Chapter 5! Little tiny Weats mment in here, good on you to those who found it! (lol not that hard to find)
"I say it time and time again. Teams not living up to its full potential." Tommy said, pacing back and forth.
"Time and time again?" Wings asked sarcastically.
"I've been around Wings. Now listen, the thing of it is, you guys could be good." Tommy said. "You guys got the stuff. But we're gonna have to work on some basics. Play heads up ball, work together as a team. Alright?" He asked, hitting his bat into his mitt. We all nodded. "Now remember, baseball's more than just-"
"Talent." I grinned as Benny walked by, hopping on his crutches.
"Benny! How's your leg?" "You doing alright?" We all crowded around the Dodger.
"Ah it's okay. I figured instead of lying around the house, I'd come out and see how the old Sandlot gang is doing right?" He said.
"YEAH!" Benny grinned.
"What about you Santorelli? Seems like you've had a change of heart." He commented and Tommy shrugged.
"I…seen some things. That's all." He said, looking around.
"Yeah? Well, I'm glad." Benny said. "Why don't you take centre field and let's shag some fly balls?" He asked. "I mean, that is if there's room for one more coach on this team?"
"I say that's…bofinado!" Tommy said and we all grinned and split towards our positions. I loped over to Timber, grinning, and he nodded as Benny hit the first ball out.
"Try not to aim too high." I said before cringing as Timber smashed the head of the dummy with his pitch. "And try not to kill them." I dropped my hands from over my mouth and passed the pitcher another ball. We went through about eight dummies before a light bulb lit over my head. I waved Timber down and jogged over to Benny, whispering my idea in his ear. He snorted and burst out laughing before agreeing.
"I got something that will definitely help you Timber." I called, rooting around in the dugout before emerging with a perfect little picture. I stuck it in the mitt on the dummy's hand and stepped back. Wings burst into laughter and Wok and Roll applauded me as I took my spot back up next to Timber. He wound up and the ball thudded into the mitt, straight into E.J's smug little face.
"Yes!" I punched the air and slapped Timber on the back, beaming brightly. After that, he ended up pitching every single one perfectly and I was grinning from ear to ear by the time Benny called us in. We all ran to the dugout and I sat down, sweating. Forgetting about the boys, I peeled off my shirt, leaving me in a thin t-shirt, and sat back, fanning my face with my mitt.
"Whattaya say Santorelli? Think these guys are ready for the City Tournament?" Benny asked. Tommy nodded.
"Yeah I think they can bring it." He said, smirking.
"Bring what? What are we bringing?" Two-ton asked.
"Home, bring it home." I said. "To the Sandlot!" I shook my head at their dumbness and Tommy rolled his eyes.
"Not so fast guys." Squints appeared, holding a big cardboard box, and he set it down on the bench in front of him. "You can't be a real team without…" He held up a dark yellow and red shirt.
"Uniforms." DP exclaimed. I deflated slightly, since that reminded me I wasn't a part of the team, just helping out.
"Squints, they look perfect." Tommy said as the boys crowded around.
"C'mon guys, pick a number." Squints said and the boys all dug in, calling out numbers, until the box was empty.
"Hey Squints, there's one left. And we all got ours." Wok said, holding it up. Squints smirked and Wings pulled it away before handing it to me.
"Look on the back Mattie." He said. I picked it up and turned it around before freezing. Wings started laughing at the look on my face but I didn't care. Right across the back of the shirt, where there should be a number, it read HEATS. I pulled it over my head and it was a perfect fit.
"Wow." I whispered. "That's neato alright." Wings clapped my shoulder and grinned down at me.
"Now you can come in the dugout with us." He said, winking. I blushed and carefully pulled it off, folding it up neatly. All the other boys thanked Squints one more time and rode off in twos and threes. Squints wandered off with Benny and I placed my shirt in the basket of my bag before walking my bike out.
"Hey." I jumped, crashing into the fence, before relaxing as Wings chuckled, walking next to me. "Sorry." I shrugged and we left the path, heading onto the road.
"That was pretty cool idea with the E.J photo." Wings said finally. "Though I'm wondering why there was a photo of him there in the first place." I giggled and he grinned as we turned onto the main road before climbing onto our bikes and pushing off down the pavement. We rode in easy silence until we turned down my street and slowed in front of my house.
"I'll see you tomorrow right?" I asked, dumping my bike in the bush after pulling out my shirt. Wings nodded before resting his arms on the handlebars of his bike.
