Kid Coach by Fred Bowen Read Free Book Online Page B

IFTEEN
    S cott’s heart pounded as he dug his right foot into the back of the batter’s box. He took a deep breath and stared out at the Red Sox pitcher.
Better start thinking like a player and not like a coach
, Scott reminded himself.
    The Red Sox pitcher wound up and spun a belt-high fastball across the inside half of the plate. Strike one!
    Scott laid off the second pitch that was outside. Ball one.
    Scott fouled off the next pitch. One ball, two strikes. Scott was down to his last strike.
Get the bat started
, Scott said to himself.
    The Red Sox pitcher fired a hard one to the inside part of the plate. Scott swung and knocked a line drive to left field. As he ran to first base, Scott glanced to his left to see the ball fall in front of the Red Sox outfielders for a hit. Nick and Drew sprinted home. The Tigers led 3–2!
    The chance to add to their lead was cut off when Fran popped up to end the inning.
    “Come on, Tigers!” Scott shouted. “Last inning. Let’s play good defense.”
    The team was psyched. The infield was filled with chatter.
    “Come on, Drew. Blow it by them!”
    “One, two, three, Drew.”
    “No batter, no batter.”
    The Red Sox leadoff hitter slapped an easy one-hopper to Drew. The Tigers pitcher lobbed a quick throw to first. One out.
    The second Red Sox batter sliced a line shot to left field. Eric juggled the ball just enough to allow the batter to cruise into second base.
    Runner on second, one out. And Eddie Wilson was coming up.
    Drew held up his hands and called, “Time.” He motioned Scott to the mound with his glove. Danny took his catcher’s mask off and joined the conference.
    “Let’s forget the shift,” Drew suggested. “Why don’t we walk Eddie and set up easy plays at—”
    “No!” Scott said, shaking his head. “That would put the winning run on base. Let’s take our chances with Eddie.”
    “Come on, Drew, you can get him out, “Danny said, pulling his mask down over his face. “Just throw hard.”
    Drew nodded. “Okay.”
    Scott looked out at the Tigers fielders.
    “Put the shift on,” he called.
    Eric ran from left field over to right. Benny, who had been playing right field, ran over to be the only fielder on the left side of the outfield. Scott trotted to his position on the first base side of second base.
    “Come on, Drew. No batter, no batter.”
    Drew threw a fastball, high. Ball one.
    “Throw strikes, Drew, throw strikes.”
    The second pitch was a bit inside. Eddie swung and missed.
    Scott could see that once again Eddie was trying to push the ball to the left against the shift. Scott edged a few steps over to the left side of the infield.
    Drew threw hard for the outside corner.
    Crack!
Eddie Wilson’s smooth swing sent the ball sailing down the left-field line.
    But the ball did not have the distance of one of Eddie’s home-run drives to right field, and started to fall into the empty space of left field.
    “Oh, no!” Scott cried as he watched Benny race to the left-field corner, looking up at the fast-falling ball.
    The Red Sox runner at second took off. There seemed no way that Benny would catch the towering fly. But at the last moment, Benny leaped, stretching for the ball like a football receiver. The ball wedged into the webbing of Benny’s glove as he tumbled onto the outfield grass.
    “What a catch!” Scott yelled, punching his fist into the air.
    “Get it to second!” Drew screamed. “Double play!”
    Benny sprang to his feet with the ball inhis glove. His face looked both dazed and thrilled.
    “Throw me the ball!” Scott shouted, racing out to left field. The Red Sox runner, already past third base, started scrambling back to second.
    Benny lofted a throw over Scott’s head.
    “Oh, Benny!” Scott groaned, thinking the Tigers chance at a double play was slipping away. But Maggie was ready. She stopped the wild throw on the outfield grass in back of second and dashed to the bag. Maggie was one stride ahead of the runner. She