John’s 12U team (managed by me) had not had a very good season. The team started the season losing its first eight games. But after a morale-boosting 7-6 win on Saturday in a lightning-shortened game and Monday night’s semifinal victory, we find ourselves in the championship game against all odds. (All teams made the playoffs regardless of record, so it totally nullified the entire regular season.)

John had the game of his life Monday night. Going up against the best team in the league, he went 3-3 at the plate with two doubles and a single, drove in 3 runs, scored 2 runs, and stole 2 bases. But his biggest moment came clinging to a 9-6 lead in the final inning with us in the field. The opponents had 2 runners on base and no one out. I made the difficult decision to come out to the mound and pull our pitcher (bringing him to tears) and bring in John to attempt to close out the game. He struck the first batter out, but the next batter hit a 2-run double making it 9-8. John struck out another batter while the potential tying run scampered over to third base. With the thinnest of margin for error, John was able to get the batter to hit a grounder back to him, where he threw over to first base to seal the victory! The team mobbed John as he ran off the field, chanting his name.

In my baseball managerial career (9 seasons), it is the first time I will manage a team in a championship game. We will see if Edie’s top-seeded coach-pitch team can win Wednesday night and advance to their title game too. (John is scheduled to umpire Edie’s game!)

The team racing in to celebrate the shocking victory.

You can follow along with the live action for Saturday’s championship game on GameChanger. https://web.gc.com/teams/th40pBbKZQzP?pid=Copy&c=team_share_link