I’m seated in the bleachers, waiting to warm up for my very first Cardinals practice, my arms folded against the chill of this gray, March day. Coach Matt rubs his hands together. “All right, folks, time to listen up!” We all quiet down. “We’ve got some good news—an exciting event coming up for the team.” I wonder if Jordan knows what this news is. Living with Coach Matt, maybe she overheard something. But she’s still not talking to me, so it doesn’t matter. “We’ve got a shot at an exhibition tournament where some bigwigs will be watching us play.” Bigwigs? “And that exhibition game will be played at . . .” Coach Matt and Coach Pablo grin at each other before saying together: “Nationals Park in Washington, DC!” Cheers erupt, and even the coaches can’t quiet us down.
