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Top of the ninth inning with no outs in the middle of July, to be precise the last game before the All-Star break. The sweltering Georgia heat belted the entire stadium relentlessly. I eagerly awaited for the call to my bullpen. My Name is Dale Eckersley, number 47 for the Atlanta Suns and designated as the closing relief pitcher. I don't like tootin' my own horn but all the sports stations label me as one of the best in the league. I was warming up in the bullpen with our somewhat comfortable 2-0 lead as our starting pitcher took the mound. He was number 23 Greg Glavine, a wolf of a star starting pitcher. I've been watching from the warm up mounds within the Bullpen but I can still see the game from where I was. Greg's face oozed with exhaustion, this would be his 4th full game if he comes through. I've seen that look on his face before, so I knew he wouldn't last long, Especially against the Cincinnati Knight Hawk's top of the order.

First batter was their Center Fielder Kenny Fletcher, a quick little fox with a decent enough batting average of .242. He was one of the fastest base runners in the league and definitely spelled trouble. Sure enough, he made a big mistake, Fastball low and inside. Normally his 98 mph fastballs breeze past hitters but not this one. I watched as Kenny cracked the first pitch into the hole between first base and right field. Luckily, our Right fielder, the Cheetah B.J. Heyward, number 35, picked up the ball before Fletcher could make it into a double.

As I watched our Manager, number 45 Tyler Cox come out from the dugout, I knew he was going to call for me. I saw him pat his right arm after his talk with Greg and held on to the game ball. I felt a smirk fall over my muzzle as I slowly exited the warm up area. As soon as my Theme, "Holy Diver" by Killswitch Engage, started playing over the intercom system of the stadium, I heard the crowd go wild. They came for this moment. This would be an attempt to grab my 26th save of the season. I made my way slowly from the bullpen in the right field, walking through the emerald green grass to eventually melt into a trot. As I met with Greg and Tyler, Greg patted me on the back and smiled.

"Good luck Dale, pull this one off and Drinks are on me tonight fox!" exclaimed Greg before he ran back into the dugout.

My fluffy tail twitched with anticipation. These were the moments I thrived on, these were the moments that I fed on, these were the moments I felt truly alive. It was these clutch moments that I earned my nickname, "Clutch." With 25 saves already under my belt, I lead the league in the category. I gave a few warm up throws to the catcher, number 2 Clint Lopez, The latin bomber jaguar from Guatemala we picked up during the off season. Lopez and I had a certain chemistry you wanted from a pitcher/catcher duo. He knew my strongest pitches were my four seam fastball, my sinker, but my best and pay off pitch is the eephus pitch. After a few throws, I was ready for the number two batter, Enrique Puig, their second basemen. He was the Rookie sensation that came out of Cuba recently and was obvious choice with an on base percentage of .466.

I was ready though and Lopez gave me the call. Fastball, high and inside was the call. I simply agreed, High and inside is an almost impossible pitch to hit. I readied myself at the mound. I gave a look to Fletcher, he was leading fairly far. But I knew that was the plan. Get Fletcher to second base so he can at least score. I give my wind up and threw. Dead on where I wanted it, just inside the strike zone so even if he looked it would be a strike! Puige on the other hand had other plans. I watched Puige square around for a bunt and tapped the ball into play. He was expecting it to roll down the third base line being right handed, but physics decided otherwise.

With a quickness, I was on top of the ball as it bounded along the first base line. I watched as Puig booked it for first, but it would all be for nothing. I grabbed the ball with my left gloved hand and made the quick throw to first baseman, number 32 Will Murray, a large, bulky wall of a lion. Out number one, but Fletcher was safe at Second, and the tie was about to come to bat. I didn't let this bother me though. I allowed the other infielders to keep warm by tossing the ball around before it came back to me for the next batter.

Next was Hiro Izaki, the Japanese Phenom who have been playing for Cincinnati his entire career. I watched the Tanuki come to the batters box. A Lefty, so this one was going to be a little difficult. Luckily, the scouting report told me he was incredibly weak on his inside, so working that disadvantage should get him down. I watched Lopez for his next call. Yup, just as I suspected. Sinker, down and inside was the call. I simply nodded and stood, and locked into my target. I stared hard into the area I wanted to hit. Right at Izaki's knees, and just on the inside corner of the plate. I watched Fletcher's gratuitous lead before giving my delivery. The 75 mph pitch blew past him. I didn't know if he didn't just like the pitch, or if he thought I was off, but the ump called a strike.

I sighed a bit through the heat as Lopez tosses the ball back. Sure enough, I looked to notice Fletcher still at second. The throw between third and home was a lot shorter then it is from home to second, so I know he wouldn't try to steal at this point. I leaned in to look for Lopez's call again. This time, four seam, high and inside. The last time it didn't work so well, but hopefully it will work this time. I prepare for my wind up, watching Fletcher yet again. I gave another breath and the hardest throw I can deliver. the 98 mph ball slipped past his bat as he gave a full home run style swing fully around to look like a helicopter. Whif! strike two.

