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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#136: The Old College Try

Though its origins are debated, it looks likely that the phrase “the old college try” was first used in baseball. According to Babe Ruth, to “give something the old college try” is to keep going, even when the odds are stacked against you — like chasing a flyball out into foul territory, just in case you somehow make the impossible catch.

There’s a lot to be said for those who keep trying despite knowing that their chances are slim. This week’s prompts take a closer look at those determined (or perhaps foolhardy) folk among us. After all, as the saying goes, God loves a trier.

This week's prompts

Start or end your story with someone saying “You’ll never know unless you try.”

Dialogue – 57 stories

Write about somebody who knows they’re probably going to fail at something, but does it anyway.

Narrative – 32 stories

Write about a character giving something one last shot.

Narrative – 51 stories

Set your story on a baseball field.

Middle School – 39 stories

Write a story where hard work doesn’t pay off.

Angst – 28 stories

Stories

“K vs 12” by Bradon L

Submitted to Contest #136

”Thank you for joining us on 93.1 The Groove and welcome to this years broadcast of Battle Creek’s K vs 12 ball game. I’m your host Al Average, joined by my friend and former K vs 12 superstar Bob Beltburner. How you doin Bobby?””Ill tell you what Al, it’s good to be here on this beautiful sunny day to watch this ball game.””And what a game it will be. Who do you think has the advantage this year Bob?””Well Al, the high school baseball team has won every year so it’s hard to vote against them. However, the kindergartners this year have a lot...

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“Plot Twist” by Minerva Noiropp

Submitted to Contest #136

Silence cloaked the moonlit expanse. Shanti held her breath, unwilling to break the spell. Gazing upwards, her eyes got lost in the myriad of stars, shining in various wave lengths.It was after midnight. Shanti was alone on the neighbourhood baseball field. The baseball field wasn't much more than a patch of dried grass and double-g's several kilometres from the outskirts of town with no street lights. The dim outlines of the spotlights could be seen hulking around her, the great metal trees that they were. It was the only place dark enough ...

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“Thirty-Six Seconds” by Maria Avisal

Submitted to Contest #136

One oppressively humid Saturday in late July while the rest of the city was at the beach, Rachel tried to maintain a 7:50 mile pace for a fifteen-mile run. The first mile was easy because she was essentially still asleep. She spent the second mile congratulating herself for getting out of bed, even though she had only gotten five hours of sleep and was still on Mountain time, instead of hitting snooze and convincing herself she would run after work. Her future self would be grateful, even if her c...

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“ A Memory From Gym Class” by John Walsh

Submitted to Contest #136

“Line up at the free throw line.” I wasn’t sure where the free throw line was; I didn't pay much attention to what the gym teacher said. It was never interesting. I just got in line behind the other kids who got there first. I hated gym class. Why shouldn’t I? I was seven years old, short, spindly, and a klutz. Nothing good was going t...

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“Nine Glass Doors” by Luke Schumacher

Submitted to Contest #136

When I open my eyes, all I can feel is a gust of cold air. It makes me shiver, but that’s not what I’m focused on. What I am focused on is the white room around me, with three brown doors imprinted into them. Where am I? I stand up, and immediately shiver. I’ve always been a warm blooded person, so it’s safe to say I don’t do the best in the cold. I turn around and see another door, parallel to one of the three. When I reach for the handle and try to twist it, it just stays in place. It’s locked. Did I get kidnapped somehow? The last thing...

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“Da Blind Goat” by Tsvi Jolles

Submitted to Contest #136

At the far end of a baseball field in the Northern Suburbs of Chicago, a goat stood still. When Don Bellushi, who was responsible for the maintenance, refused to believe that it wasn't a joke, he came to view the goat. "What the hell is going on?" Don demanded to know and Stefan Grabowski, the janitor, who ran all the way to the office to tell his boss about the goat, could not stop laughing and told him that the goat got there on its own. “I want it out, fast,” Don exclaimed as if Stefan knew how to move a goat. Stefan approached ...

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“Writer's Block” by Kathryn Gabrielle

Submitted to Contest #136

Jimmy tosses his sweaty orange socks on the floor next to the bed. It had NOT been a good day. When he found the old typewriter at the yard sale he knew he had to buy it. True, the letters were all but worn off, but he loved the smell of it. And, miraculously the carriage still moved. He tried to write for a little while, but nothing worked. Now, he was restless, so restless. Why couldn't his mind just slow down?Crumpled papers litter the floor, making an odd pattern. Jimmy unscrews a burnt out light bulb and throws it across the room in tot...

