Chapter 1: Loaded
Spring training 1976: Dave Beatty hitting, Tony Izzo catching "Last call for you assholes," grins Frank Sylvester depositing a second pitcher on our round wooden table. "How's it looking this season?" "They're loaded, Frankie," exclaims outspoken Stan Redwood, the only eighteen-year-old in our group of four baseball players and his red-headed, bespectacled self. "The Courier has you guys fourth in the conference," scoffs our dapper bartender who also happens to own the South Brook Inn. "Hard to overcome no returning starting pitchers." "Jeskie and Sean had time up last year," bays brawny catcher Matt Vischetti in his third season as a starter. "Yeah, and we've got ten players from the '71 state finals team," yawps designated hitter Mike Sepesi sloshing Budweiser all over the already beer-stained table top. "Hope your swing is more on target than your pour," Frank laughs tossing a dis...