Today is the day! Baseball tryouts begin at 10:30am.

Alex, Blake and Gavin all feel nervous because their coach from the last three seasons will not be moving to the next level with them.

http://miniclips.phillipmartin.info/clock/clock_10_30_xl.htm

Not only have Alex, Blake and Gavin played baseball together for the last three seasons, but they have also been in the same class together since Kindergarten. Now that they are in fifth-grade, their relationships with each other are very strong.

Each of the boys starts his day off in a similar way.

They wake up with the sun,

eat a healthy breakfast,

and put on their lucky uniforms from the season that they won the machine-pitch championships together!

https://www.wranglernews.com/2011/07/29/tempe-south-little-league-relentless-hard-and-smart/

The boys are all ready to go. Their moms load them up in their cars and they make their way towards Miracle Baseball Stadium.

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Even though they see each other every day, when the boys arrive, they run to each other as if it has been weeks since they were last together! Gloves in hands, and bats in bags, they turn and head for the dugout.

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Blake Looked to the others and said, "I'm so excited to be moving up to the kid-pitch level, but I'm nervous about having a new coach."

"I'm a little nervous too, but I think if we stick together and try our hardest that it will all work out!" said Alex.

Gavin felt the same way, but he didn't say a word.

The first thing the boys have to do is hit a ball that the new coach will pitch. Alex and Blake both get a hit on the first try, but Gavin strikes out.

Next, they head to the outfield. A ball is thrown out to them, and they have to catch it and throw it to the coach who is standing at first base. Alex, Blake and Gavin all catch the ball, but when Gavin tries to throw it, the ball doesn't make it all the way to first base. Alex and Blake's throws both made it!

Throughout the rest of the day, Alex and Blake continued to impress the new coach, while Gavin continued to struggle.

The tryouts were quickly over and the coach must now make his final decisions. The boys all wait patiently to see who will be selected for the team.

Blake

Andrew

Caleb

Alex

Jacob

Hunter

Thomas

Jesse

Caden

Timothy

The roster is posted! Alex cheers when he sees his name, and Blake does the same. Gavin searches the roster up and down and doesn't see his name. He continues his search onto the roster of the next coach.

Coach Ryan

Coach Steven

Carter

Logan

Chad

Gavin

Grayson

Grant

Noah

James

Ben

Mason

Gavin finally found his name. Could this be true? He thought to himself. The team who only won two games last season?

Alex and Blake finally realize what has happened and they look at each other in disbelief. Could this be true? They both thought. Gavin isn't on our team?

The boys come together and decide that nothing is going to get in the way of their friendship. They know it will be hard not all being on the same team, but they will support each other. No matter what!

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During the season, the boys all ride together to each practice. Every time when they arrive, they all wish each other good luck. Alex and Blake head to their field for practice and Gavin heads to his.

Gavin always goes to Alex and Blake's games to cheer them on and Alex and Blake always go to Gavin's games to cheer him on. The boys miss playing with each other, but they continue to support each other. No matter what!

It's now the end of the season and both teams have made it to the semifinals. Alex and Blake's team will be playing against the Ravens and Gavin's team will play against the Hawks. The winner of each game will face each other in the championship game!

Alex and Blake play first. Gavin is in the stands showing his support. The boys play their hardest but can't seem to stay focused. The last time they played in a semi-final game, Gavin was out there with them, and they were all wearing their red jerseys!

Alex and Blake played their hardest, but their team lost the game. "I am so proud of you guys!" Gavin said to his two best friends.

"We really missed playing with you this season. But not having you today was even harder." said Alex. Blake looked at Alex in agreement, and then to Gavin and said, "You still have a chance to make it to the finals. You can do it!"

Alex and Blake cheered in the stands during Gavin's game. Their support helped Gavin and his team so much. They won the semi-final game and were going to be facing the Ravens in the finals!

"I knew you could do it!" said Blake to Gavin.

"We can't wait to watch you in the finals!" said Alex.

"Thank you, guys. We are really going to need your support!" said Gavin.