A Shay moment

I received this in an email today, and really liked it. Hope you enjoy it too!

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were > playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' Shay's > father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their > team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, > it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be > accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.> > Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not > expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and > said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I > guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth > inning.'> > Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a > team shirt. His Father watched w ith a small tear in his eye and warmth in > his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the > bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still > behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and > played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was > obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from > ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the > ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases > loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be > next at bat.> > At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the > game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all > but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, > much less connect with the ball.> > However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the > other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved > in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make > contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The > pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. > As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball > right back to the pitcher.> > The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and > could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been > out and that would have been the end of the game.> > Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out > of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started > yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever > run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, > wide-eyed and startled.> > Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay > awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the > base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had > the ball ... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to > be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-> baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, > intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. > Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled > the bases toward home.> > All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'> > Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by > turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! > Shay, run to third!'> > As Shay rounded third, t he boy s from both teams, and the spectators, were > on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, > stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and > won the game for his team.> > 'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his > face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and > humanity into this world'.> > Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never > forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and > seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!