Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2019 06:30:41 +0000 (UTC)
From: Blade Hamer <razorbald@yahoo.com>
Subject: Strike Two chapter  (Adult/Youth & Athletics)

Strike Two

Chapter 14

Disclaimers: Everything you read in this story is my intellectual property
and as such should be treated with utmost respect. The people described are
not living, breathing human beings mind you. They exist only in the realm
of pure imagination. The people described in the story do not really exist,
but are rather the combination of several different people. Thus they do
not exist.

ANY RESEMBLANCE TO REAL PEOPLE IS ENTIRELY COINCIDENTAL ON MY PART.

All other disclaimers/rules/procedures apply.

If you are under the legal age of viewing this material (depending upon
where you live, that could be any age) please direct yourself to something
else that will occupy your time. I've read plenty of Nifty stories over the
years, and have enjoyed many of the stories that I consider good, now I'm
just trying to pay it forward. It's going to be a chapter story, so if you
are looking for a quick toss-off better move onto the next story. Other
than that, I sincerely hope you enjoy my story.

Constructive criticism/feedback/comments are duly appreciated.

Please direct them to my email at razorbald@yahoo.com. All are welcome!

Sorry for the short chapter been struggling with my health once again, plus
the holidays. I intend for the next chapter to be longer. Thanks once again
for reading and hope you enjoy.

Strike two

Chapter 14

"The only ones here to see me play is my family and it takes more than one
person to play a baseball game." Adian said. Looking at the guys gathered
around him.

"Adian, Kristopher, it's time."  Blake called from the dugout entrance.

Chapter 14

 "Heads or Tails." the umpire asked Adian. Adian called it in the air.

"Tails." Adian called out. The coin landed on the plate and the four boys
watched as the coin landed.

"Tails it is." called out the umpire. Adian was now three for three on his
calls.

"We'll take home." Blake called out.

"OK, guys get ready." He told Adian and Kristopher as they headed back to
the bench. Blake stopped Bobby on the way out to the mound.

"How are you feeling?"

"Good coach, but I am a little nervous." Bobby said. Looking up at Blake.

"Don't be, just go out there and play catch with Carlos. If they get a hit
off you remember you have seven other players behind you. Your not a one
man team." Blake told his little ballplayer. Bobby smiled and ran out to
the mound. Once he was warmed up the umpire called out.

"Let's play ball."

Blake had figured out right that starting Bobby was working out really
well. His slower pitches had really thrown off the Sabers starting line
up. So, he decided to keep Bobby in for another inning. Adian was going two
for two and had scored the only runs. Blake made the changes like he
promised at the top of the forth inning. The only one he left on the bench
was Aaron but he promised to get him in at the bottom of the forth. Aaron
would be going in for Bobby once he moved Adian to pitching if they held
their lead. Bobby did well but allowed two hits before Adian, Kristopher
and Peter finished the inning with a beautiful double play. As promised
Blake put Aaron in at the bottom of the forth. He would be batting after
JD. The St. Cloud team changed pitchers and he did not seem as strong as
the first pitcher they used in the first three innings. Blake had a good
feeling the boys were going to have their way. JD Smith started the hitting
with a single down the third base line.  Aaron stepped up to the batters
box then stepped out and looked down the third base line for the signal
from Coach Holand. Blake gave the signal for the hit and run. just as Aaron
stepped into the box he heard a voice from the stands.

"Hit him home Aaron." came David's voice from the crowd. Aaron smiled to
himself, he set himself so he was ready for the pitch. His mind went to the
instructions David and the others gave him when he sat in on their
practices and even took batting practice with the team. Aaron had witnessed
his batting get better. Other Hornet players were calling out to him now
encouraging him to hit JD home. At the start of the game Aaron was nervous,
but David had helped him calm down. Aaron watched as the first pitch left
the pitchers hand. It was low and to the outside. So, Aaron held off on
that pitch. Once again he stepped out and looked to coach Holand. Once
again he was given the hit and run signal. He could now here Adian's voice
come from the dugout, cheering him on. Aaron stepped into the batters box
again this time the catcher made a comment to the pitcher.

