Published: 17 Feb 2022
From Previous Chapter:
Mark’s mom also added that she would make sure they had folding chairs in the car before they headed out. She said it was no fun standing there for over an hour watching the fireworks.
The parents sent Mark up to bed and told him not to turn the computer on. They told him they’d see him first thing in the morning. Mark hugged each of them before heading up the stairs to his room.
The Golderson’s, as well as the other families who were at the lake fireworks display, all slept well that night.
It was nine o’clock and their son wasn’t down for breakfast yet. The parents knew they had a late night yesterday, but even after nine hours of sleep, they figured Mark would have been downstairs by then. Levi decided to go up to the boy’s room and see what why his son wasn’t down to eat, yet.
Levi knocked on the partially opened bedroom door. Yes, he was the dad and should be able to go anywhere in the house he wanted, but he also knew his son was beginning to cherish his privacy. So, with that in mind that was why he knocked.
“Good morning, son,” called out Mark’s dad, as the man entered the room, because the door slowly opened as he knocked.
“Oh, good morning, dad,” Mark returned.
“What you doing, sport?” asked Levi.
“I was looking at the exercises I need to do to become a better pitcher, dad. Come over and see what I’ll have to do every day,” encouraged Mark.
Levi went over to his son’s computer and saw what Mark was looking at. On the screen was the 19 Best Exercises For Baseball Pitchers web site. He also saw the under title, Learn pitching-specific exercises to increase strength, speed and power, and he wondered what his son was getting himself into.
Mark told his dad to watch as he scrolled through the pages. Page after page not only told the reader the types of exercises they should do and how to do them, there was also something that caught Levi’s eye. So, he had his son click on that link in order to give him an idea of what that was all about.
The web page was titled, TUFFCUFF, Jr.: The Ultimate Youth Pitching Program for Kids 7-14. That intrigued Levi as it was something he could order and then he and Mark could do the program together. Then, if and when, his son got his foster ‘big brother’, those two could do the program together, as well.
Levi read through the web pages to get a better idea of what the book offered, and to see if it was something he really wanted to order. The web pages told him it would take the guesswork out of safely and effectively training younger pitchers. And that the book was designed to teach him everything he needed to know in order to develop a successful and healthy young pitcher.
What really caught Levi’s eye was the promise of simple workouts, throwing program mechanics, and drills that would give him a practical, year-round, total training program for Mark, if the boy really wanted to be a pitcher.
Miriam wondered why her ‘men’ hadn’t returned to eat breakfast, so she headed upstairs to check on them. When she entered Mark’s room, she saw Levi and Mark both looking and reading off the web page that were oblivious to her being there.
“I thought you two were coming down for breakfast?” announced Miriam, with a smile.
“Mom, mom, look at this web page dad found. I think he’s going to order this book and that way I won’t have keep coming to my room to check the web page,” enthusiastically announced Mark.
Miriam looked at the web site, but after a few pages, she told Levi and Mark to Bookmark it and get downstairs, so they could eat breakfast as a family. Mark did just that, and the three of them headed down to then kitchen to eat.
Mark was late to the playground to meet up with his friends that Monday, because of him and his dad’s looking at the web sites and then having a late breakfast.
“Where you been? We’ve been waiting on you,” called out Corey, as Mark rode up on his bike.
“Sorry. I was looking at a web site that gave exercises for pitchers and my dad … he came to my room to see why I wasn’t down for breakfast. I showed him what I was looking at and we both wound up looking at web pages. We got so into it that my mom came looking for us. You know what? It was fun to do something with my dad.
“Oh, and there was a book, something about a youth pitching program that he saw on that web page and he’s going to order it. It has all this information from the web site plus all these pictures of what exercises I can do to build up my arms, legs and shoulders. He told me that he and I could do it together, and when I get my new ‘big brother’, he can work with on it with me, too,” explained a hyped-up Mark.
“And speaking of your big brother … when will you get him?” asked Glenn.
