When I was first learning to play, I could do everything right at practice, but when I got into a real game, I would kind of freeze up because I was thinking too much about what I was supposed to be doing instead of just going out, having fun and letting my instincts guide me. After a couple of games, my dad gave me this big pack of bubble gum and told me that he wanted me to blow a bubble every time I came up to bat. Bubbles are fun, and before I knew it, I was just out there playing and having a good time. Since then, I always have a couple of packs in my bat bag, and blowing a big bubble still helps remind me to just go out and have fun.

My beast game ever? You might be surprised, but it didn't come from what I did at the plate. Yeah, mansters dig the long ball, but being a werewolf, I love to chase things, and when I'm in centerfield, the things I love chasing most are balls hit in the air. I get a bigger thrill from making a great defensive play than from getting a hit. We were playing a vampire team, and their bats were red hot. They scored five runs in the first inning and two in the second, but we were able to claw our way back into the game and eventually took a one-run lead going into the last inning. We got two quick outs, but they managed to get runners on second and third with their best hitter coming to the plate. I was playing in shallow center, hoping that on a ground ball up the middle, I would have a chance to throw the winning run out at the plate. Only the batter hit a high drive that was going to be way over my head. I turned around and just started sprinting in the direction I thought the ball was going to land. I took a quick peek over my shoulder and knew I only had one play, so I completely laid out. I hit so hard that it knocked my bubble gum and my breath out of me. But I caught the ball. It's still my favorite play of all time.

SUNDAY

Originally balls are made from the shells of hatched roc eggs and chimera scales. The balls were expensive, since gathering the materials was... difficult. They were then rubbed with mud from the banks of the River Styx creating a "dead ball" that didn't fly as far and was easily retrievable. Modern balls are made from synthetic materials.