Jake Maddox sports stories

Ben doesn't feel like he's good enough to golf at the exclusive, private golf club where his father works as the head groundskeeper. But when his friends enter him into a tournament there, he'll need to work through his nerves if he has any hopes of not embarrassing himself.

Brian Worth Jr. plans on trying out for his middle school's basketball team, but the trouble is he has always relied on his height to give him an advantage and that is no longer enough--but at the local senior center, where he reluctantly volunteers, he discovers a friend in George, a former player, who sets out to teach him some of the skills he is missing.

Because his father is in the Army, Oliver Jeffries has never lived in any one place for long, but he was hoping that Colorado would be different because he is the starting wide receiver on the Jackson Middle School's football team--so when he gets word that his family is moving again he is bitterly disappointed, but he has one more game and he is determined to make it a good one.

When his father's valuable signed baseball disappears during the team's sleepover, Ian Shin, catcher for the Scottsville Knights, suspects the new pitcher, Hunter Yates, but he cannot be sure, and his trust in his teammates is shattered--so he must uncover the truth to bring the team back together.

Isaac and his parents have just moved into a house by the ocean, and he is willing to try surfboarding, but there is a bully among the local boys on the beach who seems determined to drive him away.

Wade is staying at his uncle's ranch for the summer, but despite being athletic he has proved hopeless when it comes to riding a horse, much less the other skills demanded in a rodeo--but when Maria, sister of his new friend Javier, breaks her arm, she asks him to keep her horse in training, and Wade is forced to overcome his apprehension and really learn how to ride.

Eleven-year-old Jack Wickman is tired of skating in his big sister's shadow, after all she is five years older and a goalie (on the boys' team!) and he skates center so they really should not be compared to each other--he is convinced that he has the hockey talent, so all he needs is the chance to make a breakaway of his own.

Thirteen-year old Ben Malone is the son of the head groundskeeper at the exclusive golf club, Strongwood, a course Ben has never played because they cannot afford the fee--but when his best friend puts up the money to enter him in a junior tournament at the club, Ben is forced to confront his own lack of confidence (and his wicked slice).

Worried sick about his baby brother's operation, twelve-year-old Dominic does not really feel much like playing soccer, so he just messes around on the field during practice--but when his grandfather teaches him some moves he starts to take an interest, and sets out to win the trust of his coach and teammates.

Nolan is the highly skilled punter of his school team, but he is less sure about taking over another position when their quarterback goes down--especially since he is also running for class president, and his competition for election is Tony, a linebacker on the team who is constantly belittling punters.