"You know, I never apologised for stealing you away from Tommy at the movies." He said, beckoning me closer. I shrugged, clutching the shirt to my chest, and opened my mouth when he cut me off.
"So here." He bent down and planted a kiss on my cheek before leaning back up. "There's my apology." I froze, blushing bright red, and he smirked slightly before riding down towards Timber's house, whistling loudly. I lifted my hand and softly touched my cheek before spinning around and running into the house.
"Heats! You made it!" Wings shouted, waving his arm in the air. I thanked Uncle Chops for the ride and headed into the field as he made his way into the crowd. The boys ran off the field and engulfed me in a group hug before moving into the dugout.
"We're the first game and we're playing those guys." DP informed me, pointing to a team with navy blue and red uniforms.
"Our uniforms look way better." I murmured, looking around the dugout. Two-ton was yapping away to Tommy and Ryan and Timber and Wings were flexing their muscles (or what was there so far) and I barely held in a laugh before standing up as they started to spread out.
"We're batting first." Wings informed me as he sat down next to me. I nodded before cheering as Ryan hit the ball. But he got caught and I groaned silently as the boys swapped over and spread out on the field.
"C'mon Timber!" I shouted. "Picture the picture!" He smirked and wound up before sending the ball into the batter's bat. The ball flew through the air before landing in Tommy's glove. I punched the air, beaming, as the batter got out. The next ball, Ryan caught by jumping and the third, Wings caught.
By about midday, we were winning, and it was Tommy's turn to bat.
"Come on Tommy! You got this Santa!" I shouted, punching my mitt with my fist. Ball met bat and the ball flew to the outfield, before being dropped by the fielder, scoring Tommy time enough to send himself and Wok home.
"Hey Squints!" I called, heading out of the field and into the bleachers. "I reckon we got this!" I said, sitting myself beside him.
"You think?" He replied, laughing. I stayed with Squints for the rest of the game before heading back onto the field as we won. Our next game was against a team named the Foss Bros and I headed back down to the dugout, grinning. We were batting again and I kept a close track of the game, until someone prodded my shoulder. I jumped and looked up to see Wings, holding his helmet and bat, and grinning.
"Do I get a kiss for luck?" He asked cheekily. DP sniggered and I flushed bright red before rising up and kissing his cheek before pushing him out.
"I get a proper one if I hit a homer or triple?" He called over his shoulder. My face burned as DP and Timber laughed and I swatted them on the shoulder.
"Does he have any shame?" I asked quietly as Wings took up his spot. They both shook their head and I looked back just to see Wings' hit get caught by a fielder. We all groaned and his shoulder sagged as he passed Timber and sat down. I grinned and rubbed his shoulder reassuringly as Timber hit a triple and Wings subtly slid his arm around my shoulders. I flushed red but let it be as Timber and Q made it home.
They went out to field and I was stuck in the dugout again, cheering, as Wings and Q made impressive catches and Wok got a player out. We ended up winning that game as well and we met with Squints and Benny just inside the field.
"You guys were amazing!" I said as Wok and Wings wrapped their arms around my shoulders.
"Alright fella's, good game. Get in the dugout, batting order." Benny ordered. We hurried in and sat down as Benny hobbled in after us. The last two games were a breeze and the boys won them easy as.
"You guys were good today. Keep it up and remember, baseball isn't just about talent." He said. "I want you guys to keep a level head if you get into the final. Now let's get home and to the diner. My treat." We all cheered and I collected my bag before following Ryan out.
"Neato catch today Ryan." I said, referring to his in-the-air catch earlier. He grinned and nodded brightly as we all piled on the coach to take us back home.
"Hey Heats! Up here!" Wings, Wok and Roll waved their arms from the back and I jumped. I swear they were behind us, but clearly not. Ryan pushed me forward and winked before sitting next to Tommy. I made my way up the back and Wings stood up to take my bag and Wok whistled. I knocked him on the head before blushing, and sat down.
"What was your favourite part of the day?" Roll asked me. DP turned around, leaning over the back of his seat, and grinned.
"Probably when she kissed Wings." He sang. I blushed furiously and shook my head.
"No, I liked that catch Ryan did, the one in the air." I replied steadily. DP winked at me.
"Suuure you did."
"I swear DP, you say anything else, I'll send a ball into your head." I said. That shut him up…and got all the boys looking at me. I sank down in my seat and looked out the window as we drove back home.