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Lose Yourself
Six People struggling with expectations.
One baseball game to find their moment.
It’s the final game of the season, and All-Star Brett Austen has a chance to secure the first .400 batting average for a season in more than 80 years. However, increasing pressure and his own hubris threaten the apex of his career. Meanwhile, a sideline reporter wrestles with a choice between her career and her mom in crisis. A retiring usher takes in his final game before moving in with his son’s family. A lanky 15-year-old can’t understand his future stepdad while pining for a girl from school. A lemonade vendor agonizes over a big score to settle gambling debts and fulfill his daughter’s dreams. An adult daughter navigates uncomfortable family dynamics at home while her father lies in hospice. Will their choices meet the moment?
Early Praise:
A kaleidoscopic look at the power and beauty of the sport both on and off the field, Lose Yourself is ample proof that baseball is life. Written with a keen eye for humanity, and wrapped around a story of high stakes, Vince Wetzel's latest novel is a powerful contemplation on choices we make and how we keep score. Baseball fans will gobble this up. - Mark Stevens, author of The Fireballer
While Brett Austen may be the focal point, the All-Star's quest for .400 touches the lives of everyone from sideline reporters and ushers to lemonade hawkers and fans. Wetzel's second novel weaves their stories as the tension builds over nine innings on the final dramatic day of the season. - James Bailey, author of The Greatest Show on Dirt
With Lose Yourself, Vince Wetzel has skillfully crafted six engrossing stories about life, love and baseball. And really, what else is there? - Rich Ehisen, The Open Mic Podcast
Six stories wrapped around one baseball game? Only Wetzel's vivid storytelling can do something like that! Weaving everything (and every character) together beautifully, I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what was next. Sports knowledge is not required - everyone will love this! - Tobin Walsh, The Good Bad Dad
While Brett Austen may be the focal point, the All-Star's quest for .400 touches the lives of everyone from sideline reporters and ushers to lemonade hawkers and fans. Wetzel's second novel weaves their stories as the tension builds over nine innings on the final dramatic day of the season. - James Bailey, author of The Greatest Show on Dirt
One baseball game to find their moment.
It’s the final game of the season, and All-Star Brett Austen has a chance to secure the first .400 batting average for a season in more than 80 years. However, increasing pressure and his own hubris threaten the apex of his career. Meanwhile, a sideline reporter wrestles with a choice between her career and her mom in crisis. A retiring usher takes in his final game before moving in with his son’s family. A lanky 15-year-old can’t understand his future stepdad while pining for a girl from school. A lemonade vendor agonizes over a big score to settle gambling debts and fulfill his daughter’s dreams. An adult daughter navigates uncomfortable family dynamics at home while her father lies in hospice. Will their choices meet the moment?
Early Praise:
A kaleidoscopic look at the power and beauty of the sport both on and off the field, Lose Yourself is ample proof that baseball is life. Written with a keen eye for humanity, and wrapped around a story of high stakes, Vince Wetzel's latest novel is a powerful contemplation on choices we make and how we keep score. Baseball fans will gobble this up. - Mark Stevens, author of The Fireballer
While Brett Austen may be the focal point, the All-Star's quest for .400 touches the lives of everyone from sideline reporters and ushers to lemonade hawkers and fans. Wetzel's second novel weaves their stories as the tension builds over nine innings on the final dramatic day of the season. - James Bailey, author of The Greatest Show on Dirt
With Lose Yourself, Vince Wetzel has skillfully crafted six engrossing stories about life, love and baseball. And really, what else is there? - Rich Ehisen, The Open Mic Podcast
Six stories wrapped around one baseball game? Only Wetzel's vivid storytelling can do something like that! Weaving everything (and every character) together beautifully, I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what was next. Sports knowledge is not required - everyone will love this! - Tobin Walsh, The Good Bad Dad
While Brett Austen may be the focal point, the All-Star's quest for .400 touches the lives of everyone from sideline reporters and ushers to lemonade hawkers and fans. Wetzel's second novel weaves their stories as the tension builds over nine innings on the final dramatic day of the season. - James Bailey, author of The Greatest Show on Dirt
- GenresBaseball
359 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2024
13 people are currently reading
876 people want to read
About the author
Vince Wetzel
4 books7 followersVince Wetzel is a husband, father, sports fan, and storyteller who writes contemporary fiction rooted in authenticity and heart, with vivid, emotionally resonant characters navigating the complexities of relationships, identity, and redemption. His work blends humor, heartache, and humanity—stories that are heartfelt, relatable, and nostalgic, capturing the quiet triumphs and stumbles that define everyday life.
With a degree in journalism, Vince began his professional career as a sportswriter for the Oakland Tribune and Antelope Valley Press, later contributing op-eds to the Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle, and Los Angeles Times. His sharp eye for detail and ear for dialogue now fuel his fiction, where the stakes are personal and the characters unforgettable.
After launching into empty-nest life with a wife who loves curling up with a good book, Vince rediscovered the joy of storytelling. In 2021, he released Friends in Low Places, a novel chronicling the 20-year evolution of five male friends through their annual guys’ trip to the mountains above Fresno, CA. The book explores how enduring friendships weather the storms of failure, growth, and forgiveness.
