"Baseline please," the scorer said.
We all lined up according to our heights, with Coach Labi and Coach Lanson at the far end.
"It was a good game between the two teams... the Liberty did as always," he pointed to us, "and believe me guys," he faced the Lagoon Rangers, "I love the way you have improved your games... this is not a loss, it's learning... you can come next year and defeat them, but I know by then, the Liberty would have risen to new heights." He checked his note.
"Let's give ourselves a round of applause... and by the end of the game, Lagoon Rangers with a total of seven runs were defeated by the Liberty of Ekiti State with nine runs." Finishing his speech, we jammed our hands together in applause.
"In ten minutes, let all the teams be on the field for the award and medal presentation." He said, and walked off to the officials' table, while we in turn all jogged back to our dugout, chattering about the just concluded games, while I just stood by a corner, reminiscing about the game, with a lot of "what ifs."
Five minutes later.
"Let all teams in their jerseys line up on the field," the head of the tournament announced.
I saw some people carry the "medal table" to the home plate, while a huge cart, filled with medals, awards, and gifts was wheeled down to the field.
"We have the Sports Chairman of Oyo State - Mr. Matthew Kodir, give us a short prayer," the head of the tournament said, and handed over the mic to the Sports Chairman who said the prayer briefly within five minutes.
"We shall recite the National Anthem now," the head of the tournament collected back the mic, while the DJ increased the volume for the National Anthem.
"Arise O' compatriots,
Nigeria's call obey.
To serve our father's land...."
About ten minutes later after the National Anthem, the Head of the Tournament resumed his speech.
"This marks the end of the Southwest Youth League Championship seventh edition, with a total of nine teams from the six states of our region, namely...
The hosting team - Super Cubs and Tigress of Oyo State...
We also have the Lagoon Rangers Baseball & Softball Team of Lagos State.
While Sunshine Baseball & Softball Team of Ondo State were also here in attendance.
We only have the Liberty Baseball Team from Ekiti State without the softballers, while I hope the upcoming year, they would also be in attendance.
The Rainbow Stars Baseball and Softball Team of Ogun State too are here, and lastly...
The Source Baseball and Softball Team of Osun State." The head of the tournament listed all the teams in participation.
"I will now call for the team in third place for the softballers..." he flipped the sheet in his hands.
"Please as I do, you should come forward one by one for your medals."
"The third place for the softball team... is... the Source Softball Team of Osun State!" the head of the tournament shouted, while in turn, the Osun State softball players and their coaches walked towards the high table, with a bronze medal hung around their necks one after the other.
"The second place goes to... Sunshine Softball Team of Ondo State. Please come forward for your medals." The tournament director said, and the Ondo team marched forward in their colorful jerseys to collect their medals and walked to the medal table to stand behind the place marked second place, left side of the Osun State team.
"Thank you... the first place to the hosting state softball team, the Super Tigress of Oyo State..." the tournament director shouted, while the Oyo State softballers marched majestically in their new jerseys... I saw Mira, at the fifth line she winked at me while I waved back to her.
After the medals were presented to the first, second and third place teams, they went to stand behind the medal table while each team captain stood on the raised platform, each according to their position - third to second and the highest, being the first place.
The tournament officials carried the third place cup to the Sports Chairman, who in turn handed it to the Osun State softball team captain.
He did the same for the second and first, they rejoiced and had a group photo.
About ten minutes later, the jubilation ended.
"Now I think it's time for the baseball. Please when called, make sure you walk briskly here for your medals.
"I have on my list, the Source Baseball Team of Osun State again as the third place for the Southwest Youth League Championship seventh edition." The Source baseball players and their coaches walked forward for their medals.
