Prologue: Pre-Game

It was a lovely Saturday afternoon in Northwest Georgia. The sun was high in the sky, time was passing by slowly, and everything seemed peaceful. Except for one house along Kelly Road where there were a number of cars parked in the driveway, as well as in the yard of the house next to it.

What was the occasion? There could not possibly be a barbecue, music, or a large party for no reason. The occasion of course, was nothing other than a backyard baseball game, but not just any backyard baseball game, a backyard baseball "Bash" as locals referred to it as. A backyard baseball game with an atmosphere of barbecuing, partying, and the anticipation of the day's baseball game: Rome Tourists vs Lafayette Haymakers.

As people were beginning to flood into the backyard where the game was to take place, on the field, the tourists were warming up.
The pitcher and player coach, Jacob Starr leading the other players in stretches. Raye Griffin, the catcher seemed to be doing very well on them, while Serena Hawkes, the odango haired center fielder was trying her best.

Mina Morgenstern, according to Jacob "The best shortstop a player coach could ask for!" was prepping mentally for the big game, Lita Roman, a relief pitcher was busying throwing balls in the bullpen area of the field, and Haruka "Amara" Mendez was bidding "Farewell" to Michiru "Michelle" Radecki, before she joined the team, and Michiru went to take her seat.

After warm ups were completed, the team took a drink of water, except for Jacob who preferred Gatorade whilst awaiting the start of the game.
"Boy, is it going to be a great one today, eh, Haruka?" Jacob asked "You said it mop head!" Haruka replied. Jacob just nodded, as he took his cap off, his mop top hair cut gleaming in the sunshine. Amy Higgins, the statistician who was mainly studying, looked up from her statistics book and spoke to Jacob "According to this," she began "We have a fair chance in this game today."
"Good to know, Ames!" Jacob replied, giving Amy a thumbs up gesture.
Soon, the announcing of the lineups began. Each player on each team running up as their names were announced over a modified cooler that was also a boom box. After that, came the National Anthem, then it was time for the game to begin.

Chapter 1: Top of the first inning

After the pregame festivities, the tourists settled onto the field, got into their respective positions and started to throw baseballs around to practice. Jacob threw some fastballs and curveballs to Raye, and the others throwing baseballs to each other. Soon, Raye shouts "Balls in!" then all of a sudden, baseballs are thrown to home plate except for the one that Jacob was throwing to Raye for practice. The announcer then announces the first batter for the Haymakers,
"Leading off for the Haymakers in the top of the first inning, right fielder number sixteen, Don McAllister." McAllister, a plumber by day, took his position at the plate, awaiting the first pitch. Raye, pointed two fingers down on the ground, in hopes that Jacob would throw that sort of pitch. Jacob threw his best pitch and McAllister hit it out towards right field, since it was headed towards Mina, she ran a short distance from her position as shortstop placed her glove out in front of her, and was able to catch the fly ball for the first out of the inning before throwing it to Jacob.
"Batting Second, the third baseman, number two, Aaron Pierce."
Pierce, arguably one of the best if not the best third baseman in the little organization that the Haymakers and Tourists played in. It seemed like he could run as fast as a bullet train, and could field a ball very well. But, thanks to Amy, the Tourists were able to figure out his weakness, high curveballs. Jacob threw the first pitch to Pierce, swing and a miss for strike one.
Pierce growled as he awaited the next pitch, though not a high curveball, he did not swing, strike two. Pierce was furious, he began to wonder how the Tourists found out about his weakness. He was so deep in thought, that he did not notice that Jacob had thrown another pitch, thus striking out at the plate. Pierce began to grumble as he headed back to the dugout.
"Now batting for the Haymakers, the shortstop, number three. Greg Ryo."
Greg, whom many said that he seems to know what is going to happen at the next moment in time, wasted no time going up to the plate. Jacob threw a fastball to him, he hit it out towards center field. It looked as if it was going to go over the makeshift fence, but Haruka jumped and was able to catch the ball, thus robbing Greg's home run and retiring the side.