“I wish I knew. I keep asking my parents, but all they ever tell me is that I’ll know when they know. … The thing is …they never called me to tell me they got that phone call about that girl CPS wanted to place. I wonder what it would be like to have a sister,” finished Mark.
“I’ll tell you how it is to have a sister. She hogs the bathroom all the time. And all she’s doing is putting on makeup or styling her hair. We’re lucky we have an extra bathroom upstairs,” complained Dana.
With the questions and answers all over, the boys decided to split into two teams and play some ball. Kieran brought his catcher’s mitt and mask and he wore his cup, so he said he wanted to get used to being behind a batter, so he decided to catch whomever was pitching.
When it was Mark’s turn to pitch for his team, Kieran went out and talked to him some before Mark threw any pitches. Kieran wanted his friend to try to throw harder than he did yesterday when they practiced.
Mark told the other team he wanted a few throws to get his arm warmed up. What he was really doing was getting the range and making sure of his accuracy. When he was ready to pitch, the opposing players came to the batter’s box and waited for Mark to pitch.
This type of pitching was different from what they usually did. No one ever really pitched, but here was Mark pitching as if he was in a real game. Some of the boys liked it that they had good pitches come over the plate. Others just wanted to hit the ball and get on base.
Mark did fairly well as he pitched to his friends. Some of the boys actually struck out while Mark pitched. Of course, others took advantage of the novice pitcher and when he threw an easy pitch over the plate they connected and hit the ball a long way away.
The boys all felt they had a good ball game that day. And even though it was the 4th of July Holiday, there were Little League baseball games that night. Knowing that, the boys who were playing that evening knew they shouldn’t over play and then be too tired to play later.
As the boys decided to stop playing and go home for lunch and then a swim in at whoever’s turn it was to host the swim, Mark and Kieran decided to practice. Even though Mark had pitched during the pick-up game, Kieran said he needed more practice behind the plate.
Mark agreed he wanted to throw some more to get his accuracy down better and to see if he could get better control of his pitches when he tried to throw faster. The two boys decided to limit their practice to thirty minutes.
When Mark returned home for a late lunch, his dad asked him if he did any pitching today. Mark told his dad how he took his turn pitching during their pick-up game, and then that he and Kieran threw for a half-hour more before he came home.
Levi told his son he checked that pitching exercised website again, and he did order that book. The man told his son he hopes to have it by the beginning of the following week since that day was a non-work day and the site probably wouldn’t see his order until tomorrow.
As Mark ate his lunch, he asked his dad if they received a phone call from CPS. Levi told the boy that it was a Holiday for them, as well, and they wouldn’t hear from them unless there was an emergency placement.
Mark’s dad then told his son that they would have to be very careful about accepting a boy under an emergency placement. The dad mentioned that the boy might not have any history for them to be able to consider before accepting him into their home.
Mark was disappointed to hear that. Now that they told him they’d been accepted as foster parents; he was so close to getting the ‘big brother’ he always wanted. He told his dad he understood, but hoped they would at least let him know when they do get a phone call from CPS.
After eating and thanking his mom for making his lunch for him, the boy went up to his room to change into his swimsuit, so he could head over to Patrick’s pool to cool off and have fun with his friends.
At five o’clock, as was the agreement, the boys all headed home. Adelyn Boemieller, Patrick’s mom, needed the peace and quiet for her and her husband Shawn after all of those hours of playful noise coming from their backyard. The women also needed to start dinner for her family. She was happy her turn to host the boys wouldn’t happen for a few more days.
During dinner, Mark told his parents he wanted to ride his bike over to the ballfield and watch the game. He said his next games were Wednesday and Friday and they were playing one of the teams from tonight. He said it would be nice to see how well they are playing with one of their key players gone.
Levi, told his son he’d drive him over there and then the two of them could watch the game together. That put a great big smile on Mark’s face. He and his dad didn’t do very much together because of his job, so when his dad said he’d go with him, he was ecstatic.
The two Golderson’s arrived at the game just as the first half of the first inning was just about over. The two found good seats from where they could watch the game. Since it was a Holiday night, there were many more parents there than there usually would be.
