Hardball

Loosely based on Daniel Coyle's book "Hardball: A Season in the Projects," the plot plays like a watered down "Bad News Bears" with a dark edge. Conor O'Neill (Reeves) is a gambler who owes money all over Chicago. He asks broker pal Jimmy (McGlone) for financial help, but it comes at a cost. Jimmy has him take over a baseball team from the Cabrini-Green projects as part of his company's community outreach program. Conor and the foul-mouthed little tykes inevitably get off on the wrong foot, setting up the eventual "rag-tag bunch of misfits turn into champions" scenario. Grimmer overtones show up, however, with the realities of the projects and a tragedy that deeply affects Conor and the team. The kids' teacher Elizabeth (Lane) is the guiding influence/unfulfilled love interest. The kids, especially Griffith and Warren, steal pic from the grown-ups with their performances.