I am sitting in the dugout holding a baseball and gripping a knuckle ball. As I am watching the game all of a sudden coach calls me to go on the mound.

 A storm washes over me.  My body is shaking as if I got a bucket of ice cold water dumped on me. I walk up to the mound and see all the runners on base. Everyone is cheering as the announcer states my name and number.

As I throw my first couple warm up pitches coach says “You have bases loaded with 2 outs. I chose you because I know you can get us out of this jam. Do what you do best. Do what you and I both know you can do. Give’em the knuckle”.

The batter walks in the batters box and the umpire yells "PLAY BALL". The batter is staring me down. I am feeling sick to my stomach because I know I cannot let him get on base.

My catcher gives me the sign to throw a knuckle ball. I threw the first pitch. "BALL" the umpire yells. I threw my knuckle ball high and outside.

My catcher gives me another sign to throw a knuckle ball. "BALL" once again the umpire yells. This time I spiked it in the dirt.