Play Ball!

3.Up to Bat

(In the dugout)
Drinking some water as the Smackers prepare to bat Tara turns to Sarah as the brunette asks, “So Tar- who was it you were winking at after you caught that pop fly?”

Blushing softly, the blonde turns back to look up in the stands shrugging to say, “Just some friends who didn’t know I played ball.”
Following Tara’s line of sight, Sarah whistles lowly then drawls, “Dayum, who is the redhead and is she single?” which causes the blonde to sputter a mouthful of water out as she chokes and Sarah smacks her on the back helpfully.

Shaking her head in amusement of her horndog friend, Tara replies, “That would be Willow, my Ex and as far as I know, yup she’s single.” Cocky grin fading somewhat the team captain says, “Oh well, maybe the blonde then.” Making Tara laugh out loud as she pulls on her batter’s glove then she says, “Stick with trying for Willow, Sar. The blonde, Buffy is straighter then this bat.”

Taking her place on deck, as the pitcher warms up Tara thinks to herself, “Nope, if I thought Buffy was ever going to contemplate switching teams I would be the first in line.” then sighs as she realizes the futility of such a thought.

Stepping up to the plate as the umpire calls, “Batter up!” Tara eyes the pitcher, taking in her stance, takes a few practice swings over the plate then sets her bat to wait for the ball.
As the first pitch is low and outside the umpire calls, “Ball 1!” and Tara shifts her footing recognizing that their pitcher would continue to favor that side of the plate.

Hearing the encouraging calls from the sideline of “Good eye, Tar!” and “pick your pitch, baby!” Tara blocks out everything else and focuses solely on the next pitch.
Watching as the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand the Wicca’s eyes narrow, following it all the way to just over the outside edge of the plate as she swings.

With a resounding “SMACK!” the ball makes a line drive past the Third base-woman and Tara takes off full speed toward first base.
Seeing and hearing her base coach motion and call for her to, “Take two, take two!” the young blonde pushes on watching as the second base-woman sets herself to catch the throw in from left-field.

With split-second memories of “How to slide” flashing through her mind, Tara hears multiple calls of, “Slide Tara slide!” as she leans back on her left foot, tucks up her right knee and feels her cleats dig into the loose sand before her foot lands firmly against the plate stirring up a huge cloud of dust.

Through the dust and movement Tara looks to see the outfield umpire swing his hands out flat on either side of himself and call, “SAFE!” to the resounding cheers from the bleachers and the dugout.

Standing to dust herself off the blonde looks up to see her friends in the stands hugging each other and jumping up and down. Beaming up at them, Tara sets herself to run as their short-stop, Cari steps up to bat and winks at Sarah back in the dugout as her friend nods knowingly to her.

Watching as Cari swings and misses, Tara waits until the ball is back in the pitcher’s mitt then begins leading off from second.
As Cari bunts the second pitch Tara takes off toward third knowing they’ll try for first before taking her into account. Reaching third as Cari gets to first and the catcher overthrows their first base-woman, Tara buckles down and with a burst of speed heads for home as Cari moves on toward second.

Hearing Sarah yell, “You’ve got it Tar! Upright now!” Tara runs in planting her foot firmly on home plate before the catcher can reach her with the tag. Grinning from ear to ear the blonde jogs back to the dugout, her teammates patting her on the back and congratulating her loudly.

Sitting to take a drink of water she looks up into the stands hearing, “WAY TO GO TARA!” in a synchronized yell from both Buffy and Willow which causes her to blush hotly, but she holds her grin feeling for once like the superstar.

TBC