The dugout erupted in cheers, and Colin nodded once, allowing himself a quick grin. “That’s better.”
From the mound, Ryan looked over, and Colin gave him a tight, approving nod.
The next Timber Ridge hitter hit a weak ground ball to second—an easy out.
Two out.
Their cleanup hitter smacked a line drive to right, but Ethan sprinted in and caught it, ending the inning.
Three out. First inning over.
The players jogged in, some still mumbling with frustration, but Colin rolled forward on his knee scooter, notebook open.
“All right,” he said. “Here’s what we know.”
The players looked up, eyes fixed on their coach.
“They’re disciplined. They take smart risks. And that shortstop?” Colin shook his head. “That kid’s got hands like a vacuum cleaner. You send it anywhere near him, and he’ll eat you alive. So, we don’t give himanything.”
A few players exchanged glances, nodding.
Lucas leaned toward Colin. “What DO we do, Coach?”
“Lift the ball,” Colin told them. “Look for pitches you can drive in the air.”
“Easier said than done.”
“True. Just, remember what we talked about in practice. Bottom half of the ball, smooth follow-through. Lift, don’t launch.” He gestured toward Alex, their only solid hit so far. “You got a nice line drive past third. That’s a hole we can use. And, Grayson, you made good contact. You just need to get more lift on it.”
From his place next to the dugout, Joshua smiled, nodding to himself.There he is,he thought. The same Colin he’d watched strategize for years. This was Colin in prosecutor mode. He wasn’t sulking or seething—he wascoaching. He leaned towards his husband with a smile. “So, we’re playing ‘fuck the shortstop’ now?”
Colin flipped a page in his notebook. “Exactly.”
Timber Ridge keptcontrol through the second and third innings, their pitcher shutting down every attempt Camp Pride made to gain ground. A few scattered hits, but nothing that changed the scoreboard. But in the fourth inning, something changed. Colin’s adjustments began to click. A well-placed bunt. A perfectly timed steal. A deep shot to left that sent a runner flying home.
Score:
Thunder Bats - 1
Timber Ridge - 1
The top of the sixth started like any other inning. The game was tied, the Timber Ridge infield was tight, their pitcher looking confident. But then—everything unraveled.
It started with a walk.Then a sharp single to right field. Then, Alex—steady, focused, fearless—dropped a perfect buntthat sent the defense scrambling. By the time Timber Ridge secured the third out, the damage was done. Camp Pride had scored three runs in one inning.
Score:
Thunder Bats - 4
Timber Ridge - 1
The Thunder Bats’ celebration was still in full swing as they poured out of the dugout, shoulders bumping, grins wide, while the Timber Ridge players trudged from the field, gloves tight, jaws clenched. But then, just as the teams began to mingle in passing, the Timber Ridge shortstop, Eric, muttered a comment: “What do you expect from a bunch of fags.”
His words weren’t shouted, but they were loud enough to resonate. A few Camp Pride players paused in mid-step. Jasper’s head snapped around, his mouth open in shocked surprise. Alex’s jaw clenched, his fingers curling into fists. Lucas, still high off his single, froze in place. Several Timber Ridge players wheeled towards Eric, murmuring in anger, their eyes shooting daggers.
From his place next to the dugout, Joshua leaped to his feet, his eyes alight with fury. “Hey!” he yelled. From the corner of his eye, he saw Trent surge from the dugout and stride toward Colin. In an instant, the energy of the moment had moved from adrenaline-fueled success to dead silence. Then, almost as one, the entire Thunder Bats team turned to face their coach.
Colin hadn’t moved. He stood quiet as a statue, his eyes fixed on Eric, his face bone-white. “Say that again,” he demanded, his voice steady, careful and controlled. Eric took a quick step back, but Colin moved with him. “I said, say itagain!” The boy stared at him, silent and wide-eyed as Colin leaned close, teeth clenching around his outrage. “We don’t use that word here. Ever!”
