Patierno 1

Vito Patierno
Mr. Turley
English 1 Honors
2 February 2016
Yard at the Diamond
It was a sticky summer day with four weeks into the drought at Rolesville Park during the
Summer of 2010. Long streaky clouds covered the vibrant blue sky and the sun beat down as it
approached the noon hour. It had already been a long grueling few days of baseball and we were
down to the final game. It was hard to believe that our Allstar team had won five games within
the last two days and made it to the championship game. I cant even really remember the first
four innings but what I can remember like it was yesterday is the fifth inning. We just had a
1,2,3 inning on defense and we were coming to bat. It was now the bottom of the fifth and we
were trailing against Wendell Blue. The dust arose beneath our feet as we hustled into the
dugout with the hopes of a rally as the game was quickly coming to an end. Coach huddled us up
and said, Its right now fellas, as this is what we came here for 1.2.3 Hustle, the team
chanted as their sweaty palms filled the circle. I was second up to bat as I waited in the on-deck
circle. I watched intensely as my best friend who just happened to be my teammate was up bat.
Unlike me, he appeared relaxed and calm as he dug his back foot into the box. The first pitch
came quick as the muscular opposing pitched wound up and fired the ball across the plate for
strike one. The pitcher wound up again with his leg kicking to the moon and I heard a loud pop.
The ball was in the catcher glove and it was another perfect strike. Strike two yelled the
umpire and my friend was down in the count 0-2. He appeared to still rest calmly inside the box

Patierno 2

and unnerved by the count but as I glance to my left, I can feel the tension rises like boiling
water in the stands. The parents were on the edge of the bleachers eager for a win and waiting for
a chance to make it to the state championship. I remember coach telling the team it had been
many years since Rolesville was represented in the state tournament. I spot my dad pacing back
and forth behind the bleachers and he appeared to peak up every once in awhile to check on the
game but looking back it must have been hard for him to watch closely. It was the third pitch
against my teammate and the opposing pitcher winds up with his wacky leg kick and delivers a
mean fastball. The pitch looked perfect from my view and I knew my friend wasnt going to
miss this time. A solid swing sends the ball riffling to center field, my teammate arrives safely at
first with a solid base hit.
I take a deep breath and stroll up to the batters box as I knew this was my chance to take the
lead. I faintly hear my dad yell his famous words, Lets go V. I dig my back foot deep in the
box and feel myself dig somewhat deeper than usual. I soften my shoulders as the pitcher steps
on the mound. He winds up and delivers the pitch and I barely even notice his leg. Strike one.
the umpire yells and a pit begins to form in my stomach. I feel a warm breeze and the sand
begins to swirl around me. Coach Mark calls time out and flags me down to third base. I trot
down and he offers me his everlasting words of wisdom Do what you do best V. His words
seemed to calm my nerves as I re-entered the box and dig my back foot back into the ground.
The pitcher quickly gathers himself and delivers a pitch, which happens to be a fastball over the
heart of the plate. I take my best swing and connect and the ball travels into left center field. I
sprint down toward first base as I feel the dust kicking up from my feet. I round first and start
hearing loud cheers. I look to my left to see the umpire circling his finger; I continue sprinting

Patierno 3

toward second base and able to see Coach Mark jumping up and down with the biggest smile on
his face. At that moment, I knew I had hit my first homerun and I had a pit in my stomach but it
was clearly for a different reason. I continue past third base with Coach Mark by my side. I look
toward home plate and I see my teammates coming out of the dugout and I knew it was real. I
heard my dad yelling Way to go V as I crossed home plate and was flooded with my
teammates all offering high fiving and smacking my helmet. I had finally reached a goal that I
had been striving for since I had first stepped on the diamond at age five. Rolesville took the
lead and went on the win the game and advance to the state tournament.
This moment in my life was very exciting and I remember it like it was yesterday. Looking
back, this day opened my eyes and made me realize that this game was a passion of mine. The
ball remains in my bedroom and serves as a daily reminder that I need to work hard to make it
on a team with the hopes of playing in college. From that homerun forward, I knew the hard
work had just begun and the bar was set high. In addition, as I look back and reflect on that
particular day and remember the words of encouragement given to me by coach and the smile
and excitement on his face when I rounded third base, I realized I wasnt in it alone and my
coaches and parents made me the player I am today. Coach Mark had worked with me that
season and his dedication and patience allowed me to hit the ball that day but it also instilled the
value and importance of a mentor, friend and coach.