13-year-old henry valentine is the school's star pitcher, is intoxicated by first love of a young girl, and all seems right with his world of 1952 racially separated east Texas. Then he is confronted by an unlikely antag...13-year-old henry valentine is the school's star pitcher, is intoxicated by first love of a young girl, and all seems right with his world of 1952 racially separated east Texas. Then he is confronted by an unlikely antagonist, a colored boy who challenges him in his town, bests him in a pitching duel, and fights him in the vacant lot outside of town.