Teammates

The best friendships don't often start with brawls on the baseball field. But when unassuming, under-talented Nick Davis and Ryan Winter each take exception to some hard-nosed baseball, a rivalry born of a mutual understanding of what it means to be a teammate is formed.

Nick, aided by his talented best friend Greg Romano, squares off against Ryan, along with his fiery younger brother, Henry. Aside from their on-the-field issues, each of them contends with the harsh realities that go along with being eighteen years old as they vie to become Iowa State Champions.

As the boys work, fight, and strive for their first chance at success, their mentor, Sheldon Hill, a former World Series hero, struggles to come to terms with the end of his playing career.

Teammates is a novel about baseball, friendship, growing up, and learning what it takes to become a good teammate and a good man.

Kelly Coates is an experienced educator, a part-time writer, and a wannabe ranch hand. He spends his time chasing ball games wherever they can be had. This is his first novel. From South Dakota, he and his wife, Ruth, split their time between the Black Hills in the west and the plains in the east. He can be reached at coatesbaseball27@yahoo.com.