Page 8 of The Change Up
There have been so many changes starting with the exterior and moving throughout the entire building. But the hallway that leads to our locker room is one of my favorites. Lining the walls are photos throughout the entire CTU baseball history stretched to be the wallpaper. At the opening of the hallway, on one side are older photos from the beginning of the program which get newer as you continue down the corridor. The last photo on the wall is from last season, supposedly the photos will change every year. The opposite wall is a minimalistic design of the CTU Eagles logo throughout the years.
But it’s what’s at the end of the hallway that always catches my eye.
At the end of the hall, on the wall facing the hallway is a large photo with the word “OMAHA” written above it.
Omaha is home to the College World Series and it serves as a constant reminder of what our end goal is: win a National Title.
Turning right, past the Omaha wall, is another hallway. This space is lined with jerseys from CTU players who have made it to the majors. Inside a large, glass frame their rookie jersey is displayed with their baseball card attached below with a plaque that includes their name, years at CTU, and the date and team name of their debut in the league. It doesn’t matter if that person played an inning, day, month, or year, their jersey is on display.
It’s great motivation for me to work hard because one day I want to come back here and see my jersey on this wall.
Moving past the wall, I enter double doors that lead to the locker room. As I enter, I take a glance at the bulletin board which is always updated with information that the coaching staff or university wants us to know. There’s usually information for away games: what time the bus leaves, where we are staying,how we are getting there—plane or bus, what we need to wear or pack, and any other pertinent information.
Attached is also a photo of how the locker room is supposed to look which acts as our guide to keeping the place in top shape. The university offers paid stadium and facility tours so it’s crucial our locker room always looks showroom ready. Coach rotates assigning players to do certain tasks during the week such as dusting and vacuuming. It’s his way of teaching additional responsibility and reminding us that it’s an honor to play for this program.
Each player has their own locker—a huge upgrade from what we were used to in high school. Our lockers are open, wooden spaces which look more like a display than a typical storage compartment.
I remember one time when I was really young, maybe five or six, I got to go on a stadium tour with my dad to see inside the Atlanta Braves locker room. Since that day, I’ve dreamed of having my own “special” locker.
In the center of the wooden locker is a large opening where we keep jerseys, CTU windbreakers, and pants all in a variety of CTU color combinations. Keeping everything hung to the left side of the opening, it allows coaches to make sure we are keeping our locker clean and we have a place to sit.
Above and below the opening are smaller cubbies where we store uniform-issued hats and each player’s bats, storage drawers for storing undershirts, belts, cups, or anything else that is needed, and lastly, a drawer where a variety of cleats are stored and where we can put our day shoes to keep the clutter off the floor. Everything has to be folded and organized.
“Boys, grab a seat,” Coach Weber says as he emerges from his office with some of the other coaches. We do as we’re told, finding seats in our assigned lockers. “The games we face this weekend will be challenging. We are facing some great teamswho are going to give us a run for our money. They want to win as desperately as we do, which means I need heads in the game. Don’t be picking fights with your girlfriends this week or whatever drama you boys find yourselves in usually. This is our opportunity to show the league we are here to win.”
Heads nod as we listen to Coach give us the talk. It’s the same he gives us before each game. Tried and true. And one we know we better follow or the consequences won’t be fun. “Check the board for details as it’ll be updated by Wednesday with the final plan for traveling. Oh, and we’ll be having a new reporter from the Eagles Gazette trailing us this year. I don’t have any additional details, but treat them with respect and help answer any questions they have. And for goodness’ sake don’t make yourself look stupid. You all have the right to not comment on something if you’re uncomfortable.”
And with that Coach dismisses us. I reach for the small bag of toiletries I keep in my drawer before stripping out of my athletic shorts and tight-fitting workout shirt. Ignoring everyone around me, I head to the bathroom to grab a quick shower before breakfast and class.
I stand under the hot spray for a few minutes—just letting the water trail down my body—before reaching for my soap. I’m so ready for the season to start. To feel the dirt under my cleats as I mentally prepare to throw pitch after pitch. Baseball is a mental game, and I’ve got to keep my head straight. Rinsing the soap off, I reach for the towel on the ledge. Quickly drying off, I wrap the towel around my waist and head back to the main room.
Hudson, Nolan, and I get done at the same time so the three of us head to the breakfast room. Coach doesn’t allow the use of cell phones in the locker room or breakfast room. It’s his way of making sure we not only stay focused but make the effort to talk to each other.
“Think this newspaper reporter will be as wild as the ones who covered the football team?” Hudson asks from beside me.
“Dude, I don’t think anyone will be like those two,” Nolan adds with a chuckle.
Last year the two reporters who traveled with the football team were fired for misconduct. No one knows the specifics, but the rumors have been circulating since. I’ve heard anything and everything from secret sex parties with hookers to ragers with massive amounts of illegal drugs to even underground poker games where people would bet on the outcome of the football game. The university has been trying to keep the full story under wraps.
“I heard they were getting expelled from CTU.”
“Hookers and blow will do that.” We chuckle at the blatant comment from Hudson.
“I don’t really give a shit who it is. Hopefully, it’s someone who isn’t an idiot and knows what the hell they’re doing. We don’t need someone who is in the way and pulling away our focus,” I say as I open the door to the breakfast room.
The dining room isn’t nearly as big as a dining hall on campus, but it’s large enough to fit two round tables with chairs, a long bar with CTU logo barstools under a TV, and lower cabinets that run the length of two connecting walls.
Buffet trays are set up with scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon, hash brown patties, and trays of fresh fruit, while inside the fridge are a variety of bottled drinks and yogurt. While we always have a team breakfast when we are in season and a team meal before any home game, the room is for us to keep whatever food we want—as long as it’s labeled.
“I’m sure the paper and coaches won’t let a rookie reporter join us. They won’t want the distraction,” Nolan adds as he fills his plate.
“I hope you’re right,” I grumble.
I have no room for drama and distractions.
There’s a bitter chill in the air despite the very spring-like weather we were having earlier in the week. It’s the type of chill that seeps through your clothes and goes straight to your bones. I’m a Texan through and through. I don’t do cold weather. How anyone lives in the north will forever blow my mind. Frigid temps and snow on the ground? Hard pass.
A new romance novel just hit my Kindle, and I’m dying to curl up in an oversized sweater while getting lost in a romantic suspense Mafia book.