"The second place holder - The Lagoon Rangers Baseball Team of Lagos State. Their performance last year was nothing to write home about... but see them this year, they nearly dragged the cup from the all-time champions..." the head of the tournament continued, but I could see the expression on my coach's face - Coach Labi, he was looking at the tournament director with fervor... and what the tournament director said is true... the three championships we played, we swept the whole game from the beginning to the end, but look at what we just played now... it's really devastating. Yeah, it's true that a team can improve, but not to the stage of us nearly losing our grip on the cup.
"To the champions of this seventh edition Southwestern Baseball Youth League... the Liberty Baseball Team of Ekiti State... please do come forward for your medals and cup!" the tournament director called for us, in turn we walked forward and had our medals hung on our necks - golden medals, with the logo of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation embedded in the middle, the Southwestern Youth Baseball League carved around it, it was quite heavier than the previous years, and the gold more toned.
Our captain stood on the first place raised platform while we lined behind him to collect the cup from the Sports Chairman.
"We also have awards for incredible players in this just concluded tournament," the tournament director called us to attention.
"I have on my first list... the best baseball catcher of the tournament...
Saliu Ayande from the Super Cubs of Oyo State..." the tournament director said, while the person named walked forward smiling and received his award - a new catcher's glove and a baseball.
He collected the award and had a group photo with the tournament officials.
"Next is the best performing softball catcher... Idris Christianah of Lagoon Rangers Softball Team of Lagos State." A chubby girl walked forward and collected the same award as the previous boy, but a softball.
"The best baseball pitcher for this tournament... Remi Isaiah of Lagoon Rangers Baseball Team of Lagos State." Wow, the boy who pitched against us in the finals walked forward to collect his award - a fielding glove, a baseball, a boot and a new jersey, like a Nigeria national team jersey - a complete set of shirt, down, hose and a face cap.
I really envied him, I wanted to collect this award too.
"For the softball pitcher... Ireti Babatunde of Super Cubs of Oyo State..." the girl named walked forward to collect her award - a softball pitching glove, a softball, down and a face cap of the Nigeria Softball Team. She deserved it though, she was the only reliable softball pitcher they had in their team, still wondering why Mira could not pitch - it's not that everyone can pitch though, I thought.
"For the best infielder... we have Bunmi Kuro of Liberty Baseball Team of Ekiti State!"
WOW! We all shouted and cheered Bunmi up as he walked forward to receive his award - a glove, boot and jersey of the Nigeria Team.
"For softball... Itodo Selina of Sunshine Softball Team of Ondo State." She received the same award as Bunmi.
"And also, we prepared an award for the best outfielder of this tournament. For baseball..." Emmanuel Bright, I said it in my mind...
"We have Emmanuel Bright of Liberty Baseball Team of Ekiti State!" wow, I said it.
Emma walked forward and received his award - a long outfielder's glove, boot and complete Nigeria jersey.
"For softball... it's for Rainbow Stars Team of Ogun State... and it goes to Wunmi Benjamin." The girl walked forward - oh! it's the girl who caught a home run. She deserved it by the way.
She received the same award as Emma.
"We also have the most valuable players of the tournament..." Me.
"For baseball... we have Bamidele To..." What! Not me? I thought inwardly while my teammates also looked at me, probably thinking the same thing as I was.
"Sorry... Bamidele Akanni... of Liberty Baseball Team of Ekiti State!" yes, I knew it. It's my inheritance, nobody can drag it from me. I walked forward to receive my award. Like before - a set of jersey, glove and OMG! It's also a Nigeria jersey! I also have this now.
I snapped pictures with some people with handshakes.
"For softball... Idowu Roseline of Osun State Softball Team." The girl walked forward and received her award, same award as I did.
"For the best hitter of the tournament... baseball... Lanre Lukman - the home run boy." It's our team again, that's three awards we just received now, last year was two - me and Lanre.
Lanre went to collect his award, before it had always been a bat, batter's glove, and a helmet, but now, it included a Nigeria jersey.
"For the softball... Mira Demi of the Super Cubs of Oyo State." Mira walked forward and collected her award, same as Lanre's.
