"NOW BATTING, PINCH HITTER, NUMBER 30, MIKE DESIMONE"

Mike was nervous. It took all year, but he was finally going to get to be able to play. And Coach couldn't have picked a better time. Bottom of the 9th, bases loaded, down by 2, 2 outs, playoff spot on the line.

'Just gotta focus, Mikey boy' he said to himself as he walked up to the batters box. He took his place and waited for the pitcher to give him something. The pitcher hurled the ball toward home, and Mike swung.

Whooooosh....."STEEERRRRIIIIKKEEE ONE" yelled the Ump.

Mike was mad at himself. Then he heard a fan yell at him.

"What are you a little girl or something? You better not lose or else," screamed the women.

Mike put it all out of his mind. He had a pitch to face. The next ball came in low and inside and Mike reached down for it.

CRRRRRAAAAACCCCCKKKKKK. "FOUUUUUUULLLLLL" the Ump declared.

The female heckler kept on Mike, but he ignored her. He fouled 3 more pitches off, and took a few balls in the dirt. All of a sudden it was 3-2, and Mike knew this battle was almost over. He'd either win and be a hero, or lose and be the goat. 'Or a girl, according to that witch over there' Mike thought. He had now idea how right he was.

The payoff pitch came in at Mike, he swung, and......

"STTTTEEEEEERRRRRIIIIIKKKKKEEEEE THHHHHHREEEEEEEEE!!!!!"

The game was over. He lost it for the team. His teammates came up to him, telling him he had given it his all. He just nodded and went to the Locker Room. After cleaning up, he left for his car. And who was there? You guessed it. The female fan.

"Hey nice try, DeSimone. Can't win 'em all, right? What do they say? There's always next year? Well, for you, you have a lot of seasons left."

"Who are you?" asked the dejected man.

"A witch. A witch who bet a LOT of money on this game, that YOU lost. So, in revenge, I'm going to cost you a lot of things too. But don't worry. This way you'll have a chance to do things over again, and maybe get it right next time. Shalok Tullo Agar!"

Mike fell to the pavement, and blacked out.

It is now a year later, and little Michelle DeSimone, age 6, has just struck out to cost her softball team a chance to win the title. The witch did give her another chance, and she had blown it.

As she was leaving the field to walk home, she heard a voice.

"Hey nice try DeSimone. You gave it your best shot, but again failed. Oh well. I guess I should tell you a secret now." the witch said. "I gave you a chance to be a winner, but you blew it....again. If you had been the hero, or is it heroine, over there, I would have restored you to you manly self. But, you didn't. So, now you will stay a little girl forever. Have a good life Michelle. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be happy. See ya."

The witch vanished and Michelle sadly walked to the fence separating the softball field and baseball field. She saw the boys playing and began to cry.

The moral of this tale? Three strikes and you're out!!!!



Click here to go back to previous page