HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE HITS FOURTEEN CONSECUTIVE HOME RUNS ATLANTA (April 17) - Baseball season has begun and for high school baseball players all over the nation, this means struggling for bases, running after fly balls and, of course, hoping for home runs. But high school sophomore Thomas Parker isn't hoping for home runs this year; he's hitting them. Home run after home run after home run after home run. Since the season began four weeks ago, Parker has been up to bat fourteen times and has delivered fourteen home runs. "He wasn't this good last year," says Peter Wilkinson, Centerfielder for Morgan High. "Last year he was pretty scrawny and mostly got base hits." Parker, who, oddly enough, was nearly dropped from last year's team, is already being called Morgan High's star athlete. After recognizing Parker's improved talents during team tryouts and initial practices, Parker was moved from the Junior Varsity to the Varsity team. Varsity teammates concur that the advancement was well deserved. "Parker has gone above and beyond proving his worth," remarked third baseman Marc Burrows. Not everyone is so accepting of Parker's achievements however. Suspicion of drug use arose after Parker's third extraordinary game, and while this rumor has since been abandoned, it has been replaced by an even more disparaging one. Players from opposing teams have suggested genetic mutation is the reason for Parker's sudden success. Genetic enhancements, including extraordinary speed and incredible strength, are thought to develop during adolescence. Such mutations have been a growing concern among high school students and their parents, largely due to Senator Kelly and his Mutant Registration Act. Yet Parker's teammates call the accusation absurd. When asked to defend his own achievements, Parker stated, "I've been practicing a lot. I've also been working hard to build my upper body strength. It's very disappointing to work so hard and then have people accuse you of cheating." Morgan High's head coach, Paul Donaldson attributes Parker's recent home run streak to normal adolescent changes and hard work. "You can't accuse every teenager of being a mutant just because he's going through puberty. As their voices get deeper, the kids often become more muscular and hone their athletic skills. He's just a solid hitter." Yet as the home runs add up, so do the accusations. For now, the allegations are considered no more than rumors. Still, everyone is anxious to see if Parker's streak will continue. Morgan High's next game is scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Parker is expected to be in the lineup. Recruiters from several top universities are expected to attend. BACK

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