(tense music)
(indistinct chatter)
- Ball four.
(cheering and applause)
- [Umpire] Out!
- Safe!
- Nice play, Jimmy, nice play!
Woo!
Alright, one more out.
One more, let's go!
(tense music)
- Oh boy.
- Blue.
Outfield, keep it in front of you.
Alright, let's go.
(cheering and applause)
(crowd gasps)
(cheering and applause)
(players celebrate)
(cheering and applause)
- No, he's okay, he's okay.
(cheering and applause)
(players celebrate)
- You okay?
- I should've caught it.
- You gave it everything you could.
(soft music)
- I should've caught it.
- We're really gonna miss you next year, Kyle.
I wish every one of my kids played with your heart.
Just remember me when you get to the majors, alright?
- [Announcer] Congratulations to the 10-year-old All-Stars
and state champions from Brookville, Massachusetts.
Final score: Brookville eight, Princeton seven.
Good luck at regionals, boys.
(soft music)
- I think that's it.
So what do you think?
- I mean, the yard's a lot smaller than our other house.
- Ah, it's not that much smaller.
You wanna test it out?
- Right now?
- Yeah.
Huh?
So listen, Kyle,
I know moving's not the easiest thing for you,
but I think we're really gonna like it here.
But guess what,
I was talking to some of the dads I work with,
they said our 10s and 11s won states two years in a row.
And our 12s went to the World Series.
- [Kyle] Really?
- Yeah.
- Do you think I could make the all-star team?
- Yeah, I think you probably have
just as good a shot as anybody.
Alright, let's see that heater.
- Dad.
- Come on, just one, keep up your accuracy.
(soft music)
Good pitch.
Hey, babe.
- Hey.
How you doing with everything?
- Alright.
One step at a time.
- That's all we can do.
- Hey, buddy, how's the unpacking going?
- Good.
- Good, you wanna take a break,
go play catch with your brother?
- Not really.
- Ah, come on, he'd love to make the travel team here.
Besides, you should work out some of that rust too,
you can't just waltz onto varsity here.
- Coach already called though
and said he's excited for me to be on the team.
- Yeah, but you have to prove to him that you can play.
- He was at regionals
when I threw that no-hitter against New Jersey.
- [Ted] Xavier, there's more to the game than pitching.
- I went three for four with two homers.
Anyways, I think it's time I start focusing more on girls
and a little bit less on baseball.
- Yeah, why don't you sit down and relax
until that feeling goes away
and then go practice with Kyle.
- Hey, Dad,
you know, now that we're in this new town and all,
I'm really trying to move away from Xavier.
So if you could just, like, call me X.
- [Ted] X?
- Yeah,
X.
Dad, Dad, seriously.
Dad, come on.
(upbeat music)
(bell rings)
- Hey, Mr. Howard.
- How's it going?
- Here you go.
- Thank you.
- Yeah, right there.
Alright, class, settle down, settle down.
Welcome back.
Hope everyone had a nice spring break.
Did anyone do anything interesting?
- I went to the Kennedy Space Center.
- That's cool, Billy,
did you get a good look Uranus?
- Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, very funny, Glenn, grow up.
Alright, class, listen,
we have a new student in our homeroom,
so please welcome, boom, Xavier Cooke.
Come on, come on up.
Come on, come on.
So do you pronounce it Zay-vier or X-avier?
- Uh, it's Zay-vier, but, uh, everyone just calls me X,
so that's what I go by.
- [Mr. Howard] X?
- [Xavier] Yeah.
- Alright, so how did you spend your spring break?
- A lot of unpacking
and played a little baseball with the guys.
- Oh, so you're the new pitcher
Coach Barrett's been crowing about?
- Yeah, yeah, that's me.
- Okay, well, hey, welcome to our school.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
Listen, if you have any questions about your class schedule,
come talk to me.
Okay?
Glenn, see me after class.
No, matter of fact, go stand in the corner.
Always telling jokes.
I'm not playing, boy, go stand in the corner.
(upbeat music)
(bell rings)
- Hey, do you know where, uh...
- X?
X?
- Hi. - Hi,
do you know where you're going?
- Not really.
- Here, let me see.
Oh, room 139 is actually in the annex building,
that's about two blocks away.
- What?
- (chuckles) I'm only kidding.
Just down the hall.
Miss Bartone is great too.
You got lucky.
- Thank you...
- Brooke.
- Brooke, thank you, Brooke.
You're like my guardian angel.
- Try to snap your wrists through a little earlier.
That's it.
- Dad, can I get a new bat this year?
- That one's still got some pop in it.
- It's old, Xavier used it for two years.
- Come on, back to hitting.
Nice.
Hey, you must be Rick?
- Yeah.
- I sent you an email about my son Kyle.
- Oh, yeah, Tim, right?
- Uh, I wish, Ted, Ted Cooke.
- Kyle, how you doing, buddy?
- Good.
- I'm Coach Rick, this is Max.
You ready to play some ball?
- Yeah. - Yeah?
- Always, Coach.
- Why don't you, uh, head out to short?
Max, you wanna play first?
Has he played much ball?
- Oh, yeah, he's been playing since he was four.
- What, uh, what positions?
- Uh, just about anywhere.
He played center and short
on the city all-star team last year.
- Yeah?
How'd you guys do?
- Uh, runner-up in states, Massachusetts.
- Right.
We beat that Mass team in regionals last year.
Kyle, why don't you head out to center?
It's a big commitment, you know, all-star teams.
Travel, hotel rooms, maybe flights, it gets expensive.
- Hmm.
- Got it.
- Hey, buddy, put some zip on it.
- Wow!
