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The Defining Moment

Album: 40: Out of Control

Episode: 519

Lesson/Theme: Heroism

Bible Verse: Luke 22:26

Characters: Ed, Marvin, Whit

Writer: Marshal Younger

Sound Designer:

Original Air Date: May 31, 2003

Last Air Date: January 22, 2010

Description:
In the City League baseball game the Odyssey Panthers are playing the Odenton Barons. After being so close to winning their first game of the season, Marvin misses the fly ball that leads the Barons to victory. Marvin disappears to his room and his dad finds him hiding under his bed. When Marvin mentions he wants to quit, his dad reminds him of the story of Gary Shepard. The famous pitcher for the Braves had one bad game and let it ruin his entire baseball career. His dad reminds Marvin that it was only a Little League game and there were only parents watching. There is a game the next day. Marvin tells his dad that he doesn’t feel well so he won’t have to play in the game. His dad agrees to let him stay home and Xavier decides to stay with him. Xavier tells Marvin that he can be the hero of the team, he just has to practice. During the next game, Marvin is last at bat with the chance to win the game for the team. After practicing, Marvin feels confident in hitting, but his dad, also the coach, decides to put in a pinch hitter, instead. They still lost the game and Marvin is left disappointed. His dad questions if he did the right thing. In the final game of the season, Marvin’s dad doesn’t let him start. He tells Xavier that Marvin can be a hero in his own way. At the end of the game, one of the batters is hit and Marvin is chosen to run the bases for him. Marvin says he wants to pinch hit for the last batter so he can win the game, but his dad says he needs him for his running ability. Marvin slides into second base, breaking up a double play. The last batter, Ashley, hits a home run to win the game for the team. Marvin comes to realize that he’s still a hero because he helped to make Ashley’s home run possible.

Questions:
Why does Marvin want to quit the baseball team? After he’s been practicing in the backyard, what happens when Marvin is the last batter in the game? The hero isn’t always the home-run hitter. We can be a hero by making sacrifices and helping out other people. What are ways that you can serve others?