In 2024, Vince followed up with Lose Yourself, an award-winning novel told through six interwoven stories unfolding during a single baseball game. From a player chasing a .400 batting average to a sideline reporter balancing ambition and family crisis, each character faces a pivotal moment that echoes far beyond the stadium walls.
Vince is currently working on his third novel, Landslide, a redemption story about a cranky columnist who loses everything and slowly discovers the power of gratitude.
Please sign up for his weekly newsletter for authentic storytelling, heartfelt reflections, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the humor and humanity that inspire his work.
With a degree in journalism, Vince began his professional career as a sportswriter for the Oakland Tribune and Antelope Valley Press, later contributing op-eds to the Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle, and Los Angeles Times. His sharp eye for detail and ear for dialogue now fuel his fiction, where the stakes are personal and the characters unforgettable.
After launching into empty-nest life with a wife who loves curling up with a good book, Vince rediscovered the joy of storytelling. In 2021, he released Friends in Low Places, a novel chronicling the 20-year evolution of five male friends through their annual guys’ trip to the mountains above Fresno, CA. The book explores how enduring friendships weather the storms of failure, growth, and forgiveness.
In 2024, Vince followed up with Lose Yourself, an award-winning novel told through six interwoven stories unfolding during a single baseball game. From a player chasing a .400 batting average to a sideline reporter balancing ambition and family crisis, each character faces a pivotal moment that echoes far beyond the stadium walls.
Vince is currently working on his third novel, Landslide, a redemption story about a cranky columnist who loses everything and slowly discovers the power of gratitude.
Please sign up for his weekly newsletter for authentic storytelling, heartfelt reflections, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the humor and humanity that inspire his work.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 21, 2024
This book started good and only got better. Several storylines crossing paths and entwined and all converging in an early autumn day in Oakland. It kept me on the edge of my seat!
October 20, 2024
For the love of the game! Enjoyed the way the story marvelously weaves the lives and perspectives of 6 individuals around one baseball game. As an A's fan, the story hit a special place in my heart too. Well done Vince! 👏
March 11, 2025
When I say I cried at the end
February 8, 2024
LOSE YOURSELF is a compelling baseball adventure full of rich characters and thrilling action! Wetzel’s journalistic skill is evident in the details as he expertly describes the game and makes the reader feel right in the moment. With multiple points of view, Wetzel manages to fully develop his characters, showing realistic family dynamics and heartfelt emotional struggles. I love the real-time pacing, and the chapter by chapter scorekeeping kept me on the edge of my seat. Wetzel pulls all his characters together with perfect pacing to provide for a riveting conclusion. Get this for the baseball fan in your life then watch them read the whole the thing in one afternoon!
June 3, 2024
Lose Yourself by Vince Wetzel is a compelling journey into the depths of self-discovery and transformation. Wetzel's prose is both poignant and powerful, drawing readers into a world where the protagonist's struggles and triumphs resonate deeply. The narrative is expertly crafted, blending emotional intensity with moments of profound insight. Each page is imbued with a sense of urgency and authenticity, making it impossible to put down. This novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring quest for meaning, ensuring it leaves a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.
January 6, 2025
Such a wonderful book, especially if you’re an Oakland As fan. The build up of characters seemed odd to me at first, but I was truly thankful for it in the end!
April 2, 2024
This book starts out building out the background of 6 unique individuals. As the story progressed, we were able to take a journey through these 6 people and their friends and family to see how they are intertwined in a professional baseball game.
The early chapters spent a lot of time in the backstory and I wondered when and how the baseball portion of the story would play out. Once the game begins, it all starts to come together. I was invested in the character’s stories as I was the outcome of the baseball game. You don’t need to be a baseball fan to enjoy this book, but it certainly helps.
While this story isn’t real, it was a great reminder that in every setting, people bring their own experiences and life situations with them. What others see on the outside doesn’t necessarily represent what’s going on inside.
The early chapters spent a lot of time in the backstory and I wondered when and how the baseball portion of the story would play out. Once the game begins, it all starts to come together. I was invested in the character’s stories as I was the outcome of the baseball game. You don’t need to be a baseball fan to enjoy this book, but it certainly helps.
While this story isn’t real, it was a great reminder that in every setting, people bring their own experiences and life situations with them. What others see on the outside doesn’t necessarily represent what’s going on inside.
September 24, 2025
What an intriguing concept! I really like how this story isn’t just about baseball, but about the lives and struggles of all the people connected to the game. From the superstar chasing history to the lemonade vendor trying to provide for his daughter, each perspective seems to add layers of humanity and emotion. It feels like one of those books where the sport is the backdrop, but the heart of it lies in choices, relationships, and resilience. The mix of personal dilemmas family, ambition, love, and sacrifice makes it sound incredibly relatable, even for someone who isn’t a huge sports fan. This looks like a story that can touch readers in unexpected ways while keeping them on edge until the final inning.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews