Wind Up by Derek Jeter

Author:Derek Jeter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Published: 2021-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

Derek could tell that Avery was in high-tension mode. Her shoulders were high up, almost to her ears, a sure sign she wasn’t feeling loose and easy.

But Derek didn’t need to see all that to know. Because he knew her, and he had some idea of what she was going through inside.

The Giants were watching as she warmed up, making quiet jokes about her, and cracking one another up. Pretty cocky for a team that’s losing, Derek thought.

But he understood why. The Giants hadn’t lost all year. Why shouldn’t they expect to win every time they took the field? A one-run deficit? That was not going to faze them. And a girl pitching? They must have thought this was going to be a pushover.

Avery did get the first two strikes on the first hitter. But then he poked a single into right field, and from that moment, the feeding frenzy was on. There were hoots and hollers, and some taunts flung at Avery from the Giants bench.

The next batter smashed a line drive to center. Luckily, it was right at Mason, who flinched, but caught the ball and threw it back in to hold the runner at first.

The Giants bench quieted down, but only for a moment. Avery blew out a relieved breath, then smacked herself angrily on the side of her head with her mitt.

“Hey!” Derek called out to her. “No getting down on yourself, huh? You got this!”

She threw him a hard glance, then got back to business. The catcalls continued, and Derek felt like calling time, going over there, and giving them all a piece of his mind. But he knew he’d better concentrate on doing his job.

On Avery’s next pitch the hitter smacked a hard grounder to second, where Harry had taken over when Avery had come in to pitch. Harry fielded the ball cleanly, then threw to Derek at second to start the double play.

But Harry hadn’t been there early to take infield practice. His throw sailed wide of the bag, just off the tip of Derek’s mitt! Avery, backing up the play smartly, picked up the ball and checked the runner. She then walked back to the mound, muttering under her breath.

She was as mad as she could be, and no wonder, Derek thought. She’d succeeded in getting that grounder, only to have an easy double play messed up behind her. Because she wasn’t the one playing second base. And the kid who was playing there hadn’t practiced with Derek beforehand. So instead of the inning being over, now it was first and second, with only one out.

Derek called over to Harry. “Don’t worry, man—we’ve got this.”

Harry nodded, but didn’t look back at him. Clearly he felt bad for messing up at a crucial moment. But at least now he knew his teammates were behind him.

Avery was laser-focused on the Giants’ next hitter, who was waggling his bat over his head, like he smelled blood in the water.

Derek could see the sweat trickling down Avery’s face.

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