California Angels Rookie Baseball League

At first, the boy, no more than 8 years old, stood on home plate and stared blankly at the pitcher's mound. After some instruction, he stepped to the side and, just as an arching pitch hit the ground a good 3 feet past him, swung with all his might. The crowd gathered at Madison Park applauded anyway.

At first, the boy, no more than 8 years old, stood on home plate and stared blankly at the pitcher's mound. After some instruction, he stepped to the side and, just as an arching pitch hit the ground a good 3 feet past him, swung with all his might. The crowd gathered at Madison Park applauded anyway.