Page 53 of Carmine

In the next round, Carmine got struck out himself, but they got a home run. Serenity went nuts as the guy raced around the baseball diamond, outrunning those throwing the ball. He slid, the umpire yelled safe, and we all cheered.

Carmine took the pitcher’s mound once more, and again, nobody got a hit on the ball.

“Damn, he is playing amazingly,” Harley said in wonder.

“Two innings and a pure strike-out rate? Carmine’s on fire,” Drake commented from behind me.

“Is that good?” I asked.

“Yeah. Not a single player has got one of Carmine’s pitches yet. If bro wanted to show he was back to one hundred per cent, he’s making a show of it,” Serenity murmured.

The following two innings unfolded similarly. Nobody getting to touch one of Carmine’s pitches, and the tension notched up a little.

I didn’t understand it. We were on our fifth inning, and Carmine’s team was two home runs up while the other team had yet to hit a single ball.

“Four more innings,” Drake stated behind me. “Come on, boy.”

“I don’t get it,” I said to Jodie, who was on her feet. She was screaming as Carmine took the pitcher’s mound. The look ofintensity on his face nearly turned me inside out. Carmine was well and truly within the zone.

“Carmine’s on for a perfect game. Shit, I can’t believe we’re seeing this,” Jodie squealed.

I was completely lost until Drake took sympathy on me. He leaned over my shoulder and explained.

“It is incredibly rare for a pitcher to pitch a perfect game. Only about twenty players can boast of pitching one.”

I watched as Carmine struck out the next three opponents, and the crowd roared. The rival fans were booing, but Carmine paid them no attention. Carmine side struck out on their third player, and Carmine was back up to pitch. The tension notched up as Carmine spoke to his catcher and then took the mound.

I leapt to my feet, screaming as Carmine struck the first opponent. The crowd cheered when he took the second player out. The next shouted at Carmine, and I saw Carmine stumble. No! The asshole had broken Carmine’s concentration. The batting player sneered and called something out again, which made the umpire straighten.

The umpire seemed to speak harshly to the opponent and then Carmine retook the mound. Carmine pitched three fast balls and sent the player back to the dugout.

“Holy shit!” Serenity squealed as she clutched me.

Carmine took the stand to bat and faced the man who’d insulted him. The guy was still running his mouth when the umpire stood up and waved his hands.

“What the fuck?” Drake demanded.

The umpire called someone else over, and everyone watched as the opponent was pointed to the dugout. Carmine waited calmly to pitch, but the other player argued back. The pitcher lost his temper and got in the umpire’s face as the crowd hissed. He threw the ball at Carmine hard, and Carmine jumped to one side. Some of Carmine’s players ran over and began shoving theplayer, and I watched heart in mouth as the other team came over and joined them.

“Shit!” Drake shouted.

“What’s happening?” I asked as the opposing team surrounded the irate man and forced him away. Numerous players were wincing as he kept shouting stuff to Carmine, who stood there with his head down.

“His concentration is broken. That asshole accomplished what he wanted,” Serenity sighed.

“What can we do?” I demanded.

“Nothing.”

There was a yell, and then everyone gasped in the stadium as the irate player dashed on the pitch and yelled something. Carmine’s shoulders curved inwards, and then the opponent was on his back, rubbing his chin as his own teammate hit him hard.

His teammate lunged over him as others dragged him away, and he shrugged them off. We watched as he ran over to Carmine and spoke urgently to him before Carmine looked up. Seconds passed, and we all wondered what was happening when Carmine reached out and hugged the guy. They clapped each other on the back, and then the rival player headed to his dugout.

“What the fuck?” Drake asked.

A man dressed in Carmine’s team colours raced over. “We need Molly,” he called out to our crowd. “Carmine needs you.”

I was down the few steps within seconds and throwing my leg over the barrier. A couple of officials came towards me, but the guy waved them away. He grabbed my hand and ran me over to where Carmine stood. Despite the ongoing commotion, Carmine seemed isolated and trapped in his thoughts.

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