The Reluctant Pitcher by Matt Christopher Read Free Book Online

eyes blinked with tears. “I just wanted Helen and me to be friends, Mother,”she murmured sorrowfully. “She’d never seen a quarry before.”
    “How do you know she hasn’t?”
    “I asked her. I wrote the question on a piece of paper. And she answered me. She said no she hadn’t, and she’d like to see
     it. I didn’t know they blasted during the noon hour.”
    Mrs. Hutter’s lips quivered. Slowly the anger left her eyes. She put a comforting arm around her daughter’s shoulder.
    “All right, Jeannie. Let’s forget it now. I’ll call Mrs. Lacey. I’ll tell her that Helen is on her way home.”

14
    T hat evening Wally received a phone call from Mr. Hutter.
    “Wally, Mrs. Hutter told me what you did today. That was a fine showing of courage.”
    Wally shrugged, forgetting that Mr. Hutter couldn’t see him. “It wasn’t much, Coach. Probably none of the stones would have
     hit them anyway.”
    “They might have if you hadn’t shown up. You risked your life to save those girls.” Mr. Hutter chuckled. “Jeannie thinks you’re
     a real hero!”
    Wally laughed. “Oh, I’m no hero. Anddon’t be mad at her, Mr. Hutter. She just didn’t know that they dynamited during the noon hour.”
    “I know, Wally. I heard all about it. Well, good night, fella. See you at the ball park.”
    “Good night, Coach.”
    After Wally replaced the telephone receiver, he began to think a bit. If he had saved Jeannie’s life, as Mr. Hutter had said
     he had, then he had paid back a debt he owed to Mr. Hutter for having saved his own life. He didn’t have to feel that he owed
     a thing to Mr. Hutter anymore.
    But it wasn’t right to think that way either, he decided. No, the only way he was ever going to get off the mound and back
     into right field where he belonged was to talk to the coach directly. Cab Lacey’s story had convinced him of that. He was
     determined to speak to the coach before the next game.

    But Tuesday, when the Pacers played the Warriors, Coach Hutter was too busy getting ready for the game for Wally to take him
     aside. Before he knew what was happening, he was on the mound again.
    The Warriors had first raps. The first hitter for them was a peewee. Wally tried to throw the ball over the plate between
     the little guy’s shoulders and knees, but just couldn’t make it. The peewee walked.
    The next Warrior laid down a bunt. Wally expected it. But the ball rolled toward third just inside the baseline and he couldn’t
     get it in time. The batter was credited with a hit, and the runner on first made it safely to second.
    Wally began to sweat. The fans were trying to encourage him. The infielders were trying to encourage him. But none of it did
     him any good. His heart pounded as he stepped to the mound. He got the signal from Chris, stretched, and delivered.
    Another bunt! This time it was a poor one. The ball rolled straight toward the pitcher’s mound. Wally ran forward, fielded
     it, and pegged to third. Rocky caught the ball for the force-out, then heaved it to second. The runner reached there in time.
    The next hitter walloped a drive over second for a clean hit. A run scored. A ground ball to Rocky resulted in another out
     at third. Then a foul fly, which Chris caught, ended the top of the first inning.
    Lee Benton started things off with a walk. Sawbones popped out to third, and Dick Lewis grounded out, bringing up Rocky with
     Wally on deck.
    Rocky socked a single through short, but Lee was held up on second by Ken Asher, who was coaching third. Wally, batting fifth
     today, waited out the pitcher, and got a 2-and-2 count.
    He stepped out of the box and dabbed hishands on the dust to dry the sweat. He took a deep breath and stepped back in. He didn’t feel right. He just didn’t.
    The pitch came in.
Crack!
The ball bounced down to third. The third baseman caught it and stepped on the bag, and the half-inning was over.
    The Warriors got a hit in the top of the second, but nothing came of