It was a glorious afternoon, sun shining, birds chirping, and just a great day to play baseball. So I thought. It was the Hal Shafers annual baseball tournament, the biggest senior youth tournament in the United States, all the scouts would be there. My team, the Findlay Royals, play in this event every year representing Northwest Ohio. It was my first year as a member of the team, and playing in the tournament. It just so happened that my team was truly good that year. We were so incredibly good that we were picked to win the tournament. I played really well the first couple of games, so well that the announcer of the game started to have fun saying my name. He would say over the loud speaker " n with a great play". He was a really old man with a funny voice and laugh that kind of stuck in your head.
Well the next day of play I played better than ever. I hit every ball that came zooming in and made spectacular plays in the field. My coach even said, " ate, what has gotten i
At the conclusion of the game, I was named MVP of the tournament and was given several other rewards. I even stared in a youth training movie, and got letters from Universities and Colleges from across the nation. From these events I learned two important things one always slide head first, and two I had a very unique talent in baseball.
My team made it to the final game of the tournament with my help. I got some rest in between games and was ready to go for the big one. It was a great game, nothing short of what a championship game should be. Both teams made brilliant efforts and more and more great plays. It came down to the last inning, the scored tied 3 to 3. We were the home team so we got last at bat. I led off the inning with everybody in the stands chanting my name, E....." To no ones surprise, the opposing team walked me and put me on base. The next batter grounded out giving the other team a quick out. On a passed ball I stole second base. The next batter flew out to center field