More Than a Game

continued

The little boy and his father took a break, and the boy returned triumphantly from the concession stand with a bag of Cheetos. I knew his life was going to change forever whether his little brother lived or died, and I silently approved his father's decision to let him eat junk food.

Things got tense in the top of the ninth. Michigan led 4-0, but there was only one out, and the Spartans had loaded the bases. The tying run was at the plate, but reliever Matt Ogden held the Spartans with a ground-ball double play.

One last chorus of "Hail to the Victors" as the Michigan team swarmed from the dugout for an infield celebration. I realized those jubilant players had no idea what this evening meant to the family beside me.

We said our "goodbyes," then ran into each other one last time in the parking lot as we walked toward our cars. I pointed out State Street to them, their route to great pizza, and we waved to each other.

On Easter, I said a prayer for all of them between hymns.

Will this new baby in their family live? I looked through the obituaries in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids and was relieved not to find a newborn. Will the little boy grow up and become a Michigan student some day? Will he sit in Ray Fisher Stadium with his younger brother or bring his own sons to a game?