[ifspuds]

September 16, 2016, visitor's clubhouse at Nelson Memorial Park, city of Marsein

Walter Sebring stood at his locker, mutely stuffing things into a duffel bag. Around him, the clubhouse rippled with the chatter of his teammates. A lot of chatter for a team that had just ridden one final losing streak to finish with the worst record in the short history of the Bay League. Sebring had three bats with him, and not one of them had produced a hit in his last eight games. A big 0 for 24, nothing but donuts the entire month of September. Walks a plenty, but not a single hit.

Before he even realized what he was doing, he'd taken each one of those fickle pieces of lumber and pounded it into splinters against his locker.

The chatter stopped. He turned around and took a look over the shocked, staring faces. More than a few irritated glances came back his way. He took the final bat, which still hung together in one piece, and finished the work, tossing the barrel and handle in a nearby trash can. As he went back to packing his things, Kyle Richardson clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Walt, buddy... what you need is a night out," said the pitcher. "A drink or seven and some loving companionship."

Sebring ran his hands through his hair and let out a long breath. "Yeah. Maybe. I just want to forget this entire miserable season," he muttered.

Richardson laughed. The pitcher had an easy laugh, one of those that was impossible to ignore. Maybe that was why Richardson was his closest friend on the team. They had plenty in common, both were young, both came from isolated coastal towns. "Buddy, I've been working on forgetting damn near every day as soon as it's happened. You don't see me breaking bats, do you?" He shook his head. "Come on. The season's over. Don't let it bother you any more."

Sebring paused, the span of two deep breaths, while he thought it over. "How about that place over on Park Street," he said finally.

"The girls aren't much to look at..."

"...but who cares, as long as it's dark?"

Richardson let out a howl of laughter. "Now that's the Walt I know and love. Let's grab a couple other guys and make our last night in town one to remember."

Sebring snorted a laugh. "We practically tore down that dive in Gentry Hills last week after that drunk started giving us hell. I'd say we're a memorable bunch."