Joey and I were always chemical-shower buddies after a game of atomicball. As on the field, there was a sense of riding the same wavelength—of knowing the other guy’s moves and vulnerabilities. We scrubbed one another longer and more thoroughly, more lovingly, than anybody else on the team. The other guys liked to kid: they kept telling us to stop enjoying the showers so much, said it made them uncomfortable. Even Coach Andrews got in on the joke when he said Joey and I didn’t have to come to practice anymore, and could just stay at the chemical shower facilities during games—which we did, just to be funny. That year we went all the way to State.  

…The best moment I remember, though, was when Coach and some of the teammates decided to play a prank on us and filled the chemshower with scalding hot coffee. Such a rush. Better than a Ben-Gay coated field-hockey stick to the balls.