Prime Time Pitcher by Matt Christopher Read Free Book Online

“Well, I’m a little nervous, I guess,” he answered,
     trying to keep his voice calm and steady, “but if I pitch the way I’ve been pitching, I should keep Monticello in contention
     for the Meadowbrook Conference championship.”
    Buck clicked the camera off and gave Dan the thumbs-up sign.
    “OK, you guys, we got what we needed at the house. We’ll drive ahead and get ready for some shots at school. See you there!”
     He and Buck stepped into the van.
    “OK!” Koby shouted back as the van took off. As soon as it was out of sight, he turned to Tug. “Jeez, Tug, why’d you have
     to go and tell him all those stories about me messing up? They make me look like an idiot!”
    “Oh, come on, I was just having some fun,” Tugsaid dismissively. “They weren’t that bad. Besides, Dan will probably just edit that stuff out anyway. Those TV shows never
     show everything that’s filmed.” He cast a look at Sara. “Newspeople practically always cut out all the interesting parts of
     interviews. Right, Sara?”
    “Sometimes,” Sara agreed evenly, ignoring Tug’s dig.
    Koby sighed. “Well, maybe. But tell me, how did that last bit sound?”
    “Well, I could’ve scripted it a little better,” Tug said slowly. “Maybe mentioning the team would have been a good idea, for
     instance.”
    “But they’re not doing a show on the whole team,” Koby argued. “They asked for me because of what I can do on the mound. If
     they just wanted a representative middle school athlete, they could have settled for anyone from any local team.”
    “Like me, for instance?” Tug said sarcastically.
    “Hey, this gives me a great idea for an article,” Sara cut in, eyes sparkling. “Koby, could I get an interview with you about
     how you feel about being the center of the documentary?”
    “What?!” exclaimed Tug.
“Another
interview? He’s already full of himself, and now you want to add to that with more press coverage?”
    “Tug,” Sara explained patiently, “I’m just suggesting it because it would fit in well with the articles I’m doing about the
     film crew. So what do you say, Koby?”
    Koby glared at Tug. “I’d be happy to help you out, Sara. I’m glad
someone
understands and appreciates what’s happening here.”
    “Oh, I
understand,”
Tug returned. “I just don’t
appreciate
your attitude about it, that’s all!”
    They walked the rest of the way in silence. When they reached the school’s front steps, Tug hurried inside and disappeared
     into the crowd without another word.
    Koby turned to Sara. “That Tug! Never thought he’d be one to get jealous.” He shook his head. “Anyway, about that interview.
     How about if we do it right before the game on Friday? I’ll clear it with Coach T.”
    Sara studied him for a moment, then nodded. Together they walked into the school to start the day.

8
    A ll week long, word buzzed through the halls that Koby Caplin was going to be on TV. Koby couldn’t sit down in any class without
     being mobbed. Lunchtime was the same thing. Only when Dan and Buck pleaded with the students to let Koby “act natural” did
     the filming go smoothly.
    Yet even then, everything wasn’t one hundred percent normal. By Thursday, Tug had stopped walking to school with Koby. At
     first Koby tried to draw Tug back into the picture. But with school, practice, and the film, Koby had hardly any free time
     for that.
    Finally it was Friday, the day of the rematch against Greenview.
    At the start of school, the film crew set up nearthe trophy case in the front hall. When Koby and Sara arrived, they hurried Koby into the spotlight. Dan started firing questions
     at Koby. Koby, used to the lights and do’s and don’ts of filming by now, settled in to answer them. All the while, the audience
     around him grew bigger and bigger.
    “And this is how I hold my fastball. I grip the ball like this,” Koby said, holding up his hand with a pretend ball in it.
     “Then I snap my wrist