Life In the Time of Corona (Second in an unlimited series)
My friend and former colleague John Scott, an outstanding teacher and baseball coach, wrote the following, expressing his own affection for our National Pastime. I am proud to publish it with his permission.
Diamond Days
by
John Scott
Diamond Days....
Sights and sounds of days on the field…
The aroma of the fresh cut field. The soft breeze kicks up the dust.
The smell of leather. The crack of the bat.
Cheers. Chatter. All of that.
You take the mound. He digs in at home. The catcher crouches, goes through his signs.
You tip your hat, re-grip the ball, begin your wind-up and then let loose the mighty pitch.
A curve spins along the way.
The batter peers, picks up the seams as the ball draws near.
He sets his eyes, adjusts his stance, begins his swing...
He’s got a chance!
The swing is mighty. The crowd goes quiet as the ball meets the bat in a tremendous crack!
They all look up, race toward the ball. The left fielder sprints, lays out but can’t quite reach the ball.
The ump cries out, “FOUL BALL!”
It’s just one pitch, and there are many more.
But to the boys it is so much more.
Each pitch, each swing, each throw and catch is set in their memory from the field that day.
There is something magical and therapeutic about playing—and watching—our National Pastime!
About John Scott: John played baseball from Little League, Babe Ruth League, American Legion, and high school through college and then coached baseball for 19 years at three different high schools in Fairfax County, VA.
Story copyright: John Scott, all rights reserved.
Photo copyright: Chuck Cascio, all rights reserved.
