This book is dedicated to my mom because she helped me a lot with baseball. She goes to all my games and from a young age helped build my confidence. When I was younger she would spend hours teaching me how to field, throw and bat.

My word is Build

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Gary loved sports, he always wanted to be the best at anything he did. He played for his recreational baseball team called the Lightning Bolts. The Lightning Bolts were not the best nor the worst.

Gary was not very good at the beginning of the season. He had trouble hitting and the ball went between his legs a lot in the outfield. He batted last which meant to him he wasn’t good. His mom cheered for him every time he got up to bat just to strike out again and again.

Gary was determined to get better as the season was almost over. The coach’s son Harold played shortstop, the best position on the field. Gary was going to take that from him.

I didn’t like Herold

Gary practiced batting with his mom every day after school. They practiced throwing together and even did push-ups together. His mom Rachel did her best and wanted him to have fun. Gary wasn’t having fun being the worst and losing but didn’t tell his mom.

Saturday, he played in left field and batted last and sat the bench more than anyone. He had to do good. His first time up to bat he popped up to second base and got out. His mom told him to pick his head up and said, “Gary, you got this”.

Gary got up his second time and hit a line drive right at the shortstop. The shortstop bobbled it and threw it to second base for the force out because there was a runner on first base. Gary's mom said the same thing, “Gary, you got this”.

Gary got up a third time with 2 outs in the top of the sixth inning and hit the ball over the right fielder’s head. He rounded first, second, and then got thrown out by the second baseman going to third. He was sad but his team still got two runs to tie up the game.

He jogged out to right field as usual. The other team had bases loaded but they had 2 outs. The ball was hit to Gary and he made an outstanding play diving and catching the ball. His team lost but he got his first double of the season.

The next game was on Tuesday and he was going to be better. He practiced with his mom every day. Gary got put in left field, better than right field and moved to seventh in the batting lineup.

He got up to bat his first and second time and hit a single both times over the left fielder’s head. It was bottom of the sixth inning with guys on second and third and one out. Gary hit a triple to win the game!