Intimidating Adversity: Day 14

Word Count: 84,014

Summary of Events:

Lane watched Spencer pitch a strong game against the West Virginia Power, their second round opponents, and thought about how his relations with Spencer had improved. Lane was then visited by Spencer, who apologised and explained himself, Lane accepted the apology. Lane then watched Spencer pitch some more, before himself pitching the fourth game against West Virginia, which sent them into a fifth game with the opportunity to eliminate West Virginia from the playoffs and become Division champions . . . 

Excerpt of the Day:

"Spencer successfully held off the second last Power onslaught. Lane could feel his pulse acutely almost everywhere in his body. It was like his entire body was throbbing. He was totally focused on the game. They had to win.

Glancing over at Mr. Quilley, Lane wondered if he would say anything about trying for some more runs to get a bigger margin and stave off extra innings — or a loss — but Mr. Quilley remained silent, his face drawn and intense.

One by one each of the Intimidators' batters went up. Several got hits, but all were tagged out before they could make it to home plate. The rest got struck out — although Lane was proud to note that more got on base than were struck out.

The score was still two to one for Kannapolis, but West Virginia was up to bat last; they could tie, if not win the game. The crowd, unsurprisingly, knew this, and cheered all the louder, Lane could barely hear the psyching message Mr. Quilley delivered in tense monotone to his players.

Lane watched as they hurried out onto the field to a raucous chorus of boos. When the Power batter came out, however, the boos instantly changed to loud cheers of the batter's name.

Still, though, the right fielder up hitting first hadn't gotten onto base, and despite the backing of his home crowd, once again, he failed. In his frustration he smashed his bat on the ground, breaking it, and stormed off to the dugout.

Successively each batter went up. Several got onto base, but none of them got very far thanks to aggressive fielding — and one spin-move by Spencer that tagged out a batter getting ready to steal a base as soon as the pitch was thrown.

The last batter came up. The fans desperately chanted his name. The bases were empty. He needed a home run to tie the game. Spencer needed to strike him out our walk him to win the game.

Spencer wound up and pitched. The batter didn't move. He didn't move for the second pitch either, and the third one he swung and missed. The fourth one he didn't move on either. One more and he walked.

He swung and missed on the fifth one. One more strike and the game was done. Lane desperately clutched the rail, his body trembling as he waited for Spencer to throw the sixth pitch, which, more than likely, would be the final pitch.

Pulling back, Spencer threw the sixth ball. The batter didn't move. It was a walk, but instead of walking to first base, the batter just walked straight to the Power dugout.

Lane, on the other hand, vaulted out of the dugout screaming and joined the mob that'd jumped onto Spencer. They had, in five games, eliminated the third best team in the league, one less game than it'd taken to get the fourth out."