Plz me with my science

when you throw a ball straight toward another person during a game of catch, why does it follow a parabolic path instead of following a straight, horizontal path?

a.
because not enough potential energy exists for the ball to reach its mark.

b.
because the catcher has too little universal gravitational attraction for the ball.

c.
because gravity is the only continuous force acting on the ball.

d.
because, while two continuous forces are acting on the ball, gravity is the strongest.