I threw each player about 20 pitches and put a little zip on it.
Dylan was definitely a part of this team.
While Coach hit balls to the infield, I hit balls to the outfield.
Hitting fly balls to high school kids on the big diamond was more challenging.
I swung a weighted bat at home, and between the two, I started hitting the ball further.
Even the kids noticed I had a little more pop.
He was jacked, and he hit the ball further than I did.
After proving his superiority, he smiled at me, handed the bat back, and walked away laughing.
You gotta keep it light.
This team had a highly spirited personality and a lot of camaraderie.
I totally looked forward to the start of the season.
My job included getting the equipment out of the garage and then putting it away after practices and games.
I coached first base, and Gada’s dad stood at third.
We didn’t do anything on our own.
The coach flashed signs from the bench and told us,“You better not miss ‘em!
“He intimidated us the same way he intimidated his players.
He pretty much ruled with an iron fist, the same way he coached football.
I worked with the JV and Freshman teams as their hitting instructor.
The younger kids paid close attention to my every word and asked questions.
They stopped me in the hallways and in the lunchroom and wanted to talk hitting.
Okay, the school’s only hitting instructor…
I handed out smaller ones to every player.
Before games, I was responsible for handing in our roster to the home plate umpire.
I did the book and kept the pitch count.
We rarely got more than a score in any of the papers.
As the season went on, I fine-tuned my phone delivery, but even that didn’t help.
Apparently, we didn’t rate.
Work the count in your favor and make the pitcher throw you a strike.
It could be the best pitch you’re gonna see in the at-bat.
That’s when our bats really came alive.
No one wants to be stuck hitting in a pitcher’s count.
Our starting pitching was solid, with Gada, John, and Alejandro leading the way.
Our hitting was improving, with John, Stags, and Newk providing the power.
All but a few kids were making solid contact.
The Plumber at third base wasn’t hitting, and his fielding was less than stellar.
He wasn’t getting to balls in the hole, or ones hit down the line.
He looked like a gold glover, and at the plate, the skinny kid could rake.
I knew we had to get him in the starting lineup.
I mentioned it to Coach, and he kept his eye on him.
After practice, he calledPotatahinto his office and told him he wanted to move him to third base.
The kid was ecstatic.
I felt bad for Ryan, butPotatahwas definitely an upgrade at third, and he was only a sophomore.
Alejandro was the smoothest fielding high school shortstop I had ever seen.
He had soft hands, quick feet, and a strong arm.
His whole family was all about baseball and went to every game.
Coach refused to pronounce his name correctly, too.
He always called him Ali-Jarndro instead of Ali-Handro, which is the correct pronunciation.
I tried to explain that to Coach, but for whatever reason, he refused to say it correctly.
I could see that Coach’s on-field verbal reprimand rattled the kid.
“I went to Coach and told him, and he benched him for the remainder of the game.
After the loss and the long bus ride home, Coach called me into his office.
I couldn’t believe it.
Alejandro was the real deal.
Coach clearly rattled his cage.
I’d have a talk with him, but I wouldn’t kick him off the team.
He actually called him in and talked with him.
Baseball players are different animals.
You have to handle them with kid gloves.
Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental…
