Fast Pitch

Shenice must get ready for school and her next game—a game that will determine whether the Firebirds enter the section tournament. However, she can only think about the brown journal she saw in her great-grandfather’s trunk. She cannot stop wondering what was in that journal and whether it relates to why JonJon never got to go pro.

All day, Shenice is distracted thinking about the journal. She walks past her friends, doesn’t pay attention in class, and cannot complete her homework because she did not pay attention in class. Everyone notices, particularly her coach, who asks if she’s having problems. Shenice tells her it’s family stuff. She cannot focus on the game, but her team plays well despite it, and they win.

During dinner, Shenice’s father speaks about how she makes the Lockwood family name proud and gives her his high school baseball championship ring. She feels like she does not deserve the honor, but it refocuses her and brings her attention back to the game. After practice, her mom picks her up instead of her dad; instead of going home, her mom takes her to meet someone.

Her mom takes her to a retirement home where she meets her great uncle, Jack—JonJon’s younger brother.