The Biggest Game of His Life

A Pokémon story starring Ash Ketchum.

Wow! Did everybody like that last chapter! I was nerve-wracked reading that chapter! Sorry I had to do that, but it was getting a little long. Oh, well, that’s why the have SECOND chapters!

Note: “Pokemon” is a registered trademark of Nintendo International and Nintendo USA. ESPN is a registered trademark of the Walt Disney Company.

Ages: Same as the last chapter, but with new additions.

Gary: 20

Tracey: 22

Deliah: 40-something

Prof. Oak: 50-something

Recapping our last chapter: “2-1, one on, nobody out in the eighth inning of game seven of this championship series, and the crowd is on its feet like it’s 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and the bases loaded! Bryant checks first. The pitch. He swings. There’s a long one, deep left field, the left fielder’s going back, he’s at the warning track, he leaps, IT’S, A, GONER!!!!! THE TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD PHENOM FROM PALLET DELIVERS IN THE CLUTCH!!! THAT’S HIS 3^RD HOME RUN THIS POST SEASON AS THE KNIGHTS TAKE A 7-6 LEAD IN THE BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH!!! HOLY TOLEDO!!!”

Meanwhile, in Pallet Town, “Come on, Ashy!” Yelled Deliah Ketchum, Ash’s mother. His mentor, Professor Samuel Oak, as well as Ash’s former rival Gary Oak, as well as Ash’s other friend were listening on the radio. In fact, almost the entire town was there trying to find out if their native son could save the day. Then they heard the call. “The pitch. He swings. There’s a long one, deep left field.” Deliah stood up. “The left fielder’s going back.” They people of Pallet held their breaths. “He’s at the warning track, He leaps.” The crowd was about to explode. “IT’S A GONER!!!!!” “YYEEESSS!!” Yelled Gary. The crowd in Pallet erupted. Deliah hugged Professor Oak. Neighbors were hugging neighbors, “I’m so proud of my boy. Said Deliah. At the same time, Brock, Misty, Max and May were going just as nuts. When they saw him hit it, they watched the ball. “It’s not gonna make it!” Said Max. “Oh yes, it is!” May said to her brother. “It might be.” Said Brock. “I think it is!” Said Dawn. Misty held her breath. “It could be.” She tensed. “GONE!!!” At that time, the friends erupted. They were hugging each other, and hugging strangers, too. The whole crowd was going crazy. Except for Casey. She was stunned. She had both hands on her head, mouth open slightly and her eyes were wide open. She couldn’t believe what was going on. Neither could her family. In her hometown, presumably New Bark Town, her family was listening to the game on the radio. They heard the Electabuzz broadcaster. “Ketchum swings, there’s a long one into left field, and it is long gone, the Knights take the lead.” Her family groaned “Oh, no! Casey’s friend just killed us!” Yelled her grandfather, the patriarch. They knew the Electabuzz were dead. Back in Cerulean, it was pandemonium. In the streets, he police were called in to prevent a riot, and the mayor said that if the crowd did riot, a state of emergency would be declared. When Ash hit the home run, it is said that the crowd yelled so loud that seismic monitors all the way to Chicago (just a guess, I’m putting Cerulean/Kanto somewhere in the Midwest, probably around or replacing Des Moines, Iowa, but you can put it wherever you want it, even in California, making those seismometers in L.A.) could read faint seismic waves coming from Cerulean City.

Back in the ballpark, it was the ninth inning now. The Knights were riding a wave of confidence and so was the crowd, who would not stop cheering. They had been waiting for this for 40 years. The Knights were founded 40 years ago, and were one of the most respected clubs in the league. However, they had never won a league championship. That is, until now. The Knights took the field for the ninth. When he got to his position, Ash looked at the mound. “Yes!” He yelled. “We’re unbeatable with Burton on the mound!” Ash was talking about veteran closer Matt Burton, acquired in the off-season from-guess who-the Electabuzz. Boy, were the Electabuzz regretting that decision. Burton had a 1.0 Earned run average, which was the best in the league, and had yet to give up a save. Now the 8-year veteran was on the mound for the biggest inning in Knights history. Ash looked at his partner in the infield, Patrick Ian. “You ready Ash?’ Pat said to him. “Locked and loaded.” Said, Ash, which was their code word for “ready.” “First pitch by Burton in the inning, a SWING and a miss, strike one!” “Alright, Matt, you’re doing good!” First baseman Mike Thomas yelled to Burton. “The next pitch by Burton, Newstead rips one in to center field, a basehit!” The crowd groaned. Pinch-hitter Lars Newstead had just extended the life of the Electabuzz. Albeit temporarily.

Ash looked at Pat Ian. The two nodded. Next one at them was going to be a double play. Next up was right fielder Jack Turner. The crowd was tense. And so was Casey, the whole of Pallet-who were now watching on ESPN, Casey’s family, and all of Cerulean. “The 1-0 pitch by Burton, Turner hits it to short!” Patrick Ian ran over to the ball and scooped it up. “Ash!” He yelled, tossing it to him. Ash stepped on the bag, getting the force out at second. “There’s one-“ Ash threw to first. Would he make it? “-There’s two, DOUBLE PLAY!!! Ketchum-Ian strikes again!” The crowd roared. Ash pumped his fist and high fived Patrick. During the season, they were a formidable double-play team. The crowd was now louder than ever. “40 years, they’ve been waiting for this. It looks like 40 years may be up.” “Two outs!” Yelled the catcher. Ash was nervous. He wiped some sweat from his brow.

