STRIKE 3

It was hot … even in the shade
but this is texas in july
where even the chicken
is real easy to fry

bart was on the mound
looking at 3-2 trouble
two out in the ninth
but he was still on the bubble

down one run, big jeff at bat
he is no piece of cake
his pitches must be strikes
nothing can be fake

down comes his arm
the ball is released
bart’s wry smile
shows he is really pleased

the batter squints
under the late afternoon sun
the ball is spinning and wet
jeff thinks it’s a good bet

but at the last second
the ball takes a weird hop
and bart sees the ump
in his throat a deadly lump

the ump sees a ball
but jeff had texas size gall
he took a late swing
and made bart the game’s king