Benjamin Hernandez
Grade 12
It was my sophomore year in South End Baseball's senior league. I entered the season with high hopes and expectations to have a season like my first, in which I was honored with the Rookie of the Year award. We started the season off with a bang, winning our first three games, but then something happened to me that caused the tables to turn. While I was warming in the bullpen in preparation to start the game on the mound, I felt a painful pinch in my throwing arm.
At first I thought nothing of it and still tried to throw, but the pain was too excruciating to endure. I was forced to sit out for the first time since I started playing organized baseball. It was more difficult to cope with sitting on the bench than it was to cope with the pain in my arm itself. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love baseball. I'm very competitive and very intense on the field. It was hard for me to accept that I would be out for a while and wouldn't be able to help out my team. Eventually I returned, but my arm didn't feel the same. My velocity and performance in general declined. I couldn't wait for the next year, which would be my final year in senior league, to redeem myself.
In the off season, I trained with baseball instructor Junior Medina. I had known Junior my whole life because his family and mine were long time friends. They lived in the same neighborhood as we did. We lost contact for a long time because his family moved to New Hampshire where he attended high school and eventually got accepted to Stonehill College. He set all the offensive records for his high school and college. I looked to him to help bring my game back to the form I once had, if not better.
I had vigorous training that consisted of weightlifting, conditioning, hitting, fielding, and pitching. He taught me things that I never knew. He put me in shape to do things I never thought I was capable of. At times he pushed me so hard I felt like giving up but I didn't. He pushed me to the limit and promised my hard work would pay off.
After all my hard work in the off season, opening day finally arrived. I was so nervous but yet so eager to finally get a chance to redeem myself and prove that I still had it. I found myself in a familiar position as my team's opening day starting pitcher, batting third. We were the home team, so we took the field first. It was a one-two-three inning and I struck out the side. I was so excited and my adrenaline was pumping. I couldn't wait to get my first at bat of the season.
So here I am on deck as nervous as I can be. My teammate Matt stroked a single to right field, advancing the lead runner to third base. With runners on first and third, I stepped up to the plate and sent a rocket flying down the right field line and into the corner. Both runners crossed the plate and I slid safely into third base with a triple. I popped up and triumphantly pumped my fist and clapped my hands. Although this was a great way to start off the season, it still wasn't the highlight of the game for me.
In what would be my final at bat of the game, I slowly approached the plate. The bases were loaded and I was focused. These are the situations I long for. The pitcher wound up and pitched the ball and I swung and missed. I stepped out the batter's box, re-grouped, and awaited the next pitch. I sent the next pitch he threw soaring into the air. As I was running I watched the ball fly over the left field wall, over everything and into the street. It was a grand slam home run. This was the greatest feeling in the world. I was back better than ever. Junior's advice and instruction did wonders for me.
I admire Junior for everything he has done for me. He not only helped me improve on my game but he helped me improve as a person. He showed me that hard work pays off. He taught me to stay humble and never take anything for granted. He showed me that I can do anything I set my mind to. The fact that he comes from the same neighborhood I do and turned out to be successful gives me inspiration and hope. This obstacle that I had to face made me stronger, wiser, dedicated, and disciplined.