Now would be the time most other pitchers like to throw outside of the strike zone to try and get someone to chase the ball. Not me. I'm not like other pitchers. I imagine that like playing with your prey out in the wild. Throw hard, throw fast, throw straight, throw true. That's what my dad always taught me. I prepared once again on the mound. Lopez is on the same page with me, signaling for the eephus. I gave him a smile back with this nod. It may seem a little arrogant of me, but this time, I didn't look back to Fletcher. No, I was ready to shut Izaki down. I stretched, I pitched, I threw. A 73 mph lob that looked very much like a change up high and inside. Izaki probably thought he had it, but I watched as he swung the bat Just as the ball literally drips below his bat as he came around with that helicopter swing. Strike three and two-thirds through the inning.

I heard the crowd start chanting my nickname over and over again "CLUTCH! CLUTCH! CLUTCH! CLUTCH!"

Clutch Fever had caught on, and I fed off this excitement. I was going to need all the help I can get for this next batter. Clean up hitter Giles Thomas, their Third Baseman. Batting Average of .394, Slugging of .543 and already sitting on 34 home runs. This guy is normally bad news for most pitchers. The crowd hushed as Thomas stepped into the batter's box. This is what it comes down to. The best closing pitcher in the league, versus the meanest, baddest hitter in the league. He too was a righty so I may just be able to breeze by him.

I awaited the signal from Lopez as I twirled the ball in my throwing hand behind my back. Signaling for a curve, high and inside. I get it, make Thomas think I'm gonna hit him, make him sit on it to to get a head of the count early. Makes sense, whenever my first pitch is a strike, Most people who come up against me end up striking out. I'm already sitting on about 45 K's right now, counting Izaki now in the dugout. I wound up, but not before watching Fletcher once again and gave my best curve. I saw Thomas swing. I heard the ball clip the bat. My stomach sank at that sound, but quickly left when I realized the ball sailed past foul territory and out of play along the third base stands.

I sighed softly to myself in relief. I had almost forgotten the scouting report. Thomas loves hitting balls high and inside being a pull hitter. The ump gives Lopez another ball and is tossed back to me. Pitcher's count at 0 and 1 now. I gotta focus, I gotta figure out what I wanna do again. I lean in once again for a sign. Lopez gives me fastball high and inside again. I shook my head quickly, remembering his high arc swing that would obviously send that ball out of the park for the game to tie up. He then signaled for a Change up low and outside. Perhaps I can get him to chase it, the report did say he was weak on the outside. I return back to my stretch. I check the runner on second. I wind up and throw, Another clip, this time the ball rolled down the first base line and bobbled foul, giving me two strikes.

Thomas is not a man to toy with, I gotta take him down right here and right now. My eyes visualized my last pitch, in which Lopez once again signaled for the low eephus pitch. I nodded and went to my stretch. This was it, the final showdown, The duel of the league's greatest was to come to head. I wound up and gave my payoff pitch. The world flew by in slow motion as I watched the seams of the ball fall over and over on itself as it approached the plate in it's high arc. Thomas knew he had to swing at it and took his step forward. His large, muscular arms practically threw the bat around in order to make contact. It was all for naught. The ball once again dipped just out of reach of his bat and fell into the mitt of Lopez behind the plate. It was over, I picked up my 26th save!

The Sun's bench cleared like we had one the league championship to celebrate with me on the mound. I was crowded by white and yellow jerseys as I was pushed and patted and rubbed all over for my milestone. I heard the crowd chanting once again as they watched the team crowd me in celebration.

"CLUTCH! CLUTCH! CLUTCH!"

It was an amazing moment for me, This was my rookie season and Suns Pitching staff was missing a dominant closing pitcher. Obviously I had become a godsend to the team in order to perhaps win their first title since the team's incarnation into the league. I finally made my way out from the crowd to notice that Thomas was awaiting just in front of the plate, apparently awaiting me with a smile on his face. I approached him as my teammates ran towards the dugout.

"Good game rookie!" he said as he extended his hand still batting gloved hand to me, "Maybe we'll meet back up in the Divisional Series!"

I smiled and took his gloved hand, "No telling, besides we've got 4 more series to meet before we see the playoffs" I retorted.

"True that. I hope to see you in those series then, I love it when pitchers pose a challenge for me!"

As he released my hand, he trotted back to the dugout and I had a smile on my face. It was about time I was met with good sportsmanship in this league. I continued to watch Thomas as he walked off and placed my glove under my arm. Thomas got into the league and already made a name for himself in Cincinnati, so in a way, I looked up to him from that moment on as his words rang in my head. I love it when pitcher pose a challenge for me! My concentration was thrown to the wind as Will called for me to join in the festivities. We were first place in our division and it was the first time for a very long time, I wasn't going to miss this celebration for anything...