It is the summer of 1997, Kids are out and about since school ended. Some went to travel for summer vacation, and some want to participate in sports. The local area baseball little league lost funding last year, so the Backyard baseball league plans to take it's place
Many locals are interested in playing. Even two Pakistani brothers that are so devoted into rock music, their parents bought them a guitar last Christmas. These boys go by Achmed and Amir Khan. Achmed is in his room upstairs making up silly songs with his cousin, while Amir is looking for his Sega Genesis version of Hardball 95 so he could "practice" baseball. Amir goes upstairs to his room and checks under his bed. "Hey Amir, want to hear the funny song I just made up?" Achmed asked. Amir finally found Hardball 95 under his bed. "Not now Achmed. I want to practice for baseball" Amir said as he walked downstairs. "Practicing for baseball?" said their cousin. "we are going to play in a little league next week." Replied Achmed.
This kid is in the same class as Achmed and he is the tallest. Because of his physique, people think he is older than 10 years old. A tall African American kid with a sense of humor known as Erie Steele. He is practicing how to hit a baseball with is dad who was a pitcher in middle school before switching to basketball in highschool. His dad throws it gently, but Erie keeps missing. "come on keep in eye on the ball" said his dad. "Maybe baseball isn't my thing…but I don't want to give up." Said Ernie. His dad throws it fast this time. "I wasn't ready!" Said Ernie. "The thing with baseball is that you always got to be ready." his dad joked.
Another friend of Achmed and Ernie is a Hispanic kid who just came home from vacation in Mexico to see his family. He goes to the same school, but is in a lower grade. This kid is Pablo Sanchez. He lives with his grandma and cat. His grandma heard about the backyard baseball league while Pablo was eating dinner. "Pablo, te gusta béisbol?" She ask Pablo if he likes baseball. His grandma doesn't know English very well. "No abuela" he replies while putting his plate away and going upstairs. Not that he hated baseball, he just wanted to sick to what he knows, and that's soccer. His Mexican family always got together to watch the World Cup. He even played soccer at school with his friends at recess and with his parents before they passed away. At night, the thought of playing baseball stook in his head. He started watching his hometown Seattle Mariners play, realize how good they were, and wanted to give baseball a shot. The next day, he asked his grandma to drive him to tryouts.