It was almost a perfect day. The sun was shining, she aced her math test, and she had a softball game. Jade Andrews was sure of her future. Starting pitcher for Alabama's softball team. That's all she saw. That's all she could be. Tonight's game would ensure her spot in Alabama. A recruiter was coming to watch her play, and he was going to see her at her best. Jade was feeling a perfect game coming on. Jade was the player all teams wanted. Today would be a good day.
"Hey Andrews! Start warming up your arm!" Coach Ryan shouted from the dugout. "Okay. Don't stress Coach, today's game will be an easy victory." Jade said with a look of confidence on her face. She had forty-five minutes before the game started. She walked with Bailyn over to the dirt in the outfield. Bailyn was the team's best catcher. She was also Jade's best friend since kindergarten. She was the one person Jade knew would be there with her throughout everything. "You think Madison will show?" Bailyn asked with a look of hope in her eyes. "Of course. He knows how important this night is to both of us." Answered Jade. Bailyn was going to get a full ride scholarship with Jade to Alabama. They were a package deal. A perfect one, at that. Madison was Jade's other best friend. He was the guy every girl wanted, but he wasn't interested in any girls. Though Bailyn was into him, he wouldn't open up to anyone. Except Jade.
Game time. The team gathered around third base for a pre-game pep talk.
Inning one. Jade's team started in the field. Jade threw five pitches before Bailyn called 'balls in, coming down.' As the batter stepped up into the box, Jade looked into the stands, searching for Madison. He was there. Brown eyes glowing at her as he gave her a thumbs-up. Jade felt all her stress melt away as she looked into his eyes. Looking away, Jade saw Bailyn hold one finger up, between her legs, hiding the sign from everyone but Jade. Fastball, inside. Strike. Bailyn signed a three. Change-up, away. A big swing and a miss. Two strikes on the batter, the next pitch had to be a ball. A few pitches later, and the count was full. This pitch had to count. Bailyn signed Jade a five. Screwball. Jade watched her perfectly thrown ball go straight down the middle then screw towards the batter hands. One down, two to go. The next two outs were fielded cleanly by the infield and then the Huskies were up to bat. Jade was the fourth batter in the line-up. The batter with the most power, who the team relied on to hit a big hit and score runs. And that's exactly what happened, Jade hit a triple, driving two batters home.
It was top of the fourth inning, and Jade started to feel her shoulder's pain like never before. She wasn't going to give up on her team, though. She pushed aside the pain and threw another pitch. She had to push through this, she couldn't let down her team. Jade set up to throw a fastball, and that's when her world came crumbling down. She remembered winding up and feeling an excruciating pain in her shoulder. The next thing she knew, she was laying in the dirt, screaming a clutching her shoulder. Her team was around her, Bailyn and her coaches. But all she could think of was the pain in her shoulder. What happened? She vaguely remembered Coach Ryan calling 911.
