Home Game , livre ebook

Outskirts Press - Stephen R. Denison

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108 pages

English

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Atlanta Braves minor league pitcher, Brett Davies, has much to contemplate at the young age of 25. Coming back from a torn rotator cuff that slows his dream of major league stardom, he has completed his first post-injury season with their farm team in Greenville, South Carolina. But his success as their top relief pitcher does not lead to a call up to Atlanta at the end of the Greenville season. Did the Braves executives think his repaired shoulder wasn’t good enough for major league competition? He needed answers and would go to Atlanta to meet with their general manager to find them. But Brett has more on his mind than baseball. Raised by a single mom, he had never been allowed to meet his father. Brett never knew why. His mother just told him, “It’s not possible.” And at age 25, Brett wonders if he will ever find the right girl to spend the rest of his life with. No current girlfriend, with none on the horizon, had both Brett (and his mother) concerned. But things were about to rapidly change. The following season Brett finds himself assigned to the Braves minor league team in Rome, Georgia as a player coach. A series of random events brings new people and new challenges into Brett’s life. Would they also lead him to the answers he needed to find his way home?

Sujets

Sports

Fiction

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Publié par	Outskirts Press
Date de parution	09 octobre 2022
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781977259066
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0500€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Home Game Sometimes Life Can Be More Than Baseball All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2022 Stephen R. Denison v3.0
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.
This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Outskirts Press, Inc. http://www.outskirtspress.com
ISBN: 978-1-9772-5906-6
Cover Photo © 2022 www.gettyimages.com . All rights reserved - used with permission.
Outskirts Press and the "OP" logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

1 - LAST GAME
2 - BIG LEAGUE FAMILY
3 - OLD FRIENDS/NEW OPPORTUNITIES?
4 - GOING HOME
5 - BACK TO SCHOOL
6 - TERRIBLE NEWS
7 - A CARD AND A LETTER
8 - TRUNKFUL OF MEMORIES
9 - SPRING TRAINING
10 - BIG LEAGUE OPPORTUNITY
11 - NEW TOWN, NEW TEAM, NEW ROLE
12 - FIRST GAME
13 - A KID’S GAME
14 - A MYSTERIOUS STRANGER
15 - DISCOVERY
16 - CONFESSION
17 - BIG LEAGUE VISIT
18 - RESCUE
19 - HOME GAME
Praise for HOME GAME

I love baseball! And I really loved reading Steve Denison’s first novel, Home Game. The book captures the spirit of baseball at its roots minor league ball in the South but the story is much more than that. The author, with his personal experience in college and professional baseball, dives deep into the hearts and lives of the characters, giving readers a behind-the-scenes look at both the joys and tribulations of aspiring ballplayers. It›s a heartwarming story that leaves the reader wanting more.

