Page 35 of Double Play

Randy sighs and appears defeated as his chin drops to his chest. I turn to Layton. “I think he needs to come out of the game. Who’s the reliever?”

“They’re eight. We don’t have a full bullpen. If you want to find someone to throw strikes, take your pick. None of thekids throw as hard as Randy, with the exception of Lucinda, and we need her catching.”

I call a timeout and both of us walk out to the mound to strategize with Randy and Lucinda. Layton asks, “How are you feeling, Randy?”

He lifts his head and enthusiastically responds, “I can finish the game, Coach Layton. I’m no quitter.” I love his competitive spirit.

I look over toward first base. The baserunner is small. I bet he’s fast. “They’re probably going to try to steal second base to get the winning run in scoring position. Randy, throw the ball hard and a little outside. Let Lucinda throw him out.”

They both widen their eyes. Lucinda toes the dirt nervously with her shoe. “He’s really fast, Coach Z. None of the catchers in our league are ever able to throw anyone out, let alone a fast runner like him. If I miss, the runner from third will score, tying the game. I don’t want to let the team down.”

I place my hand on her little shoulder. Her face is dirty, and her hair is a mess. She reminds me so much of myself when I was younger. “I have faith in you. You’ve got this.” I nod in further reassurance.

She smiles. “Okay. I’ll try my best.”

“Toss your left knee out and throw with your whole body, just like I taught you before the game.” She was throwing well in warm-ups. She has it in her.

“Yes, Coach Z.”

Layton shows Randy a way to grip the ball across the seams to get a little extra speed on it. “Throw one more hard pitch. The faster you throw it, the more time Lucinda will have to throw it down to second base.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll give him the gas. No Uncle Charlies from me.”

I can’t help but let out a laugh at his use of baseball slang.Gas is a fast pitch and Uncle Charlies are curveballs, which are slower than fastballs.

Layton and I head back to the dugout. Randy winds up and does a decent job throwing a hard outside pitch. I see the runner take off from first base, just as I suspected he would. Lucinda does everything I told her to do and puts every ounce of her little body into the throw.

I can’t help but grab and squeeze Layton’s hand. I’m more nervous about this than my own damn games. Xavier, the shortstop, covers the throw to second. Lucinda throws a dime, and the runner is out by a mile. Game over. Cubs win.

The kids go crazy. Layton and I go even crazier, jumping up and down, hugging each other.

He holds me close a few seconds longer than is reasonable. He buries his nose into my neck and inhales. I should pull away, but I don’t. I inhale his masculine scent too. It’s already become familiar and comforting to me. Our bodies touching feels like something more. Want. Need.

In order to break the weirdness of the moment, I whisper, “I’m a better coach than you.”

We pull apart and he laughs. “I can’t argue with math. You have a perfect record.”

I giggle. “I do.” I motion my head toward the kids piling on each other on the field. “Let’s celebrate with them.”

Twenty minutes later, we’re eating ice cream for lunch, per Layton’s promise. The kids are having a blast, still on cloud nine from their first victory.

He and I sit on a bench outside the ice cream shop, licking our own cones. “Tell me more about the kids. Why aren’t they being adopted?”

“I don’t know much, their records are sealed, but I know that the older they get, the less likely it is that they’ll get adopted. Some will get fostered, but people want to adoptnewborn babies, not kids they assume come with baggage. It’s sad.”

“I think it’s fantastic that you coach. I’m happy to help you anytime. I genuinely enjoyed today.”

“That would be great. I truly love these kids. I’d do anything for them.”

“How many group homes are there in Philly?”

“I’m not sure of the exact number. A few dozen.”

“Are thereanysoftball leagues for the girls or do they just tag along in baseball?”

“I don’t know of any.”

“Maybe we can help change things. Get them access to age-appropriate leagues, the boys playing baseball and the girls playing softball.”

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