He's got a cannon.
- Yeah. - Does he pitch?
- Nah, he doesn't really like to pitch.
- Really?
- [Kyle] That's a cool shirt.
- Thanks, it's the all-stars practice jersey.
We're the Bats, get it?
- How many kids tried out?
- Like 30, but only 12 of us made it.
Eight kids are really good,
and then four spots go to the coaches' kids.
(sighs) You look like you're good enough to make it
if a spot opens up.
- Oh, you're up.
- Oh, thanks.
- Hey, hon, how was today?
- It was alright.
Kinda weird to be selling again.
I mean, I'm 40 and I'm back doing the same job
as when I got outta college.
- Except by my calculations, you're actually 42.
Well, Kyle had a great time at practice,
he really likes the new team.
- Good.
Uh, what's up with Xavier?
- Oh, you mean X?
I am not allowed to call him Xavier anymore,
and I heard him on the phone with a girl.
- Dad, check it out.
- [Ted] Hey, nice uni, bud.
- And the best part...
- Oh, you got your number?
Nice.
- Yeah,
but AJ said another kid on the all-star team
already has seven,
so I have to think of a new one for that.
- Well, let's, uh, let's make the team first,
then we can worry about a number.
- Oh, and our first game is against
the coach of the all-star team.
- Well, that's good,
let's get practicing, show him what you got, huh?
Hmm?
(cheering and applause)
- Out!
- Jason!
You gotta make that catch!
Take the piano off your back and hustle
or you won't play another game this year!
- Hey, good try, buddy, good effort.
- How's the team?
- Pretty good,
and we picked up a new kid that can really play.
- Is he better than my speed demon in right?
(Rick scoffs)
Who?
- Short.
- Well, I only got one spot left,
and I think I'm gonna give it to Murray's kid.
- Really?
- He ain't too bad.
His old man hired us to put an addition on his house.
- Man, I don't know,
we might wanna give this new kid a shot.
- Come on, Mase, let's put one in play now!
(cheering and applause)
Nice hit, buddy!
- [Player] That was a hit?
(cheering and applause) - Dig in, dig in deep,
come on now!
Nice running, Mase!
Okay, Traver, let's let it rip!
- [Mason] Dad!
(cheering and applause)
- [Umpire] Batter's out!
- First base, throw to first.
- [Umpire] He's outta there!
(cheering and applause)
- Great toss, Kyle, great throw.
- Hey, don't get too excited, kid, that was all luck.
- That was pretty good.
I mean, just another triple play, but...
Way to go, team!
- Dad, I wanna go to tryouts an hour early tomorrow
so we can warm up.
- Well, I don't know about an hour, buddy.
- Well, can we go practice grounders now then?
- Kyle, relax,
your mother and I are taking care of some things right now.
- I need money.
- Oh, hi.
How was practice?
- It was awesome.
We're naming the pitching rotation the X-Men,
and instead of using a K,
we're using an X to mark strikeouts.
- Really?
So how do you write a backwards X
if someone gets caught looking?
- Uh...
We didn't think of that.
(doorbell rings)
(Beth scoffs)
- Unbelievable.
Sorry for the mess, we're still settling in.
- Holy hottie!
You're Xavier's girlfriend?
You're way too pretty to be Xavier's girlfriend.
- Aww, how cute, he still calls you Xavier.
- Yeah-huh, so cute.
- Kyle, they are just friends.
- Well, she's too pretty to be his friend.
- Got enough money?
- Yeah, we better get outta here,
you know, the movie's gonna start soon,
so, uh, see ya later, bye.
- Be careful, call us if you need anything.
- [Xavier] Of course, anything.
- [Beth] Okay.
- I think I'm gonna make the team.
- Just give it your best tomorrow, that's all you can do.
- Did you ever wanna be a baseball player
when you were a kid, Dad?
- Yeah,
of course I did.
- [Kyle] Then why didn't you?
- (chuckles) Well, it's not that easy.
- But you said that if you try your best and never give up,
you can do anything.
- You can, and that's true for anything, not just sports.
- Then what happened?
Did you get hurt?
(Ted chuckles)
- No, I...
(soft music)
Well,
as I got older, I just started focusing on other things,
and then baseball became more just for fun.
I guess I gave up without really knowing it.
- Dad, can you make sure I don't give up?
(whistle blows)
- Go!
- Dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig.
3.16.
- Go!
- Come on now. (upbeat music)
3.25.
- Go!
- Woo, 2.7!
- 2.7.
- I think he's got you, AJ.
- Go!
Come on, let's dig!
- 2.6.
- (chuckles) My man.
Go!
Hustle.
Nice wheels.
- 2.9!
- Listen, you need to hustle, alright?
Go!
Hustle, hustle!
Hustle! - Dig, dig, dig, dig.
3.4.
Nice hustle.
- That's not happening.
Next.
- Nice bat.
Where'd you find that, somebody's garbage?
- Hey, look alive, fellas.
Rotate.
(upbeat music)
- [Rick] Great toss, look alive, Mason, look alive.
- [Chad] Get it!
- How am I supposed to get to that?
- Stop whining and make the play!
Come on, Mase.
That's it, that looks good, fellas, more of that.
Rotate.
(ball whips into mitt)
- Ow! (winces)
(upbeat music)
(winces)
- [Chad] Let's go!
Hustle!
Make a play for home, I wanna see those arms.
- Nice job.
- [Chad] Rotate.
Come on.
- That was a good jump he had.
(ball whips into mitt)
That was a bullet.
(whistle blows)
- Let's bring it in.
- Okay, jog it in, fellas, hustle up.