"Come on Kenny, throw it in here he is not going to swing." The comment
sparked something inside him and he watched as the pitcher threw the
ball. It was a perfect pitch, right down the middle.

ting

The crowd stood and began to cheer as the ball went over the 220
mark. Aarons first homerun and it had been done at the State tournament in
the championship game. Adian was the second person to meet him at home
plate. JD Smith had stopped at home plate to give him a hug. With the lead
now 4 to 0, Peter was the next to bat. The St. Cloud pitcher tried his best
to strike the big batter out but walked him along with Jose and Sean. which
brought up the top of the line up. With bases loaded and the top of the
order coming up.  The coach from the Sabers went out to talk to his
pitcher. Freddy was up to bat next and he was really good at bunting. With
no outs and bases loaded bunting was not the best option right now. But
then again what would be the chance of the St. Cloud team being smart
enough to go home with the throw. So, while the St. Cloud coach was talking
with his pitcher, Blake pulled Freddy aside and told him to bunt the ball
up the middle. After the St. Cloud coach left the mound Freddy stepped into
the batters box and as instructed laid down a perfect bunt right in front
of the pitcher, and sure enough the pitcher did not know where to go with
the hit, and with Peters speed he easily slid under the tag, when the
pitcher finally made up his mind to throw it home. Eric was the next to
step in to bat. Eric hit the ball on the first pitch but flew out to the
center fielder but drove in a run. Next up to bat was Kristopher who had
hit a single in the first inning and another in the third, he was driven
home by Adian on a double and a triple only to be stranded both times. With
runners at second and third Kristopher hit a bloop single up the first
baseline. Catching the first baseman off where he would normally
play. Kristopher rounded first but held off going to second. Kristopher had
a two run RBI. Up next was Adian, he looked down the third base line for
the signal. Blake gave him the hit away signal and Adian stepped in and
watched as the first pitch dropped right in front of home plate for ball
one. The catcher managed to keep the ball in front of him, which stopped
the runner from advancing. The next pitch was outside of the plate but the
umpire called it a strike. Adian remained in the batters box as the next
pitch was high and on the inside and the umpire once again called it a
strike. Adian was about to protest the call but remembered what Blake had
told everyone at the beginning of the summer. (It is your job to hit the
ball it is my job to argue with the umpire.) Adian stepped out adjusted his
gloves and tapped the dirt from his cleats. Then stepped back in and
watched as the pitcher threw the ball.

ting A cheer went up from the crowd. Adian tucked his head and charged down
the first base line. Bobby let him know the ball was over the centerfield
fence. Adian touched second base and proceeded to third base, where he high
fived coach Blake before he headed to home plate. Kristopher met him at
home plate with Aaron right behind. Even though Kristopher was Adian's best
friend it was Aaron who paid the most attention to Adian. Kristopher had
been right at the beginning of the baseball season. Adian was the final key
to winning the state tournament. With the score now 9 to 0 JD was up to bat
once more this time he hit a single up the third base line. Aaron stepped
into the batters box after getting the signal from Blake to hit away. The
first pitch was low and to the inside of the plate but the umpire called it
a strike. Aaron stepped out, knocked the dirt from his spikes. Then he
stepped back into the batters box. He watched as the pitcher released his
next pitch, It was a nice pitch right down the center. Aaron tucked his
head on his shoulder and swung just as the ball crossed the plate. Aaron
drove the ball over the second baseman's head. Aaron raced down to first
base and made it just under the throw. Peter was next to step up to the
plate and went down on a called third strike. Jose was also called out on a
bad call from the umpire. This time Blake decided he was going to
challenge. Something told him the umpire didn't like the Cougars team. It
became apparent when Adian went into pitch. Where Bobby was striking out
batters and allowing a hit here and there. Every pitch Adian threw was
called a pitch outside or to high when the pitch was right down the center
of the plate. Blake called time and went out to talk to Adian.

