Intimidating Adversity: Day 1

Word Count: 6,011

Summary of Events:

Lane arrived in North Carolina and got acquainted with the team's catcher, Gresham, and third baseman, Campbell — the team's silly man — with whom he was welcomed to live. Lane went with Gresham and Campbell to the first day of Spring Training and was introduced by Campbell to all the returning players, including the number one pitcher Spencer, and manager Mr. Quilley. Lane called his stepdad, Erving, and talked about how exhausting the Spring Training was turning out to be.

Excerpt of the Day:

"Lane waited as Campbell got ready, but before he wound up, he noticed someone was standing beside him. He turned to see Spencer staring at him with the most emotionless face ever.

"Excuse me please," Spencer said.

"But I'm pitching," Lane replied, confused.

"I know," Spencer replied, looking straight into his eyes. "But I don't care. I want to pitch."

"You can wait until I've finished," Lane said.

"You don't have any seniority here," Spencer replied. "I do."

Lane opened his mouth to challenge Spencer's haughtiness, but then he saw Mr. Quilley was approaching them. Mr. Quilley stopped when Lane noticed him and indicated with his thumb for Lane to get off.

Sighing, a swell of anger surging through him, Lane turned to where Campbell was standing, not at all ready for a pitch, pulled back, and fired anyways. Gresham leapt out of the way of the ball, which bounced off of the back wall hard and flew out all the way to centre field where Normie picked it up, tossing it to Spencer as Lane stepped off of the mound.

"Over here Sheenan," Mr. Quilley said.

Lane stared at third base for a few seconds before turning around and walking behind Spencer and the mound to the first base side, where Mr. Quilley was standing.

"I want to see your hitting and running," Mr. Quilley said.

The crack of a bat hitting a ball sounded and Lane turned to watch as Campbell powered down the dirt, over first base, around to second, and to third before the ball caught up with him.

"Now go," Mr. Quilley said.

"So I'm supposed to hit balls with my glove?" Lane asked dryly.

"No," Mr. Quilley replied, looking perturbed.

Lane took off his glove and gave it to Mr. Quilley. He then pulled his batting gloves out of his pocket and put them on as he walked over to home plate. The batboy ran out with a bat for him. Lane took it and doffed his cap, putting it on top of the batboy's before he could get too far away.

"Batting helmet for number twenty three!" Mr. Quilley shouted.

Soon the batboy returned — still wearing both caps — with a helmet. Lane put it on, got into position, and waited for Spencer to pitch.

Slowly Spencer set his feet in place, and then, with equal slowness, looked toward Lane. His every movement was like he was really in slow motion. As he pulled back into a pitching stance, the glove hand covering the ball hand. He held the pulled back pose for a few seconds, then dropped his glove hand and threw.

Lane met the ball with the bat, causing a loud and resounding crack to echo across the field, which was still ringing in Lane's ears as the bat left his hands and he ran for first, second, third, and finally making it to home plate without having to slide."