Shenice is the 12-year-old captain of the Fulton Firebirds, the first all-Black girls' team in the Dixie Youth Softball Association. She takes her responsibilities highly seriously, placing immense pressure on herself to secure victories for her peers. When her father shows her a hidden family shrine, she becomes distracted by the duty to clear her great-grandfather's historical record.

Jacob is a white Minor League baseball player from JonJon's era. Driven by ambition and greed, he stole a famous athlete's baseball glove and successfully framed JonJon for the theft. His deceit destroyed JonJon's career while allowing him to falsely boost his own status.

Jack is JonJon's younger brother and Shenice's great-uncle. He lives in an assisted care facility where he experiences intermittent periods of clarity and absence. Despite his declining health, he functions as the family historian and holds critical knowledge about the event that ended his brother's athletic career.

JonJon is Shenice's great-grandfather and a highly talented former catcher in the Negro Southern League. His promising trajectory toward Major League Baseball ended after a false accusation of theft ruined his reputation. He maintained a small brown journal detailing his daily life during his playing years.

Scoob is Shenice's highly observant best friend. He acts as a positive force in her life, quickly noticing when the pressure of team captaincy and hidden family history affects her mood. He encourages her to investigate her questions rather than isolating herself.

Shenice's father is a former high school baseball champion who stopped playing after a childhood knee injury. He maintains a secret room honoring his family's athletic history. He proudly passes down his high school championship ring to Shenice, expecting her to continue the family tradition of excellence.

Shenice's mother is a steadying presence in the Lockwood household. She handles practical family matters and ensures Shenice maintains a connection with her older relatives by arranging visits to Great-Uncle Jack's retirement home.

Coach Nat leads the Fulton Firebirds. She works diligently to prepare the first all-Black girls' team for their district tournament. She closely monitors her players' mental states and questions Shenice when her performance uncharacteristically drops.

Mr. Bonner is Shenice's English teacher. He teaches his students how to analyze texts for factual information. He provides Shenice with practical advice on conducting library research and interviewing primary sources when she asks for guidance on finding the truth.

Britt-Marie is an energetic teammate and friend to Shenice. She is a dedicated member of the Firebirds who brings loyalty and enthusiasm to both softball practices and her friends' personal lives.

Laury is a supportive member of the Fulton Firebirds. Along with the rest of the team, she works to improve her skills for the upcoming tournament while providing a solid social foundation for Shenice.

Rebecca, often referred to as B-Cubed, is an aggressive player on a rival softball team. She previously injured Shenice by executing an illegal slide with metal cleats, causing her to become a source of physical anxiety for the Firebirds' captain.

Tanisha is the only Black player on her specific softball team. Her presence on the field causes Shenice to reflect on the isolation players of color face in predominantly white sports leagues.