When reading this I get the feeling that you are the pitcher, you have finally realised your own self worth , however the man in the poem is not expecting this. (Hence the curve ball)
Maybe his friends have helped you, Did he make you feel worthless and you have finally overcome this?
(Valor should be valour )
I like how you change the voice in stanza 3 [I've traded one....]
Your character is at its strongest in the final stanza, this is where you prove you are better than him.