, Lisa. And, believe me. I am going to hit that thing one day.”

  “Oh, yes, indeed. I believe you.” Lisa ran to the Cougar dugout and jumped on Marlee. She shouted, “Awesome inning, Pitcher.”

  Lisa led off in the top of the second inning and smashed a single just past the shortstop into left-center field.

  Lisa mouthed to Marlee from first base, “There goes her no-hitter.”

  Marlee shot a conspiratorial smile back, but felt bad that Lisa had made Susie run after her hit. Marlee had to admit, though, that she enjoyed watching Susie openly and freely, just like everyone else.

  The Cougars moved Lisa to third base with a sacrifice bunt and then a sacrifice fly to right field. Unfortunately, Lisa didn’t get any further because the next Cougar batter struck out to end the inning. Marlee’s team came close to scoring, but couldn’t pull it off.

  Throughout the innings that followed, neither team scored so by the end of the seven innings of regulation play, the score remained tied at 0-0. Marlee couldn’t believe the game was going into extra innings. She was happy about the way she was pitching, but she was also frustrated because the extra innings delayed her alone time with Susie. She couldn’t even catch Susie’s eye to vent what must be their mutual frustration. She wanted this game over with.

  Marlee’s right shoulder muscles ached a bit, but she still felt good enough to continue pitching in the extra innings. Especially because her rise balls were rising on a fairly regular basis and her change-up was working like a charm. Lisa would sometimes signal for the change-up on the first pitch and Marlee had to stifle her laughter each time a Panther batter swung uncontrollably. She even held in her laughter pretty well when she struck out Susie with the change in the fifth inning.

  What Marlee didn’t like, however, was that Jeri avoided her in the dugout and still hadn’t said a word to her. But Marlee refused to be shaken by her friend’s coolness because she had already vowed to make it right. As soon as the big weekend was over she would talk to Jeri about her wonderful and fabulous new relationship with Susie. She had no idea how she was going to do it, but if Jeri didn’t want to be her friend after that, she’d deal with that later.

  Unfortunately, Marlee’s team couldn’t get any runners on base in the top of the eighth inning and consequently couldn’t score any runs. If the Cougars had any chance of winning they needed to hold the East Valley Panthers scoreless in the bottom of the eighth inning to force a ninth inning with the top of the Cougar batting order due up. Jeri would lead off and she was probably their best chance at scoring a run.

  Marlee smiled and watched Susie step up to the plate to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning. She can do a lot of damage if she ever gets hold of one of my pitches. Marlee smiled, but caught the scowl Lisa threw her and stopped smiling. Concentrate, she scolded herself.

  High inside fastball. Strike one. Lisa called for a change-up on the outside corner. Marlee delivered
the change-up and Susie swung wildly and missed. Marlee winced. Susie probably hadn’t been expecting the change-up on the second pitch. She didn’t really want to strike Susie out again, but remembered that this had been the original game plan the first time the two teams met. And besides, all was fair in love and softball. Right? Lisa called for the rise ball. Marlee relied on her fastball most of the time, but since the rise was working well that evening she didn’t protest. And as soon as she let it go, she knew the pitch was good. Strike three. She struck Susie out for the second time that night.

  Lisa ran all the way to the mound with the ball and hugged Marlee. “Way to go, girl.” The hug spun Marlee around so she couldn’t see Susie’s reaction. By the time Lisa let go, Susie was already sitting in the dugout. Marlee couldn’t help feeling that Lisa had distracted her on purpose.

  Sorry, Susie, Marlee thought. I’ll make it up to you later.

  The next two Panther batters grounded out in turn to force the ninth inning and Marlee was riding high. The Cougars still had a chance. Marlee ran to the dugout and caught up with Lisa on the way. “You are just brilliant today, Lisa.” Marlee clapped her friend on the back with her gloved hand.

  “I calls ’em like I sees ’em. And besides, I don’t have anything to do with it. You’re the train, I just keep you on the track.” Lisa began the arduous process of taking off her catcher’s gear in the hopes that she would get up to bat that inning.

  Marlee called out to Jeri in the on-deck circle, “Get ’em Jeri. Show them what we’ve got.” Marlee didn’t expect a response and didn’t get one.

  Jeri fouled off several of Christy’s rockets and Marlee thought, or hoped that Christy was getting tired. Jeri, ultimately struck out, but Christy needed nine pitches to do it.

  With one out, Julie, the Cougars’ number two batter, got up to bat and fouled off pitch after pitch after pitch. Everyone could see that this infuriated Christy. Christy kept glaring at Marlee in the on-deck circle after each foul ball. Marlee didn’t know why Christy was shooting daggers at her because she wasn’t the one fouling off the pitches. Unfortunately for the Cougars, Christy won the battle and Julie struck out. Marlee got up to bat with two outs.