INSIDE THE PARK

Passion fills this story narrated by Malik Rashad about 12-year-old baseball fanatic Timothy "Pumpsie" Strickland. Pumpsie and his soft- spoken mom, Donya, share a love for their local team, the Nashville Wildcats. One of five kids, Pumpsie feels overlooked and is sometimes defensive, muttering during uncomfortable conversations. After his confident sister, Tiana, films a commercial at the stadium, Pumpsie panics when he accidentally gets locked in overnight. He realizes he's not alone when he overhears two men arguing about sabotaging the Wildcats' players. Game time includes the voices of the commanding coach straining with stress and Pumpsie's pleading for a win. Strong characterizations and pacing make this a solid performance. L.M. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2025]