Pitching to Giraffes

(Paperback)

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John Light, desperate to escape his introverted ways and more fully experience life, reluctantly goes out for his college baseball team in 1969. An unintended change in mechanics soon makes him his team's best pitcher. Major League scouts are coming around. But at the same time, an awakening appreciation and involvement with the cultural and political landscape weakens his engagement with baseball, and he is distracted by a need to legitimize his moral commitment by actively participating in the counterculture's quest to demand a better world.

His team needs his help. They are chasing a championship over their arrogant rivals, but past mistakes and hijinks threaten to undermine their goal. Their coach is organized and well-meaning but, it seems at first, a bit of a fish out of water trying to corral their antics.

He is charmed by his girlfriend, but his growing ambition makes him question whether she is right for him.

A student activist with militant connections offers John the action he desperately wants to legitimize his commitment, but at a cost. John grapples with the complications of losing oneself in a just cause.

As the season counts down to its climactic final game, John, his girl friend, his coach, and several friends and teammates confront decisions that dig deep into who they are and who they want to be. This funny,warm-hearted novel expands beyond baseball to explore how we determine the right thing to do and why we should do it.

Author Bio

The author played college baseball 1968 through 1972 and was enthusiastically engaged in the life-changing excitement and turmoil that flourished through those years.