Page 25 of Chasing Headlines
“No. If I had my way you wouldn’t go toourgames. But the faculty advisor for the newspaper says otherwise.”
Oh good. So he’d talked to Mrs. P, too. “Anyone can buy a ticket.”
“Sold out. Least all the big games are. Exhibition game sold out at last year’s Exhibition. In November.”
“Seriously? You need a bigger stadium.”
A weird grin took over his face. “We do, don’t we? Maybe that’s why I put up with your father and his meddling. You know how this shit works, oh, miniature Princess of Carolina baseball.”
“My dad’s donating money for a stadium? Of course he is.” Well, at least I knew what side the coaches would be on if my dad got wind of my baseball scouting activities. But my brother was coming around. Sort of. Wait, miniature? How was I miniature?
“I want to earn my place, Coach. All on my own. I’ve been working for Curt in the summers. I’ll be a great help, I promise.”
“We’ll see about that.” He huffed and turned to watch the line of players running sprints across the outfield.
Wow. They even had the pitchers running.Tanner's pretty quick. “Keep rising.”
“What's that?” Schorr grumbled.
“Ah, nothing.”
“Bottom line: you help out, you don’t cause trouble, you don’t distract my team. Whether that’s trying to get a date or flauntin’ your family tree, the answer’s no. I need them focused on Striker baseball.”
“Yes, Coach.” I sucked in a breath and held it.It’s only freshman camp. Not many starters graduated from last year’s roster.“Wait, did he just tell me not to date his players?”
“Yes, mini-Milline.” He chuckled. “Like that one. But some of these guys, playing ball is the only way they get to go to school. At all. Not making the team damages the whole person they’re trying to be, not just the player.” He moved to the railing. Crossed his arms and stared at the field.
“Got it.”
“I’ll do my part. Me and Eberhardt. We’ll teach you. But you gotta do yours.”
“Yes, Coach.”
“Good. And your part’s gonna require a lot of patience and doing what I ask you to do just cause I said so.” He glanced at me over his shoulder.
“Yes sir.”
“And my best advice there, mini-princess.”
I locked my teeth together. Princess? Really? And dammit what’s with all the ‘mini’ remarks? I was a teensy tinsy bit shy of five foot seven.
He cleared his throat and spit. “Stay away from Coop.”
Ice flashed over my skin. “How does that work? He’s a member of the team, isn't he?”
“Undecided. He has to impress me. Like everyone else out here. Vying for a spot.”
“He'll make the thirty-five man roster. Or you’ll make someone’s prime candidate list for a mental health facility for cutting him.” And I said that out loud. I touched the railing, and about jumped out of my skin.Shit! Hot! Why does everything burn here?
“He's gotta make thestartingroster, Milline. Supporters don’t hand over NIL money for bench sitters. And he's got worse issues. I can't fix those. He's gonna have do that on his own. My job is to form the ones with the most talent into a team. No hotshots, no lone wolves, no troublemakers. Team comes first. He ain't there. Can see it a mile away.”
“If he doesn't make the team?”
“He’ll land somewhere. We’ll find him a junior college program. Probably have to go back to Okla for a couple of years.” He shook his head. “So just leave him be.”
“If he's part of the team, I have to interview him and take?—”
“Then make nice and don’t aggravate him. If he complains, again, about reporters, so help me . . .” Coach turned away, hat in his hand and muttering under his breath. He started up the steps.