"We have for our best performing coaches... for baseball... Coach Labi Raphael of the Liberty of Ekiti State... you know, this is a great wave by the Liberty with five awards only on them, it's really worth emulation. To all our teams, let's go and work more, come next year, I want us all to be in a new dimension. Baseball in Nigeria should be seen at new heights." My coach walked forward for his award - a golden structure of a baseball coach pointing his finger.
"And to our softball coach... we have Coach Aminat Sidi, of Osun State... she is currently a second base female player for the Nigeria national team."
"Our last award goes to the Liberty of Ekiti State and Source of Osun State, as the best behaved teams in this tournament." Our coach collected the award - a golden structure of a nine-team player raising a baseball.
"We are done with what we came here for. Please when you will be departing tomorrow, make sure the rooms you used are all left the way you met them here." The tournament director said.
"Lastly, we are inviting the whole team to the bonfire night, hosted by the State Sports Chairman... there would be goat meat in preparation and also so many other things. By eight we start and head back before ten. Thank you." The tournament director said and stepped down from the high podium.
"Come together boys..." I heard Coach Lanson say, while we all gathered for a group picture, displaying our awards and the cash prize of two hundred thousand naira for our first place.
"Ok guys, go back to the hostel and change to something lighter, it's past six already. I will come back and lead us to the bonfire night."
OK SIR! We all responded and made our ways back to our hostel.
"Akanni!" I heard Mira's voice while I turned back to see her running towards me.
I paused to look back maybe my teammates were not around, but unfortunately, they were all around, looking at me and the beautiful girl running towards me, red shades had already crept their way up to my cheeks.
Mira caught up with me, and pulled me into a body-crushing hug, I hesitated in responding to her hug, looking at the WOW expressions of my teammates, especially my best friends - Kunle and Ojo, with whom we had vowed not to have any entanglements with females before our secondary schooling.
Not staying too long, I saw the two of them with expressions of - don't worry, ride on, we shall meet in Ado one day.
I slightly put my hands at the back of Mira while gently pulling back.
"Congratulations on your award as usual," she said, with a big smile.
"You too, you did well this year, you deserve the award..." I told her sincerely, noticing her rosy cheeks and red tips of her ears.
"Uhm, but I think I should have collected the best fielder... I fielded and caught more balls than that Ondo girl... she only caught few balls while diving..." Mira complained, pouting her pink round lips, not realising the effect that got from me.
"Oh... but at least you are the best hitter now..." I tried to ease the awkward moment.
But she was not helping at all, as she draped her left hand around my shoulder while we walked towards the hostel.
"That's true though..." she said.
"Yeah."
"Would you come out once you change and drop your awards?" she asked with a knowing look...
"No, we've got some meeting with our coach," I said, trying to let her go, but some part of me was reluctant.
"Oh... ok." She felt bad with my response, and I knew. "So I will see you at the bonfire night?" she paused and asked.
"Yes I will," I told her while she turned and walked away, no bye? I don't know maybe I had upset her with my response.
I walked to our hostel room and opened the door to see all my teammates gathered in front of the door, with expressions of - 'care to explain who she is?'
I brushed past them, no explanation to anyone, except Kunle and Ojo, of course.
After I changed my jersey, Emma and Kabir walked towards me while all my teammates faced us.
"Is it true that she is your girlfriend?" Emma confronted me.
"I don't know what you are talking about..." I replied to him and turned away.
"Hey, you better tell me the truth now, I won't let you off!" Emma shouted.
"And I told you, I don't know what you are talking about!" I said once more, while Kunle and Ojo walked towards me, sitting beside me on my bunk, left and right.
"Ok, it's Mira... what is your relationship with her?" he asked me as if he just caught me with his girlfriend.
"Oh! You mean Mira..." I scoffed.
"We are just friends, nothing more."
"You don't play the 'just friends' card with me Akanni..." Emma said.
