Some kids talk it out. Beau Baxter writes it down.
On the morning of Opening Day, 10-year-old shortstop Beau Baxter has one goal: don't let anyone down. Sensitive, observant, and quietly determined, Beau doesn't just play baseball. He feels every pitch, every mistake, and every win deep in his chest. To stay grounded, he pours it all into his Dugout Diary, because sometimes the biggest battles happen off the field.
Dugout Diaries: Game Day Jitters kicks off a heartfelt baseball chapter book series for kids ages 9-12, blending sports fiction, friendship, pressure, and finding your voice. As Beau and the Forest Glen Flyers take the field, he'll have to overcome self-doubt, trust his teammates, and step up when it matters most.
Coach Darla said it best: "Baseball doesn't reward perfection. It rewards resilience."
In this funny and inspiring first installment of Dugout Diaries, author Ellie Easton delivers what parents and teachers love in children's sports books: relatable characters, teamwork, and the kind of grit that makes champions on and off the field.
Perfect for readers ages 9-12 (grades 4-6) who enjoy sports fiction for kids, middle-grade baseball novels, and chapter book series about friendship, leadership, and teamwork. Bonus: includes a team vocabulary list and Dominion League scoreboard!
Season One - Stepping Into (Books 1-5): New team. New position. New pressure. Beau Baxter steps into the shortstop role with more questions than confidence. Through the ups and downs of his first season on the Flyers roster, he'll face tough plays, tougher decisions, and learn that leadership doesn't always shout. It shows up.
Book 1 - Game Day Jitters
Book 2 - Call the Play
Book 3 - Fly Ball Faith
Book 4 - Dropped Ball Doubt
Book 5 - Caught Looking (Coming Soon) Season Two - Rising Through (Books 6-10): The regular season is over. Now, the Flyers are fighting to become the Dominion League's Elite Select Team. As playoffs heat up, emotions rise and friendships bend, Beau rises through doubt and learns to lead with grit, voice, and resilience when it counts.
