“Come on Jackie…stay down on the ball! Don’t get fooled by her riser; you know better than that!” Luke Higgins yelled at his daughter from the stands. Jacqueline Higgins adjusted her helmet and gloves, gave a quick nod to her third base coach as she saw the sign he flashed to her and stepped back into the batter’s box. She dug her right foot into the dirt, twisting her toe down in her dirty black cleat as her left foot kicked back twice clearing the dirt. Her hands gripped her bat hard but she made sure her knuckles were in line to ensure a level steady swing. Her big blue eyes stared at the pitcher watching her every move as she went into her windup. Her muscles tensed and twitched as the ball came zipping in; low and outside her mind registered but perfect to drive to right field. She dove out and swung low connecting with a satisfying <Ping> as her bat made contact. The ball lined over the second baseman’s glove as she jumped and stretched out fully to stop it to no vail. Jackie screamed out in joy as it hit the ground inches in front of the diving right fielder. The winning run dashed home from third; her team had just won the State Championship. The Lions dugout emptied mobbing both Jackie at first base and the girl who scored at home. Both groups converged at the pitcher’s mound where the gaggle of screaming and crying girls hugged and let out every ounce of emotion. Jackie was crying along with all the rest of them; the 17 year old junior outfielder was the teams’ Mehr sehen