The Reluctant Pitcher by Matt Christopher Read Free Book Online Page B

high — real high. It came plummeting down. Chris put out his mitt.
    The ball shot past it, struck the ground. “Oooooo!” groaned the Pacers’ fans.
    Chris struck the pocket of his mitt angrily and stood there almost a full ten seconds before he gathered up his mask and put
     it on. He was really disgusted with himself.
    Chris returned to his position behind the plate, and Terry stepped to the mound. Terry stretched, delivered.
    Smash!
A high fly to right field.
    Wally ran back, stopped, and waited for the ball. He remembered that a runner was on third. If that runner scored, he would
     tie up the score. And then, if the man who was now on second got on third, he could be squeezed in and win the ball game for
     the Warriors.
    Wally caught the ball. Without an instant’s hesitation he pegged it in to home. The runner was speeding in to score.
    The ball struck the ground several feet in front of home plate. It bounced. Chris caught it. He put the ball on the runner
     who was sliding in to the plate.
    Up went the umpire’s hand. “Out!” he bawled.
    The Pacers’ fans leaped to their feet, shouting and screaming with joy. The ballgame was over. The Pacers didn’t have to take their last raps. They had won 4–3.
    The whole team — and some of the fans — crowded around home plate, slapping each other happily on the back.
    “A terrific throw, Wally!” cried Coach Hutter. “And a nice put-out, Chris!”
    Cab Lacey was there, too. He shook Chris McCray’s hand, then Wally’s.
    “Nice work, both of you,” he said. He winked at Wally. He didn’t say any more, but Wally knew what he was thinking.
That’s the position for you, Wally. In right field. You play best there
.
    Some of the players and fans started to drift away.
    “Hey, Cab!” Coach Hutter called. “Cab Lacey!”
    Cab Lacey turned. With him were Helen, Sharon, and Jeannie.
    Coach Hutter walked up to Mr. Lacey. His blue eyes had a glint in them.
    “I’ve just heard some more about you, and it’s all good. Sorry about what I said to you last week. I hope you won’t hold it
     against me.”
    Mr. Lacey grinned. “I have a very poor memory about some things,” he said.
    “Fine. In that case, how about coaching the team this second half of the season? My job takes me away much of the time anyway.
     I would certainly appreciate it.”
    Mr. Lacey shrugged. “Maybe the boys would feel differently about it, Luke.”
    “Well, let’s see about that. What about it, boys?” asked Coach Hutter. “Would you like Mr. Lacey to coach you?”
    An enthusiastic shout sprang from them. “Yes, we would!”
    Luke Hutter smiled. “There you are. The job’s yours.”
    “Thanks. But I want your help, too,” Mr. Lacey said.
    “Okay. I’ll be your assistant.”
    The two men laughed over the agreement and shook hands.
    “I’m going to add one more thing, Cab,” Coach Hutter went on, then paused, as if he didn’t quite know how to say what he wanted
     to. “Well, much as I hate to admit it — since I’m a stubborn mule, as my wife says — Wally does fit better in right field
     than on the pitcher’s mound. That was a nifty peg he made to home. And he seems to hit a lot better when he plays there, too.”
    He looked at Wally and winked. Coach Hutter was an understanding guy, Wally thought. A real understanding guy.
    Wally and Sawbones walked out of the park alongside Cab Lacey and the girls, their parents walking ahead of them. Wallysaw Helen making peculiar motions with her fingers to Sharon, and then Sharon making peculiar motions to her.
    “Hey!” cried Sawbones. “Look at that sister of yours! She can’t talk sign language, can she?”
    “You can never tell about
her
,” replied Wally. “Sharon, what did Helen say?”
    Sharon’s eyes twinkled proudly. “She said that you played a wonderful ball game. That you were a hero.”

The #1 Sports Series for Kids
MATT CHRISTOPHER
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