It was a sunny afternoon when Mitch Cartwright and Matthew Walker (both 14) went together to the baseball stadium to see a game of the Carson City Diamonds. Mitch saw a familiar face on the field so he went to him to see him.
“Aren’t you that famous pitcher Gary Turner?”, asked the boy.
The pitcher looked at him and asked, “Yes, I am that one. Do you want my autograph?”
“Yes please and my friend too. He is a catcher but I am just like a pitcher but not as good as you”, answered Mitch.
Gary signed 2 balls, gave them with 2 papers with the lineup to the boy and said, “You sit down and watch carefully how I play. After the game I want to see how good you are with pitching and hitting and him too.”
“That’s deal”, Mitch said smiling.
He went back to his seat where Matthew sat.
“Look what I got from Gary Turner. A ball with his autograph and one for you too plus the line-ups. Gary wants to see us pitching and hitting after the game”, Mitch said excited.
“Don’t expect that he will select you as starting pitcher for the Carson City Diamonds”, was the comment of Matthew.
“I am not but I can always try to. We have played in the Little league team of Nevada”, reacted his friend.
“That’s true and with the contacts via your grandpa we also get further”, answered Matthew.
He went to copy the line-up in his scoring book and did it then for Mitch.
Finally the game between the Diamonds and the Las Vegas Cards started. Notable enough Gary Turner was the starting pitcher and Kevin Walker the catcher.
“Kevin Walker, is he your uncle by accident?”, Mitch asked during the 2nd inning.
“Yes, that’s why I can catch so well”, answered Matthew.
After the won game Gary and Kevin let the boys come to them.
“Mitch, you may pitch first at Kevin”, said Gary.
The young Cartwright got his glove and threw a nice change-up to Kevin. Hereafter the pro catcher got a few fastballs thrown at him. The 2 grownups ball players were under the impression of the pitching talent of Mitch. Here after Matthew took the place of his uncle and balls thrown to by Gary. Matthew caught them all. He too made a lot of impression.
“Let’s see how good or bad you can hit”, said Kevin.
“Are your cars parked far away?”, asked Matthew.
“No, why?”, Gary asked on his turn.
Mitch answered dry, “Then I hope that you have a very good glass insurance.”
The ball players didn’t understand it and let the boys hit a few time son turns. It went well until Mitch saw a slider coming. He grabbed his chance and hit the ball out of the stadium. First they heard nothing but another window had been broken.
“That’s then 7 years of luck again”, said the young Cartwright.
Of course the ball players didn’t understand it but Matthew did. Though he kept silent. Mitch got again a ball pitched at and this one too made sure that a window was broken.
Third base coach Steve Taylor saw the boys and walked to them.
“You both are in the junior team. But then I want to have permission from your parents in writing”, said Steve.
“That won’t be a problem concerning Matthew”, said Kevin.
“And what Mitch is concerned that will be alright as well”, Steve answered who knew the young Cartwright for a few years.
Gary asked, “How old are you?”
“We both are 14 and are in the 9th grade”, said Mitch.
Steve answered, “We have here an education whereby you learn in the morning and in the afternoon you play baseball. You would be able to follow that here then.”
“Mitch needs a lot of help with his school work”, said Matthew.
“I have a serious sort of dyslexia”, Mitch explained.
“That will become alright”, said Steve.
The boys got the necessary papers handed and said goodbye. The friends went laughing home which the men didn’t understand.
“They are real teenagers. But I really hope that they come to play with us”, said Kevin.
“What Mitch is concerned I don’t think that it will be a problem. His father is Adam Cartwright. And he is a good friend of mine”, said Steve.
Gary answered, “Matthew is my nephew.”
They left the stadium and saw their broken car windows.
“So Mitch meant this with 7 years of luck”, said Gary.
“Coach, will that young Cartwright still be accepted? Or will all the windows be replaced by wooden boards?”, Kevin asked teasing.
“He will be accepted and what those windows are concerned we will see”, was the answer.
Arrived at home Mitch asked coming straight to the point, “Daddy, mom, may I go to another school?”
“Why? What’s wrong with your current school?”, asked his father Adam Cartwright a bit amazed.
Mitch answered, “Nothing but after the game Matthew and I got the chance to show how good we could hit and pitch at the Carson City Diamonds. When 3rd base coach Steve Taylor saw us busy he offered us the chance to go to school at their place. Then we must learn in the morning and in the afternoon play ball. May I?”
He gave the papers and looked hopeful at his parents.
Adam quickly looked through the papers and said after that, “We will have to discuss it yet.”
Mitch nodded and went to his room.
Sally said, “You were looking for something like this for Mitch. This is his chance.”
“That is so. But just let him in uncertainty for a while. He has just got summer vacation”, answered her husband.
That evening during supper Adam said, “Mitch, you have our permission to go to that new school. Only we don’t to be responsible for all the windows that you break.”
“Don’t you worry about that. When I had to hit I hit 2 balls out of the stadium. They ended up in the cars of Gary Turner and Kevin Walker”, answered his oldest son.
Everybody laughed.
Matthew also got permission from his parents Dan and Laura Walker to go to another school. Adam and Dan arranged everything so it was all settled before the new school year began.
That evening 2 young ball players went to sleep with a very happy feeling.