Natitude, Saditude.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. -Earl Wilson

I didn't know if I'd ever be able to write this post, but it's my life and it needs to be documented.

Last Thursday, G and I had tickets to Game 4 of the NLDS at Nats Park. This was it. If we lost this game, we were out of the playoffs. Walking through the concourse, there was excitement, but there was also a blanket of nervousness hanging over everyone. Our season came down to this. But I would never miss this game. Ever.

Frank Howard, Washington Senators great from the 60s, threw the first pitch to Ryan Zimmerman. It was pretty cool.

The Washington Post handed out red rally towels for everyone to wave during the game. It was so cool to look out over Nats Park and see 44,000 red towels waving, hearing people screaming for OUR team, the Washington Nationals, on national TV, in a playoff game...AHHHH. I could barely take it.

When Adam LaRoche hit a homerun in the 2nd inning, the first run at Nats Park in a playoff game, I almost fainted from screaming and jumping. Honestly. Such an adrenaline rush...The rest of the game I held my breath whenever we were pitching and relaxed a little when we were batting.

Then. Bottom of the 9th, we were tied at 1 and Jayson Werth was up first. I knew RZ was up 3rd and thought, "Wouldn't it be cool if he hit a walkoff homerun?" I really would lose control. Then, Werth worked a 12 pitch at bat, and on the 13th pitch, he hit a walkoff homerun to left field. The stadium absolutely lost control. I have never, ever, EVER been in a louder place in all my life. Not at BYU, not at any other baseball stadium...it was absolutely incredible.

(last three photos via WaPo)

It is kind of difficult for me to put into words how completely amazing it was being in the stadium then. I will never forget how it felt to watch that ball fall in the left field stands and see MY team explode out of the dugout over the rails...after so many years of losing baseball, we won a playoff game at home. On a walkoff homerun. Absolutely incredible.

Up next: game 5. G and I met at the stadium the next morning at 8:15 to wait in line for standing room tickets. The box office opens at 10 so we made friends in line and time actually passed pretty fast.

This was at about 10 when G and I were moving through the line.

It was pretty chilly outside so I was wrapped up in my Nats fleece blanket. I guess I stood out so I was interviewed by NBC and ABC! Haha.

Not wearing makeup, so I probably looked a little ferocious on camera. But it was exciting! I always love the chance to speak about my team :)

The whole day I was stressing out about the night. I couldn't wait. I was nervous, excited. I met G, R and my dad on Cap Hill and then we walked over and found a spot behind section 304.

The first inning was AWESOME. 7 pitches=Werth double, Harper triple, RZ HOMERS!!! Unbelievable. So loud, SO LOUD.

We were up 6-0 so for a lot of the game we were feeling good! Just had to keep it up. It was 6-5 going into bottom 8 and then we scored so it was 7-5. Top 9, Storen in...only needed 3 outs. We all kept yelling at each other, "3 OUTS! 3 OUTS!" It was so nervewracking. 2 outs, 3-2 count TWICE and then ball 4 was called...to make a long, ugly, sad story short, it was 7-9 going into bottom 9, and. We lost. After being ONE STRIKE AWAY.

It was over. All over. I couldn't move. A lot of people couldn't. We just stood there, staring. I literally could not move. My dad had to come and pull me away.

Dad and I walked all the way to his office in Judiciary Square, so i got into bed around 3. But i couldnt fall asleep. All us Nats fans on twitter were commiserating together and i just felt like it didnt happen. Our season was over.

Ugh.

But, we had the best record in the majors. 98 wins. NL East Champions. Biggest thing I feel: we proved ourselves to be a serious threat in Major League Baseball. We are for real. And we will be even better in 2013. I know it.

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. -Rogers Hornsby