While Levi watched the game from a casual observer’s standpoint, Mark watched the pitchers. The youngster wanted to see how they moved prior to and while throwing their pitches. He watched their mechanics and how long they took between pitches. While he watched them, he envisioned in his own mind him throwing the pitch.
Mark didn’t care who won or lost that evening. He was intent on learning to pitch and hopefully one day being on the All-Star team. He sometimes thought about what it would be like to be at Williamsport, playing on those well-manicured ball fields. And, he hoped one year he and his dad could at least go there and be a spectator out on the hill behind the outfield. And maybe ride a piece of cardboard down the hill as well.
On the way home, Levi asked his son why he wanted to go watch those two teams. Mark honestly told his dad he went because he wanted to observe the pitchers and how they delivered their pitches and handled any errant balls that came their way. Mark was very animated in his discussion which told his dad that buying that book he ordered earlier was a wise choice.
Once Levi and Mark returned home, the family sat around in the Family Room watching TV together as they liked to do. Mark enjoyed doing that with his mom and dad, whereas lots of boy his age would want to be doing something by themselves, or be up in their own rooms watching television there, or be on their computer searching the World Wide Web.
When it came time for bed, Mark complained as most boys would. He reminded his mom he didn’t have school tomorrow, so he should be allowed to stay up later than a school night. His mom relented and told her son he could stay up until ten, and that she better not come up there and have to put him to bed as she has for two nights.
Miriam told Mark that if he is asleep on the top of his bed, she would take his clothes off of him and put him to bed. She reminded him that she hadn’t done that the other two nights, but she would tonight of he was asleep again.
Mark told his mom that he wouldn’t fall asleep on top of his bed tonight and that he would make sure he put on his pajamas before he even began looking at his computer. The boy then gave his mom and dad a good night kiss, before heading up to his room.
Mark did indeed put on his pajamas before sitting down at his computer. Tonight, instead of searching for information on what pitchers needed to do to be better, he watched videos of previous Little League Baseball World Series games and in particular the pitchers. His desire to be a good pitcher would not be denied.
When Miriam went upstairs at 10:15 to check on her son, she found him fast asleep in his bed and under the covers. She went over to him, kissed his forehead and then headed back downstairs to join her husband in their bed.
Mark woke up refreshed. He had another great dream about him and his new foster ‘big brother’ and this time they were playing catch in the backyard. His new ‘big brother’ had measured out the distance Little League pitchers have to throw, 46 feet, and that let Mark work on his accuracy.
Mark got out of bed and went and used the bathroom, where he also brushed his teeth. Once back in his bedroom, he opened the web site that showed him what exercises he needed to do and he began doing some of them.
Pushups were the easiest he could do there in his room, so he got down on the floor and did some. He started with doing twenty, since he wasn’t used to doing them. He figured he’d add to that number as the days went by.
The next exercise he did were lunges. He took a large step while letting his other leg’s knee to touch the floor. He lost his balance the on the first one. He told himself he needed to focus on what he was doing, so the next time he took his time going down.
He did that on each leg ten times before he could feel he was using muscles he hadn’t planned on. He figured that was a good exercise to know and it was easy enough that he could do them in his room. He decided to do ten more on each leg and add to the number over time.
Planks and side planks were the next two exercises he figured he could do in his room. For the first one Mark got on his forearms and toes. Then he made his back flat or slightly above flat. He held it as long as he could. He could feel his abs tightening. When he could no longer hold it, he went down.
The side planks were done using one forearm and the same side foot placed on top of the other. He then raised his hips slightly above the floor and held it until he no longer could stay in that position. He could feel his back side working against the position.
There was one other exercise he could do, but he also needed a ball or some weights to do them properly. But he decided to do the motions to get used to doing them, and ask his dad to buy him the weights so he could do them right.
This next exercise worked on his shoulders and arm. The web page said that all throwing athletes, not just pitchers, needed a strong and healthy rotator cuff. It went on to describe why he needed to do the exercises.
