It soars through the air, slicing the wind.
\nLike a fired missile, the ball is hit.
\nThe runner treks to first, then to second,
\nBut sighs as the ball lands in the fielder\u2019s mitt.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been twenty long years since the Mudville team
\nMade it to the finals, and many have heard the story.
\nYes, twenty long years since Casey swung and missed.
\nNow the team\u2019s there again and on it, Casey\u2019s son Corey.<\/p>\n
Casey, now in the stands, thinks of times past,
\nOf a different time but still the same place.
\nWhen he let down the fans as the ump called \u2018Strike Three\u2019,
\nLeaving both Flynn and Jimmy Blake on base.<\/p>\n
But times now have changed and he has raised his son Corey,
\nTo be a better ball player than he ever was.
\nTeaching him patience and teaching him baseball,
\n\u201cCorey,\u201d he said \u201cYou\u2019ll be great for yourself and for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
And so it was all season long the team battled,
\nUp and down, in first place then in second.
\nAnd all season long there was one that was special,
\nIt was Corey\u2019s bat that all the fans beckoned.<\/p>\n
The first inning went quick as both teams went in order,
\nAnd the fans thought this may be a pitcher\u2019s dual.<\/p>\n
But after the top of the second, the score was two to nothing
\nAnd the home faithful hoped their team had more fuel.<\/p>\n
With Corey batting cleanup, he led off the second, [vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”60″ bottom_padding=”60″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” id=”Favorite_Famous_Quotes” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” centered_text=”true” desktop_text_alignment=”default”…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-235","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/devu05.testdevlink.net\/kennys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/devu05.testdevlink.net\/kennys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/devu05.testdevlink.net\/kennys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devu05.testdevlink.net\/kennys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devu05.testdevlink.net\/kennys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=235"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/devu05.testdevlink.net\/kennys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":237,"href":"https:\/\/devu05.testdevlink.net\/kennys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/235\/revisions\/237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/devu05.testdevlink.net\/kennys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nAnd slammed one passed third base, fair and to the corner.
\nCorey ran to first then to second and noticed the fielder fumbling,
\nSo he sprinted to third and slid under the tag of Keith Horner.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]They scored one run in the second and one more in the fourth
\nBut their opposition in the fifth scored two more.
\nDespite Corey\u2019s single in the fourth and double in the seventh,
\nIn the bottom of the ninth, Mudville stood behind two to four.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]Now the top of the lineup was due up next,
\nBut they were hitless, Hennessey, Jones, and Billings.
\nOne would have to get on for Corey to get up,
\nAnd hopefully send this game, at least to extra innings.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]Corey was strong and led the league in home runs,
\nThe fans knew a tie could be had with one swing.
\nAnd not only that, the cycle could be had,
\nIf he homered and extra innings to this one he\u2019d bring.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]Corey gripped the bat tight and sneered at the mound,
\nAs the first pitch went by, low and away.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]He stepped back and stretched out
\nAs the umpire said \u2018Ball one\u2019 in an obvious way.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]The next pitch was high and Corey stood firm
\nAs \u2018Ball two\u2019 called out the umpire.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]Then Billings stole second as the next pitch hit the dirt
\nA three and \u2018oh\u2019 count, now set Corey\u2019s heart on fire.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]The ball sped over the plate freezing Corey where he stood
\nAnd the ump called \u2018Strike one\u2019 as the pitch sliced the corner.
\nWith the count three and one, Corey looked down at first,
\nAnd then way back off third he noticed Keith Horner.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]Tense but determined, his hand tightly gripped the bat
\nAs droplets of sweat formed on his head.
\nIgnoring Billings on second, the pitcher wound up
\nAnd threw a fast ball, as to third Billings fled.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]Just as the ball left the mound, Corey changed his stance
\nAnd truly pulled an unexpected stunt.
\nIn a fraction of a second and with a focused look
\nThe huge sturdy Corey squared to bunt.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]The ball hit the bat and rolled down the third base line
\nTo the amazement of the catcher and Horner.
\nKeith quickly ran all the way forward bear-handing the ball
\nAnd then threw it wildly, all the way to the right field corner.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]Billings scored easily as Corey rounded first[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]And toward second with a heart full of glee.
\nHe looked up at the coach who was flagging him forward
\nAs the score now stood four to three.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]The coach kept on waving and Corey rounded third
\nToward home plate, as the fans watched in fear.
\nThe ball reached the plate first and Corey gave his best slide,
\nAnd the cloud of dust took a while to clear.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]There\u2019s a place somewhere, where smiles abound
\nAnd where words of joy and delight are shout.
\nBut just as twenty years prior, there will be no joy this day in Mudville
\nAs mighty Corey has been called OUT![\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]By Kenny Lancisi<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"