Half past eight, and the Tennessee heat was already making itself known.
The pitches though, under the sun, were immaculate.
Baylor School had done everything asked of them, and then some, and the grass sat there in the morning light looking almost too good to play on.
For the players, they knew their journey wasn't going to be easy with how testing the weather already was.
"Damn, I might have to go to Norway to balance my melanin or something after this."
"That might be tough for you. Why not try England? I mean, Izan is still alive there," Pedri replied to Nico William's comment while Lamine trailed behind, who had been looking for the right pause to slip in a joke, but at the moment, he wasn't getting any.
De la Fuente was already out there with his staff when the players emerged.
He had his cap on and his sunglasses on his forehead while in conversation with his assistant.
And when the group had gathered, De la Fuente began to address them.