- Alright, listen up,
anyone trying out for pitcher, stay here,
everybody else, you can go.
And check the website Wednesday to see if you made the team.
- Good work, guys.
- We can bundle your internet, all your wireless...
(phone rings) Hi, we can bundle all your...
(phone rings)
We can bundle all your wireless devices
for 30% less... (phone rings)
Hey, is everything okay?
I got a sales meeting in five minutes.
- [Beth] Kyle didn't make the team.
- What?
But, I thought they weren't gonna post it until tomorrow?
- [Beth] He checked right after school and they were there.
He wants to talk to you.
- Okay, put him on.
- [Kyle] Dad?
- Hey, honey.
- [Kyle] I got cut.
- Yeah, yeah, Mom just told me.
Um, listen, I think there might be a mistake.
- [Kyle] Can you call Coach and find out?
- Yeah, I will, and, um,
let's not worry about it until we find out for sure, okay?
- [Kyle] Okay.
I love you.
- I love you too, buddy.
I'll see you later.
(tires squeal)
Rick, I watched the entire tryouts,
you can't tell me he wasn't one of the best kids out there.
- [Rick] The tryouts are just one part of the process.
- He's batting over .500,
he plays any position you need him to.
- [Rick] I pushed for Kyle,
but Chad makes the final decisions,
you need to talk to him.
- I will talk to Chad,
and you know what, Rick?
You need to get some...
Hey.
- Hi, that list was right, his friend texted him.
- I know, I talked to Rick.
- Well, he's downstairs.
- Wait, what's wrong?
- Kyle got cut from the all-star team.
- What?
That's bullsh...
Shoot.
Bullshoot.
He's probably the best kid out there.
Better than half of our JV team.
- I'll go talk to him.
- Yeah.
(soft music)
- Hey.
Honey, it's okay to be sad,
but you can't be upset with yourself,
you didn't do anything wrong.
The only reason you didn't make the team
is because you were treated unfairly.
I know it doesn't feel like it right now,
but this is just a minor setback, alright?
Never let something like this knock you off course,
use it to make you stronger.
Hey, buddy, come here.
This is gonna be okay.
I'm gonna talk to Chad after your game this weekend, okay?
Besides, if that's what it's like here,
what do you think about playing
in a different league next year?
- I don't know.
- [Announcer] In the air to right, pretty well hit,
keep your eye on it, back to the track, to the wall,
and it's gone!
Brock Holt with a solo homer to lead off the eighth,
and it's a one-run game.
- I'm not gonna wear seven next year.
- Hmm?
- I'm gonna wear number 12, that's my year.
I'm gonna be the best player in this state.
- Yeah?
That's my man.
But listen,
(upbeat music)
it starts right now.
When you wake up tomorrow morning, you are on a mission.
You don't stop training, you don't stop practicing,
you don't stop fighting
until you are the absolute best ballplayer you can be.
Got it?
- Got it.
- Oh, what are you doing up?
- You said it started when I woke up this morning.
- Yeah, um, well,
I kinda meant that, you know, figuratively.
- I don't know what that means.
Here's your glove.
Come on.
(upbeat music)
- Hey, good job, buddy.
You know, I'm heading over.
- Okay, but, uh, honey, be constructive.
- What?
- Hey.
Good job. - Chad,
you got a minute?
- Yeah, what's up?
- Hey, I'm Ted, I'm Kyle Cooke's father.
- Hey, man.
- Yeah, listen,
he's pretty crushed about not making the travel team.
- Yeah, he's pretty good,
but we got a core group
that's done really well the last few years.
- Yeah, no, I get that,
but, you know, he's having a great season this year,
and, frankly, I watched the entire tryouts
and there weren't many kids better than him.
- Well, (sighs) you know, he missed that fly ball.
(Ted chuckles)
- Missed it? He was the only one close to it.
- Yeah, but that's the kinda thing that costs you the game.
Listen, he's just not ready for the all-star team.
You should think about having him pitch though,
we always need pitchers.
- Chad,
let's quit dancing around this,
he shoulda made the team, and you know it.
Alright, don't give me this load of garbage about pitching.
- I'll tell you what,
there are a lotta good kids that didn't make the team,
maybe next year, we can have a B team,
and he gets some travel games in there,
how about that?
- You're a punk.
Oh yeah, have you ever swung a bat before?
Your swing is terrible.
- Okay.
How'd it go?
- Oh, it went great.
I think we'll be joining a new league next year.
You ready to practice?
- Born ready.
(upbeat music)
(ball hits fence)
- Keep your head in there.
(ball hits fence)
Don't pull your head away, even after contact,
your eyes never leave the tee.
Okay? Focus.
- Can you pitch some to me now?
- Nope, fundamentals, Kyle.
(ball hits fence)
Get your glove down earlier, Kyle, ready position.
Here we go.
Nice, that's better.
- Can we do some backhands?
- Nope, fundamentals, buddy.
Nice stop.
Take a couple steps back, then come in for the catch.
Forward motion.
- Can we do some diving catches?
Okay, fundamentals.
Hi, Brooke.
- Hey, Kyle.
Sorry you didn't make the team.
- It's fine, I'll make it next year,
win states, probably make it to the World Series.
- (chuckles) Oh yeah?
- Yeah.
Did you know that if you two married,
your name would be Brooke Cooke?
(Brooke chuckles)
Hey, Xavier?
X?
Can you practice with me after school?
- I don't know.
- What do you mean? Help your brother.
- Yeah, help your brother.
What do you wanna be?
- I wanna be a scientist.
- She's gonna work on artificial intelligence,
create the future.
- Dad, tell Xavier to practice with me during fall ball.
- Practice with your brother.
