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base sideline to coach his runners.
     
    The inning was well underway when Duke signaled his two players on base. His player on second was getting ready to steal. The pitcher threw the ball and the catcher missed it. His running was sailing towards him when he saw the catcher throw to third. For a moment he thought about sending his player back but he saw the throw was off. His runner pushed forward and slid. "Safe!" the baseline ump called. Duke smiled and clapped as his player stood up to brush the dirt off.
     
    Another pitch was thrown and the ball flew into the outfield. He sent his runner on third home, he signaled for the runner behind him to go home. He told his batter to stop at second. There was a throw home and his runner was out. They had one out left before the game would be over.
     
    He watched Chase go up to the plate. He wasn't a star hitter but he was working his way up. Duke had faith in him. First pitch delivered, a ball. The second, a ball. Duke was trying to hold back his smile. The feeling of winning was so close yet so far away. He watched the pitcher deliver the third pitch, a strike. Chase was ready, Duke could see it in Chase's stance. Duke turned to look at his runner. He heard the crack of the bat realizing he missed the next pitch. He attempted to turn to see where the ball went so he can direct his runner. Before he could react properly, the ball made contact with his temple as he started to turn his head towards home plate. It knocked him off balance and he fell to his knees in the dirt.
     
    He heard the collective gasp of the spectators behind him. Duke grasped the side of this head. Everything around him seemed to slow down as he tried to focus on his surroundings. His vision was blurry, his surroundings spinning, and suddenly his world went black.
     
    Duke felt two hands grab him. He couldn't open his eyes even though he willed them too. He heard shuffling around him and soft voice calling out to him. The voice itself seemed muffled and far away from him. He found himself in a world of black.
     
    "Are you okay Coach?" his assistant asked. Duke couldn't respond. He was busy swimming in blackness, trying to find his voice and open his very heavy eyelids. "Coach?" Voices seemed to echo around him.
     
    Duke finally pried his eyes open slowly. When the light pierced into his eyes, he shut them again. When he slowly opened them once again, Jennah came into focus. Her hands were on either side of his face, keeping his head in a direction where he could see her. If it weren't for her hands, Duke was sure he would not be able to hold it up let alone being able to see right in front of him. His head was aching.
     
    "Hey there Coach, I need you to stand up. Can you do that?" Jennah's voice flooded his ears.
     
    He slowly nodded his head as he winced. His assistant helped him up. He stood still unbalance. His assistant coach quickly moved to his side and propped him up. Duke was thankful someone was helping him keep balanced otherwise he may have face-planted in the dirt.
     
    "Easy their Duke," his assistant quietly said.
     
    "Okay Coach, close your eyes and open them," Jennah's voice filled his ears again.
     
    Duke closed his eyes as he followed her instructions. He felt his world shift and he lost his balance. His assistant coach caught him before he fell on the ground again. Duke couldn't remember what happened to him. He felt two small hands clasp his head. "Open your eyes back up Coach," she instructed again. They hadn't moved yet, they just got him up off the ground.
     
    Duke slowly obeyed her. The light made him wince once again. Pain lanced through his head. His eyes slowly focused on Jennah in front of him. "Hey there beautiful," the words slipped past his lips before he could stop them.
     
    "Alright," Jennah laughed, "Let's get you in the dugout. You may need to go get your head checked out."
     
    With the assistance of the staff, they got him to the dugout. Jennah sat beside him,