Page 26 of Big Pitch Energy

I wentthrough my usual warm-up and stretching to get loose. Once I was ready, I grabbed my glove and the bucket of balls and headed toward the mound. I tossed one ball at a time toward the net, easy at first, then with a little more heat just to get my arm moving.

After twenty throws, I stepped back and rolled my shoulders.

“How's it feeling today?” Ray asked from the deck.

“Good. Solid.” I said.

“You look good.” He stood and walked toward me. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

I reached into the bucket and grabbed a ball, rolling it between my fingers as I walked to the mound. Toeing the rubber, I shifted my foot slightly, searching for the perfect spot. I turned the ball with my fingertips until the grip felt just right, then settled into my windup and let it fly.

The ball slammed into the net with athwack. I didn’t need to look at the radar gun to know that I was closer to where I wantedto be than I was during my last bullpen. The sound still wasn’t as sharp as it should be, but I felt confident it would get there.

“Ninety-three,” Ray said from his spot behind me on the lawn, his arms crossed over his chest.

I threw a few more fastballs, each one a tick harder than the last, letting my body settle into the rhythm of the motion I've practiced since I was twelve. It felt good, like everything was in sync again.

Ray rattled off the speed after each pitch, his voice steady and precise. My last two fastballs were at 96 mph, and I didn’t have to force them. They came out smooth and easy, like my body finally remembered exactly how to do this.

Then again, after the Reiki sessions, I’m not so sure anymore if my body had been the real problem or if it was my mind holding me back all along.

I moved through the rest of my bullpen, shifting into sliders next. After five of those, I transitioned to curveballs, watching each one break sharp and late. Then I finished with six pitches in sequence—fastball, slider, fastball, fastball, curveball, and a changeup to close it out.

Ray walked over and handed me my water. I drank half of it in one long gulp.

“You’re pretty much there, Sam,” he said. “You look a thousand times better than last time I saw you throw.”

“I feel good. Like I did before.”

“How’s your elbow feeling?”

“Good. No pain or stiffness.” I finished the rest of my water and set the bottle on the mound. “I feel like I could throw more.”

“But you’re not going to.”

“I know.”

I grabbed the bucket and started picking up the balls, with Ray right there beside me. Before long, we had everythingcleaned up and put away in the shed. I toed off my cleats before stepping onto the deck, setting them neatly in the corner.

Ray and I headed inside just as my mom came in the front door. She gave him a warm hello hug.

“It’s so nice to see you.” She pulled back and glanced over at me. “How’d the bullpen go?”

“I’ll let Ray fill you in while I take a quick shower.”

Upstairs, I peeled off my sweaty clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash over me. I shifted my shoulders, extended my elbow, and flexed my fingers. Everything feels great. There’s nothing more than normal fatigue after throwing a bullpen.

My mind wandered to yesterday’s Reiki session. It was the first after our date Saturday night, and I’ll admit I was worried it might have been awkward, but it wasn’t. If anything, it felt easier. Like the space between us had relaxed more.

And for the first time since we started our “energy journey” together, when I envisioned myself pitching in the session, I actually threw the ball instead of having it disappear. Then I threw a kick-ass bullpen today. That can’t be a coincidence, can it?

I finished rinsing my hair, turned off the water, and stepped out of the shower.

After drying off, I got dressed, checked my phone and saw a text from Hope.

See you soon.

I smiled, ran a comb through my damp hair, and headed downstairs.

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