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“Jack Plots” by John Hanna

Submitted to Contest #136

They met in Neds’ large dining room. His wife Maria had removed the adornments from the long Elizabethan table and with seating for 12, it was more than adequate. Young, tanned, and svelte, Jack Compas sits on one side next to the stunning, and also young, Becky Newsom. Across from them sits the middle-aged Chinese couple Bao and Yang Chong with Yang imposing a sour expression. Also middle-aged, Ned Bates heads the seating while his wife Maria chaired the far side with pencil and notepaper at the ready. Four of the six had recently been fav...

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“A Stitch In Time” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #136

“I’m telling you, Hugo. People are dying there. Children, old people, even our own mother country’s sons!” “You’re mistaken, State Television tell us it’s nothing. Just boys practicing drills. Is Dad there? Put him on.” “Son, it’s war! You need to come home now.” “There’s no need, Dad. I’m safe he...

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“Nigel's First Ball Game” by Sean Sorce

Submitted to Contest #136

'I can't believe I've been subjective to this,' I said this to myself as I following Frank through the stands. I was practically begged into coming here out of all places in Milwaukee and wouldn't you know it was Miller Park or something. Apparently they changed the name of the stadium recently but Frank keeps on calling it Miller Park anyway. I never was a big fan of baseball or any sort of sport within the matter.All I was interested was money and business. My family owes the firm over in London. I was supposed to be the next big boss but ...

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“Butterfly Kisses ” by T. Powers

Submitted to Contest #136

Look down, never look in their eyes. Keep looking down. As my icy, blistered feet splash the mud below, I keep telling myself to never look up. Never into their eyes. My frayed dress is now sticking to my ankles as I slowly wade from my rooms across the yard. The flutter of the hem is so soft on my raw skin, it almost tickles. It feels like a butterfly. I let my mind wander back to my daughter. We used to have pastel pink Mallow Flowers all over the back of our yard. Butterflies would gather every season, mating, pol...

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“A Soldier's Surprise” by Benny Regalbuto

Submitted to Contest #136

Colorless smoke curled from the crater, shimmering like the ghosts of Yershai’s comrades. His friends. Crix. Indoph. Tinseff. Del’lor. Melawa. All gone. All— Yershai felt the next explosion before he saw it. By the time he did see it, the shockwave was already upon him, sending him tumbling across the compound like a ball punted by a giant. He… was still alive. Still… *** “Yo!” Crix’s voice—coming from the mess hall, as per usual. The man somehow got there before everyone else every morning, cooks included. And he claimed he didn’t sleep...

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“Fated with Music” by Rita Valendez

Submitted to Contest #136

Georgina had been closing her eyes for almost half an hour, her consciousness was alive, yet she pretended she was sleeping. She can hear the noise from her background: the roaring chug and chuff of the train; the distant sound of the people around her; and the little girl from her right calling her mother's attention" Mommy, I am hungry." her cry blends with the shrill noise from the crowd and hearing the little girl's cry makes her feel like she can't indulge the foreign environment anymore. Georgina slowly opens her eyes and looks around ...

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“Last Valentine's Day Part Three” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #136

The case was closed. The District Attorney had charged Nick Amberly with the murder of Kathy Lockhart, and he was ready to go to trial. As far as everyone was concerned, it was over. Detective McClay knew he should be working on another case, but he wasn’t. Though all the evidence pointed towards Nick when McClay arrested him, now his sixth sense was ringing like an alarm bell. Something’s missing, he thought. No doubt he drove her out there, but there’s no sign of a struggle. Why didn’t she put up a fight? Her case file seemed to have a pe...

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“My Future Self Once Said” by Chenchen Du

Submitted to Contest #136

“You’ll never know unless you try.” She tried to convince herself as she stared into the pills in the container. All of them reflecting ghastly white light in the washroom. Her legs felt numb as she tangled them together to fit into the small space next to the shower. She didn't want to stand up and look into the mirror and see her own face. The motions wouldn't be that hard. All she needed to do was to crack open the lid and swallow those little white tablets, like how she swallows the brown marbles in a bubble te...

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$250

Prize money

207

Contest entries

100

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 11, 2022 EST

Won by Howard Halsall 🏆

Title: Cigarettes: A Romance

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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