WHERE’S THE PLAY? Three words that may not mean much to most
people, but words that were seared into our tiny little orb-like brains by our
new Knothole League baseball coach. These words would contribute to our perfect
trifecta: achieving our every hope and dream, restoring prominence to our
community, and saving our sponsor from the ache of financial ruin. My dad, our
new coach, barked these signature words whenever the opposing batter came to
the plate. Little did we know that words spoken to us on a baseball field as
young children would continue to guide our lives many years later.
Few kid leagues exist with as
formidable a team as Shotwell’s Shockers. They were every opponent’s nightmare
and every coach’s dream. We were faced with just such a curse. We had the good
fortune of two advantages; our pitcher, and a new coach to lead us through a
most amazing summer.
There is plenty of summer fun
and laughter interspersed with memories of days gone by. As much a book on the
value of goodhearted, caring coaching and sponsorship as it is one of playing
the game, the reader will be inspired by the positive, visionary coach; equally
enamored by the loveable, affable sponsor; and unavoidably enchanted by a team
of misfits that, against great odds, fights its way to the elusive championship
game.
