From a small town mound
Nick Kalpakis
[Verse 1]
He grew up where the lights went out by nine
Two stop signs and a water tower skyline
Dirt road dreams and a hand-me-down glove
Throwin’ rocks at the barn, prayin’ someday it’s enough
Friday nights, bleachers half full
Mama yellin’ loud, daddy stayin’ real cool
Nobody knew his name back then
Just a kid with a fastball and stubborn skin
[Pre-Chorus]
They said the odds were thin as air
But he kept throwin’ anyway
[Chorus]
From a small-town mound to a college crowd
Learned real quick how to block out the doubt
Every inning, every scar, every mile he drove
Built a big-league arm from a never-let-go
Yeah the road was rough, but he held the line
Dan Altavilla bet on heart every time
[Verse 2]
College towns and long bus rides
Bullpen phones and restless nights
Earned that jersey stitch by stitch
Every strike came with a little more grit
Draft day call changed everything
But the climb don’t stop when the bell first rings
Locker rooms, new cities, new signs
Different colors, same grind
[Pre-Chorus]
Some days you’re up, some days you fall
But the mound don’t care at all
[Chorus]
From a small-town mound to the MLB lights
Crowd roarin’ loud under Friday night skies
Every team, every test, every swing he faced
Built a big-league name from a hard-earned place
Yeah the road was rough, but he held the line
Dan Altavilla bet on heart every time
[Bridge]
Injuries, setbacks, traded away
Still laced ’em up on the hardest days
Adversity don’t scare a man
Who’s learned how to rise when he can’t stand
Some careers are loud, some are true
Measured by the fight, not the headlines or news
[Chorus]
From a small-town mound to wherever he stood
Never forgot where he came from or why he could
Every inning taught him who he was
When the game pushed back, he pushed because
Yeah the road was rough, but he held the line
Dan Altavilla bet on heart every time
[Outro]
So here’s to the ones who grind unseen
Who chase a dream in between the seams
Not just the wins, but the way he lived
That’s the game he played.
[End - 3:45]
Versions
From a small town mound (Version A)
Nick Kalpakis
Version A
From a small town mound (Version B)
Nick Kalpakis
Version B