In the stands, Misty was praying. She herself was a longtime Knights fan, even though her sisters didn’t care. “Come on, Ash.” She whispered. Ash took a deep breath and bent over, ready to chase after the ball if it came his way. “The last hope for thee Electabuzz comes to the plate in the form of catcher George Lydon.” Burton faced down his opponent. It was right-hander versus right-hander. Ash took a deep breath. Just then time slowed down for him. “The pitch by Burton, ground ball to second!” Ash saw Lydon hit the ball. It was coming towards him. Burton watched. “Ketchum charges, this should do it!” May, Max, Brock, Misty, Dawn, Casey, the whole of Pallet, the whole of Casey’s family, the whole of Cerulean watched closely. “Ketchum has it.” Ash scooped it up with his glove. He grabbed the ball from his glove. He stepped. “Here’s the throw.” He watched it sail out of his hands. So many things were happening at the same time. Burton raised his hands in triumph, so did Krause. Everyone watched closely. “He is.” He saw the runner trying to get his foot on the bag. He saw it enter Thomas’ glove. “OUT!!!!!” The umpire made the signal for out. At that time, everything erupted, and went back to normal time. Mike Thomas raised his hands in triumph. By now, Burton and Krause were hugging on the mound. The crowd’s roar was deafening. “HE’S OUT!!! HE’S OUT!!! 40 YEARS OF FRUSTRATION HAS ENDED AS THE CERULEAN KNIGHTS ARE FINALLY CHAMPIONS!!!!” “WE DID IT, PAT! WE DID IT!!” Ash yelled at Pat. “OH MY GOD, ASH!! HA, HA!” The two hugged and joined their teammates celebrating on the mound. The team spilled out of the dugout. Everybody was hugging each other in a mass on the mound. Misty was hugging just about anybody. Casey, meanwhile was in her seat, watching as the Cerulean Knights celebrated on the field.

In Pallet, it was crazy. There was dancing in the streets, everybody hugging each other, it was crazy. Deliah was crying tears of joy while Gary and Tracey were dancing around. Professor Oak was sitting down. In New Bark, Casey’s family listened helplessly as their dreams of a championship fell to pieces. Meanwhile, in Cerulean, as soon as Ash made the play, the whole city erupted. People poured out of bars, restaurants, apartment buildings, and were dancing in the street. Luckily, they didn’t riot.

Meanwhile, at the ballpark, it was just as crazy. Outside, people were going nuts, while inside, it was pandemonium. Some people were prevented from going out onto the field. Queen’s “We Are the Champions” was playing. Fireworks were going off. Everyone was high fiving each other, hugging each other, taking pictures of the field, it was quite a scene. However, for some reason, Misty was in the bathroom vomiting-but don’t worry, she was in the stands when the final out was made. Why was she vomiting? Let’s just say she was expecting something-oh, forget it, I’m cutting to the chase-she was a month-and-a-half pregnant with her and Ash’s kid! Meanwhile, on the field, Ash was looking for her. He couldn’t find her, but he found his friends and waved to them, although he didn’t see Misty. But don’t worry he knew she was pregnant! Suddenly, he saw an ESPN microphone in his face. The person holding it said, “Ash Ketchum, you put your team ahead when it was down, and then you made the final play, how do you feel?” Ash couldn’t explain, so he said it as best he could. “I don’t know, but it’s more than good.” He said over the on-field noise. “What were you thinking when you hit that home run?” “I don’t know, I was just hoping, praying that it would go out, and when it did, I just was so excited, I can’t describe it!” “Ash Ketchum, thank you very much.”

After a few minutes, things started to die down. Then came the trophy presentation. Ash was on the podium with his fiancé Misty, as well as the team manager and the team owner. “It is my pleasure to give to you the Patrick J. Hammond trophy.” Said the league commissioner. The owner raised it above his head, symbolizing the victory. The crowd roared. Then came Ash’s turn. “Ashton Mark Ketchum, for your on-field play, discipline, and play-making, it is my honor to give to you the trophy for Most Valuable Player!” He handed the MVP trophy to Ash. It was unbelievable for him. The ESPN reporter spoke to him. “Ash, just a few years ago, you were trying to become a Pokémon Master, now you’re a champion in baseball, how do you feel?” “I just can’t describe it, it just feels so good! I know that my Pikachu is upset with me over the whole retiring from training thing, but I think he’s changed his mind now.” The reporter asked him a few more questions. When he was done, he kissed Misty on the lips. After that, he went with his teammates to parade the trophy around. Ash just felt better than he could possibly imagine. “40 years of frustration gone, thanks to these fine young men.” Said the radio announcer. “They’ve been through so much together, and yet they stuck by each other, and the are now, finally champions.” Ash hugged his fiancé to him, and said, “Well I bought your favorite team its title, just like I promised.” “Thanks Ash.” She replied. The two kissed on the field as the crowd thinned out, no doubt ready to celebrate for a LONG time.

A few days later, Ash was with Misty and his teammates in a parade celebrating the Knights’ championship. He spoke to the crowd, saying that he was going to try and help them win more championships, especially alongside Patrick Ian. Ash had dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master, but his baseball career ended it. It was the best idea he ever had. Besides proposing to Misty, of course.

End.

All right, did you like it? I know it did! Did you get tense in that final play? I hope you liked it! Please send me some feedback!