And the Crowd Roars By Michael Grenzer and Johnathan Leflore, Team Wisconsin 5 July 2006 — The bases are loaded, Mike is at the plate and the pitch sails in. Crack! The ball goes into an opening in left field and the crowd roars. Mike races to second base, forcing in two runs to tie the game in the third inning. By the end of the third inning, Special Olympics Wisconsin's male softball team is leading Special Olympics Delaware 4-2. Special Olympics Wisconsin softball Coach John Avery celebrates the game-winning out. Special Olympics Wisconsin has the advantage in this game because their fans overpower the Special Olympics Delaware fans. The Team Wisconsin fan section has family and friends supporting them with dance routines and cheers. It is not only the fans that are cheering wildly, but also Coach John Avery of the Wisconsin Wolves. This game was exciting not only for the fans of both teams, but also for anyone that ventured over to the diamond. Other teams that were in the area waiting to play also were excited watching the game. As the game went into the top of the sixth inning, Team Wisconsin was down by one crucial run. It was a must-score scenario with two outs and bases loaded. Mike steps up to bat and draws a walk to tie the game. The fans and Team Wisconsin roar and celebrate with high fives and dancing in the aisles. Team Wisconsin then holds Team Delaware scoreless in the bottom of the sixth inning to force an extra inning. In the top of the seventh inning, the fans chant "Go Wisconsin!" The team was able to score two runs to take a 7-5 lead. It is now the bottom of the seventh, and Team Delaware has the bases loaded with two outs. Team Delaware's big hitter steps up to the plate and smashes a hard grounder to shortstop Craig Becker. Becker snatches it off the ground and tosses it to second base for the game-winning play. After the game, Craig was asked what he was thinking as the ball was coming to him. He said "just to get the out." Coach John Avery said he could feel the crowd behind the team when the pressure was on during the sixth inning. When Coach John was asked what part of the team won the game, he stated, "All 17 of them." Return to main Youth Summit Stories page