This next exercise was called “Jobes exercises”. They were named after the late Dr. Frank Jobe, who authored a pamphlet in 1982 called, Shoulder and Arm Exercises for Baseball Players.
When the boy read about those exercises, he learned they essentially became the first arm care program for MLB pitchers, and 40 plus years later these exercises are still widely used in the big leagues, he knew these were exercises he needed to definitely perform.
Mark read further to see what he needed to do. Again, the web page told him he needed dumbbells or weights, but without them all he did was go through the motions. He also saw he would need some sort of bench in order to do many of the exercise. Now he wasn’t too sure his dad would buy him all the things he needed, due to the mounting cost.
The youngster was late for breakfast. His mom asked him why he was so late. Mark told her he was trying to do some of the exercises that web page he found recommended he do. The boy told his mom that many of them he’ll need something called a medicine ball and some weights. He asked her if she thought his dad would buy some of them for him.
Miriam said that since his father had ordered that book, he sounded committed to helping him become a good pitcher. She told Mark to ask his dad tonight at dinner, and be ready to explain to him what he’d need and why. Mark smiled at hearing that. He finished his breakfast and then headed to the park to catch up with his friends.
When Mark arrived at the playground, the other boys were waiting for him. They talked about last night’s baseball game before splitting into two teams. Mark told them he was there watching the pitchers and how they delivered their pitches and controlled the plate. He told them he thought he picked up a few pointers.
The boys split up as they usually did. They also changed positions, as they had been doing, so they all knew what the different positions were like. When it was Mark’s turn to pitch, Kieran made sure he was behind the plate. The two were slowly getting used to one another, and Mark was beginning to hit the target, Kieran’s catcher’s mitt, more and more.
Again, many of the boys liked they were getting good pitches to hit; unlike when the other boys just threw the ball and tried to get it over the plate. Kieran also liked it when Mark pitched. It gave the almost nine-year-old more experience catching that would ultimately transform him into becoming a better catcher.
The boys played their ball game until sometime after twelve noon. Then they all headed home for lunch, and to change into their swimsuits to go swimming. Corey had a game that night, so when the boys went swimming, he would be home playing his computer games.
Today’s swim host was the Konnelle’s. Nine-year-old Carter Konnelle was ready for his friends with all the pool toys out, and ready for play. The only problem with Carter’s pool was it was only five feet deep at its deepest. It also had a beach entrance, so that reduced the amount of play area for the boys to swim in.
But the boys made the best of the smallish pool. They played what games they could. Horsey was the biggest problem because there wasn’t much room for all of the boys to play at the same time. What they did then was have two heats and the winner’s and runner ups went at it for the third round.
Carter’s younger sister, Ella, wanted to play as well, but with so many bigger boys out in the pool, Makenzie, her mother, wouldn’t allow her to even go near the pool. The young girl pouted so much that her mom put her in her room and told her not to come out until the boys left. The boys heard lots of crying until the five-year-old fell asleep on her bed.
The boys were getting a good tan that year. Being a bit older than last year, they had more freedom to go to the playground and their friend’s pools and they were taking advantage of that freedom.
The area the families lived in was an unguarded gated community. There was only one way in and out of the sub-division and that made the parents more relaxed in allowing their kids to go out to the park, or their friend’s homes.
There had never been any major crimes committed in their neighborhood. Yes, there had been some vandalism and a few petty thefts in their sub-division, but with there being only one way in and out the serious criminals knew they could be caught much easier due to that set up.
The adults felt like their community was a fairly safe place for their children to grow up and play. Many of them have lived there ever since their incomes allowed them to enjoy a better lifestyle and that community was considered to be a prime place to live.
The only drawback was the entrance to the community was unguarded. The Home Owners Association dues were quite steep and if they hired a security company, they would undoubtedly triple or quadruple because of the associated costs incurred when you had to incur all the guards pay, medical, workman’s comp and other fees.
