Lefty Louie the Little Leaguer

By S. E. Bazarsky

This heartwarming story is about 10-year-old Louie Jordan. He has dreamed about being a pitcher on a Little League Baseball team. But there is one thing that has prevented him from pursuing his dream. He was born with only one arm. He has no friends and always keeps to himself. Every day at school, he has to face the school bully and the other kids. They often make fun of him by calling him, "Lefty Louie." One day, a new girl in school, Brenda Summers, becomes his friend and encourages him to try out for the local Little League team.

Follow Louie's journey as he faces many obstacles during the tryouts until his dream finally comes true. When the big day comes to pitch in the Little League Season Opener, he walks to the mound and receives a thunderous standing ovation.

This story is a real "Grand Slam" that will bring joy to every reader who has ever had a dream.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645364276

S. E. Bazarsky

S. E. Bazarsky was born on the fourth of July in Providence, Rhode Island. He is a veteran of the armed forces. He is the author of articles, essays, short stories, novellas, and novels. He also writes teleplays and screenplays. He is a former actor and radio personality, too. He lives in Arizona. His work has appeared in many publications, including Tales of the Old West, Western Digest, The Storyteller, Black Creek Review, The Missing Link, Published, The Baltimore Sun, and more. The Bounty Hunter, which was a Western novella, appeared in an anthology, Written on the Wind. In addition, another Western novella, Warpath, appeared in a softcover edition. Another one of his works, The Adventures of Ethan the Dragon Slayer, is a fantasy novel.

Book preview

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About the Author

S. E. Bazarsky was born on the fourth of July in Providence, Rhode Island. He is a veteran of the armed forces. He is the author of articles, essays, short stories, novellas, and novels. He also writes teleplays and screenplays. He is a former actor and radio personality, too. He lives in Arizona. His work has appeared in many publications, including Tales of the Old West, Western Digest, The Storyteller, Black Creek Review, The Missing Link, Published, The Baltimore Sun, and more. The Bounty Hunter, which was a Western novella, appeared in an anthology, Written on the Wind. In addition, another Western novella, Warpath, appeared in a softcover edition. Another one of his works, The Adventures of Ethan the Dragon Slayer, is a fantasy novel.

About the Book

This heartwarming story is about 10-year-old Louie Jordan. He has dreamed about being a pitcher on a Little League Baseball team. But there is one thing that has prevented him from pursuing his dream. He was born with only one arm. He has no friends and always keeps to himself. Every day at school, he has to face the school bully and the other kids. They often make fun of him by calling him 'Lefty Louie'. One day, a new girl in school, Brenda Summers, becomes his friend and encourages him to try out for the local Little League team.

Follow Louie's journey as he faces many obstacles during the tryouts until his dream finally comes true. When the big day comes to pitch in the Little League Season Opener, he walks to the mound and receives a thunderous standing ovation.

This story is a real Grand Slam that will bring joy to every reader who has ever had a dream.

Dedication

In loving memory of my beloved brother.

Copyright Information

Copyright © S. E. Bazarsky (2019)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales: special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloguing-in-Publication data

Bazarsky, S. E.

Lefty Louie the Little Leaguer

ISBN 9781641823838 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781641823845 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781641823852 (kindle e-book)

ISBN 9781645364276 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019934884

The main category of the book — Juvenile Fiction / Sports & Recreation / Baseball & Softball

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published (2019)

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 28th Floor

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Acknowledgments

For the Little Leaguers everywhere.

Chapter 1

The Little League Baseball Dream

Located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, McCoy Stadium was the home field for the Pawtucket Red Sox. The team was the AAA International Baseball League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Little League Baseball season was just around the corner. The tryouts for the local team, The Pawtucket Wolverines, would soon take place at the stadium.

Louie Jordan, who was an only child, would stop by the stadium on his way home every day after school. He was a devoted fan of the Boston Red Sox, for he loved baseball and dreamed about being a Little Leaguer. He had seen the flyers posted around the neighborhood for the tryouts. But there was one thing that had kept him from pursuing his dream. He had only one arm. He was born that way. But he never complained about having only a left arm.

During school, Louie was bashful, insecure, and felt uncomfortable being around other kids. But he was a very good student, who loved to read and learn new things. He had no friends and always kept to himself. Whenever he was not in school, he would spend most of the time at home. Sometimes he and his mother, Holly, who was a widow, would go to the stadium and watch the games. There were also times when they would travel to Boston and watch the Red Sox play at Fenway Park. He had recently celebrated his tenth birthday in a quiet celebration with his mother.

The kids at school always gave him a hard time, especially at recess. They would play and make fun of him. Many called him, Lefty Louie. He really hated that name. But there were also some kids, who just ignored him.

Tears stood in Louie’s eyes as he thought about baseball. He would stand in front of the stadium for a good half hour and would envision himself standing on the pitcher’s mound during a game. His mother always worried about him. But she always knew where to find him after school.

When he heard a car horn, he turned around and saw his mother’s car, just as it stopped at the curb. He took his backpack off, and after he put it on the back seat, he got into the car and sat down on the front seat, wearing a broad smile.

Holly, who wore a bright smile, leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.

I gave you a new baseball glove for your birthday, Louie. Don’t let it collect dust in your bedroom closet. Put it to use. The Little League Baseball tryouts will be starting soon. Why don’t you give it a try? I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun. I know how much you love baseball.

I’ve never even tried to throw a baseball before, Mom. I know that the other kids will laugh and make fun of me. They always do.

Don’t let that stop you. Just ignore them. Your father loved baseball, too. He played baseball in college. He was a southpaw with a great fastball. He held the college record for strikeouts. I believe you have a hidden talent that you haven’t even explored yet. Just give it a try, Louie.

Louie knew that his mother had his best interest in mind. But he wanted to forget about the matter and hoped that it would not be brought up again. Okay, Mom. I’ll think about it.

They exchanged smiles, then they headed for home.

Chapter 2

The New Friend

The next day at school, Louie, who was sitting on a bench at the far end of the playground, was watching the other kids, who were having fun at recess. He felt like an outsider and would always wait for recess to end. He would watch the other kids file back into the school, then he would return to the classroom.

A new girl in school, Brenda Summers, who was the same age as Louie, was swinging to and fro on the swing, smiling and having fun. She was looking across the playground in the direction of Louie, who sat with his face buried in his hand. She decided to have a talk with him. She got off the swing and went over to him, wearing a radiant smile. Hi, Louie! Do you mind if I sit down?

Louie looked up at her with a sad face. Go away and leave me alone.

You don’t really mean that. I just want to be your friend.

Well, okay, Brenda. You can sit down. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to be so rude.

Brenda continued to smile as she sat down next to him.

They sat quietly and watched the other kids, who were still having fun.

Eager to also have some fun, Brenda looked at Louie and said, You’re always sitting here by yourself, Louie. Don’t let those kids tease you. You should be having tons of fun. That’s what recess is for. So let’s have some fun together.

Just as she was about to take hold of his hand, he quickly moved it aside.

You better go away before the other kids tease you, too.

She pointed to the seesaw. Hey, look over there! Nobody’s on the seesaw! What are we waiting for? Come on! Let’s have some fun on the seesaw!

He shook his head. I don’t think that’s a good idea. They’ll tease you. You better find somebody else.

No way! she responded in a firm voice. I don’t care! Let them tease me! You’re coming with me! She stood up, and after she took hold of his hand, she forced him to his feet. It’s time to have some fun, Louie!

They went over to the seesaw and sat down at opposite ends.

With bright