Outfielder Tommy Knox is said to "own" pitcher Wayne Kerley because he always hits well when Wayne is on the mound. What the public doesn't know is that the two men have long been involved in a committed, loving relationship. They met and fell in love while playing in the minor leagues, but were called up to the majors and now play for opposing teams.<br><br>Tommy and Wayne have managed to stay together through twelve closeted years. Being on different teams means they have to spend most of the baseball season apart.<br><br>In the final year of his contract, Wayne considers retirement as his career begins to wind down. The thought of life without baseball seems nearly impossible, but he keeps his fears and dread to himself. Tommy still has two years left of his contract, and all the successes, defeats, and injuries that entails. Can the two reconcile their love of each other and the game?

Ownage

After dinner and lots of general talk and laughter, everybody went their separate ways, but I asked Tommy if I could buy him a beer.


“I think you have the most beautiful swing I’ve seen since Will Clark,” I blurted, which made him blush.


I’d like to say we hit the sack that night, but in baseball, a man must be discreet, plus I couldn’t count on him taking my looks as confirmation he went my way. What I had to do, besides jerking off to his image night and morning, was get to know him. This took nearly the whole season.


Over those beers that first night, we shared how and where we came to baseball. I learned he grew up in Seattle, loved the place, and played ball almost from day one.


“At two, my dad had me swinging at a Wiffle ball he pitched from like two feet away. After that, the usual—t-ball, Little League, high school. When I got drafted at eighteen, I blew off college.”


Chapter 3