The Baseball Problem, book eleven in the 'Shane Woods Series' by Dr. Tom Latham, is a thrilling blend of adventure, sportsmanship, and personal growth, set in small-town Oregon and featuring a side story about the Cold War in the 1960s. The story follows a group of teens whose lives are shaped by extraordinary danger and the everyday drama of high school baseball. Experience a Soviet Gulag rescue, a family reunion, barnyard chaos, wilderness survival, and high-stakes baseball games.
When Shane and Bowie, two close friends and teammates, embark on a spontaneous cave exploration in the Snow Peak Wilderness, they quickly find themselves lost in total darkness, facing cold, hunger, and the threat of hypothermia. Their disappearance sparks a desperate search involving family, friends, and even a clever orangutan named Harriet, whose scent ultimately helps rescuers track them. The cave rescue becomes a turning point, prompting deep personal reflection and spiritual decisions for both teens as they cling to hope and faith in the darkness.
Back on the baseball field, the stakes are just as high. The team faces a moral dilemma when Bowie, now the varsity catcher, discovers that the star pitcher is using an illegal pitch to keep the team's winning streak alive. Bowie must choose between going along with the cheating and standing up for honesty, risking his place on the team and the outcome of a crucial game. The story explores the pressures of competition, the courage to do what's right, and the power of friendship and faith to overcome adversity.
With memorable characters-including a runaway mother, a heavyweight Nez Perce wrestler, a blind Jewish Christian, and even a mischievous orangutan-The Baseball Problem delivers humor, suspense, and inspiration. The story explores themes of faith, second chances, and the courage to do the right thing-even in the face of danger and difficult choices-making it an inspiring read for teens and adults alike. Perfect for fans of sports fiction, family sagas, and stories of personal transformation, this book is a testament to the power of hope and the enduring bonds of family and community.
About the Author :
Dr. Harry Thomas "Tom" Latham is a Navy veteran and senior Baptist missionary with over 50 years of experience serving in Brazil. A graduate of Central Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Luther Rice Seminary (DMin), Dr. Latham has dedicated his life to church planting, evangelism, and mentoring indigenous church leaders. Tom and his late wife, Penny, labored to establish four thriving churches. Their family grew to include three children, six grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. Tom founded and coached a successful wrestling program that won state and national team titles in Brazil. Dr. Latham's deep faith, practical wisdom, and commitment to the Great Commission have made him a respected leader in the Baptist missionary community and a much-loved pastor to the people he ministers to in Brazil. Dave Carlson is accomplished in multiple fields-a true "jack of all trades" and "master of many." Since 1992, his DynoTech ventures-Consulting, Publishing, and Software-have sold more than 30 titles in all 50 states and 95 countries. He holds five advanced degrees and has written tens of thousands of pages of fiction and nonfiction. Dave is enjoying retirement after more than 50 years of work, starting with his first full-time job in 1970 and more than 35 years as a U.S. Army Engineer Officer. He retired from both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Federal Civil Service. He stays busy with consulting projects in computer technology, computer-aided illustration, book editing, and publishing.
