On the Run: The Texas Files ✔

Chapter 36: The Player and The Coach

It's the end of February now. Baseball tryouts are this week so the official practices can start. It's warm again, so we're back outside on the field.

The coach walks onto the field, along with Tyler.

The other guys stand in a line in front of home dugout. I stand next to Ben. They're all looking straight ahead, not moving. I try to stand like them too.

I'm convinced that we're actually joining the military, not playing baseball.

Some of the guys were at Tyler's special off-season practices. There are quite a few new faces, but they almost look afraid, while the others look confident. Tyler trained us well.

The coach stands before us with Tyler by his side. "As I'm sure all you know, I'm Coach Millard," he says loudly. "My job, for the next three days, is to determine your strengths, your weaknesses, and if you're capable of being a Warrior. Tryouts are three days for three hours. Give it your all. There are no second chances. Only 15 of you are going to make it, and there are at least 25 of you here. Tyler, your captain, and I have the final say on who's made the team. Decisions will be posted in the cafeteria on Friday."

He looks at all of us first. Then he walks up to me, the last person in the line. He looks at Tyler. "So, this is her, then?"

Tyler nods. "Yes, sir."

Coach Millard looks at me. "What position do you play?"

This guy is intimidating, that's for sure. "Pitcher, sir," I say calmly.

He looks at Ben, who's still next to me. "What do you think, Adams?" he asks. "You've been pitching for years. You know skill when you see it."

Ben clears his throat. "She's great, sir. Her curve ball's better than mine."

Coach Millard's eyes widen. "Oh, really?"

A smile tugs at the corner of my lips. I do my best to keep it contained though because I don't want him to think I'm getting cocky.

Ben nods.

"Even though Tyler has raved about you to me for what feels like the last month, you still have to try out like the rest of these guys. Don't disappoint me," Coach Millard says. He steps back and faces the entire group again.

Goddamn. I'm in for one hell of a week.

"I have five rules." he booms. "1: You will treat everyone, and I mean everyone, as an equal.  2: I don't do cheating. You will be dismissed from my field if you are caught cheating. 3: No fighting. You can do whatever you want when you leave my field, but here, there's no fighting. 4: I expect you to be here on time unless you're dead, so show up. You miss even a second of these tryouts, you better have a damn good excuse or don't even bother coming. And 5: It's not 'have fun,' if you're wondering. This is high school varsity baseball, not a rec team. You wanna play? You work for it. Have I made myself clear?"

We all call out, "Yes, sir!" at the same time.

"Good," he says. "Be here at 3:30 tomorrow, and be prepared to bleed. Now, get the hell off my field."

We go grab our bags and walk off the field without hesitation.

Ben catches up to me as I start to walk back to my apartment. "You want a ride home?" he asks.

I nod. "Sure."

We walk back to his car. It's an older silver Honda Civic. 

"I know she's not the lap of luxury, but she does the job," Ben says as he pats the car's hood.

"I wasn't-" I say. I really wasn't thinking about it. It's actually refreshing to see that not everyone that goes to this school is rich.

We get in the car.