In the baseball stadium of the Las Vegas Cubs was a brand new video screen placed. Club sponsor Frank Baker was proud as a peacock of it. Especially because this stadium was the only one with a video screen. To celebrate this the club had organized a baseball game against the San Francisco Kings. The Cubs had won a lot of times of the kings and that would happen this tome too. At least the Cubs thought that. The game took place on April 12, 2012 and was also the start of the season.
Before the start of the game with a lot of fuss the video screen got revealed with a picture of Frank Baker as start screen. A loud applause was his share. The whole stadium was sold out.
“Play ball”, the head umpire called after the opening ceremony.
The home team took their position in the field. The 1st baseman went to the home plate and could go to 1st base with 4 balls (free walk).
“Who is Frank Baker?”, asked 3rd baseman Mitch Cartwright.
Coach Steven Keller answered, “He is the sponsor of this club and so arrogant as can be.”
The young Cartwright began to smile. Meanwhile the 1st and 3nd base were taken in by 2 x baseball on balls (free walks). Short stop Vernon Young came on the bases by hit by pitch.
The stadium speaker said, “At bat for the 1st time in this competition 3rd baseman Mitch Cartwright with number 12.”
Steven had said to Mitch which side of the home plate he had to stand and he did that. Five balls later he stood on full count (3 balls and 2 strikes). Then he looked quickly at the video screen where a still of Frank with his most arrogant grin was to be seen. Mitch thought, ‘Now you won’t be smiling anymore!’ A moment later the young Cartwright hit the ball out of the stadium via the video screen whereby the San Francisco Kings not only got ahead with 4-0 via the grand slam homerun (a homerun with all bases loaded) of the 3rd baseman but also Frank Baker was beheaded on the video screen. Not only the audience thought it was laughable but also both teams.
Frank became angry, grabbed a megaphone and roared through it, “Who has the guts to demolish my video screen?”
“What a great debut for 3rd baseman Mitch Cartwright! Not only he hits a grand slam homerun but he also demolishes a brand new video screen of $ 50.000”, said the stadium speaker.
Benji Cartwright found the ball and grabbed the object. He knew that the ball was very special for him. That’s why he kept the ball with him to give to Mitch.
Back with his father Benji said, “Daddy, I found the ball which Mitch hit out of the stadium.”
He showed him and Adam Cartwright (the father of Mitch and Benji) said, “We order a ball holder, put the date on it and put the ball in it and then your brother gets it.”
Benji put the ball into his rucksack.
The game went by quietly until it was the 7th inning was. The score was 9-0 in the advantage of the San Francisco Kings.
Steven asked, “Mitch, could you be showing the audience how well you can pitch?”
“Of course”, said the young Cartwright.
His boyfriend Matthew Walker was the catcher. They had grown up together and knew each other through and through. The San Francisco Kings came on the field.
“We have a new pitcher. Mitch Cartwright made himself already famous by his very 1st grand slam homerun and with 1 person infamous. Now makes that same Mitch Cartwright his pro debut as pitcher. The position of 3rd baseman is taken by Ken Grayson”, said the commentator.
Not only as a 3rd baseman Mitch was a good asset, but on the mount he also did stick up for himself. The 7th inning was for the San Francisco Kings a 1,2,3 inning because Mitch sent 3 batters each other back to the dug-out with a strikeout.
Also the 8th inning went well for the San Francisco Kings because they scored 4 runs. But by the intense collaboration between Mitch and Matthew the last 3 players of the Cubs didn’t get a chance to get on the bases.
After the game of 8 innings in the club house was quite a lot of chat about what had happened on the field.
Frank said to Ben Cartwright (who hadn’t said yet that he was related to Mitch), “Even though that batter has demolished my video screen, he can bring it quite far.”
“I know that for sure”, said Ben.
“I will introduce him to my daughter. She is here too”, said Frank.
He went away to get his daughter. A moment later Mitch and Matthew came to Ben.
“`Boys, the game was great. Especially that homerun of yours, Mitch, in the 1st inning”, said the rancher.
“I hope not that I have become now the most popular player”, Mitch answered modest.
“For me you are”, Matthew said laughing.
They kissed each other. Exactly at that moment Frank and Stella came to them.
“Bah, how dirty”, said Stella.
“Mitch and Matt, these are Frank Baker and his daughter Stella. Frank, Stella, my grandson Mitch and his boyfriend Matthew Walker”, said the rancher who in the meantime had gotten company of his oldest son Adam.
“Sally is home with the children”, Adam said as reason why he was alone.
“Is that demolisher of video screens your grandson? I feel sorry for you”, said Frank.
Stella tried to chat Mitch on but that failed.
“Don’t bother to chat on me because only this boy has stolen my heart and I did his. Just go play with your doll’s house”, said the young Cartwright.
Stella went away angry and insulted, followed by her father.
John Wilkins, the coach van the Cubs, came to the boys and said, “Mitch, I have seen a lot of young ball players but not one of your caliber.”
“Thanks Mr Wilkins”, Mitch said smiling.
The club house slowly became empty and the San Francisco Kings went to their hotel. Especially Mitch had a lovely night rest because he shared his room with his partner. But their family members also have had a great evening and enjoyed a healthy night rest.
The next morning stood in all local newspapers a positive review of the baseball game and especially the performance of Mitch. On the front page was a picture of the demolished video screen with a beheaded Frank Baker. Here by Frank and his family moved at once to a little hole and nothing was ever heard from them again.