hill to pitch. Mike had
only thrown three innings the whole year, but he had a good arm and
was as anxious as anyone to get this game moving. He struck out the
first batter on three pitches, the second on four pitches and got
the third to pop up to first base. The inning was over, and no runs
had scored.
Because of all the commotion earlier in the
day, when Mike breezed through the fourth inning, no one had quite
realized yet that the Mets had a no-hitter going. By the sixth (the
last inning in little league), however, with the Mets up 4-0,
everyone was very aware of it. Mike got the leadoff hitter to
ground out to third and then struck out the second hitter on a
curveball that was just as sharp as it was in the first inning. The
only thing standing between Mike and Scripps Ranch Little League
history was Bobby DelFavro who entered the day hitting .421
according to Schtupp’s stats. Mike started him off with a fastball
down in the zone that DefFavro took for a strike. The second pitch
was a curveball that DefFavro hit well, but he was out in front of
it and pulled it foul. Mike nervously took the sign, realizing he
was just one pitch away.
He looked into the catcher for the sign and
then scratched his balls and spit as he had seen the pros do. He
delivered a fastball that was supposed to be outside, but it went
right down the middle of the plate. DelFavro hit it well and drove
it deep into right field. Mike’s heart sank as he saw Willy Chen
turn his back to the field and start running toward the fence.
Willy’s defense was equally as futile as his hitting. The ball
began to descend near the warning track and Willy had still not
turned his head back toward the infield. Mike was sure the ball was
going to actually hit Willy in the head. But at the last minute his
neck rotated about half way back toward the infield and his gloved
left hand stretched out from his body. Only a full two seconds
after the ball settled into Willy’s glove did the crowd erupt into
cheers and Mike started jumping up and down on the mound before
running to hug the catcher.
Mike would go on to have a mediocre high
school baseball career, but his all-time highlight was pitching a
no-hitter on Schtupp Field that Saturday.
Chapter Ten
In N’ Out
5:36 p.m.
“ Well, if you like burgers give 'em a try
sometime. I can't usually get 'em myself because my girlfriend's a
vegetarian which pretty much makes me a vegetarian. But I do love
the taste of a good burger.”
– Jules, Pulp Fiction
The BMW was hurtling up Highway 15 northbound
somewhere northeast of Los Angeles at about eighty-three miles per
hour. On the right side of the road was a sign alerting drivers
that the exit for Highway 40 to Needles was approaching. Inside the
car Roger was asleep again and the other three guys were conducting
meaningless conversation. Snoop Dogg’s Gin n’ Juice played
lightly in the background.
Gary: “Did you guys know Snoopy’s cousin
lives in Needles?”
Alex: “Snoop Dogg?”
Gary: “No. Who gives shit where Snoop Dogg’s
cousin lives? I am talking about Snoopy the dog from Charlie
Brown.”
Alex: “No, sorry, I didn’t realize Snoopy the
dog had a cousin in Needles.”
Mike: “Fucking fascinating.”
Gary: “Hey man, Snoopy kicks ass.”
Mike: “I guess so. Is anyone else getting
hungry?”
Alex: “Yeah, a bit. What do you guys
want?”
Gary: “Taco Bell would be good.”
Mike: “How about McDonalds?”
Alex: “No, I’ll do anywhere but
McDonalds.”
Mike: “Panda Express?”
Alex: “Nah, no Panda either. I don’t trust
those fuckers.”
Mike: “Who?”
Alex: “You know. Them.”
Mike: “Them, meaning Asians?”
Alex: “Sure. Whatever.”
Mike: “You eat sushi all the time.”
Alex: “Let’s just find something other than
Panda.”
Gary: “J-Box?”
Alex: “No, can’t do that either. Had it for
lunch. I think if we can hold out for another fifteen minutes there
is an In-N-Out in Rancho
only thrown three innings the whole year, but he had a good arm and
was as anxious as anyone to get this game moving. He struck out the
first batter on three pitches, the second on four pitches and got
the third to pop up to first base. The inning was over, and no runs
had scored.
Because of all the commotion earlier in the
day, when Mike breezed through the fourth inning, no one had quite
realized yet that the Mets had a no-hitter going. By the sixth (the
last inning in little league), however, with the Mets up 4-0,
everyone was very aware of it. Mike got the leadoff hitter to
ground out to third and then struck out the second hitter on a
curveball that was just as sharp as it was in the first inning. The
only thing standing between Mike and Scripps Ranch Little League
history was Bobby DelFavro who entered the day hitting .421
according to Schtupp’s stats. Mike started him off with a fastball
down in the zone that DefFavro took for a strike. The second pitch
was a curveball that DefFavro hit well, but he was out in front of
it and pulled it foul. Mike nervously took the sign, realizing he
was just one pitch away.
He looked into the catcher for the sign and
then scratched his balls and spit as he had seen the pros do. He
delivered a fastball that was supposed to be outside, but it went
right down the middle of the plate. DelFavro hit it well and drove
it deep into right field. Mike’s heart sank as he saw Willy Chen
turn his back to the field and start running toward the fence.
Willy’s defense was equally as futile as his hitting. The ball
began to descend near the warning track and Willy had still not
turned his head back toward the infield. Mike was sure the ball was
going to actually hit Willy in the head. But at the last minute his
neck rotated about half way back toward the infield and his gloved
left hand stretched out from his body. Only a full two seconds
after the ball settled into Willy’s glove did the crowd erupt into
cheers and Mike started jumping up and down on the mound before
running to hug the catcher.
Mike would go on to have a mediocre high
school baseball career, but his all-time highlight was pitching a
no-hitter on Schtupp Field that Saturday.
Chapter Ten
In N’ Out
5:36 p.m.
“ Well, if you like burgers give 'em a try
sometime. I can't usually get 'em myself because my girlfriend's a
vegetarian which pretty much makes me a vegetarian. But I do love
the taste of a good burger.”
– Jules, Pulp Fiction
The BMW was hurtling up Highway 15 northbound
somewhere northeast of Los Angeles at about eighty-three miles per
hour. On the right side of the road was a sign alerting drivers
that the exit for Highway 40 to Needles was approaching. Inside the
car Roger was asleep again and the other three guys were conducting
meaningless conversation. Snoop Dogg’s Gin n’ Juice played
lightly in the background.
Gary: “Did you guys know Snoopy’s cousin
lives in Needles?”
Alex: “Snoop Dogg?”
Gary: “No. Who gives shit where Snoop Dogg’s
cousin lives? I am talking about Snoopy the dog from Charlie
Brown.”
Alex: “No, sorry, I didn’t realize Snoopy the
dog had a cousin in Needles.”
Mike: “Fucking fascinating.”
Gary: “Hey man, Snoopy kicks ass.”
Mike: “I guess so. Is anyone else getting
hungry?”
Alex: “Yeah, a bit. What do you guys
want?”
Gary: “Taco Bell would be good.”
Mike: “How about McDonalds?”
Alex: “No, I’ll do anywhere but
McDonalds.”
Mike: “Panda Express?”
Alex: “Nah, no Panda either. I don’t trust
those fuckers.”
Mike: “Who?”
Alex: “You know. Them.”
Mike: “Them, meaning Asians?”
Alex: “Sure. Whatever.”
Mike: “You eat sushi all the time.”
Alex: “Let’s just find something other than
Panda.”
Gary: “J-Box?”
Alex: “No, can’t do that either. Had it for
lunch. I think if we can hold out for another fifteen minutes there
is an In-N-Out in Rancho
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