Kyle, you can train on your own too, you know?
Remember, whenever you're not practicing,
somewhere, someone else is,
and when you meet him, he will win.
So be the one who's always practicing.
(blows on hand)
Swing looks great, you're just a little ahead of it.
Timing, remember,
timing's the most important part of hitting.
Sit back and wait on this one.
- Dad, that's my first homer.
- First of many, buddy.
Alright, I'm gonna throw a little faster.
Just lay off, watch a few go by, get your timing.
Alright, swing away.
(upbeat music)
Perfect.
Alright, I'm gonna throw even faster.
Time it coming outta my hand.
- Throw it even harder.
- Faster?
You think you can handle the cheese?
I pitched in college, remember?
- Come on, Dad.
- Alright, don't get too excited,
'cause I'm gonna blow this right past you.
Here comes the heater.
(Ted laughs)
Now you know what the pros have to deal with.
- One more.
(wind howls)
("Deck the Halls")
(Ted whistles "Deck the Halls")
- [Beth] Kyle!
- [Kyle] What?
- It's brand new,
your grandparents just got you that for Christmas.
- I really like it, but I can't throw in it.
- Then don't practice in it.
- But then the rest of me gets cold.
- Okay, uh, no more outdoor winter practice.
- You know, why don't you two give it a break?
- Mom, I'm not stopping.
Can't you make Xavier practice with me?
- What's wrong with me?
- Nothing, but he never plays with me anymore.
- Ah, he still loves you, buddy,
he's just, well, you know, he's a young man now,
and his interests change a little bit.
- So you can't make him do it?
- Honey, honestly, I don't think it's gonna happen.
Alright, get your hips around.
- Dad, aren't you supposed to be at work now?
- Ah, I'm in sales, so, I can shuffle things around.
- I don't wanna have to move again, Dad.
So if Xavier practiced with me,
then you could do more work,
and then everything would be fine.
- Kyle, I can't force him.
No one can.
(soft music)
- Hey, you coming up?
- Yeah.
- You wanna talk?
- I don't know if I can make this work.
I feel like I've ruined everything for us.
I mean, look at me, I'm a loser for crying out loud,
my boss is 27 years old.
I know 10 times as much as anyone in the region
and I can't make a sale to save my life.
- Just give it time, you'll figure it out.
- I don't want the boys to have a failure for a father.
- (scoffs) Ted, would you just stop it?
You know, you should listen to what you say to the kids.
Take your own advice, it works.
And if it doesn't, we can always move in with my parents.
That was just a little extra motivation.
(Ted sighs)
- Buddy, good news,
I got you signed up for a team in Brighton.
They're not even in our district.
- Alright.
- Isn't that far away?
- It's, like, 40 minutes away,
they do it differently there.
Alright,
so all the new kids go for an evaluation in two weeks,
and then they divide the kids into an A, B, and C team.
At the end of the season,
the best 12 kids on the A team
get selected for the all-star team,
but here's the thing,
they use a selection committee.
Two of the coaches' kids
didn't even make the all-star team last year.
Where are you going?
- [Kyle] Practice.
- Uh, don't you have to live in a city to play on its team?
- You do.
I, uh, I rented an apartment.
- Ted, have you lost your mind?
- It's a really cheap apartment,
and, uh, we might be living there anyway
if things don't turn around here soon.
Honey, (upbeat music)
this is his one shot.
He doesn't get to be 12 again.
Right, and they'll never let him on the team here,
they wouldn't let Hank Aaron on the team here.
And I know it's crazy, but I gotta do it.
Okay?
We have to give him a chance to live his dream.
- Then make him a champion.
(intense music)
- Go!
Dig, dig, dig.
Nice.
- 47,
48,
49,
50.
- Awesome, man, awesome!
Now we gotta get some protein in you,
replenish those muscles.
- What should I eat?
- Meat, chicken, maybe make you some tuna.
- Ugh, I hate tuna.
- Hey, it doesn't matter what it tastes like,
we just gotta get it in your system.
Rocky drank raw eggs.
- [Announcer] Number 17, and he hits one to left.
(crowd cheers and applauds)
- I shoulda tried that.
(footsteps)
- Hey, Kyle, how's it going?
- Hi.
X, can you practice with me?
I only have two weeks before my evaluation.
- I can't, I won't have time with school,
and practice, and everything.
- Please, it only has to be a half-hour,
doesn't even have to be every day.
- Sorry, bud.
- So, if you had more time, you'd help Kyle?
- Yeah, I mean, I'd love to help him, but--
- Well, well, let's break up then.
- What?
- That'll give you a lotta time back.
- Um...
- And then I'm gone for good.
(upbeat music)
- Hold on.
Weight on your toes.
Using distribution, and watch the pitcher's knee.
Throw with your hips just as much as your arm.
Ready?
- Ah, one more lap.
- [Xavier] Through the chest.
- There's no way I'm doing those.
- Alright, watch this.
Alright, you ready? Here you go.
- [Kyle] Come on, hit 'em harder.
Harder.
- They don't need to be fast for this drill.
- These are too easy.
- Okay, fine.
(Xavier chuckles)
- You can slow 'em down now.
- That's what I thought.
- Go.
Come on, Kyle, whoop that hot-shot!
Good job.
- Thank you.
(Xavier and Brooke chuckle)
- I don't wanna pitch.
- You don't have to, but you gotta get over it.
Mental strength in baseball
is just as important as physical.
You need to tune everything out.
Focus.
Laser focus.
Alright?
Now, give it a shot, okay?
Try and, uh, try and get close, okay?
You got this.
Alright, close your eyes.
Close 'em.
