Friday Night
It is our last night in Cooperstown Dreams Park. The cool darkness of the night is accentuated by the brightness of the lighted field as the ninth-seat Michigan Motor City is up against the fourth-seat California Tri-County for this week’s championship game.
The stands are full. The excitement palpable as a fly ball clears the stadium only to be called a foul. The bleachers erupt with animated booing, reminiscent of some old time baseball movie but the Umpire does not budge.
Joe races up the steps past us chasing his own teammates to the top. There is uncontainable joy shining from his face; that smile is the reason we have driven so far. Roaring up from his toes, consuming every fiber of his being as it irresistibly bursts from his face.
Winning or losing is beside the point. The team, the game, these are the only points that matter and he relishes every moment.
It may have been a week of ups and downs but the smile that just whisked by me proves that the connecting power of teamwork is worth every drop of sweat, every challenge, every victory.
Thank you, Cooperstown Arizona Fire!
AMRB
Tripping with God: Stories of Faith and Inspiration 