Note: I've had a lot of requests to do another first time romantic sports-type story. Both Tomboy and Trailer Trash were well received so here goes again. I've had a few friends who were Army Brats that traveled so much that they didn't have time for friends or establishing relationships so this story is devoted to them. All characters in the story are at least eighteen years of age and the first chapter has little sex in it. If you want a lot of sex, do not read this chapter. And, it is quite long. All rights reserved.
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Danny Upton was told that if he made the team he would be a second string infielder for the Wilson High Panthers. It was bothering him a lot because he had always been the star shortstop for his Little League, Army Base League and his last high school team. The shortstop and captain on the Panthers was Corey Storm who led the team in hits last year as a junior and the second basement was senior Todd Jenkins an honorable mention All-State player last year.
"Let's see how you field," Coach Wright yelled to Danny who was standing behind Todd at second base. Todd grinned and moved aside. Danny took his defensive position and saw the ball flying towards the hole between shortstop and second.
Coach Matt Wright knew the ball would make it through because even his star second baseman Todd couldn't get to this one. He wanted to see the range of the new kid and decided to make it impossible for him to catch. He watched the ball hit the infield grass and then leaned over to get another ball on the ground when he heard some noise. By the time he looked up the new boy was lying horizontal on the ground. A second later he moved up to his knees and fired to first base. "Shit."
It was the first day of tryouts and the other players all stopped to see what the commotion was about.
"Lucky catch," Todd whispered to Danny after he ran back to the starting spot. Danny smiled and waited for the next ground ball.
"Let's see you get this one," Matt whispered as he threw up the ball and smacked it hard between first and second. All eyes were on Danny as he took two quick steps and flew horizonally in the air towards the ball. The ball caromed off the tip of his glove and then out into right field. His face fell into the dirt and into his eyes. He moved up again onto his knees and brushed off the dirt. "Damn."
Todd knew that there was no way that he could have even touched it never mind catching it. "Where did you say you played ball?"
"Overseas in Germany," Danny answered. "My dad was in the Army." Danny moved back and the coach hit him some slower ones that he made easily.
"You're not bad," Todd said as the coach turned to hit some balls to Corey. "But if you are going to play you will need another position."
"I prefer short," Danny grinned. They both turned to see the dark haired team captain dash in to take a slow roller and fire to first on his wrong foot.
"Like I said you better find another position." Todd grinned. After the defensive drills each new player trying out got to hit ten balls which included fouls. They all knew that of the twenty kids trying out there were only seven positions available.
The first two kids were horrible and only managed to hit a few weak grounders fair. They sighed and watched as the coach made marks on a clipboard. The next kid missed the first five balls thrown his way and the regulars from last year laughed. On the sixth ball he connected and it flew over the centerfield fence 350 feet away. They all stopped laughing. "Do it again," Coach Wright said.
Again he missed a few balls and then again he crashed one this time over the left field fence and almost out of the stadium. "What's your name son?" Coach asked after he removed his batting helmet.
"Andy Johnson sir." The big soft spoken kid grinned. They all saw that he was missing his two front teeth.
"What happed to you?" The coach asked.
"I took a high hard one in my face last year," Andy grinned. "I like to crowd the plate."
The coach wrote something down and then Danny stepped up to the plate. He moved to the left side.
"A lefty hitter huh?" The coach asked.
"No sir." Danny answered.
"You're on the left side of the plate son," the coach laughed. Some of the regulars laughed as well.
"Oh, I see what you mean. Well sir I'm a switch hitter and since your batting practice pitcher is a righty I moved to the left side."
The coach made some marks on the sheet and pointed at his assistant coach to throw. Again the players all watched to see if he could hit as well as he could field. Danny took the first three pitches even though they were strikes. Since his ten only counted when he touched the ball with the bat he wanted to make sure he made good contact.
"Well hit the ball son," the coach said from behind the backstop.
Danny dug his back foot in and waited for the somewhat easy pitch. He knew that he hit it well because the metal bat made a metallic binging noise. He followed through like his coach at the army base had taught him and saw the ball shoot between the left field and center field gap. He quickly moved back into position and on the next pitch hit the ball just as hard to the exact same spot. The next three pitches were caromed over the second baseman's head.
"Wait!" The coach yelled. "Jimmy get in there and pitch."
Danny backed away not sure what was going on. The coach grabbed the catcher's mitt and waited for Jimmy Thompson to throw. Danny smiled when he saw the left arm tossing the ball.
"Let's see how you do on the right side," the coach said moving again behind the backstop.
The lefty used a big wind-up and threw his best fast ball on the outside part of the plate. He expected to hear it hit the catcher's mitt but he heard Danny's bat instead.
Danny saw that it was coming in on the outside of the plate and went with the pitch like his father had taught him years ago. The ball never seemed to drop as it flew over the first baseman's head. The right fielder didn't even try to catch it as he watched it travel over the right field fence.
Coach Wright dropped his clipboard. "DO IT AGAIN!"
Jimmy Thompson was a good friend of both Todd and Corey and this new kid was looking way too good. He looked at Todd and winked as he took a long windup and fired the ball.
Danny saw it coming at his head and managed to duck just enough for the ball to crash against the helmet. The force of the ball knocked his head back as his body fell straight backwards. He felt the pain on his left elbow when he hit the ground.
"JESUS JIMMY!" Coach yelled hoping the new kid wasn't dead. He was the first to get to him and was relieved when he saw him breathing. "Call 911!" he yelled to the assistant coach. Danny tried to get up but the coach made him stay down. The paramedics came and put on a neck collar before taking him away in an ambulance.
"Jimmy in my office now!" the coach yelled.
"Shit man I was only trying to brush him back," Jimmy whispered to Todd as he headed to the athletic building behind the field. He ran to catch the coach who was walking fast.
"Sit down," Matt said trying to control his temper.
"It was an accident sir," Jimmy said looking down at the floor.
"Bull shit, I saw you wink at Todd."
"I didn't mean to hit him in the head...I swear."
"Get your stuff out of the lockers. You're off the team."
"But coach, I won ten games last year. The colleges and pros are all scouting me."
"You should have thought about that before you almost killed a young man."
"Please coach......I'll do whatever you want to fix this."
"Let me think about it over the weekend. But right now I don't want you near me. Get out."
"Thanks coach. I swear I'll never throw at another player again." Jimmy's hands were shaking. He stood and moved out of the office quickly. Todd and Corey were waiting by the dugout. The assistant coach called off the practice.
"What happened?" Corey asked seeing the expression on Jimmy's face.
"The coach is thinking about kicking me off the team."
"WHAT? THAT'S BULLSHIT!" Todd screamed. "Didn't you tell him that you were just trying to brush him back?"