Let your mind go blank,
picture a black sky with only one star
right in the middle of it.
Focus on it.
Open your eyes,
but not your mind.
See that ball?
That ball is your star.
Focus and hit it.
You are now the dragon warrior.
Go. (Oriental music)
Nice job today, buddy.
You're gonna kill it tomorrow.
(intense music)
- I can do this.
I can do this.
(Kyle gags and coughs)
- [Ted] You sure you got everything?
- Yeah, I checked last night.
- Uh, looks a little different for some reason.
Check if your bat's in there.
- I know it is.
- Just check before I leave.
(soft music)
That's the last piece of the puzzle, Kyle,
now show 'em what you got.
And, uh, don't tell your mother, huh?
(Kyle chuckles)
Hey,
Ted Cooke.
- Hey.
- Uh, this is Kyle.
- Hey, Kyle, Coach John.
- Hi, Coach.
- Oh, that's quite a few new players out there.
- Oh, a lot of them are from last year's A team,
they, uh, tell me that they're here for the workout,
but they're really here to just check out the competition.
Why don't you go out and warm up
and introduce yourself to the rest of the guys?
- Okay.
- You're, uh, Xavier's dad too, right?
- Yeah.
- (chuckles) That boy is building himself
quite a reputation.
He struck out 11 in a row against our high school squad.
- Yeah, he was dialed in.
- Please tell me Kyle can pitch like that.
- He can,
probably better, but, uh, but he doesn't.
Um,
he used to pitch, but,
when he was nine, he hit a kid in the ribs,
and the kid's heart stopped.
Kid collapsed, didn't look like he was gonna make it.
An EMT that was sitting in the stands
came rushing out and revived the kid
right there on the field,
thank God.
Kyle was distraught, said he'd never pitch again,
and he hasn't.
Yeah, he doesn't like to talk about it.
- Understood.
Take care.
- Thanks.
- Alright, let's go.
Come on.
- You guys loose?
- [Players] Yeah.
- Good.
Okay, guys from last year, find a place in the field,
new guys, head on in for BP.
- Anything you're looking to see, Coach?
- Nope, just make solid contact.
Try to hit to all fields if you can.
- Got it.
- Does this kid even know how to hit?
- Something wrong with those?
Alright, swing away then.
(tense music)
Nice hit.
- Holy...
- Well, that's certainly hitting to all fields.
- Kyle, put one in the woods!
- Go for it.
What are you doing?
- Just pitch it the same speed.
- Listen up,
if your parents have any vacation plans this summer,
you better tell them to cancel them.
(John chuckles)
- Jimmy,
hey, call your AD
and tell him to send a scout down here.
No, he's 12.
No, trust me, you wanna start watching this kid now.
- Hey, Kyle, guess what?
You made the A team.
- Congratulations, sweetheart.
- Cool.
- Cool?
That's it, just cool, huh?
- Yeah, cool.
We're gonna win districts, then states, then regionals,
and then we're gonna win the World Series.
- Okay.
Um, well, Brighton got swept in the districts last year,
so let's just take it one game at a--
- Dad, we're winning districts,
we're not losing a game this year.
- Really?
- Not if I have anything to do with it.
- [Beth] Whoa.
- [Ted] Kyle...
- What is that bat?
- Yeah, yeah, what's that bat?
- Okay, boys,
this is our team.
We're gonna be spending a lotta time together this year,
and our number one goal is to improve on last year.
Right?
- [Players] Yes, Coach.
- I wanna see all you guys working hard,
alright, support your teammates.
Okay, I need you guys focused on every single play,
every single pitch.
Alright, we had a few mental errors last year,
and it cost us some games.
That will not fly this year,
every team is better than they were last year.
And I guarantee you that every 12-year-old
has the same dream that you guys have,
making it to the World Series.
We have one new player on our team this year,
Kyle Cooke, you might remember him from tryouts.
(Troy chuckles)
- Yeah.
- Kyle, how come you're able to make
that kinda contact on every swing?
- Um, I practice a lot.
- And how do you always know
how to get your body positioned properly
when you're making a play?
- I practice that a lot too.
- What about throwing?
How do you keep up that accuracy?
- Practice.
- And how do you do that crazy body-swingy thing?
(John chuckles)
- Oh, I just kinda made that one up on my own.
(Troy chuckles)
- Alright, listen up, boys,
you wanna have fun this year, right?
- [Players] Yes, Coach.
- Why play the game if we're not gonna have fun?
I'll tell you right now,
the better you are at baseball,
the more fun you're gonna have playing baseball.
And the only way you're gonna get better is by practicing.
Every day, whenever you have free time, practice.
And if you have a question, ask somebody.
You with me?
- [Players] Yes, coach.
- Alright, let's go practice.
Come on.
- Let's go, guys.
(car door closes)
- Hey, what's going on?
- Nothing.
Practicing the knuckle curve.
- Oh yeah?
- Yeah.
- Good pitch.
- Looking good.
How you doin', champ?
- [Kyle] Good.
- Ta-da!
- (chuckles) Hey, what are those for?
- For your enjoyment.
- Mm.
- And I closed that bundle deal.
- Honey, congratulations.
- Yeah, well, let's not get too excited,
it's a small thing, but hopefully the first of many.
- Well, we just got the schedule,
and their tournaments start on the same day.
So I'm gonna call their coaches,
see if maybe they can bring 'em to some games.
- No, let me know the days,
maybe I can take off a little early.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah, I can manage it.
- Are you sure?
- Didn't you just ask me if I was sure?
- But are you sure you're sure?
- I'm sure I'm sure. (Beth chuckles)
- What's wrong?
