Page 53 of Catching the Coach
The crowd boos, Hudson and Kade included and the tension in the stadium amplifies with every smug grin the opposing team gives the camera. The Devils are not a popular team here. They’re known for being rough and playing dirty. They hold the highest record of fights in the MLB. We play them next month and no one is really looking forward to it.The National Anthem starts and we all stand.
Once it’s over the crowd grows loud as Judd takes the mound. He’s been on fire this season and is one of the top five pitchers in the league. I’m proud of the work he’s put in, even if he has been partying a little too much lately, in my opinion. I’ll have to talk to him about it. I’d hate for him to throw this all down the drain by doing something stupid. I shake my head and focus on the game, now’s not the time to mull over that.
* * *
It’s the Bottom of the 9th and the Jackals are down by one. Judd was taken out in the 6th after pitching a hell of a game. With two outs, their left fielder, Tucker Jones, is their last hope. Tucker is one for three tonight, so the odds could go either way for him. The Devils closing pitcher, Wayne Feldman, hasn’t been making it easy though.
The whole stadium is on their feet. The boys are at the fence clinging to it like a life raft. Wayne sends the first pitch over the plate, it looks good but curves off at the last minute. Tucker swings and misses. Strike one. The boys groan and grip the fence tighter.
Tucker brushes it off and re-positions himself. Wayne nods and launches another curve towards the plate. This time, Tucker doesn’t swing, and the ball hits the outside of the plate, resulting in a ball.
The energy in the stadium is tense as we wait to see if we’re heading to an extra inning. Wayne takes his position, nods, and throws a fastball straight over the plate. Tucker swings and connects with the ball. A collective gasp makes its way through the stadium. It’s a line drive towards the shortstop, who looks like he might not make it to the ball. The crowd amps up, thinking they have a base hit, but at the last minute, he dives, making the catch and ending the game.
The boys deflate against the fence and turn walking back to their seats. While we wait for some of the crowd to thin out, I turn to the boys.
“We can’t win them all guys, you know that.” They both nod, faces still sullen.
“I’m going to tell you what one of my coaches told me a long time ago. Sometimes the only thing we can control in a game is how we react to our losses, so take a minute to be disappointed or sad, but then brush it off and look towards the next one.”
The boys nod again, taking in the advice I gave them. I look around and see that the crowd has thinned out a bit. “Come on, let’s congratulate Judd on his pitching.”
The boys and I make our way to the family area after the game.We swung by the merch store first and I bought Judd’s jersey for the boys. I texted him to meet us here after the game. I see him make his way down the hallway and raise my hand towards him. He looks up and gives me a nod letting me know he sees me. He stops and signs a few autographs before making his way over to us.
“Hudson, what’s up broski?” he greets Hudson, giving him a fist bump. “Who’s your friend?” motioning to Kade.
“This is my best friend Kade. Mom’s having a girl’s night with Aunt Kara, so Kessler said Kade could come with us and we could have our own guy’s night.”
He gives Kade a fist bump too. “Nice, Did you guys have a good time?”
Hudson and Kade nod enthusiastically.
“What are your plans now?” Judd asks, looking over to me and giving me a fist bump too.
I look at the time on my phone. “I actually need to get the boys back, it’s getting late and they have school tomorrow.” The boys groan. Judd and I chuckle.
“Look at you playing dad and being responsible.” Judd teases and slaps me on the shoulder.
Hmm, I guess I never put much thought into being Hudson’s dad if things progress like I want them to with Lucy. I give him a smirk and a shrug. He raises his eyebrows at me. “Really?” he says, not having to say anything more. I already know what he’s asking.
“I mean.” I shrug again. “Yeah.”
The boys look back and forth between us, scrunching their faces, like they’re trying to understand the bro code we’re speaking in.
Judd stares at me, mulling it over, then nods his head.“Awesome bro. I’m happy for you,” he says, coming in to give me a hug and a slap on the back.
“Thank Judd,” I say, returning the hug and back slap.
Kade leans over and whispers to Hudson. “What just happened?” Hudson shrugs his shoulders in response.
Judd opens his mouth like he’s going to say something else, but something catches his eye over my shoulder. He raises his hand and I turn to look to see who he’s waving to.
Jared Cox, shortstop for the Devils. I’m not a huge fan of his. I’ve heard mixed things about his attitude and treatment of women through the grapevine. Judd came up through the minors with him though so I don’t say anything.
“Judd, what is up my brother from another mother,” Jared says, greeting Judd with a handshake.
“Nothing much, just saying ‘hey’ to Kessler and his girlfriend’s son and his friend,” Judd says.
Jared turns to me and holds out his hand for a shake. “Kessler Davis, nice to finally meet you,” he says. “Judd talked a lot about you when we went through minors together. How’s the shoulder?”
