The crack of the bat hitting the ball is clear and sharp. Nice hit, Tom, yells the pitcher. Soon another crack sounds, but this time the ball curves foul. When it finally rolls to a stop, it rests in the shadow of a grain bin. The sight of the bin reminds onlookers this isn t a normal small-town ball diamond.
Soybeans grow just past the outfield here.
The bin lies just off the third base line. The hog buildings are farther down the hill. This regulation Little League field isn t in sight of a farm in some little town. It s on the farm. Helping them are their parents, Dave and Mary Pepper, who carved the ballfield out of their soybean field this spring.