- I'm pitching against Brighton today.
- They have a kid who's seven for seven with five homers.
He's, like, six-feet tall and has a beard already.
- I think I'll walk him.
- You know that guy's a scout, right?
I gotta go warm up.
- Me too. (upbeat music)
- Come on now.
(cheering and applause)
Yeah, we win!
Nice.
Okay, fellas, bring it in.
Reg, lay off the high ones!
How many times I have to tell ya? Come on!
(upbeat music)
(cheering and applause)
(players celebrate)
(cheering and applause)
(Chad chuckles)
Yeah!
Woo!
(Chad laughs)
That was a little high, but I'll forgive ya this time.
(players celebrate)
(indistinct chatter)
- [Player] Let's go, Alex, this kid can't hit you,
blow it past him now.
- Strike.
- He's a looker, he's not gonna swing.
Two more, sit him down now.
(cheering and applause)
(players celebrate)
(cheering and applause)
- Alright, listen up.
Hey, pipe down, come on now, this is important.
We're up 13 now,
so we get the next three outs
and we end this game early, alright?
Max, you take third base,
Mason, you're pitching, alright?
You close this one out for us, alright, buddy.
Bring it in, Oakwood on three, alright?
One, two, three,
- [All] Oakwood!
- Let's go.
Come on, Mase.
(cheering and applause)
Get under it, Aiden.
Two hands.
(cheering and applause)
- Yeah!
Good catch, Aiden, good catch!
Alright, boys, line 'er up.
Great job out there today, boys.
Great hitting all the way through the lineup.
Jimmy, way to make the double play.
- Thank you.
- Let's just keep it together these last two games.
We win this district, we roll through states, right?
Let's bring it in.
Oakwood, one, two, three,
- [All] Oakwood!
- Nice game, fellas, nice game.
- Hey, guys, I told you once we got to districts,
we play to win.
I let your parents know you wouldn't play much.
You're here in case somebody gets hurt
or if there's an emergency, right?
That's all I can tell ya.
- Let's go.
- Let's go, Evans, we need some runs or this game's over.
(cheering and applause)
- I got it, I got it, I got it!
- Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine!
(tense music)
- Out!
(cheering and applause)
- Yeah!
(players celebrate)
- [Players] Danny! Danny! Danny!
Danny! Danny! Danny!
- Yes, keep going, go, go, go, go!
Dig it out, dig it out, yeah, you got it!
Cruise it in, yeah!
Alright!
Let's line it up, boys, nice!
Good job. - Nice hustle,
good game, Sandbridge.
Nice job, guys. - Good game.
- Hey, Rick,
let's book those hotel rooms now for the World Series.
- The World Series?
We need to figure out how to get to regionals.
Brighton's undefeated,
they've outscored the other teams 75 to nine so far.
- Brighton sucked last year.
- Well, they don't suck now.
At least the Sox got a hundred grand for Ruth.
They oughta send you flowers.
- So you guys ready for states?
- Yeah, they've never been there before.
- You'll be fine,
just play your hardest and keep everyone focused.
- You sound like Dad. (Xavier chuckles)
Do you think he'll be okay?
- I think as long as we're okay, he'll be okay,
you know what I mean?
Dad's always trying to act like he wants us to act,
even when he was faking it.
I think he just needs to feed off us for a little bit.
So let's light these tournaments up, alright?
(Xavier chuckles)
(intense music)
- [Announcer] This afternoon's matchup
features two undefeated teams,
the Brighton All-Stars, who seem to be scoring runs at will,
and Freeport, coming off a big win over the Oakwood Bats,
sending them to the elimination bracket.
(indistinct chatter)
- [Umpire] Ball.
Walk.
(Lou sighs)
- Well, hopefully you'll get more from the next game,
I'm sorry about that, Lou.
- Aw, come on, don't sweat it, kid.
If he's as good as you say he is,
I'd walk him every time too.
- You sticking around?
- Yeah, I'm gonna catch some of the Babe Ruth tournaments.
There's a lot of talent out there.
Alright, uh, I'll call you later, alright?
- Yeah, sounds good.
- Ball, that's a walk.
(cheering and applause)
- How's the arm?
You did great.
Head out and take center.
- Coach.
- Come on, we gotta save Jared's arm.
Tommy!
- [Catcher] Why him?
- Alright, buddy, ready to have some fun?
- Yeah.
- Alright, just relax and throw strikes, okay?
- Yeah.
- Alright, do your thing.
Let's go! (cheering and applause)
Come on, Tommy!
(crowd gasps)
- Dead ball!
- Blue.
You nervous?
- A little bit.
- That's okay, you're overthrowing,
just take a little something off it and throw strikes, okay?
- Mm-hmm.
- Say, guys, let's have some fun.
Just playing catch.
- It's okay, throw strikes, alright?
(cheering and applause)
(tense music)
- This kid's 12?
- Just turned 13.
His dad was in the Dodgers' bullpen for six years.
- Great.
- Strike!
- Okay, Cam, now you've seen one.
Give his next pitch a ride.
(cheering and applause)
That's alright, it's only one.
Come on, Ricky, let's go!
- Strike!
- Good cut, Ricky, timing now, let's go!
- Strike!
- That's alright, that wasn't your pitch, get him next time.
- Strike!
- That's alright.
Come on, guys, we've still got this.
Hey, it's alright, come on, guys, let's go!
We can do a lot with two, right, Coach?
Right, Coach?
- Kyle, go have a seat, this game's over.
- Let's go, Joey!
(intense music)
- [Rick] Way to go, Mason,
one more pitch, buddy, one more pitch!
- [Chad] Come on, Mase.