"And what more did you need from me? If there is nothing else, I will advise you to go away from here," I said disdainfully.
"Oh, so because you collected an award again means you can be rude..." Kabir said.
"Hey..." I faced Kabir, "how does this concern you... Yes I collected an award again - the most valuable player, where is yours?" I asked him with contempt, though I don't want to flaunt my award, I mean - Kabir should not even talk about it at all, as he did not contribute to the team's success, he played once, but coach replaced him when he was not performing.
"You dare say that again... did you know who you are talking to? I am older than you for God's sake!" he said angrily.
"And your age could not catch a ball on first base neither collect an award," I retorted angrily, while he wanted to punch me, but was restrained by Ojo, who pulled him back.
"Leave me... let me deal with this rude boy, so because you collected an award now, that means you can be rude!" he shouted angrily, trying to pull out of Ojo's grip, punching Ojo in the process...
GBAR!
"OMG!" We all exclaimed at the sound of the punch, realizing what Kabir did - he punched Ojo! Ojo of all people...
Not waiting for a response, Ojo gave him a brutal punch to the nose, immediately, Kabir started bleeding.
"Just one punch from Ojo, Kabir is already bleeding," I heard the whispers from our teammates.
"What if he gets punched again?" someone asked frightfully.
"I told you not to poke your nose, you did not hear, now your nose is poked," I laughed at Kabir.
"Take your friend away from here..." Kunle commanded, while Emma pulled Kabir who stopped talking and was wiping his nose with his left hand, quiet all the while.
"This is not over Akanni, I will make you regret this, I don't want you anywhere around Mira," Emma said.
"Who are..." before I could respond, Ojo beat me to it...
"What did you think, was it not your little sl*t who always runs around Akanni, because he won an award?" Ojo said.
I wanted to stop Ojo from calling Mira a sl*t, but I saw a reflection of someone pass by our window - What! It's Mira.
OMG! Did she hear everything now? I pushed past Emma and ran out of the hostel.
"Where are you going Akanni?" I heard Kunle ask, but I could not reply as Mira was running off already.
"Mira wait!" I called out loudly to make her stop and explain to her, but she did not stop but only increased her pace towards their hostel.
"Mira wait!" I called again, she must not enter their hostel, or else, I won't be able to explain. I increased my pace, she may know how to run, but she can never outrun me. To my relief, she ran past their hostel, and made her way towards the enclosed area outside the hostel and stopped.
"Mira..." I called, "it's not what you think, we were..."
"Not what I think? That I heard your friend calling me a slut, and that I am the one running after you because you won an award?" she said, half sobbing.
"No, Mira. Not at all, you did not wait for me to reply, you are not a slut at all, you also won an award too. He only said that to make that boy back off," I tried to explain to her.
"Oh, your teammates would now be looking at me like a slut, and you ran off confirming their thoughts, you said we are friends..."
"Yes we are friends," I rushed forward to reply, but the look on her face seemed like I irritated her even more.
"Sure, you can go away, I am ok now, I need to be alone," she said walking away.
"What, Mira did I do something wrong? I am sorry, you are not a slut, you are my friend," I told her, trying to please her, but it seemed it only deepened her anger.
"I said go away, I don't want to see you anymore!" she turned and shouted to my face.
That really sounded so hurting, I did not say anything else, just turned and walked away back to our hostel, replaying her last words, '...go away, I don't want to see you anymore.'
Back inside our hostel, I walked silently back to my bunk and lay down gently on my mattress, while Kunle and Ojo moved towards me, seeing the sad expression on my face.
"Where did you run off to?" Ojo asked me, but I did not reply.
"What happened to you Akanni, we have already settled the case with Emma, he won't bother you anymore, but can you explain the situation with Mira, what's going on between you two?" Kunle inquired.
"Can both of you leave me right now, I need to rest," I shut them both off.
"No problem, but you are owing us an explanation," Ojo said, while pulling Kunle away from my bunk.