The Rookie commentary, part 7: ‘It’s your turn, coach’

The Owls, one-by-one, grab their ball gloves off the bench from the dugout. Coach Morris tries to offer up some encouragement. “We’re a different team than the last time we played these guys.” Then he says there’s nothing to be nervous about in a way that shows he’s clearly trying to convince himself more than his players.

Game action starts with an opposing run coming across the plate and the Owls catcher motioning for his teammates to settle down after getting into “an early hole” of 2-0.

As the Owls grab the bats for the bottom of the 1st inning, the coach throws a couple of clichés at them, like one swing at a time, one hit at a time and one run at a time. They’re only down 2-0, but he’s acting like it’s a Mount Everest-like deficit. I guess these guys in their 20s on the other side are pretty good ballplayers.

Hanging in there
A groundout is a representative to show the Owls did not tie the game or take the lead in the 1st inning. Then it’s time for some game action with the soundtrack in the background to speed our way through the game.

Later, Rudy is at the plate with a runner on third base and the Owls still down 2-0. Jimmy, coaching at third base, provides the baseball sign to his hitter. Sure enough, he put the squeeze on, and the runner is safe at home plate on the suicide squeeze bunt to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.

Back in the field, the same big hitter from the early-season game smashes a ball to a deep part of the park. But the Owl outfielder catches the ball right at the fence. The ball hit the top of the chain link, bounces back into play and the outfielder grabs it with his bare hand before it hits the ground.

“And the owls are hanging in there,” says the PA announcer.

Time to rally
We’re into the late innings now, because the Owls are all standing up in the dugout with rally caps on. They’re cheering on Wack at the plate with a couple of runners on. The mouthy Wack comes through with the RBI knock to tie the score, 2-2. Jimmy gives runner Joe David a very obvious stop sign with both hands at third base, but for some reason, Joe David runs through it and slides home. He’s safe for a 3-2 Owls lead.

One more half inning to hold the one-run lead, and the Owls will complete their comeback season. The bases aren’t juiced, but Rudy is pitching with two on and a full count as tensions mount. Ball four. OK, now the bases are full of Wombats. I’ll give you one guess who’s up. Did you say that same big hitter? You win. We hear from the PA announcer that he was last year’s district MVP. Because of course he was.

Rudy is rattled and throws ball one high and tight, causing the big man to jump back. The count goes to 1-1, and then he gets ahold of a pitch, hitting it over the fence… but just foul. “Let me tell ya folks, they don’t make foul balls any scarier than that one,” says the PA guy.

With the count 1-2 and one strike away from the victory, Rudy’s teammates pump up the chatter across the diamond. “He can’t hit you!” and “Dig deep, Rudy!” can be heard. He delivers a pitch for a swing-and-a-miss strikeout, sealing the win and the district championship.

As the Owls start the celly on the field with the traditional dogpile, PA man is shouting “Owls win! Owls win! Owls win!” I’m not sure why we need a dedication to Harry Caray and his “Cubs win!” tradition here, but we get it anyway.

In a move I’ve seen many veteran coaches make over the years of coaching youth championships, Jimmy Morris stands back from the pile of players on the mound and claps his hands for his players’ efforts, complete with a giant smile across his face.

‘It’s your turn, coach’
The celebration continues into the locker room as the Owls are dancing and bopping around in their dirty, sweaty uniforms as the song “Jump around” blasts on a stereo. Things simmer down, and Rudy takes command with a toast to their coach, “to the man who taught us about wanting something more.” Rudy presents coach with the game ball signed by all the players and, making good on the bet, says “now it’s your turn, coach.”


via GIPHY

The entire team forms a line and shakes Jimmy’s hand, each saying “it’s your turn, coach.”

Later, Jimmy takes down his collection of newspaper clippings from his bulletin board. There’s a new clip though, about a baseball tryout with that same moniker written in orange marker across the story: “It’s your turn, coach.” 

The Rookie commentary, part 1: ‘What kind of baseball do they have? … They don’t.
The Rookie commentary, part 2: ‘There are more important things in life than baseball’

The Rookie commentary, part 3: ‘Yeah dad, bring the heat!’
The Rookie commentary, part 4: ‘You don’t have dreams, you don’t have anything’
The Rookie commentary, part 5: 'You got your shot at baseball. You got hurt.' 
The Rookie commentary, part 6: 'State! State! State!'