(cheering and applause)
- Up!
(cheering and applause)
- Yeah!
Nice!
Way to go, buddy!
Good job!
Good job, boys!
(intense music)
Alright, Bats on three, one, two, three,
- Bats! - One, two, three,
- [All] Bats!
- Alright!
Great win out there today, boys, great win.
Now listen, we're probably gonna see these guys
again in the championship.
- [Troy] He's right.
- We got a little lucky.
They could afford to lose a game, so they held their aces,
but they have to play them tomorrow,
which means that their arms
are gonna be tired when they play us.
We are winning the championship,
we are winning the regionals,
and we are going to the World Series, yeah?
- Yeah! - You got that?
- Yeah! - One, two, three,
- [All] Oakwood!
- One, two, three,
- Oakwood! - One, two, three,
- [All] Oakwood!
- Yeah!
- Woo!
(indistinct chatter)
(cheering and applause)
- Go on, go play center field.
Three pitches, get us out of this, okay?
You'll be good, alright?
- They can't walk you now, buddy!
They can't walk you now!
Wait for your pitch.
- Strike!
- Told you he throws heat.
- Mm-hmm.
- [Umpire] Strike!
- [Troy] That's okay, stay focused.
- This should be interesting.
(players cheer)
(tense music)
(cheering and applause)
- No, he didn't.
- Holy sh...
Shoes.
- What'd I tell ya?
(players celebrate)
(intense music)
- Xavier, you ready?
- Yeah, where are my slides?
- Right in front of you.
- Oh.
Good luck today, buddy.
- You too.
How many kids you gonna strike out?
- All of them.
You're gonna bring that trophy home, right?
- Yeah.
- Good luck, X.
- Thanks, Dad.
- Throw hard, focus.
- Hey, Kyle, have fun out there today,
I'll see you before warmups.
- Remember when you told me you were gonna win states?
- Yeah.
- Well, you didn't come this far to only come this far,
win it.
- Thank you so much.
- You got everything?
- Yep.
- Batting gloves?
- Yep.
- Alright, you excited?
- Yeah, kinda nervous.
- Sit down.
(soft music)
So listen, those nerves,
they'll go away when you start warming up, you'll be fine.
But you have to leave it all out there today,
this is everything you've been working towards.
Alright?
Win or lose,
you have to know that you did everything you could.
Alright, so they're a good team,
they've been here before,
and you're probably not gonna get much to hit,
so be patient, be smart, okay?
- Okay.
- I'm so proud of you.
You've amazed me, you really have.
Now let's finish this, huh?
(intense music)
- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to the 12-year-old Connecticut State Championship
between Brighton and Oakwood.
Both teams have four wins and one loss
entering this winner-take-all game.
Good luck to all of our all-stars.
- Coaches, plate conference, please.
How are you doing, guys?
- Good, thanks.
- Okay, the field is totally enclosed all the way around,
so that means everything is in play.
Oakwood, you're the defending champion,
so therefore you're the home team.
Are there any questions?
- No, sir.
- Let's play ball.
- [John] Good luck, Coach.
Bring it in, boys.
Come on, let's go.
- Fellas, one, two, three,
- [All] Oakwood!
- Let's go, hit the field!
Mason...
(tense music)
- [Announcer] Now batting, number 46, Diego Diaz.
- [John] Here we go, start us off.
(audience gasps)
- [Players] Oh!
- Hey!
- [John] Alright, hang in there, hang in there.
- Strike!
- [Chad] Way to go, Mase.
- Strike three, out.
- [Announcer] Coming up to bat, number eight, Justin Porter.
- [Player] Send one right back at him, Justin.
(cheering and applause)
- [Announcer] Now batting, number 12, Kyle Cooke.
Currently leads in every batting category
and has set tournament records for home runs and RBIs.
- Hey, fellas, back it up.
Back it up.
(tense music)
(audience groans and boos)
- Come on now.
- [John] Hang in there, hang in there.
That's it.
(upbeat music)
- No, bunt!
- Bunt, bunt, bunt, bunt, bunt!
- Bunt!
Two!
- Who's covering third?
(cheering and applause)
(players celebrate)
- Can't any of you make this play?
- Come on, Mason!
- [Announcer] Batting cleanup, number 27, Tommy Weir.
(audience groans)
- Ball.
- Come on, get your head in the game!
(cheering and applause)
- Home!
(players celebrate) (cheering and applause)
- [Umpire] Safe!
- This kid's got a future.
- [Ted] Way to be heads-up, boy!
- [Announcer] Coming to bat is number eight, Elijah Evans.
Evans has a chance to cut the lead
with runners on first and second.
(cheering and applause)
- Four, four!
(soft music)
- Out! - Yes!
(cheering and applause)
- [John] That a boy!
- Have you ever seen a little leaguer do that before?
- I've never seen a major leaguer do that before.
(upbeat music)
(bat hits ball)
(cheering and applause)
- Strike!
(cheering and applause)
(audience boos and groans)
(cheering and applause)
- One more, Mason, come on.
(cheering and applause)
- Yes!
- Nice!
- Okay, bring it in.
Hustle in there, hustle in there,
let's go, guys, let's go, guys,
circle up, circle up, circle up.
Alright, this is it, guys,
three outs, right, we hold them for three outs,
we're state champions.
You gonna do this?
- [Players] Yeah!
- You gonna shut them down?
- [Players] Yeah!
- You do this, this memory will last a lifetime.
Take us out, Kyle.
- [Kyle] Brighton on three,
- [All] One, two, three, Brighton!
- [John] Alright, guys, let's go, this is it.
- [Announcer] Now batting, number 24, Damien Hall.
