The Defining Moment

519: The Defining Moment

Preview:

Airdate

May 31, 2003

Last Aired

Date Recorded

{{{rec_date}}}

Recorded at

{{{rec_location}}}

Album

40: Out of Control
Double Play

Cassette No.

{{{cassette}}}

Length

{{{length}}}

Theme

Heroism

Genre

[[Category:{{{genre}}} Episodes]][[:Category:{{{genre}}} Episodes| {{{genre}}}]]

Scripture

Luke 22:26

Written By

Marshal Younger

Directed By

Marshal Younger

Produced By

Todd Busteed
Marshal Younger
Bob Hoose

Executive Producer

Paul McCusker

Post-Production

Todd Busteed

Engineer

Todd Busteed

Music By

John Campbell

Songs By

Unknown

Inventions Used

[[{{{invention}}}]][[Category:Episodes that use the {{{invention}}}]]

Rating

Current user rating: 86% (20 votes)

 You need to enable Javascript to vote

Family Store

The Case of the Disappearing Hortons

The Defining Moment

The Mystery at Tin Flat

Summary

While Xavier helps Marvin with his baseball skills, Ed is faced with distinguishing the difference between being a good coach and being a good father.

Plot

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 with the pitch 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 Jenkins, 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.

Discussion Questions

1. Why does Marvin want to quit the baseball team?
2. After he’s been practicing in the backyard, what happens when Marvin is the last batter in the game?
3. 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?

Cast

Characters	Actors
Ashley Jenkins	Brice Keltner
Ed Washington	Mark Christopher Lawrence
John Whittaker	Paul Herlinger
Marvin Washington	Jordan Calloway
Max Hampton	Jeffrey Noah
Xavier Washington	Niles Calloway

Reviews

• The Odyssey Scoop: Read

Quotes

Xavier Washington: I'm gonna get a sandwich.

---

Ed Washington: Do you know where you are, Max?
Max Hampton: On the ground?
Ed Washington: I mean what park.
Max Hampton: Yellowstone?

---

Marvin: There's not gonna be a next game. I'm quitting.
Ed: That's too bad. I need a right-fielder. Richville's got a lot of lefties. Could be a lot of balls going to right.
Marvin: Put Joey out there. He can catch better than me.
Ed: But Joey's my left-fielder.
Marvin: Then put a porpoise in right field!

---

Ed: Dinner should be ready in about half an hour. And I'm not sliding under the bed. Goodness knows how long it would stay here!

<pagesidebar>

• This Page On
  • http://www.aiohq.com/2002.htm#519%7C AIOHQ
  • http://aiolib.com/episodes.php?season=17&epmode=detailed#episode519%7C Odyssey Library
  • http://www.aiosoda.com/episodes_view.php?episode=529%7C Soda Fountain
  • http://www.whitsend.org/vault/A000000552.cfm%7C Whits End

</pagesidebar>