Extra Innings

There is a story ‘bout Casey, that is but incomplete It tells of simple ball and bat and Mighty’s ignoble feat There we learned of failure and the storied Mudville name Here we’ll learn what happened in the very next ballgame On this day the players came and sat upon the pine A game again once more, for the Mudville nine And when the Mighty one arrived and said “I will not play” Clouds hung over both team and field, things were a dreary gray The team dispersed to the field, their hopes and dreams were full They proudly showed the Mudville name across their suits of wool The innings passed so quickly, still not a fan would cheer They chased the roasted peanuts down with drafted foamy beer The innings read just like a thriller and then the ninth it came With prayers no longer muted they pleaded “not the same” The new day score was one to nuttin’ and Casey he still sat. Until the coach yelled down the bench “Hey, Casey get your bat!” Fans who saw him grab his bat and advance on towards the plate Rained “boos” down on to the field and cursed their constant fate The once great and Mighty Casey could never be the hero Because for sure he’d strike out n’ leave the score at zero The bases were quite full when Casey tipped his cap The other team grew broad smiles - the fans they did not clap The coach said to his nervous nine “Now it’s up to him” So, there it was, on Casey’s back a time to sink or swim With glove on knee and fingered stitch the pitcher was so ready He threw the ball at Casey who like a rock was steady Casey thought he’d fool them all and moved his bat to bunt The prayers were truly needed, it was a foolish stunt “Horse-feathers” the faithful screamed, in frightened unison The ball it dribbled forward, base runners forgot to run The catcher’s foot stomped the plate then he shot the ball to third Time it froze, amidst the gasps “You’re out” “You’re out” was heard Casey had flicked the bat away and stormed the path to first As stricken fans downed a beer this time it wasn’t thirst Casey knew he could atone, for yesterday’s black sin If he beat the ball to the bag, so he ran the race to win The cowhide sailed towards its target, the scrutinized first base Yesterday was bad, the newspaper had said worst case And then before the ball hit glove and before the final call The Mudville faithful asked out loud, Casey why did you fall?