The game of baseball can infect anyone who watches long enough. Baseball is a game of happenstance: From one pitch to the next it cannot be predicted, and it is this suspense which keeps anyone who watches on the edge of their seats and why it is such an enjoyment to watch. Anyone young or old can enjoy the game of baseball because of its infectious nature.
When first you walk into the stadium you are assailed by many different sights, sounds and smells. You see the crowd, those who have joined you to witness the matching of skills by these two teams. The most dominating sight is the field itself, the green diamond surrounded the the brown of dirt again surrounded by the green of the grass into the outfield, and the entire field dotted with the players. Many different smells come from everywhere, from the vendor selling his hot dogs and popcorn to the men and women around you, and the smell of the grass and dirt from the field. Also from the crowd around you is the constant hum of conversation. Then you see the home plate umpire step forward and yell, "Play ball!".
This is when things start to happen. The first batter steps into the box and the umpire signals the pitcher for the first pitch to be thrown. "Strike!" yells the umpire, and the game has begun. Two more strikes and the first batter is retired. The next batter steps up and sets himself; it's a hit. The ball skims the ground to the shortstop. He fields the ball cleanly and in the same motion throws the ball to first, "Out!" Another strike out and the visiting team takes the field to see how well they can hold the opposing team.
The game continues like this for a time, with each team holding the other to no runs. Finally on a hanging curve ball the visitors blast a line drive to the right field wall and two runs score. The home team is now down two runs, and they double their efforts to gain those runs back.
It's now the bottom of the ninth inning; the visiting team still holds a two run lead and the home team is up to bat.
