Chapter 9

Breakfast Monday morning was big, loud, and rowdy. Twice the cafeteria folks told us to settle down. Our entire group was happy to be back together.

Adrian walked with me to our first classes then separated to go to our own buildings. I had forgotten that I had my first class with Delta. She came up to me and put a sizzling lip lock on me.

“How’s my Spring break stud doing?” she asked. Delta is such a stand out good-looking babe; all the guys going into the room were eyeing me enviously.

After class Delta walked with me toward my next class until we met Trish. Trish gave me a very nice kiss with a bone-crunching hug. “Great to see you Chuck.” Again, guys observing me getting the attention of another great looking babe, were drooling. The girls said they would try to eat supper at the training table dining hall that evening if it would be okay with my girl friends. I told them that it should be fine.

We had a scrimmage for practice. I played shortstop with the second team and even got two decent hits out of four at bats. Probably should be better because the pitchers weren’t up to speed yet. We needed to get ready for a home game Thursday and an away game Saturday.

Supper was fun. I was bookended by Misty and Cherry on one side and Delta and Trish on the other. Frank and Susie were across the table from us and made numerous obnoxious remarks about our spring vacation trip. Guys have a hard time not staring at the four girls I was with. One alone is a major disturbance. The four together were a riot.

After supper the usual group left for the library. Delta and Trish looked at each other and said, “You know, we’re going with you guys. We need to get our grades up, too. Do you mind?”

Everyone said almost at once, “The more the merrier.”

After the library we went for Cokes. The jukebox was playing dreamy stuff, so I danced with Misty, and then Delta insisted on a dance. I turned to go to the dance floor area and saw Cherry and Trish dancing close together. I wonder about Cherry.

We all went back to the dorms. Delta and Trish lived in a dorm next to the one where Misty and Cherry lived. We said goodnight to them as they went inside at their dorm. After saying goodnight to everyone in Misty’s dorm, Misty stayed with me in the parlor for a few minutes.

“Do you think we are going to be a pair?” Misty asked.

“We already are, aren’t we?” I asked.

“Sort of,” Misty answered. “But I was thinking that just you and me and not all the other girls you seem to have coming on to you.”

“Serious huh?” I asked.

Misty looked down then up into my eyes, “I don’t know. Sometimes when we’re together I want us to be alone, you know, exclusive, together forever. Sometimes I love it when Cherry and I make love to you. Spring break was fun and I loved watching you play with those two girls, but back here now, and with Sarah wanting to get back with you, I’m feeling jealous. Even though you and me are together, I can’t help feeling you’re not mine alone. Like I said Chuck, I don’t know. I want you, and most of the time I don’t feel threatened by other girls, but right now I do. Can you understand that?”

“I guess so. You’ve never asked me to be exclusive. I haven’t asked you either, as it wasn’t my place to ask that. I’m probably too young to be thinking of anything permanent yet, but I do enjoy being with you, and I do really enjoy how we feel about each other. From now on when you feel threatened or when jealousy pops up, give my hand a couple of squeezes so I know when to give you more attention.”

Misty gave me a watery-eyed loving hug and kisses, “Night Chuck, I really do like you a lot.” She gave me another tender kiss then, “Night baby.” She got up and rushed through the alcove.

Tuesday and Wednesday were about the same without any new jealousy outbreaks from Misty. I did try to pay a little more attention to her though.

Thursday was busy. The baseball team was going to travel all day Friday. That meant I had to gather assignments and make arrangements for someone else to turn in my work for Friday, or delay it until Monday. Profs just love sports guys,,,,, not. They hate to have to make constant exceptions to their class rules. My only advantage was my good grades.

At practice I found out the Saturday game turned out to be a tournament that we thought we were only playing Saturday morning, and I figured if we lost Saturday afternoon, we would come home, driving all day Sunday instead of playing in the semi-finals and finals. When I heard the coach’s projections, I was disappointed in their attitude toward the players. We were not bad. We needed more practice, but I know baseball and decent baseball teams. Our defense had a ways to go, but at bat we were probably as good as any other team.

I told the infield coach how I felt about what I had heard. He defended his position by saying that college ball was faster and tougher than the high school baseball I was used to. I reminded him that I came from a school that constantly had major league scouts at our practices and games and that I had played two seasons of American Legion ball that is supposed to be as good as single-A pro ball.

He said, “Tell you what Chuck. All three of you guys who are trying to make starter at short are about equal. I’ll play each of you three innings. Show your stuff and I’ll start you in the tournament. You’ll get at least one at bat, maybe two. Get a hit; show the coach and me what you can do. Then we’ll win and stay in Wichita for the entire weekend.”

He was walking away when he turned around, “Now I’ll have to go write notes to all your Profs that Monday will be a travel day so you guys can be excused. You’re right though, we should expect to win instead of expecting to lose.”

Before the game, the head coach or manager or whatever you want to call him had a few words to say about today and us getting ready for the tournament in Wichita. He told us that several starting positions were open for grabs, so we should play our best. I played the fourth, fifth and sixth inning. Defensively the fourth was a no brainer. First out was a pop fly to the third baseman. The right fielder and I almost collided getting in position to back up the play though. Then there was a pretty hot flat grounder that I scooped up and tossed to the second baseman that relayed the ball to first for a double play. The play didn’t show off anyone’s ability even though the ball was hit pretty hard. Since it stayed flat on the ground not hopping around, it was an easy catch.

