the diamond. [solo-training-ongoing]

AMERICA’S PAST TIME
Yeah, well America wasn’t the only country that enjoyed the sport. The city of Tokyo rather enjoyed the past time too. Yeah, the boy remembered those actual good times in the neighborhood well. He started playing at a relatively young age, around the age he first began his Jeet Kune Do training. And when his neighborhood wasn’t in constant warfare with others, they were able to actually enjoy a good game of one of the greatest sports on the face of the planet: Baseball. It was a funny thing, how baseball seemed to go hand in hand with martial arts. Shuffling your feet, feet constantly moving. Making quick bursts into a given direction towards a target. Factoring in distance and ‘point of attack’. The heavy usage of the core, let alone the heavy usage of ones body. Learning your body and learning to make it all work together in unison. Awareness, simply put. At all times. Much of the philosophies of the sport and fighting ran parallel with one another. Both with one ultimate goal in the end: to win.

Grass crunching against the bottom of his cleats as he took that first step on to the field. The gentle breeze whipped past his face, moving his short red hair to the right for a few seconds. He’d been wearing a black and grey baseball shirt along with black joggers. The Nike swoosh on his black cleats were shaded yellow. The cerulean blue eyes hollowed as they fixed upon the assistant coach of the Baseball team, waiting for the eldest Hattori. He was surrounded by a bag of bats, a helmet, a bag of baseballs, and he carried his left handed glove under his armpit. Nearby was a familiar pitching machine, a small tractor tire, even smaller tires in two rows, and 35 pound free weights. Ty carried his own tan colored, right handed glove under his right armpit. His left hand was dominant in cases such as these, but as a fighter he had to learn to be ambidextrous. The boy made his way over towards the assistant coach, quietly. The cold and hardened look in his eyes blanketed his expression. Despite the expressionless look resting upon his face, baseball had been one of the few things Ty enjoyed in life. Truly enjoyed. His life was constantly a battlefield, but when he was on the baseball field, it was as though all of his burdens were lifted. It was as though he had no problems to begin with. Nothing else mattered. And the kid was pretty damned good at it.

”Ty Hattori! Glad to see you actually showed!”

The coach extended his hand outward towards the eldest Hattori for a handshake. A brief pause, the cerulean eyes stared at the extended hand for a second before removing his glove from under his armpit and firmly grasping the man’s hand. Glad to see he actually showed? Why wouldn’t he? He loved this sport. Yeah, but it was absolutely impossible to gauge that about him. His demeanor was so immensely nonchalant, cold, standoffish, unapproachable. When the coach offered to come out here after school every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to help him condition and prepare for the tryouts right around the corner, the man probably didn’t expect that Ty had an actual interest in a spot on the baseball team. He had been quiet for most of their conversation. In actuality, the Hattori boy should have been in trouble that Friday he had been out here alone, running drills. He had managed to swipe one of the school’s pitching machines from gymnasium’s supply closet along with a bat and a bag of balls. It had always crossed the boy’s mind to try out for the team, but he never truly gave it any serious thought. No, that Friday he had simply been down here to have fun. He didn’t exactly know where to go for ‘pick up games’ like in his Tokyo neighborhood. So, he simply had to take matters into his own hands.

LAST FRIDAY

FOOP

The baseball shooter propelled forward the white rounded hard ball, speeding at the red haired Junior positioned at the batter’s box. He stood in the right box, with the bat held slightly above his shoulder. His stance medium-low. His eyes narrowed, focusing and honing in on the incoming projectile. Funny thing, he threw left handed but batted right handed. This sport was an interesting one indeed.

CRACK

The Hattori devil had pulled the trigger on the bat. Releasing as his arms led first but supported greatly as he turned his hips for more power. Naturally, strength played a factor when it came to batting, but technique was the most important. Baseball was a game of chess accompanied by skill, supported by talent. There were plenty of players who didn’t possess an immense amount of talent but were inherently better than the ones with raw talent. The trick was simply practice, practice, practice. Ty lacked the necessary strength to deliver a strike over the fence, but his technique was excellent. The impact of the ball vibrated through his body, but the ball was sent flying back, filling the air between second and third. A good hit as the ball skipped into the outfield.

”You know, stealing school property is a felony, boy!”

A large, towering man approached the red haired Hattori. His eyes were soft, impressed, as supposed to angry. He walked until he was some paces away from the Hattori boy. Ty hadn’t looked up. He had readjusted himself to prepare for the next ball, sliding back into his batting stance.

