For The Love of Sports

By Mitchell Ryan Murtoff and Sarah Ickes

This is an illustrated series of short stories about all the sports that I have played throughout my life. I began playing competitive sports at the age of six and have continued playing sports to this day. I had the opportunity to learn many sports during my life and succeed at most of them. Most of the stories in this book are based on game si

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mitchell Ryan Murtoff
• Release date: Dec 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9798986635019

Mitchell Ryan Murtoff

Mitchell Murtoff was born in Gettysburg, PA and raised in Gardners, PA. He attnded Biglerville High School and went on to attend Messiah College. He studied abroad in England and Scotland for one semester. In June of 2000, he relocated to Columbus, Ohio for eight years. He then relocated back to Pennsylvania where he currently resides. His love of sports began at early age. He began playing competitive sports at the age of six and continued playing sports well into his adulthood. He also started a successful, internationally recognized woodworking business, Innovative Designs Unlimited in January 2001. His previous work includes The Longing, an illustrated series of poems about meeting the right person. His other current book, The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Mitchell Ryan Murtoff 2000-present will be available in the near future. He currently has plans to write at least two more books in the near future. In addition to these occupations, he is also learning to play guitar. He plans on playing live at locations in the surrounding areas in the future.

Book preview

For The Love of Sports

First print edition.

Copyright © 2022 Mitchell Ryan Murtoff. All rights reserved.

Cover art © 2022  Mitchell Ryan Murtoff and Sarah Ickes.

ISBN: 979-8-9866350-0-2.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022920861.

No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any other information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Photography by:

Sarah Ickes

Sky Strong

Lawrence Murtoff

Don Knoblet

Edited by:  Todd Coulson

Acknowledgement

Iwould like to thank all my coaches from all of the different sports I played from the age of 6 until adulthood who helped mentor my love of each sport I played.  Along with instilling the love of each sport, I would also like to thank them for teaching me discipline, which transferred over to other areas of my life.  I would like to thank the following individuals who took time to coach me and the rest of my teammates and for instilling values in us that not only helped make us better athletes, but also better people.  There were many coaches along the way. I will try to name as many as I can remember.  Some of my coaches included:  Larry Kline, Ronnie Cline, Ron Hewitt, Jeff Taylor, Fred Hibbs, Robert Klokis, Richard Tate, Pam Hewitt, Skip Martin, Barry Starner, William Celio, and Stan Doyle. I apologize if I have missed anyone.  I would also like to thank Donald Knoblet for introducing me to football (soccer) and ice hockey.  Without his zest for these sports, I would have never attempted to play them.  I also need to thank my teammates throughout the years for making these times very memorable.  I also need to thank some of my former coworkers from Lowes on Brice Rd in Columbus, Ohio for allowing me to be a part several softball teams.  I would like to thank Jimmy Richards and Joe Turek for inviting me to play on their softball and bowling teams in Columbus, Ohio.  I would also like to thank James Arzadon for inviting me to be a part of his recreational football (soccer) team in Ohio and presenting me with an assistant coaching opportunity for a youth football (soccer) team in Pickerington, Ohio. I also would like to thank my parents for taking me to all the practices and traveling to my games. 

Baseball

The days are now longer .  The temperature is rising.  It’s summertime.  Which means it’s time for the boys of summer.  The smell of the fresh cut grass in the outfield.  The chalk lines have been laid.  The umpire sweeps off home plate and yells Batter up!  The season is now underway.  The batter looks to the coach for a sign.  The pitcher checks with the catcher for a signal.  The batter steps into the batter’s box looking to hit.  The pitcher winds up and hurls the ball towards home plate.  Swing and a miss!  The ball ends up in the catcher’s mitt.  The umpire yells Strike one!  The batter steps out of the box and looks to the coach. Meanwhile, the pitcher looks to the catcher for the next sign.  The catcher signals for a curve ball.  The coach signals for the batter to take the pitch.  The chess match continues.  The batter steps into the box and prepares for the next pitch.  Low and away.  Ball one! yells the umpire.  The pitcher winds up and throws a fast ball.  He loses his grip on the ball and it sails on him and hits the batter.  The batter goes to first base after being checked for injuries.  Next batter up.  The runner takes a lead off first base.  The catcher sees this out of the corner of his eye.  The first baseman gets in position to hold the runner on the bag.  The catcher calls out a series of numbers for a play.