My Moment In Life : A Time Of My Life

In the bottom of the inning, with the chance to win, I would make the first plate appearance of the inning with hopes to start it off with a hit. Before our at-bats, Coach Sullivan talked to the team saying, “This is the moment you have all worked for. This is where all that extra work will finally pay off. This is a moment you will remember for the rest of your lives. Now GO GET ‘EM!” So I ran in the dugout, grabbed my helmet and bat, and began getting ready for my at-bat. As I was preparing Coach Sullivan came over and gathered up the next few batters, including myself, and said, “Right now! This is your time! Go do your best and good things will happen!” I was as prepared as ever when I finally stepped up to the plate to start the inning. As the pitch came towards me I swung the bat and felt a POP. I looked up to see the ball soar into the outfield and land as a base hit. The next batter was Ben Beis who, on the first pitch, watched a ball in the dirt which got past the catcher allowing me to advance to second base. Ben then did a sacrifice bunt moving me from second base to third

Let’s all be honest, when in a tight situation where a lot is on the line, having someone say, ‘No pressure.’ is the worst thing that could be ever said in that moment. Regardless, this is what was said to me and my 10-year-old baseball team, The Oklahoma Kaos before hitting the field to have a chance to get to finals in the State Championship. It was June 18th, 2010, and we had clawed our way out of losers bracket to get to the semifinals. We had come too far to give up or fail now. We came across a team called the Pawhuska Huskies, a team we had creamed in an earlier tournament 23-3 in one whole inning. The team joked back and forth about how easy this would be and how we already made it to the finals. But while

Let’s all be honest, when in a tight situation where a lot is on the line, having someone say, ‘No pressure.’ is the worst thing that could be ever said in that moment. Regardless, this is what was said to me and my 10-year-old baseball team, The Oklahoma Kaos before hitting the field to have a chance to get to finals in the State Championship. It was June 18th, 2010, and we had clawed our way out of losers bracket to get to the semifinals. We had come too far to give up or fail now. We came across a team called the Pawhuska Huskies, a team we had creamed in an earlier tournament 23-3 in one whole inning. The team joked back and forth about how easy this would be and how we already made it to the finals. But while

Each and every week I would head out to the baseball park, not because the experience would always leave me with joy, but because of the joy and satisfaction that the players had when they came and left the field. Many of the player’s parents told my fellow buddies and I, that the players would start counting down the days until the next Sunday, as soon as they’d get into the car! Throughout the entire Challenger season, I was reminded of how easy my life actually is, and how a how much I take for granted daily. With this program having such a great impact, I was dedicated to making sure that the player’s experience was the best possible. Which meant that I would often get there early, and help our Challenger division coordinator, to set up and makes sure that everything was ready for when the players came. My hard-work, and readiness to help out obviously were apparent to the coordinator, Jeff Sandes, as he came to me at the end of last year’s season to thank me for all the hard work, time and effort, I had put in to make sure that the players' experiences were the best

We were not expected to be in this position after starting the season with two wins and six losses. With the bases loaded, I stepped into the batter’s box for my second at bat in the 2017 PA District 2 AAAA High School Championship game. Our opponent was stacked with three prospective Division 1 pitchers. I was nervous to say the least, but then my “moment” arrived. I saw my pitch, and launched a bases clearing triple that added to a lead that would eventually produce a victory for my team. We moved on through the playoffs, and eventually landed at Medlar field in State College, where we delivered our first baseball State Championship in school history.

Once again the pitcher lifted legs and was in motion of releasing the baseball, I was determined to get a hit so I loaded up and swung at the ball. I will never forget the feeling when the baseball bounced off the bat like a trampling, there was a sudden happiness in me as I knew it was a good hit

I could feel the pitcher’s stress from 200 feet away in the dugout. We were up five at the top of the eighth, but the win was not secure. I could tell the pitcher was struggling to keep his composure. Suddenly, the coach calls me to warm up in the bullpen. I was excited and nervous to enter the game; I knew my warming up would add pressure to the pitcher and this was the Legion Sub-State Semifinal game, which determined our chance to advance to state. By the time I got to the mound, the bases were loaded with two outs. I noticed the packed stadium, felt the sweltering 90 degrees, and sensed the crowd’s tension. I had never pitched against this team, so I relied on communicating with the catcher. I threw a knee high fastball--STRIKE ONE. Next, I threw low and away curveball--STRIKE TWO. The catcher signaled a high fastball, knowing the batter was expecting another curveball. The batter chased the ball--STRIKE THREE. We won the game and moved on to finals. Two hours in the dug out, five minutes in the bullpen, and thirty seconds on the mound--not to mention fifteen hours a week, ten months a year for fifteen years--all culminated in a few seconds to advance

I really didn’t do to well hitting but the rest of my team did and that’s what meant a lot to me and watching my teammates making plays and working as hard as the possible can play in that field made me supper happy. It came down the last inning and we kind of just fell apart in the field but we still have to fight and play hard and just because we are losing doesn’t mean we stop playing. The game finally came to the end and the seniors started getting emotional and then everyone on the team started to get a little emotional it was a very hard loss for the whole team and the coaches. After knowing that we had a great season the team got together for one big last eagles on three for the

