Redemption

Gabbey Pristavok

Ms. Oliver

WLH #2

24 April 2014

Redemption

The beaming stadium lights reflected off the sleek bat held in her grip. The cheers and shouts from the crowd became a distant echo. College recruiters from all over the state were at the Colonial Championship game, hoping to find the greatest senior players to draft for their schools. Nothing could distract the players from their focus in the game. Holding the best on-base average, Hanna, a player that anyone could bet their bottom dollar she’d hit at least a double, was up to bat. Being that she had been nominated and selected to be team captain all 4 years of high school, proved that she was a well-rounded player, along with capable leadership skills. Besides that, Hanna was an assured, yet amiable girl, who got good grades and was confident in her school efforts. Since her older brothers previously graduated and moved on to scholarships and minor leagues, Hanna was expected by her family as well as the people she knew, to reach those standards.

Despite popular opinion, Hanna always doubted her abilities and lived with a fear within herself that she wouldn’t succeed, contrasting her brothers. The pressure of potentially being an out and costing the game was eating away her insides, making her more nervous than ever. She needed to be able to prove to herself, her family, and also make a satisfactory impression on the recruiters.

On the opposing team, Maya, a slender yet exceptionally tall gal, was pitching. Ever since they played on the same team when they were younger, Maya and Hanna always carried on disputes over everything; the smallest error, the score, etc. As the girls’ attitudes matured and they got older, Hanna began to be the better person and let their former disagreements settle in the past, and began to focus on improving her skills. It seems as Maya did too. Maya’s wicked speed and force could rattle even the most confident player’s self-esteem. Hanna knew before that Maya had a wild arm, although she never let it get the best of her.

Gradually, Hanna made her way up to the batter’s box. She took several quick, deep breaths and relaxed her shoulders. She inched her way into the box, kicking up ring of dust that wafted through the field and into the dark, starry sky. Adrenaline already rushing, Hanna waited for the first pitch to be thrown. A perfect speed was emerging from Maya’s arm, shooting the ball to the outside corner. Hanna let that one go by; she knew that no matter how she attempted to knock the ball, it would just go by her. She used that pitch as her reference and got ready for the next throw. The count increased to 0-1. A sad attempt of a change up was tossed, balancing the count evenly; 1-1. Feeling a bit antsy, Hanna moved away from the batter’s box, and took a few more deep breaths. Quietly in her mind, she encouraged herself that she could do this. She remembered the conversation her coach had with her teammates prior to the game beginning:

“Although this our championship game, I want you all to remind yourselves to do your best. Don’t add pressure.” She cleared her mind. Allowing herself to focus and not let personal matters influence her performance, Hanna stepped back in the box. She assumed her stance and watched for the pitcher’s release. Without hesitation, the perfect pitch was formed; it was almost as if time had frozen and was waiting for Hanna to redeem herself. The sound of the bat made a roaring crack when it collided with the giant yellow disc. Vigorously, she launched the ball straight in the air, over the center-fielder’s head, allowing the ball to hover along the fenceline.

Arms thrashing from side to side, Hanna bolted from base to base. When she came across each base, she sped by so quickly that it didn’t even look like she tapped the bag, more of a glide right over. She hit second base and the crowd gushed in applause and commotion, all cheering for Hanna.

She was in her own world, oblivious to what was happening in the game, just proud that she was able to pull through. Abruptly, her coach on the third base line threw his hands overhead and instructed for her to stop running, unaware of Hanna’s mindset. The ball was being thrown in, way out from the outfield, and there was no way to stop her in time to be safe from the out that was about to happen. She rounded third, releasing all of her energy and adrenaline. She didn’t just want this, she needed this to verify to herself that she was more than what she credited herself for.

Whacking against the hard, dry ground. Confused, unaware. The spectators silenced. A giant heap over dust swarmed over home plate and filled the dugout and stands. Parents and viewers stood up from their seats and pressed along the thin fence holding them away from the field. The ball was tucked inside the catcher’s glove. Hanna lay on the ground, motionless and still, with eyes wide open waiting for the call. A slim smile traced along the umpires jaw, as he looked directly into Hanna’s pleading eyes. A sigh of relief escaped from Hanna’s lungs, approving a smile to form on her face and she closed her eyes, triumphant.

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A theme that was present in the novel, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, as well as my story was how one gets through a challenge, or event. By Shukhov’s efforts to survive the camp, Solzhenitsyn demonstrates the power that results once a person is able to pull through a difficult situation. No matter how much he wants to give up, his drive to survive the camp and eventually rejoin his family motivates him to put forth all of his energy in hopes to succeed. When Shukhov and his gang have to work in the cement station, him and the other prisoners use one another as motivation to strive when it says, ““You might well ask why a prisoner worked so hard for ten years in a camp.  Why didn’t they say to hell with it and drag their feet all day long till the night, which was theirs?  But it wasn’t so simple”” (66). In order to get the life they think they deserve, the men have to endure the hardships that the camps include. In my story, the main character, Hanna, must prove to herself, as well as the people in her life, that she is good enough. Despite past problems with the pitcher on the other team (Maya), Hanna is able to encourage herself and get through her at bat, even with her nerves. Like Shukhov and the prisoners, Hanna realizes that in order to achieve freedom, or in her case, redemption, one must face worry and trouble.