I was second up at bat in the bottom of the fourth. The first batter walked. The third base coach held me on the first pitch. It was a ball, low and inside. I figured he would have me bunt the guy to second but he gave me a swing sign, surprise, surprise. The pitcher threw a very slow change up right down the middle. It seemed like I had to wait an eternity to swing. It’s hard to hold up your swing when you are expecting an 80 to 85 mph fastball or curve, and you get one at 50 mph that wants to die in front of the plate. Because I had been holding up, I didn’t get a full swing at the ball but made good contact. I pulled it over the third baseman’s head sending the ball into the corner of the chain link fence. Balls don’t bounce off chain link. The guy on first had been given a run sign, so he made it all the way home while I was held at second standing. I went to third on a long fly to right field then scored on a single up the middle. We ended up scoring five runs that inning, looking much better than our coaches were forecasting us to be.

The fifth inning was routine defensively with my only participation covering second for an attempted steal then covering second again on a slow grounder to third for a force out. Yawn.

The sixth inning was cool. Our pitcher must have been getting tired. Two long singles had runners on first and second. I was signaled to play my position deep and let the runners be. I was playing just to the right of the pitcher when he hung a curve for a good hitter. The ball came off the bat like a rocket, right for my face. My glove protected my face; I pitched the ball to the second baseman, who relayed it to first in time for a triple play. I know that play looked good even though all I was doing was defending myself.

I got back up as first at bat for the bottom of sixth. They had a new pitcher that sprayed nothing but really fast rocket fastballs. I said sprayed as they went everywhere. He threw three straight balls, and then it looked like he changed his position on the rubber. This one came straight down the middle. My swing was about a week late. I could have used the post office. I watched the pitcher set up exactly the same and was ready. I started my swing and actually pulled the ball again as it flew down the line going foul over the fence. I’m not a long ball hitter but that one went a mile. Full count. The pitcher went back to standing on the rubber like he had done in the beginning so I was wary that he couldn’t throw a strike from that position. I needed this hit but I also didn’t want to swing at a ball over my head on in the dirt. I was ready but thought that if it was close, I would try to at least foul it. The ball was outside. So far outside it almost went into our dugout. If nothing else, that was a good walk even if it didn’t count as a hit. I watched the guy’s feet while leading off on first and saw he was in his control stance. Three straight strikes that the batter didn’t even come close to. Between batters I told the first base coach what I saw about the differences in how the pitcher would stand on the rubber. He told me to go down on a knee and to hold my ankle. While the trainer was looking at my ankle the first base coach waved the manager and third base coach over to the new batter. The manager sent in my next inning replacement to run for me and I walked back to the dugout to look for splinters.

Our batter, who was usually a good hitter, took a first pitch fast ball down the middle. Then you could see him get ready, the pitcher went to his control position and let fly. Home run. The big bat hit the fastball hard and it flew out of the park. The next batter got up and saw the pitcher go into his control stance. He brought one down the middle at top speed. Then he changed his stance. You could see the third base coach holding the batter. Ball. The next two pitches were the same then the pitcher changed back to his control stance. The batter was able to foul off that pitch and the next two. The pitcher changed his stance again and the third base coach gave a hold sign to the surprised batter. Ball four and a walk. The manager/head coach came to me and said, “That was damn observant of you to pick up on that guys stance. That’s good baseball.”

The third short stop got two at bats in the seventh and eighth inning, getting two nice hits, but he didn’t have much activity defensively. I kind of thought we were all pretty even, so in my mind I could be sent back to the second team without feeling bad.

After the game the manager gave praise for having cleaned the other teams clock. He said we had beaten them offensively and defensively. He even made mention of my noticing how the rocket pitcher stood on the mound and had sense enough to tell someone. Point for me.

I was told that I would be traveling to the tournament. That made me happy, as I might get in a game anyway.

At supper I made arrangements for Delta, Cherry, and Misty to turn in my class work and to advise the Profs I would probably not be back until Tuesday because of travel. We all went to the library and worked hard getting papers completed. I was able to do Thursday’s assignments as well as Friday’s. I wish I knew what was going to be assigned for over the weekend. The only class I was concerned with was a stupid history class because the grad staff Prof. liked to assign papers to be turned in on Monday. Trish said she knew the Prof. and went up to the library office and called him. I listened to her explaining what she needed to know and why. Trish was sweet-talking the guy about how mean he was to assign so much for the weekends. She finally hung up with a smile. “Not only is there no paper for Monday, but no assignment at all. How’s that for working a guy?”

“My heroine,” I said giving her hug while walking back to our group.

Friday morning I ate with the hordes, gave a hug and kisses to Misty, Cherry, Delta, and finally Trish. I was standing at the dining hall door shaking my head in wonder but smiling when Adrian came up.

“Should I ask for a kiss, too?” he said while punching me on the arm. “You have so many babes hanging on you that you’ll never have time for my Sis when she comes back.”

I grinned at Adrian and just said, “I’ll make time.”

He left, and I went to the dorm for my travel bag, and then went to the baseball offices to get on the bus.

Eleven long hours later, we pulled into the campus at Wichita. The folks led us into the dining hall and fed us a late supper before herding us into a wing of a dorm with a couple dozen rooms ready for visiting teams. The next morning we had an early breakfast before dressing to warm up for the first game at ten. The infield coach came to me and asked if I would be upset if I didn’t start. I told him that was a silly question as I was a freshman and would willingly ride the pine until it was my chance. He slapped me on the back and said, “Stay ready, now go get some batting practice.”