The Secrets of Baseball

Chapter 1

"Safe!" The umpire had called as the opposing team groaned. The score was 10-9 and bases were loaded. Jess McGroy stepped up to bat, ready to make history. Strike one, then two. Jess gripped the bat hard and then swung. The crack of the ball making contact with the bat was heard all around and the ball flew. First silence, then cheers. Jess had did it. It was a home run.

Jess ran the bases to end the game with a score of 10-13. The team gathered round and lifted up the hero; accidentally knocking off the hat that made everyone gasp. Jess was...

Hold it, hold it. I think I'm getting a head of myself. First of all, that doesn't happen for a few months. Second of all, you should hear the beginning of the story before you hear the end.

It was the summer of '98 and school had just got out. That's not all that had happened. Jess McGroy, age 14, had just moved to the town of Durand. It was a little town. Not much happened in Durand. At least, not until Jess got there.

There's something you need to know about Jess McGroy. Jess is... Well we'll get there later.

Who am I, you may ask? I'm not important. Like I've been saying, this story is about Jess McGroy. Now on to the story...

The final school bell rang and everyone ran out of the building; glad to be free for the next 3 months. It was the beginning of June and 9 friends rushed to their beloved baseball diamond. "Scotty, 1st base; Zeke, 3rd base; David, catcher; Noah, outfield; I'll be pitcher. Ham, Ryan, B, then Noah, batting. We'll rotate after 3 outs as usual." Danny told. All went to their assigned spots and Ham stepped up to bat.

Hamilton "Ham" Snip was a chubby kid with orange hair. He went by many nicknames, but mostly Ham. He was a fun loving guy, but took baseball really serious. He was also known for talking tough but rarely followed through on his threats.

"Ready Ham?" Danny asked,
"Just throw it you sissy!" Ham shouted back, "And make it count!" Danny threw and threw and threw. Strike each time. "You're out!" He called. Ham frowned and walked away. Ryan stepped up to bat.
"You ready man?" Ryan just nodded.

Ryan Onix didn't talk; to anybody. Not his dad or his friends. He became mute after his mom died. They were really close and the death hit him hard. His sad, brown eyes told you almost everything. Ryan was everyone's kid brother. He was the youngest and the smallest of the group.

Danny threw one strike, a ball, and finally a hit. Ryan got to first base by the time the ball got back to Danny. Next up was B.

B Jones was the only African American of the bunch. No one knew his real name. His parents called him B and so did the teachers. Ever since he came to Durand in 2nd grade, he's been B.

"Throw this one carefully Danny. I'll hit it over the fence." B said,
"Not again B!" Scotty replied, "This is our last baseball. You lose it and you buy us a new one."
"Yeah, yeah. Just throw it Danny." Danny nodded and threw. Strike one, strike two, crack! B hit the ball over the fence and then some. Everyone threw down their gloves and groaned as B walked the bases. "Come on B!" one said,
"Not again!" another told him; each hitting him with their glove.
"Guys, back up." Danny said, breaking up the fight, "B lost it, so he'll buy another one."
"One problem," B said, nervously laughing, "I spent my allowance on my new glove."
"Aw B!" Ham starting hitting him with his glove.

Little did they know that what B had done, would not only bring someone new into their circle of friends, but change history.