Joseph Procida

Sports Journalism

R 6-8:30

Feature Story

The afternoon is cool but clear as the sun begins to set. Just at that time the field lighting turns on, presenting a new atmosphere for the game about to be played. People are continuously showing up to support both teams in the division finals, like it’s the last ball game ever to be played. Both bleachers are packed with fans to the point where people are standing. Both teams are dressed in their colors, ready for battle. The softball division championships are here.

In the pack of teammates dressed in red known as Shake and Bake is Chris Wade, the team’s best hitter and starting pitcher. Everyone cheers Chris as he approaches the pitchers mound to start off the first game in this championship series.

Spectators hide along the sidelines of the ball field, scouting Chris and a few other members of the game hoping to recruit for the All Star Game 2008.

Everyone nearby hears the umpires announce play ball. Chris deeply locks eyes with his catcher, and gives him a faint nod. Chris remembers that there are spectators watching, but he doesn’t care, it means nothing. They are no way affecting his performance.

“This game is for my team, not for the all star game. So what if I don’t make it, all I can do is have a good time with my buddies and do my best.”

Despite the pressure, Chris and the Shake and Bake team seemed calm. It was almost as they were at practice, on a warm Saturday, just enjoying themselves.

Shake and Bake is the first team to take the field on defense. Chris throws a hard fastball as it whiffs past the batter, who had no time to swing. Chris kept calm, looking like he was just warming up. The batter continued his chance for a hit with another strike, a ball, and I final swing and miss. The batter then walked to his dugout to face his team mates with his head down. The team known as Most Hated was then aware this game wasn’t going to be a push over. The top of the first inning ended up being a one-two-three inning. Chris immediately puts a smile on and gives his catcher a high five as they walk off the field hoping to dominate offensively.

Chris is athletic, strong, and confident. Not only is he a high school state champion in wrestling, he has been playing baseball and softball since he was six years old. He is ranked in the nation in wrestling, and the state in baseball.

On April 21^st 5005, Chris turned 18 years old. He was only two months away from graduating and enjoying his final summer before college. Chris had plans to wrestle for Hofstra University on a partial athletic scholarship. That all changed when he woke up one day to his parents fighting, which specifically led divorce of his parents.

“It was all so sudden, my brothers and I never saw it coming. I woke up on a Saturday morning to yelling and my dad packing his things. He didn’t even say goodbye.”

“At first me and my brothers thought it was just a temporary fight, and my parents would make up, we hoped. My father never moved back in, and his relationship with my brothers and I are nothing but fighting these days.”

“My dreams of wrestling at Hofstra were shattered; my mother barley made ends meat, and my father refused to pay for my tuition in spite of my mother. I only got accepted on an athletic scholarship; my grades weren’t even good enough. There was no way I could afford $8,000 per semester. It wasn’t appealing enough.”

Chris and his two other brothers Lance, and Kyle, are all younger than him. It was something they didn’t take seriously; however Chris claims he knew there was no good outcome in this divorce.

Chris’s mother Deborah was 44 years old at the time. According to the boys she has always been loving and protective over her boys. However she never had a good enough job to give the boys everything they had ever wanted, although she claims would have liked to.

“I love my mother; she has always been there for me. That’s why me along with my younger brothers would never leave her. I get the feeling my father was deeply hurt by the fact that we wouldn’t move in with him after countless attempts.”

“Its almost as he stopped caring. He stopped by the house occasionally and acted like he cared, but even that stopped after awhile. The only thing he would do for any of us is sometimes loan us money if we needed it, and after that acted like a loan shark until we repaid him. It wasn’t worth it. He got into a fight with my brother Kyle and it actually got physical. Out of frustration, my brother punched my dad in the face.”

Kyle is currently a high school student, and still lives with Chris and his mother. He is on the wrestling team just as his brother’s Chris and Lance were. Unfortunately for Kyle he isn’t an adult, and he claims he has to feel the blunt of his father’s aggravation towards the family.

My dad takes it out on me mostly, I think it’s because I’m the only one who’s always around. Sometimes I hate my dad, he is impossible. My brother’s Chris and Lance try to help me as much as possible, but they both work full time. What is going to happen to me? I wanted to go to college, and it really disappoints me to feel like I can’t go because of my father’s spiteful ass.”

“Its almost like things went sour out of nowhere; none of us know how it happened. He use to be a great father, and I hope he can go back to the way he was before this happened. ”

People say that divorce is one of the most difficult things a young adult can experience. Chris Wade not only takes care of his brothers, but he is an all star athlete. On top of making the all star game, Chris currently has an application pending with Hofstra University regarding a full tuition scholarship, according to Chris, there is a 75% chance he will be accepted. He is a wrestling state champion, a state runner up, and three time county finalist.

Chris’s athleticism is helping him succeed in life. His brother’s say he is a true inspiration to young adults all over America in similar situations.