When I Was A Warrior- Written By: Patrick Coppola -  – Youth Sports Drama Based on a true story. Logline: When a fiery 11-year-old Little Leaguer faces an avalanche of obstacles, his decisions and struggles guide him to becoming a champion on the field and off. 

Synopsis: Its spring, 1970, and 11-year-old Mickey, is about to grow up in a hurry and watch his life take shape forever. Mickey’s idol, Johnny Spinelli returns from basic training for three days before heading to Viet Nam. Mickey’s baseball team, the Warriors, are battling for a championship, while at school he battles with a vindictive nun trying to survive the final days of sixth grade. At home, his relationship with his tough-love styled father suffers due to his problems at school and his fear of not living up to his father’s expectations on the baseball diamond. Johnny’s three days home are cherished. While Johnny helps solve Mickey’s hitting problems, he teaches him some very important lessons about life. Before Johnny heads off to Viet Nam he asks Mickey to keep an eye on 11-year-old Cheryl Fucci; Mickey’s schoolmate, a cute blue-eyed blonde who wears leg braces and whose older brother, Bobby, has recently died in Viet Nam. Bobby was Johnny’s best friend and had asked Johnny to watch over his sister. Mickey reluctantly agrees. He is a bit shy about being with Cheryl, and his friend’s teasing, causes a strain on their young relationship. Things seem to be on cruise control as the Warriors close in on their rivals, the Elks. Mickey is playing well and writes about it to Johnny. Mickey survives his first school dance; he defends Cheryl by punching out a bully, and begins to bond with her. In a must win game he makes a diving catch to win, but injures his arm badly. The doctors tell him his Little League career is over. When news from Viet Nam comes it is bad. Johnny is killed within a week. It is 11-year-old Cheryl, who has already dealt with her brother’s death, who keeps Mickey together. With Johnny’s death and the daily problems he faces with his nun at school, he loses faith in God and in himself. When the Elks lose their final game creating a playoff for the championship, Mickey could care less. He leads a classroom revolt, and his father is summoned to the school. He listens from down the hall as his father defends his actions. On the ride home Mickey realizes the love and support he has always had from his father. His relationship with Cheryl is strained after she tells him that his team needs him and that if she had the ability to play like everyone else, she wouldn’t waste it. He sees how Cheryl’s leg braces have hindered her and is afraid to permanently damage his arm. She challenges his fears. After some soul searching he decides to play in the game without telling his family. When his father notices his uniform is missing, he rushes to the park and spots Mickey wearing a black armband. He tells his son he has a lot of class, and he can dedicate this game to Johnny. Mickey tells his father “I’m dedicating it to you, dad.” The game is an up and down battle with Mickey playing with physical and mental pain before his family and friends. The Warriors triumph and so does Mickey whose life has taken shape forever.

WHEN I WAS A WARRIOR