This really showed my i had to change as a person with my work ethic and being a better teammate. From freshman year to senior year, i have changed in a very great way. I find myself staying after to help kids get looks from the coaches during open gyms and mentoring them because i was once in there shoes. I'll take the time to hit ground balls to them to show off their skills and hit fly balls to show how they can track a ball. But when we go inside and hit i'll be the only one in the cages throwing live to the guys that want a chance to hit. I am the type of person that will let others take the glory and shine because i know that i will get the satisfaction of seeing them grow into a better person as well from that. Being a part of a program that is all about he respect for one another has taught me some valuable life lessons. I wasn't much of the respect kind of person back when i started, in fact all i would do was care for myself and my own actions. But being my fourth year in the program it has taught me how to give respect and gain

We walked together to the field, the spikes on the bottom of my cleats clicking with each step on the parking lot pavement. A huge field with onlookers filling the bleachers on the far side came into view, lit up by the soft evening light. I spotted the girls on my team and my tired looking grey-haired coach. Me and my dad split up, me going to warm up with my team and my dad going to sit with the team parents. As I was passing with my teammates I watched the opposing team carefully. I observed how neat their drills were and how accurate their shots and passes were. They all looked so athletic and that really made me doubt myself. How was I supposed to prove to everyone that I was a good player if I had to play against a team this good? What if I mess up and the other team completely destroys my team? The loud buzzer that ended the warm ups sounded and both teams went to their side of the field. My coach called today’s starters out, and luckily he didn’t choose me. Relieved, I went to go sit on one of the hard metal chairs they provided for the teams on the sidelines. The chairs were uncomfortable but that didn’t bother me. I had other things on my mind. I sat shivering watching the events of the game

I was having a better than average game, throwing a few people out from centerfield, but nothing more than anyone expected out of me. While up to bat I had a couple hits and a few bunts. With extreme focus and excitement, my team and I found ourselves in the top of the seventh inning, tied ball game. At the end of our lineup, we were still excited especially after getting two girls on base. I was up next. This is the opportunity I had hoped for. The pitcher set up and began her windup… foul ball. And again, kicking her arm back and bringing it full circle delivered me an outside curve ball… ball one. Count of 1-1 and we were both feeling confident. Coach called me over to him for a quick pep talk he leaned over and said, “Shupe, how ‘bout you come up big this at bat, I want to see you go yard one more time.” The last ball ever thrown to me by the scary Albany Alexander pitcher, the sweet sound of the ball coming off the bat rang in my ears. I had hit the ball on the sweetest part of the bat and the sweetest feeling in the world was upon me. Going, going, gone! The ball soared over the left field fence. I began my homerun trot and could not help but wear an immense grin on my face. Rounding third, I saw my team jumping, screaming, cheering, and crying all waiting there at home plate to congratulate me. The most outstanding feeling in the world, making my team proud. I thrived under the pressure and it had never felt so good. But, we had to stay humble. We still had the bottom half of the inning to play. One, two, and three batters up, three batters out. We won! I felt so humbled by all the kind words my fellow teammates showered me with after the victory. It was as if I had won us the World Series. On the bus ride home we were lead back into West Portsmouth by fire trucks to help us celebrate the big win. Arriving back to the softball field where our cars were parked, I was

My most memorable baseball experience came not when I was eight, beating several of my friends on the opposing Little League team, not when I was 15, against our cross-town rivals pushing my school team into the JV playoffs, but just a couple weeks ago, marking the first win of the team that I helped coach. It was just the second game of our season, and only an hour and a half long, but it was a representation of the backbreaking work applied by everyone involved. After my ninth grade year playing JV ball, I decided that I needed to focus on my school work, as it was tough to maintain my grades while juggling sports and other extracurricular activities. However, I continued to play club baseball, as my passion for the game never faltered. The trend continued in my junior year, as I needed to drop club baseball in order to keep up with the challenging courses I took. My coach, who I’ve been with since 6th grade, asked me to come back out whenever I was available so I could help prepare some of the younger boys in the program for the upcoming season. One of my core beliefs is that it’s important to give back to those who helped or supported you; the least I could do for all the years that my coach helped me, was to help him back.

My team,coaches,and I all headed to the dug out of the field we were going to play on. We put our softball bags and waters in there including more things and we grabbed are gloves and masks and headed out on the field to play some catch. Then we all were finished so we hads to go back into the dugout for a drink of water,put down are gloves and masks and grabbed are helmets and bats. That flew by and the time for the game was getting closer and closer and I was getting more nervous by the minute but i was really excited. My whole team was pumped up and ready put in the inside of are head was saying the complete opposite and was filled with negativity. After we were all warmed up and loose we started to head over to another dug out at another field for a private pep talk with our coaches.

In high school, I was involved in volleyball, basketball, and softball. Throughout my whole venture, I had this one coach who followed me through every sport. Her name was Coach Lolly Arevalo. She was five feet tall, dark skinned, big green eyes, and a little muscular body, she had a masculine voice that terrified all the athletes every time she scolded us. “Do not stop till I blow this whistle,” those words motivated each and every one of us not to stop. The very first game I had my freshmen year in volleyball was a big, extraordinary moment in my life. When we walked into the gym that night to warm up before the other team arrived, butterflies began to flourish in my stomach as the excitement began to kick in. The bleachers were filled with people wearing red and white shirts, friends holding fan signs with your name, and family members who wanted to see you play the game you love. The excitement I was developing become even more known when the other team arrived. The girls looked as though they wanted to smash your face

After all my hard work and preparation it is final time to kick the season off. We start off with a tournament in Fountain Hills. It’s our first game of the year and I’m leading off the game, I walk to the plate and stand in the box, my first at bat of the year I make contact with the ball and man did I get all of it, I hit a homerun on the very first pitch of my new season. Even though personally I started off the season on a great note it wasn’t the same for my team, my team was off to a 0-8 start.