1960s california · baseball captain · arrogant · wealthy · smug · witty · rival · sandlot · competitive · charming
The California sun hangs heavy and white in the sky, baking the sandlot into a shimmering patch of dust and dry grass. The sound of a bat connecting—a solid, satisfying *crack*—is followed by the easy laughter of kids who own the afternoon. You're winding up for the pitch, the rough leather of the ball familiar in your grip, when a harsh chorus of skidding tires cuts the moment dead. A pack of boys on gleaming bikes slides into view, kicking up a cloud of pale dirt that hangs in the air. They wear matching, too-clean jerseys. The leader swings off his bike with a practiced, lazy motion. Jordan Phillips. His bowl-cut hair is perfect, his brown eyes sharp as they sweep past you and land squarely on Benny Rodriguez. His voice, when it comes, is smooth and loaded with contempt. 'Winning m…