One Pitch

went to the Phillies game last night,

what a deceiving game baseball is,

on the surface it seems so slow,

almost boring,

but then without even realizing it,

you find yourself caught up

in a moment,

that for just a few seconds,

stands out so sharp and crystal clear,

it’s as if life itself has ceased,

time has no meaning;

top of the ninth,

Phillies on top 3 to 2,

bases loaded,

two outs,

three balls,

two strikes,

and for one pitch,

it didn’t matter

that the Phillies were

45 and 72,

or that it was late August,

and they were 32 games out of first,

for that one pitch,

the crowd was on its feet chanting,

as if it was the last pitch

of the world series,

time was frozen,

women screamed,

men yelled,

for that one pitch,

it was as if the entire world

was holding its breath,

waiting for that one pitch,

the pitcher stared in at the catcher,

waiting for the sign,

then with a kick of his leg,

he wound up and delivered the ball,

the crowd gasped,

the batter swung;

FOUL BALL!!!!!!

with a moan,

a huge sucking in of air,

everyone got ready to do it

one more time;

it was then I understood

the greatness of baseball,

it isn’t in the fast pace,

but rather in the lack of it,

the ability to make time

stand still;

even if it’s just for a

moment.

.

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