FOOP

Another swing from the devil.

CRACK

This one sent the ball flying upward, landing a little ways in the outfield in between first and second. It would prove an uncatchable ball in the game most likely. A good hit. The man behind the Hattori boy nodded his head, approving.

”I’ve been watchin’ you for a while, kid. You’re that transfer from #122, right? Ty Hattori. You could use some work, but you’ve some chops there, kid.”

The red haired boy stood erect, slinging the back over his shoulder. The machine was out of balls, so he had no choice but to face his punishment. The cerulean gaze turned to fix upon the very large man. He remained silent, expecting a scolding.

”So how’s about this. You stop stealing our shit, and I’ll work with you after school. Get you ready for tryouts around the corner. If you’re interested, bring your glove after school on Monday.”

The man turned and began his exit. ”Hm..” Perhaps the Junior had a touch of luck after all.

PRESENT DAY

”Alright silent boy. Ya already stretched out?”

Ty nodded to the man. He was always stretched out. The volatility of this schools occupants made it a more than necessary thing. Another brush from the breeze.

”Good! Let’s get warmed up then! The trick to conditioning for baseball is, core, core, core. Strong core means strong everything. Let’s go! 100 push ups, 200 crunches.”

Ty stared at the man for a spell, and a rare smirk stretched across his face.

”Whoa, was that a smile? Jesus almighty the world must be ending! We ain’t got all day, boy!”

The Hattori devil took a step back and dropped to the floor. He understood that it was always vital to revisit the basics before he could simply jump into the loop. He understood that neighborhood baseball and organized top high school baseball would be a completely different beast. Though his silence could possibly suggests otherwise, he was sure this man, this coach could see the lust and determination in his eyes for the sport. To become great at it. Who knows? Perhaps he’d get a full ride to a college if he played well enough. Ty squared his body to the floor, palms crushing the grass underneath. He started at a steady pace.

”Not too fast, boy. Quality! Here at #552 it’s quality over quantity!”

Ty continued, pushing himself from the ground and dropping back again. Pushing, dropping. Pushing, dropping. The coach could obviously tell the boy had some type of training background.

”You’ve got some potential there, Hattori. You’re talented. But talent won’t mean shit, if you’re not willing to work. And you won’t get on this team if you’re not willing to work.”

The man circled the boy as he continued his push ups. Sweat rolling down his face that would quickly be dried out by the cold air. He felt his heart pumping through his chest, and yet he was not winded yet. This was, as the coach stated, nothing but a warm up. A little time would pass as the boy finished his push ups. He immediately twisted his body, back against the ground. He lifted his knees in the air, his head up and began his crunches, feeling the ‘good’ pain shoot through his core. The coach had walked away, dragging the small tractor tire with relative ease all the way towards the back outfield fence. Obviously this would be the young Hattori’s next task. Ty was able to pump out the crunches relatively quickly. Once again, simply his warm up. The boy got to his feet as his eyes fixed upon the coach already at the back fence with the small tractor tire. He motioned the Hattori boy over and Ty complied, making a purposeful jog across the field over to the coach’s position.

”You know what to do, right Hattori? You’re gonna get this tire all the way to home plate, WITHOUT rolling it. This is a nice workout for your entire body, core especially. Welp! I’ll be waiting, kid. If you make it, we’ll start the drills. If you don’t, go home. We need to get your strength up, Hattori. You’ve already got an excellent eye for the ball. But we need to get you knocking that ball over the goddamn fence.”

It was as simple as that. The man headed back over towards the dugout to observe the boy with this incredibly strenuous task. But nonetheless, Ty knew he could tackle it. Carrying and walking it simply was going to prove impossible. He’d have to flip this bastard on its side until he got it home. The boy got to work immediately. Scooting his fingers under the tire, he lifted with his legs, got in better position to push it over, and utilized his core, arms and rest of his body to push it over. One.

”Good job, kid! Home ain’t so far off now!”

Another smirk stretched across the red haired Hattori’s lips. Thanks for the encouragement. He repeated the process from earlier, lifting with his legs and using the rest of his body as support to push the tire over. Two. He kept it moving. This was going to be difficult. But the reward of being stronger would be there for him at the finish line. Scooting his hands underneath the tire again, he lifted with his legs, arms supporting the life. He re-positioned his hands to palm the tire, and utilized his body to push it over. Three. He repeated this effective process. About the halfway mark, he really started feeling it take its toll on his body. As said before, a strenuous task, but perseverance was key. The eldest Hattori had immeasurable will power when it came to baseball and training. He wouldn’t let fatigue defeat him this day.

