Mutiny In The Dugout
A pro baseball player returns
to his hometown
to coach his dying dad's little league team and falls in love with his high school girlfriend again.
As the team vies for the championship, the kids go on strike
to protest the military-style training used by the rival coach.
Charlie is an upcoming pro baseball player whose pastor brother has begged him to come home for a temporary visit with their ailing father. However, it soon becomes apparent that the old man and Charlie's brother, Abe, have another agenda. Because Gordon can no longer coach his little league team, his dying wish is that Charlie will bring his beloved A-Team through the playoffs, beat their rivals, the Giants, and make it to the Little League World Series. Although Charlie's committed to not revisiting his past, some unpredictable events bring him face-to-face with his lost love, Teri, and his high school nemesis, Herbert (the Giants coach). Charlie overhears that Herbert intends to franchise his military-style baseball training program as standard practice in little league teams nationwide. Knowing how these tactics negatively affect players, Charlie becomes dedicated to foiling Herbert's plan. When the A-Team and the Giants face-off, the two teams go neck and neck for the wild-card spot in the championship. A new pitch helps defeat the Giants in their first game, but Herbert sneakily poaches some of the A-Team's best players before the second game and ties up the competition. As the last game heats up, with one team pulling ahead, then the other, Herbert continues barking military-style orders while the A-Team parents keep distracting the players with unhelpful comments. All the yelling and anger have changed the emphasis from doing their best and playing as a team to winning at all costs. Charlie sees how dejected both teams have become and vows to do whatever it takes to bring back the heart and soul of the game. Gordon forgives Charlie for killing Abe's chance to go pro in high school when he broke his collarbone with an angry pitch. Charlie and his team come up with a plan to thwart the competition. The A-Team starts playing a nonsensical but impressive game of catch while they perform some skillful but circus-like antics. When the Giants finally get it, both teams come together, marching with picket signs around the field to let the adults know they've crossed the line. It's a mutiny in the dugout. Charlie learns that sometimes you must lose the battle to win the war.