Carl McCullough

#1 Best-selling author
"Sid and the Boys:
Playing Ball in the Face of Race and Big Business"
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Home Game is my first novel. Whether it is my only one remains to be seen. While I had no doubt in my ability to write a book with a baseball theme, I also quickly realized I had no idea on how to get Home Game published, let alone marketed with reasonable chances of sales success.
My first efforts involved trying to find an agent who represented authors with books covering a sports theme. Being a first time, unknown author I found that my "Thank you, but not interested" replies (when I got a reply), were the only answer I would get.
I had read about authors who had successfully published their book through independent publishing companies. I interviewed a number of these companies and found a wide range of pricing, publishing options, and marketing support. I finally settled on Outskirts Press and could not be happier with my decision. From my initial call for information, through submitting my manuscript, designing a cover, and discussing marketing plans, each of their team members have been professional, responsive, and sincerely interested in my success. A sincere thank you to Outskirts Press.
I received tons of ideas from my local Rock Hill, SC writers club as I worked on improving my story. Once finished, my editor Melanie McCullough found more areas that needed cleaning up, making me almost feel like a real author!
During the editing and publishing process, I received encouragement from my good friend (Melanie’s dad, and also first time novelist) Carl McCullough, #1 Best-selling author "Sid and the Boys: Playing Ball in the Face of Race and Big Business". Without the support and push from Team McCullough, I’d probably still be wondering what to do next. Thank you, Team Mac!
And finally my personal home team support in writing Home Game, my wife and companion for over 45 years, Pam (aka Grammie Pammie). The first to review my initial chapters and urge me to keep going. Love you, Grammie. It’s been quite a ride, hasn’t it?
1
LAST GAME
He knew by now what his repaired shoulder could handle. Tonight, in the cool Asheville evening, the dull ache would not be going away. The tall blond hurler got up from his seat in the Greenville Braves bullpen and studied the action on the playing field. He was Greenville’s top relief pitcher. It was time to get ready. The knot in his stomach tightened as he rotated his arms around his body, trying to stay loose. I just might get in this one.
"Man, what do you think, Brett? Has the rookie been pitching from the stretch all night or what?" The question came from one of Brett Davies’ bullpen buddies, assistant coach Frankie Simmonetti.
"Give him a break, Frankie," Brett said with a smile, as he continued to stretch. "He just gets to Greenville this morning, takes his bags out of his car in time to put ‘em on the bus for Asheville, and then Skipper tells him he’s starting our last game of the year."
The final game of the Southern Association minor league baseball season had drawn a nice Friday night crowd to the Asheville ballpark. The Greenville Braves had battled the Tourists, a farm club of the Colorado Rockies, for seven innings. Frankie looked out on the field as the Braves, clinging to a one-run lead, took their defensive positions in the bottom of the eighth. "Yeah, you’re right…a real pucker tester for sure. I guess we should be glad he’s only walked five. Of course, he balanced that out with two wild pitches as well."
Ricky Jackson, the young lefty pitching for Greenville, had just been called up from Atlanta’s Class A team in Rome, Georgia. It was his first game for the Double A team and he was doing himself proud, giving up just three runs on the night, despite allowing eight hits and five walks.
"Frankie, he’s a kid," Brett said. "How old is he … twenty? And on top of that he’s a lefty; I think we should be glad he’s getting the ball over the plate."
Just then the bullpen phone rang. Before the other players could react, Frankie grabbed the receiver. He knew his job, and that included never letting the phone ring more than once. "Yeah?" he bellowed into it. "OK, I’ll tell him. I know… get ready quick."
Brett had his jacket off and was reaching for his glove before Frankie hung up.
" Davies. Warm up now!"
"Ease up Frankie, I’m right here. Give me ten throws, and I’ll be ready."
"OK, make it fast. Skip doesn’t want the kid to ruin his evening. Two get on, you’re in."
"Only two? I was hoping we could have the bases loaded. Makes the last game more interesting for the fans that way." Brett looked up into the old grandstands. Even though it was a brisk, damp night in the Blue Ridge Mountains, most of the crowd was still there. Must be a fireworks night.
He worked quickly while keeping one eye on the field. Jackson managed to strike out his sixth batter of the game to lead off the inning. Youth is amazing. Brett struggled to get loosened up for one last time. If only I hadn’t torn my shoulder up. I never used to have these problems.
The second hitter lined a single to left field and Brett, mindful of the two base runner limit, threw faster to be ready. The next Asheville batter ripped a shot up the middle. Brett prepared to go into the game. But the Braves shortstop, Felix Cardenas, dove to his left snagging the ball in the webbing of his glove and then quickly flipped it to second baseman Matty Boyd for the force out. Brett took a few deep breaths. There was no doubt in his mind why the Braves were bringing Cardenas up for the final month of the big league season. But why not me? Brett frowned and tried to get the thought out of his mind. I’ll find out soon enough when I get down to Atlanta and meet with Morey. Before he could begin throwing again, the Braves got the final out of the inning as the Tourists batter hit an easy pop fly to right. The phone rang and Frankie grabbed it. "OK, Skip. I’ll tell him." He turned around, but Brett already had his jacket on and was toweling the sweat off his face. "I know Frankie. Same thing next inning, two base runners, and I’m in."
The Braves went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth. They returned to the field with their one-run lead, needing just three more outs for their final win of the season. Brett took his jacket off and strode to the bullpen mound as the first Tourists batter came to the plate. The cool night air had already tightened his weakened muscles during the short time he was sitting. The dull ache remained. Even though Brett had worked diligently in rehab after the surgery, he knew he was not, and probably never would be, the same again. Good thing I’m older and smarter than all these kids. I’m gonna need it to get through this night.
Jackson’s luck had run out. After getting the first batter on a pop fly, two sharp line drive singles by the Asheville lead off and number two hitters put runners on first and second. As Braves Manager Jimmy Graham headed to the mound to rescue the rookie, Brett didn’t need to wait for Skip’s signal to the bullpen. Turning to grab his jacket, he wiped his face off with a towel, picked up his glove, and started the long trot in from the right field bullpen. Brett had made it a habit long ago to always jog to the mound. Whether it was from the dugout or the bullpen, he wanted to get there fast and start throwing. Particularly tonight. Let’s get this over quick.
Ricky was still waiting on the mound when Brett arrived. It was obvious he wanted to hand the ball to his older teammate.
"Great job, Ricky," Brett said.
"Thanks, Brett, go get ‘em." Ricky turned to walk off the mound and was surprised by the nice ovation from the hometown crowd. Brett looked around in t