FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                        Contact: Steven M. Reilly

Phone: (203)881-1549

E-Mail: SRiles40@Aol.com

Football Is Life in the Tiny Community of Derby, Conn., Until the Baseball Team Proves Otherwise

LINCOLN, Neb. (August 24, 2006) — On Friday nights in the fall, all around the country, scores of fans gather to support their local football teams. The town of Derby, Conn. is no different. In The Fat Lady Never Sings, author and former assistant baseball coach Steven M. Reilly tells the story of the downfall of the Derby Red Raider football team after 28 years of winning seasons, and how three seniors on that team seek redemption on the baseball diamond.

Every boy in this blue-collar town dreams of playing football for the Derby High School Red Raiders. The city doesn’t have much else going for it, only the pride in its successful high school football program. After the fateful game that ends the Raiders first losing season in nearly 3 decades, seniors Gino DiMauro, Ben Bartone and Donny Shepard know that nobody will remember this game’s score, but no one will ever forget they lost. Although the three had given everything they had on the field, they know it won’t be good enough, not in Derby. In a few short minutes, they will forever be labeled as losers—unless they can prove otherwise during baseball season.

The smallest school in the league, Derby qualifies for the state baseball tournament and ultimately advances to the championship game. Under the towering lights of Middletown’s Palmer Field, Gino, Ben, Donny, and the rest of the Red Raiders face off against Terryville. But in the last inning, the Raiders trail by two runs and are down to their final at bat. With one out remaining, the "fat lady" prepares to sing—or so they think.

A feel-good story of perseverance much like those in the classic sports movies "Friday Night Lights" and "Hoosiers," The Fat Lady Never Sings provides an intriguing look at the "never give up" attitude of high school athletes, and the pressures they face from parents, coaches and members of the community.

Available from iUniverse, Inc. Amazon.com, and Barnes & Noble.com (bn.com)

About the Author

Since 1976, Steven M. Reilly has coached baseball in Connecticut’s Lower Naugatuck Valley. He has spent the last 20 years assisting high school coaches and is currently in his 10th season at Seymour High. Reilly and his wife, Suzanne, live in Seymour, Conn.

Link to additional press releases and announcements:

http://electronicvalley.org/derby/2006/FatLady.htm