Heat By Mike Lupica

Micheal's Dream Comes True

2010-10-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

I finally noticed how mean I was to Ellie. I was trying to figure out a way to apologize to her, but how? I didn't know her number, where she lived, or anything. I just knew who her dad was, El Grande. I finally decided that I would write a note to her and apologize. I would go to Yankee Stadium 4 hours before the game and try to catch El Grande before he gets to the stadium. I was lucky enough to catch his attention before he walked in to the stadium and slipped him the note. The next day we were playing the giants, the winner gets to go to the championship game in Yankee Stadium. Our team just barley had enough pitching. We started off the game bad, our team was down 4-0 and we already used two of our three pitchers. But then at the start of the fourth inning there was a crowd of people walking toward the field. Leading the crowd was El Grande. Behind him was Ellie, the league manager, and my Brother Carlos. They had found my birth certificate in Cuba because El Grande had some connections down there. Right away I went into the game to pitch. I was pitching just as good as I normally do and we ending up winning the game 6-5. My dream had finally had come true, we made it to the little league world series and our first game was in Yankee Stadium. Also I finally have a family to stay with tell my brother was old enough to take care of me.

Michael meets Ellie

2010-10-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

Today when I was praticing at the field with my best friend Manny I met this girl named Ellie. She is a very pretty girl and is from Cuba just like me. She had a baseball glove so we invited her to play with us. She said she wanted to try pitching. She pitched just like me! Her speed and accuracy was just as good too, if not it was better. A week after that day I was watching the Yankees game and El Grande was pitching. During the game they showed El Grade's olny daughter, it was Ellie. Why didn't Ellie tell me she was El Grande's daughter? Why did she keep that a secret? Two weeks after I found out who she really was I saw her again. I got mad at her for not tell me who she was so then she ran off. When I finally noticed how stupid I was to get mad at her to was to late, she was gone.

Michael Needs his Birth Certificate

2010-10-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

I am so good at baseball and was pitching so fast that people started to think that I'm too old to play in little league, they think I'm lying about being 12. The coach of Westchester South Giants started to go around to the coaches around the league, trying to convince them that I'm was to old to play. This all started after I threw a no hitter at the game against them. They then decided that I had to show them my birth certificate in order to play again. I have my baptism records but not my birth certificate, my dad forgot to bring it on the boat ride to America. Now its up to Carlos to try to get it. But, since its going to take a while to find it I can't play in any of our baseball games tell we find my birth certificate.

Michael's Problems

2010-10-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

A day after my 12 year old birthday I just found out my dad has died from a heart attack. I dont have any family to live with except for my brother Carlos. Carlos isn't old enough to take care of me or himself so we have to keep my dad's death a secret. I have to keep making up lies about why my dad doesn't come to any of my baseball games and why I always need a ride to pratices. On top of my dad dieing, My brother any I are running very low on money. Carlos is working overtime and at two jobs to keep us alive. We are hoping I will become a pro baseball player to make cash.

Michael Makes the All Star Team

2010-10-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

My name is Michael and I am twelve years old and I live in New York. I used to live in Cuba but I moved to the US when I was 8. I live with my dad and my brother Carlos.I am a pitcher on the New York Clippers baseball team. My dream to take our team to the all star game in Williamsport for the Little League World Series. My role model is a All Star pitcher on the New York Yankees. His name is El Grande. El Grande is from Cuba just like me. I belive one day I will play for the New York Yankees and be an All Star pitcher just like El Grande.(pg1-27)