"Hey buddy your doing well. Keep doing what you are doing. Because you are
doing great." Blake told the young boy. In the mean time three of the
Wilton Hornets went over to talk to the Tournament director. They were not
the first of many to complain about how the umpire was calling the game. It
wasn't long after the Hornet players talked to the officials that they came
over to watch the umpire behind the plate. After watching Adian pitch to
two more batters and one more run come in on a called ball four. The state
tournament director called time to the umpire. In the meantime Connor and
David called Blake over to the fence to let him know what was going
on. Blake thanked the two ballplayers. Blake was beginning to wonder if he
should pull Adian out of the game, he knew the umpires bad calls had some
effect on his pitching, but figured pulling Adian out would hurt him
more. So, Blake decided to see what would happen. The next two batters went
down on six straight pitches. The tournament director stuck around till the
top of the sixth inning. Adian had one more at bat in the fifth inning
scoring two more runs as well as hitting another triple only to get
stranded on third base again. Adian struck out the Sabers top three batters
with nine pitches to end the game. the final score was 14 to 5. If it would
not have been for the bad calls by the umpire the Cougars would have ten
run ruled the St. Cloud Sabers at the bottom of the forth inning. Adian's
team mates mobbed him on the mound as they celebrated their State
Championship. Blake just stepped back into the dugout along with John and
Jim, watching as the boys celebrated.

Blake thought back to the beginning of the season. how had he even
questioned Kristopher suggestion about Adian being part of this team. Adian
was definitely the most talented baseball player he has ever seen. Sure he
has other players on the team that are talented.  But overall Adian was the
best in everything on the ballfield. That boy could play any position and
he was making his team mates play a level above where they should be. Blake
began to wonder what this team would be like with out Adian. Bobby's
pitching is really good but would he be that good with out Adian pushing
him. The same could be said for Aaron Danvers, Who would have thought the
little eleven year old would have hit a home run in the championship
game. The next thing for the Cougars team would be for the little league
regional tournament. Thankfully the tournament was being held in Des
Moines, Iowa. But Blake wasn't sure what to do. Three of the Cougar
ballplayers, along with 9 other boys and himself would be in Minneapolis
for the AAU Summer wrestling classic. Once the boys came to the dugout
Blake had the boys sit down and relax before the medals ceremony.

"Great game guys, Bobby and Adian our top pitchers, Kristopher, JD, Aaron,
nice hitting. the rest of you, I just think you are the greatest. This
tournament was a team effort, with some clutch catch's at the right
time. So, thank you. Here is what is next. The Little League Regional
Championship and if you win that you will be off to the Little League World
Series. I believe this team could win the whole thing if you put your mind
to it. Now get out there and cheer on the St. Cloud Sabers while they
receive their awards and trophy." The boys let up a cheer and went out to
cheer on the Sabers.  Once the officials handed out the second place
trophies, it was the Cougars turn to receive the Championship trophy and
medals. Blake held Adian for last, when Adian was called to receive his
ribbon, he also was given a trophy for being the MVP of the state
tournament. Adian was surprised that he had won that trophy. Before this
year Adian had never won anything. Now, Adian had medals and trophies for
the first time in his life. He never thought he would have so much fun
playing a sport. Sure he could run and he enjoyed that, but now he had the
love of baseball. The director of the State Tournament said something else
to Adian and to Blake but Adian didn't really hear what was said. He was to
overwhelmed by everything that was going on around him. His team mates were
coming over to him asking questions about his MVP trophy. Aaron was
standing next to Adian, when the same reporter who had tried to talk to him
before approached. Lucky for Adian his Uncle Logan had joined him along
with Scott, little Jake, John and Mary Holand. They gathered around him to
admire his trophy and his medal, while cutting off the reporter.

"Excuse me, can I get a interview with your son?" the reporter asked John
who had turned around to stop the reporter from getting any closer.

"I am sorry I can't because I am only his temporary guardian. You would
need to get permission, verbal permission from either his mother or
father." John told the reporter. The reporter did not stop at trying to get
interviews. He approached other players and their parents.  Many of the
boys and their parents refused to talk to the reporter but other spoke
freely to the reporter.

