Ace in the Hole

(#162)

In the 1995 Region 23 championship in Senatobia, we won the opener of the best of three series with the Northwest Rangers on Friday. With game 2 on Saturday underway, I was verbally wrestling with “one of those umpires” behind the plate who just would not call strikes. Ironically, his first name was “Homer,” I kid you not. What a great name for an umpire!

I kept barking at him for three innings and then out of the blue, the base umpire with gigantic, fluffy rabbit ears ejected me. Barry Collier took the reigns as the only remaining Hinds coach for the rest of the game. And I, accompanied by my father-in-law Jimmie Hutchison (who was on the ump even louder than me), walked to the gymnasium behind right field for the rest of the game, which we lost.

I looked like a genius because it was 100 degrees outside and a very comfortable 70 on the couch in the lobby of the gym. Mr. Hutch said, “What are you going to do in game 3?” I said, “I’m not worried about game 3 because J.D. is pitching.”

J.D. Robinson went the distance, pitched a 3 hitter and struck out 10 in the championship game win and there was nothing “Homer” could do about it.

On days like these, you’ve got to have an “ace in the hole.”