The homeowners, when they decided to forgo the guards, all used the money they supposedly saved to install state-of-the-art security systems and other security devices like gun safes, Safe Rooms and silent alarm buttons throughout their homes. They also beefed up their door locks and they added motion detection lights all around their houses.
Many of the men and a few of the women also had gun permits and they often went to the gun range to stay proficient in handling their gun of choice. The older boys, like sixteen-year-old Briggs and fifteen-year-old Drew, also were qualified to shoot their parents weapons. They also knew how to access the gun safes in case they ever needed to defend their families if their parents were not there or incapacitated for some reason.
The children in those homes knew about the guns and all the other security items placed there to help protect them from intruders. Some of the children also got themselves familiar with the hidey holes in case they ever needed to hide there.
Mark was no different than many of his friends. His dad never allowed him to shoot his gun. Levi told the almost ten-year-old that he was too young, but when he turned thirteen, he would start teaching him how to use it. Mark understood what his dad told him. His friend’s dads had told them essentially the same thing.
The boys played until five o’clock, as always. It was then they all headed home for dinner and family time. Mark and Kieran agreed to meet at the park after dinner, at about 6:30, and practice their pitching and catching. The both said they’d try to bring their dads.
When Mark returned home, his mom sent him up for a shower. The boy argued that he’d been in a chlorine pool all afternoon and he was clean. But Miriam told her son that was why he needed to shower in order to get all that chlorine off of him. Mark balked some more, but he lost the argument.
At dinner, Mark finally got up enough nerve to ask is dad if he’d buy him the medicine ball and weights, he’d need to do the pitcher’s exercise correctly. Levi told his son that they’d look at what the web site recommended and then he’d decide.
Mark also asked his dad to go with him to the park after dinner and help him pitch. The boy told his dad that he and Kieran decided they wanted to practice tonight. Mark also told his dad that they wanted both of their dads there to make sure they were doing everything right.
The two dads and two boys met at the playground at around 6:30. Randy Oxtter had the boys warm up some before he allowed them to pitch and catch. Then, even when Mark began to pitch, Mr. Otter told the boy to throw, but not to overdo it.
Kieran was getting the hang of catching for Mark. Occasionally, Mark threw a really bad pitch and the ball got by him. But Kieran knew that any good catcher had to go get the ball and as quickly as he could. The almost nine-year-old also would throw his mask off his head in order to find the ball easier.
Both men smiled at the boy’s actions. But Randy Oxtter told his son that he was doing exactly what his coach would want him to do. He encouraged him to get rid of the mask, so he could find the ball quicker, and then hustle to where the ball’s at.
The young boy’s dad also told his son that he also needed to work on his arm exercises because he would also be expected to throw down to second base. Dad Randy said they wouldn’t try that tonight nor do that for some time yet because he was still quite young and needed to build up his muscles.
Mark heard what they were talking about and told Kieran that he started doing some of the exercises he found on the web. The boy added that he needed a medicine ball and some weights in order to do the majority of the exercise and they should do the exercises together when they could.
Kieran looked at his dad and asked him if he could do that with Mark. Randy Oxtter said he didn’t have a problem with it, as long as they didn’t over do the exercises. He said they both were novices at this and had to build up their stamina over time.
Mark said he only did the exercises that morning and he could tell by doing them he needed to take his slow as he felt he was using muscles he didn’t even know he had. Mark laughed and added that most of the exercises they needed weights and a medicine ball and maybe one other small ball in order to do all nineteen exercises.
Levi told Randy that he ordered the book that was suggested by the web site. Mr. Golderson explained the book would have detailed instructions on how to properly perform the exercises and how often they needed to be done. The man said he felt the book would help Mark get ready to be a good pitcher by next baseball season.
Randy told Kieran to get with Mark in the mornings and try out the drills and only do them, for now, to get used to dong them correctly. The father told his son that it was like learning to catch, that he had to start slow and as he built up his stamina and coordination, he could do more repetitions.
The four stayed at the park for more than an hour, and it was close to 8 p.m. when they returned to their respective homes. Mark was thirsty and asked his mom what there was for him to drink. She brought out some flavored water and the youngster drank it down fast.