Eric Hooper was one of those boys. Most of the questions asked were about
Adian Parks and his role on the team. What he thought of Adian's play on
and off the field. Of course Eric told him about the hours of running and
practice the whole team had gone through together. Eric tried to make the
interview about his play but the reporter kept bringing the conversation
back to Adian. So, Eric talked a little more about Adian and his other team
mates, until the reporter gave up and moved on to other people.

"So, where are you going to put all these medals and trophies?" Logan
asked.

"I haven't thought about that yet." Adian said while thinking. He didn't
have any shelves in his room. While thinking about that he was also
thinking his mom would be getting out of the hospital soon. He wish she
could have seen him play in the State tournament but it was out of the
question. Her last surgery was last week and there had been some swelling
in her throat and the doctors didn't want to release her from the hospital
just yet. But they said she was getting better. Adian also thought about
his father, even if his father did hurt his mother he still missed him. He
thought back to when his father would take him running in the morning.

"Can I get everyone's attention?" Blake called out to the group of adults
and players and their families.

"I would like to invite everyone to a picnic next Tuesday at the Wilton
Hornets stadium. All three Wilton teams are invited. After the picnic we
will stay and watch our friends the Hornets play the Green bay Ducks."

The boys cheered along with the parents. After everyone gathered their
equipment and gear. They packed the gear into Blakes trunk. People began to
leave.

"Adian, Adian." a voice called out. When Adian looked he saw Richard and
Robby waving at him from a SUV in the parking lot. Adian grabbed Aaron and
went over to talk to the boys. Once again they talked about the game and
how much fun they had together. They promised to send messages and
emails. Both boys had made some good friends during the State tournament
and they would never forget how much fun they had. It was then John called
the boys over. So, they to could get going back home.

"So, did you guys have fun?" John asked the boys while pulling out of the
baseball complex.

"Yeah, I have never had so much fun in my life. I am glad that I got to
spend the weekend with you guys. The tournament was fun, the hotel was
great and I made a new best friend." Adian said putting his hand on Aarons
lap.

"I had a great time too. I don't think I would have had as much fun as I
did without Adian staying with me. Dad you're fun but it is not the same as
having someone with me that is the same age." Aaron said while taking
Adian's hand. It didn't take long for the two boys to fall asleep. John
smiled when he looked in the rearview. Both Aaron and Adian were leaning
against each other while they slept. Ten minutes before pulling into Wilton
the boys woke and watched as the sun went down in the west. It was getting
late and John Knew the boys would be hungry so he pulled into the local
Burger Barn, he took the boys inside and had them order their food.

They found a booth and sat down to eat. Still dressed in their baseball
uniforms a few people recognized them and came over to congratulate
them. All three of them were surprised that anyone back home had even known
that they had played it the state tournament. When they finished eating
they headed over to the Parson's home. Once there, Aaron asked his father
if Adian could stay overnight.  John told the boys that was the plan. The
Holand's would be staying in the cities to visit with family. Since Adian
wasn't really part of the family it was decided that he would go back and
stay with the Parson's until they came back Monday afternoon. What John
wasn't telling the boys is that Scott and Little Jake were going to visit
their mother at the Shakopee women's correctional facility. It was decided
the week before the state tournament that they would visit. It would be
Jake's second time meeting her. The Holands spending the night in the
cities did not bother Adian since he would get to stay the night with Aaron
again and then John promised to take him up to the hospital to visit his
mother. John had met Maria the previous week, when he went up to get her
permission to have Adian stay with them over the tournament weekend. The
boys helped unload all but Adian's equipment before John sent the two boys
to bed. Even though the boys had slept all the way home/ It didn't take
long for the boys to fall asleep. Tonight the boys slept with PJ's on in
case Aarons mother decided to check on them.

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Thanks again for reading all remarks are appreciated.

Other stories on nifty:
Unexpected Relationships (Gay/ incest) completed story
The runaways (Adult/Youth) in progress
Turnhurst Manor (Adult/Youth) completed story
The beauty of red (Adult/Youth) completed story
The short life of Kiren Brown (Adult/Youth) completed story
Strike Two (Adult/Youth & Athletics) In progress