He repeated the process, getting his hands up under the tire, lifting with his legs and arms, fixing his position under the tire, and utilizing his entire body to flip it over. The ‘good’ pain shot through body. Soreness in the morning? Could be probable. Perhaps in some spots, but his body was already in good conditioning so he’d be able to recover fast on the ‘off day’. The sun’s position changed by the time he made it to home plate. The coach had already been there waiting for him. The boy had been drenched in sweat, though it dried quickly against his skin. The coach clapped his hands together in applause for the boy.

Wow. You actually made it, kid. We don’t even make our players do that.”

The Hattori devil sighed softly. What an asshole. But nonetheless, the man knew what he was doing and Ty definitely got this sense.

”Alright Hattori, give me 30 jump squats with the 35’s over there. But don’t kill yourself kid. I need my job.”

”For a second it sounded as though you actually cared about my well being.”

The boy quipped, turning his back from the man and picking up the 35 pound weights in both hands.

”Lord Jesus Almighty! The kid speaks! AND he has a sense of humor! It really must be Armageddon! Get to work, smart ass!”

With the weights pulling him down, the Hattori bent his knees and jumped into the air. The pain of the tire moving still in effect, and this didn’t exactly help. Another full body, core workout. The conditioning would undoubtedly his strength, and lateral speed. Leaping ability as well; his vertical. Ten jump squats. Twenty. Twenty-five. He continued on. One strenuous task after another. He felt his muscles bulging, stabilizing him as he worked them to what seemed like their deaths. Thirty. He dropped the weights into the grass by his sides and placed his hands on his hips, panting heavily.

”Alright, Hattori. Take your break. Get some water. Don’t pass the hell out. We’ll get to the batting and fielding drills next.”

”Good.”

The coach bellowed a loud, obnoxious laugh. Despite the hell the boy had been just gone through, he was still determined to hone his abilities. Hattori’s simply put, don’t quit. No matter what’s going on mentally, physically, or emotionally. But for Ty Hattori, baseball was apart of his life. And it was something he didn’t want to let slip away. He wanted to be on the team… No. He needed to be on this team. The boy still panting from the rigorous conditioning workout made his way over to the dugout, accompanied by the coach. He grabbed a bottled water and began sipping away at it.

”So what’s your story, kid? I’ve heard a few things about you. Nine Hattori is what they used to call you right?”

The boy remained silent. He still was unfamiliar with this man. Sure, he’d become slightly more fond of him and his amusing quips, but he was not his friend.

”Heh. I get it. Another time, perhaps…. Boy, you kids are all the same. So damn violent. So butthurt. So hungry for.. Whatever. But I always tell myself, if I can lead at least one of ya on a halfway decent path, it’s worth it.”

The boy looked up at the man standing over him. The cerulean blue eyes making eye contact.

”Is that what this is, then? Trying to lead me on a ‘half-way decent path’?”

The man laughed, bellowing the same taunting and obnoxious one from before.

”Shit, no! I saw you hittin’ down there and thought ya might be a good addition. But ya still gotta impress Coach. But ya know, boy. I’ve seen a lot of kids come and go from this school. Seen a lot of shit. Seen you come, do a lil interacting. So I know some things. And even behind all that macho cold bullshit of yours, I can see you don’t have it together, either. I think baseball can be that thing that helps you figure your shit out. So I guess in a way, I am reachin’ out!”

Wise words. Ty turned his gaze away, pondering on the man’s advice. Perhaps he was right. Maybe this could be another piece of the puzzle into defeating his fate. Maybe, just maybe, baseball could be another ally in his crusade.

”You’re a walking contradiction then.”

The boy smirked, eyes facing forward. Yet another laugh from the older man.

”I guess I am! Alright, ya smart ass bitch. Go grab a bat. Let’s get it started.”

The Hattori teen lifted himself up from the bench and grabbed a tan bat from the corner. He put in a few practice swings before taking up position at the left batter’s box. He positioned the bat over his right shoulder and slid into his batting stance. His eyes narrowed out over onto the mound, watching as the older man took up his pitching position.

”Let’s see what you got. I’m not holding back.”

FOOP!

And with that, the man gave a blistering pitch. The cerulean blue eyes honed in on the speeding target. It seemed to travel in slow motion in his mind. He awaited for the opportune time as the ball approached. A smirk cracked the serious expression, stretching across his face… And he pulled the trigger.

CRACK!