Characters and Roles
He is the narrator of the story.
Who is Ryan Dale?
This is the high school that Ryan and Josh attend
What is Crown Point High School?
Literally, "paint the black" means catching this exact outer border of home plate with a pitch.
What is the outer black rubber border?
Metaphorically, "paint the black" refers to living life right on the risky line between acceptable behavior and this.
What are dangerous choices?
Josh is older than Ryan by this many years.
What is the same age?
He is the intense, winning-focused head coach at Crown Point High School.
Who is Coach Barner?
This is the sport Ryan plays before Josh moves into the neighborhood.
What is basketball?
This term describes Josh's main role when he throws to Ryan in their backyard sessions.
What is a starting/bullpen pitcher?
These main personality traits define Ryan in the opening chapters.
What are hard-working, modest, disciplined, and dedicated?
Ryan agrees to endure physical pain and bruising from catching Josh mainly to gain this
What is Josh's approval and involvement in high-level baseball
This new neighbor is one year older than Ryan and possesses extraordinary pitch velocity
Who is Josh?
This is the location where Ryan and Josh first begin practicing pitching and catching.
What is the backyard bullpen setup?
This specific physical trait combined with arm speed gives Josh his impressive pitching velocity.
What is exceptional height?
These dominant personality traits define Josh in the opening chapters.
What are aggressive, arrogant, entitled, and fearless?
How Josh views himself in relation to his teammates.
What is an irreplaceable star superior to everyone else?
She expresses early concerns that Josh might become a dangerous or negative influence.
Who is Ryan’s mother?
This primary physical challenge affects Ryan when he first starts catching Josh's pitches.
What is severe hand pain and bruising?
This term describes the defensive position behind the plate that handles high-velocity pitches.
What is a catcher.
By Chapter 5, Ryan starts noticing these troubling aspects about Josh.
What are character flaws, arrogance, and potential for dangerous behavior?
How Josh treats opposing batters when he takes the mound.
What is cocky, aggressive, and intent on dominating them?
These two positions are the ones Ryan specifically hopes to earn on the team
What are Outfield and Catcher?
This specific equipment upgrade is necessary for Ryan to catch Josh safely.
What is extra/better glove padding?
During tryouts, other players react with this reaction when watching Josh pitch.
What is being intimidated and highly impressed?
The primary central conflict in Chapters 1–5 is between Ryan's moral discipline and Josh's this.
What is reckless arrogance and disregard for boundaries?
Unlike Josh, who relies on elite gifts, Ryan relies on this to improve his skills.
What is extra effort and discipline?