Upon entering my bedroom, you will see a bed but if you look to the right hanging on the wall, you will see a baseball in a case. The case is black with a clear cover over it so you can see the baseball. The baseball is worn out and on it you will read “July 31^st, 2013, against Nuevo Braves” in a very faded blue ink. This baseball is extremely near and dear to my heart. Not only because of the occasion but as well as what it symbolizes not only to me but to my family and my people. I come from a Puerto Rican background and whilst many believe baseball is a Dominican hobby it is just as much if not more of a Puerto Rican hobby. I have played baseball for as long as I can remember. My father is a big New York Yankees fan. As you can see baseball is a key part of my family.  

That was the first game ball I had ever received. For those who do not know about baseball a game ball is given to a player for performing the best out of everyone in that game. This coming July will be the 10-year anniversary of getting that game. Although it was so long ago, I remember it like it was yesterday. I was invited to participate in the 8u Perfect Game regional tournament in Baseball Heaven in Long Island. This tournament was for the best players ages 8 and under to come and highlight their skills to potential scouts through a tournament format. The tournament lasted over six days playing two games a day with until the championship game on the sixth and final day. My team was the clear favorites to win it all going into the tournament. Without a doubt my team lived up to those expectations and we went undefeated into the championship game. We were set to face the Nuevo Braves had only lost to us prior.  

It was a Sunday night, a beautiful night for baseball. The stadium was packed with the jeers and cries of proud parents watching their kids live out their dreams. I had been named starting pitcher for the championship game and I was as ready as ever. The game was intense from the beginning. Both teams showed why they deserved to be in the championship game. Going into the 7^th inning the score was 0-0 and I was due to come up to bat. It was our final chance to win the game before the game would into extra innings. The other team was losing focus and started to crumble under the pressure. They loaded the bases, and it was my turn to come up to bat. I just needed a single hit for us to win the game. I stepped up to the plate and absorbed the moment in. The first pitch was low for ball one, I let out a huge sigh of relief. The second pitch missed away for ball two. I stepped out and told myself to wait for the right moment. Cautiously stepping back in the pitcher finally gave me a strike. The count was now 2-1, I had the green light from my coach to hit whatever pitch game next. There it was the pitcher threw a fastball right down the heart of the plate. My eyes lit up with hunger. “CRACK” the ball took off, off the end of my bat. Landing over the fence in right field. I had won the game for our team. As I made my way towards home plate my teammates mobbed me, and we began to celebrate. It was the happiest moment of my life.  

After the long celebrations and embraces, my coach pulled me over to hug me and congratulate me on the hit. He put his hand out and said, “Here you go, the game ball for the MVP of the game.” I got overwhelmed with emotion, as I began to shed tears, he shook my hand and put the ball in my hand. I went back into the dugout and put it in my bag immediately with the intent to never lose it. As soon as I got home, I took a marker and wrote the date and team I played against. I bought a case to put up in my room so that I could see it every day as well. Since then, I have received numerous game balls and they too sit right next to that one in my room all on display but that one. The first one, the original will always have a sentimental value to me.