Every Coach’s Dream, A True Story about Dixie Youth Baseball in Three Small Towns, by Harold A Brown

Chapter 3: Annual Jamboree – Game Two – Nolensville Blue

Life and dreams do not exist apart.

The second game of the jamboree put the two wining teams together. The Red team would see Nolensville Blue’s number two pitcher and there was no fear. Benjamin Holt was a gamer but he was small and had a nice easy pitch that only excited good hitters. Even Lajuane unleashed his stick.

Jimmy struck out four of the first five batters he faced. He was a big happy kid that loved playing ball. His size scared players that didn’t know him. 

Jimmy Johnson: Jimmy started playing for Coach when he was nine years old. It soon became clear that he knew how to pitch and was the only one that was dependable that first year. He started four and won four as a nine year old. The fourth win was in the tournament at the end of the season. The last place team, Nolensville Red, played the league champion, a Bethesda team coached by Don Calvert, in the first game. Coach put Jimmy on the mound and the Bethesda team started a good pitcher, but he wasn’t their best. Jimmy won the game and sent the Bethesda coach home very unhappy. 

Jimmy gave up one run in the second inning. It was the only run the other team would score. His team would score eight runs in the first inning and ten in the third. The Jamboree game, because of time, were only scheduled for four innings at the most.

Darrell would pitch the third and fourth innings and recorded five strikeouts without giving up any runs. The best part of his two innings was the fact that he only walked one batter. Darrell played big but didn’t frighten anyone. 

Darrell Skinner: Darrell played for Coach again when he was fifteen and was easily the best fielding player in a league that produced one of the top teams in the Dixie Boys World Series. The World Series took all the state champions and let them play for the championship.

The jamboree was good for the Red team. They knew they had something special, not in an arrogant way but in a silent strength sort of way. Parents didn’t come to practice but could be expected to attend games. They were not a soft spoken group, George Jones, Marty’s father, let officials know if things appeared less than correct. Marty’s older brothers all played ball. His oldest brother was the quarterback for Page High School. George wanted and expected to win.

Life and dreams do not exist apart.

Nolensville Blue 1, Nolensville Red 18