Manion 1

Peyton Manion

Mrs. Cramer

Comp I Pd. 5a

22 February 2019

College Application Narrative

In my 16 years of living, I have had many significant experiences that have impacted me

and made me the person that I am today. Out of all the experiences and dilemmas I have been

through, there is only one that truly sticks out.

I was 14 years old, playing travel baseball, my favorite sport. On my team were my friends

who I have known since a young age and have been playing with since I was eight. This was our

last year playing together on the same travel team, so it was dramatic, but amazing to share the

moments of joy with them. August came around, which meant that we were about to face the

biggest tournament of our lives, the Cal Ripken Experience at Myrtle Beach.

There were teams from all over the country there, including a team from the Virgin Islands.

The competition there seemed tough, but nothing we couldn’t handle. As we proceeded into pool

play, we were undefeated. We did not face any teams yet that gave us trouble. Our next game was

against a team from New Jersey. This was one of the best teams in the tournament and maybe the

best team we had played all year. My coach came up to me and handed me a game ball. He told

me I was pitching against them, and that I should go warm up. I nervously went to the bullpen and

warmed up. The first inning, I walked up to the mound shaking. I stepped on the rubber, took a

deep breath, and stared at the batter getting into the box. I told myself I could do it. One pitch at a

time. I threw the first pitch and felt great. Three consecutive strikeouts to complete the half inning.

Each inning helped me gain even more confidence than the one before. I went six innings scoreless
 Manion 2

before giving up one run. Our team was not producing offensively, and someone had to get it

started. My best friend, Derek, got on base from balls. Then he took second on a passed ball. Colby

was on third, and Derek was on second, waiting to be driven in. I stepped up to the plate, trying to

calm myself down. If I got out, we would lose. I got down in the count 2-2. I dug into the box and

stared the pitcher down, waiting for him to try and blow a fastball by me. The pitch was delivered,

and I hit the ball off the wall in the left center gap, knocking in two runs, and putting us up by one.

I then went out the next inning and got all three batters out. My friends huddled around me,

celebrating.

That was the most memorable moment that made me the person I am today. That game

gave me the confidence I surely needed and showed me I could conquer the impossible. We went

on to win the tournament against the team from the Virgin Islands, that went to the Little League

World Series the year before. This proved to our team that our hard work truly paid off for this

glorified moment. Without each other’s support, we wouldn’t have even came close winning. That

summer baseball experience is one that I will never forget for the rest of my life.