(groans) (audience gasps)
- You alright, buddy?
- Where'd that get you? - Where'd it hit you?
- My knee.
- Can you get up? - Can you stand?
- One, two, three, yeah.
You did great.
- How many did Ricky throw yesterday?
- 70, he can't go.
- [John] You alright?
- [Troy] Let me help you, buddy.
- Tommy!
- Coach.
Can I pitch?
- I thought you'd never ask, buddy.
I thought you'd never ask.
Head back on out.
Brandon!
Take short!
- Have you seen him throw?
- I heard he's never pitched before.
- Really?
- Kyle, don't worry,
just stare at the glove
and just throw like you're playing catch, alright?
And you don't have to overthrow
because you've got a strong arm,
and don't worry about hitting anybody--
- Coach, go have a seat, this game's over.
(intense music)
(John chuckles)
- Go get 'em.
(cheering and applause)
- Just one, keep up your accuracy.
Good pitch.
- Bring it in, guys.
Joey, the first one's coming to you, okay?
- This kid's never been on a mound before,
I want you stealing on the first pitch.
He won't even look you back.
- Okay, got it.
- Look sharp! (cheering and applause)
Keep running.
- He's out!
- [Catcher] One down, play's to first.
(indistinct chatter)
- Come on now, Kyle, show 'em what you got.
- Sit 'em down!
(cheering and applause)
- Honey. - Huh?
- Watch this.
(indistinct chatter)
(cheering and applause)
(upbeat music)
- Throw that ball again, kid!
Keep it up!
- Go get the gun.
Go get the gun.
- Yeah, yeah.
(cheering and applause)
- Strike three.
(cheering and applause)
- Was that a knuckle curve?
- [Catcher] That's two.
- Did that kid just throw a knuckle curve?
- [Announcer] Now batting, number 53, AJ Garcia.
- Cam.
- Ball.
(Ted chuckles)
- What's he doing?
- He's about to teach a bully a lesson.
Hey. - Hi.
- Is he pitching?
- Yeah.
How'd it go?
- I let up one.
- Yeah.
- What's he doing?
- Ball four, take your base.
- [Announcer] Now batting, number 33, Mason Hastings.
- That shiny new bat's not gonna help you.
- You're the winning run, come on now.
Let's rip one.
- [Announcer] Looks like Cooke is gonna stay in the windup
and focus on the batter.
(tense music)
(cheering and applause)
- You gotta be kidding me.
- What the record for 12-year-old?
- Well, it was 81.
- Come on,
get around early and drive that fastball, come on!
- That wasn't my fastball.
Do you wanna see my fastball?
(cheering and applause)
- Strike.
- Hey, this kid's superhuman.
A 12-year-old arm cannot throw that hard.
- Hey, Coach,
how'd you like if he threw that at your son's head?
(tense music)
- Come on, throw that again.
- I can throw harder if you want.
- Bring it on.
- You ready for the heat?
(cheering and applause)
- Strike three! (players celebrate)
(cheering and applause)
- (claps) Good game.
(players celebrate)
- [Players] Kyle! Kyle! Kyle!
- [Announcer] Congratulations to the Brighton All-Stars,
our Connecticut state champions.
The final score, Brighton two, Oakwood one.
Good luck at regionals, boys, make us proud.
(players celebrate) (cheering and applause)
- Hey, Ted,
you got a second?
- Hey, Chad.
- Hey.
Uh...
I was...
I was wrong not to give Kyle a shot last year,
him and a lotta other kids.
(soft music)
I'm really sorry about that.
Your son,
he's the greatest baseball player I've ever seen, ever.
- Listen, I...
I'm sorry too.
- No. (chuckles) - I was, you know...
Well, in a way, I should be thanking you.
I don't think Kyle woulda worked that hard
if he hadn't been cut.
- Funny how things work out.
- [Lou] Good game, Coach.
- Thanks.
- Excuse me, Mr. Cooke, Mrs. Cooke,
I'm Lou Grey,
I head up scouting
for Stanford University's baseball program.
I'd like to talk to you about your son if you have a moment.
(Ted chuckles)
- Isn't that some sort of, uh, recruiting violation?
I mean, Kyle's only going into eighth grade.
- (chuckles) Oh, no, no, no,
I don't think Kyle's right for Stanford.
This is about Xavier.
Look, I caught a couple of his games this week,
and I think with a little work on his breaking ball,
and if his grades are good,
I think we'd be interested
in offering him a full scholarship.
So you know,
that's about a $300,000 investment on our part in your son.
Uh, alright, alright, look, (Ted chuckles)
I realize this is coming out of, well, left field.
Here's my card,
why don't you guys talk about it
and give me a call in a day or two
and maybe we can discuss this further, alright?
Pleasure meeting you.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
Have a good day.
- Uh, Mr. Grey,
uh, just curious,
why don't you think Stanford's right for Kyle?
(Lou chuckles)
- Look, um, as a recruiting coach,
I travel around the world all year long
looking at young ballplayers, Mr. Cooke,
there's no question in my mind that in a couple of years,
Kyle will be the number one prospect on this entire planet.
In fact, the day he graduates high school,
some major league organization will be offering you
a hundred-million-dollar contract.
Even Stanford can't compete with that.
Look, um, I have to say this,
obviously,
you got a couple of great ballplayers in your boys,
from what I've seen,
their interaction with their coaches, teammates,
you two have raised two fine young men.
You should be proud.
Well, look, I shouldn't tie you up any longer.
It's a pleasure meeting you.
I look forward to talking some more.
Have a great evening.
Be well, my friends.
(soft music)
(upbeat music)