A bead of sweat builds at my forehead and trickles across my sun-kissed cheek. As my eye meets the pitcher's my fingers grip even tighter around the large metal bat. The catcher gives the pitcher the 1, 2, 3 and she winds up. With a flick of her wrist the ball is sent whirling towards me. I have a split second to decide whether the pitch is worth swinging at. The ball is gliding into the strike zone and, as if by magic, the bat takes over my body. I swing with more strength than I thought possible. The crash of the bat with the ball is music to my ears. The vibrations in my fingers tell me that I have done well. I throw down the bat and race down the baseline. As I hook around first the centerfielder grabs the ball, it's me against her. I'm halfway down the baseline and she whips back her arm to throw the ball to second. I dive onto the base right as the second baseman catches the ball. "SAFE," the words ring out of the umps mouth and I can finally breathe.
             Life is one long baseball game. Each stage is yet another inning. Each decision you make will inevitably impact not only your life but the lives of the people around you. Your team is your family. trust and communication are what keeps that family together and strong.
             If you don't communicate with your team mates the game will be lost. Baseball is not a one man sport, neither is life. To go through life alone, is to play every position on the diamond. It is physically impossible and to attempt it would not only be physically straining, but emotionally straining as well. Your teammates are there to help and guide you, as are your family and friends. Use this fact of life to your advantage but don't take advantage of the one's you love in doing so. Being a hot shot will only make it even harder to reach your goals
             Trust is just as important as communication. Each player has to instill a certain amount of trust into the other players ...