Dwayne put an arm around each of them and smiled. They watched one of the young batters make a beautiful swing and drive the ball to the outfield fence. It was an inside-the-park home run. Shortly after, the coach placed that same kid in right field.
A group of dads standing along the fence cursed under their breath.
Dwayne frowned, raised an eyebrow, and then looked down at Alex. Alex smiled up at his dad. Estelle gripped the back of Dwayne’s shirt, holding him back from charging the field.
“You folks new in town?” a friendly thirty-something lady asked with a deep Southern drawl. “We’ve got a great baseball program for kids here.”
“My dad’s a great coach,” Alex told the lady.
“Well, now, that’s an amazing coincidence, because as you might have noticed, we could sure use some help with coaching.”
A warm smile washed over Dwayne’s face.
“Where do I sign up?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Baseball Dads is Matthew S. Hiley’s third novel. His first, 2010’s Hubris Falls, met with much critical acclaim and dealt, in very raw language, with the taboo realities of race, religion, and politics. His second novel, 2011’s The Candidates: Based on a True Country, is a dark and absurd comedy in which the author takes swipes at the hypocrisy and self-serving nature of those leading the country, as well as the fame whores in reality television.
Hiley’s books always contain a strong message. Sure, you may have to wade through some harsh language, crazy sex, and a plethora of drugs to find it.… But it’s there, and it might just slap you in the face when you’re least expecting it.
Hiley was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. He and his wife have four children together, along with five dogs, six cats, and two lizards. A terrible musician, a reprehensible fisherman, a less-than-mediocre golfer, and a talentless children’s baseball coach, Hiley has found his place in life as a writer whose voice is sharp, witty, and unafraid.
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