Table of Contents

Prologue The End of Summer 5

1 Look Out, Barrhead 8

2 First Tryout 13

3 Dropping the Ball 19

4 In the Cage 24

5 Pop-Ups and Deep Files 31

6 Overwhelmed 37

7 The Mercy Rule 41

8 The Season Begins 47

9 Sliding into Home 52

10 What's Wrong with Westlock? 57

11 Time to Quit 63

12 The Boys Are Back in Town 67

13 Play of the Season 73

14 Too Much Pressure 76

15 Back to Basics 81

16 Three Outs 85

17 Humbled by Humboldt 90

18 Summit in the Breakfast Room 97

19 Expect No Mercy 101

20 Easy Out 107

Epilogue Screamers and Celebrations 114

Acknowledgements 118

Author's Note 120