“Mark, don’t drink it so fast,” admonished the boy’s mom.
“But mom, I was thirsty,” exclaimed Mark. He held out the glass for more and his mom filled the glass back up. This time the boy took his time drinking down the cool liquid refreshment.
After Mark quenched his thirst, he pulled his dad aside and asked him to look at the web site with him to see what extra things he needed to do the workouts right. Levi inwardly smiled. He knew this was another opportunity for him to spend some time with his son. The man told his wife where he was going and why, and then the two of them walked up to Mark’s room.
Mark opened his computer to the web page he bookmarked that showed the nineteen exercises baseball pitchers should do. Once there, he and his dad started at the beginning of the article and searched for what additional items Mark would need to perform the exercises properly.
One thing the boy’s dad read was that the article encouraged the pitcher to eat and additional 500 calories a day in order to gain weight. The article said the added weight could result in the person gaining muscle mass in order to pitch better. He found that interesting and hoped the book would explain it better. They continued looking.
The first item Levi found that he would need to buy Mark was a Swiss ball. Levi had no idea what that was even after seeing a picture. So, he decided to do a Google search.
What the man found was the Swiss Exercise ball is one of today’s top fitness tools, and was known as a stability ball, yoga ball, balance ball, Pilate’s ball or gym ball. And after seeing a better picture of it, he now knew what he needed to buy.
Mr. Golderson then found Mark would need a basketball or a 3-lb. medicine ball. The boy had the basketball in the garage and it probably needed air since he didn’t use it much. The man did a quick search on medicine balls and found they came in different weights.
Levi then read a sentence that read, “Traditionally, the Thrower’s 10, Jobes, J-Bands, elastic tubing, and T’s, Y’s and I’s are commonly used arm care programs to strengthen and condition the throwing arm.” There was no explanation to what they were and why they were used. He hoped the book he ordered would rectify that.
Jump rope, dumbbells, 3- and 5-pound balls, a low cable machine and 1-lb. weighted jump rope were also included in the items Mark would need to do the exercises. Mark’s dad thought there was nothing on the list that was too exorbitant that he couldn’t buy his son. The man did tell his boy that he wanted to wait until the book arrived to qualify the exact things he needed.
Levi did tell Mark he would buy him some low-weight medicine balls, a regular jump rope and the 1-lb. weighted jump rope and he would make sure the basketball was properly inflated. The dad also told Mark he needed to do the drills out in the garage, especially if he and Kieran would go to work out together.
Mark hugged his dad for telling him he’d get a few of the extra things he needed to do the exercises mentioned in the web page. Mark also thanked his dad for going to the park with him tonight and helping him learn to pitch on Sunday.
It was getting late, so Levi told his son to get ready for bed, and then come downstairs and tell his mother what they’d been doing up there all that time.
Mark did just that. When he came down to the Family Room, he told his mom about all the things he needed to do all of the exercises and that his dad was looking to buy him a few of them and would wait until the book arrived to make sure of the need for the others.
Miriam asked a few questions about he exercises and Mark answered them as best he could. He also told her that Kieran and he would try to start doing them together and they would do it in the garage to stay out of her way. Mark also said that way any noise they made would be out there and not up in his room.
Mark’s parents sent him up to bed and they told him not to turn on his computer, but to go straight to bed. The boy hugged and kissed both parents before heading up the stairs for the night.
Levi and Miriam talked about Mark’s desire to learn to pitch and the effort he was already putting into it. Miriam was concerned that it would be a fad he’d grow out of and they’d have all this extra excise equipment laying around.
Levi explained that the boy needed to try out different things as he grows, and that one day he’ll know what he wants to be when he grows up. But in the meantime, they should encourage him and support him in whatever he wants to do.
Miriam said she was still a bit skeptical, but agreed she’d keep an open mind. The two adults went back to their bedroom, got ready for bed and finally got into their comfortable refuge.
The Goldersons all slept well that night.
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