Zero's Slider by Matt Christopher, Molly Delaney Read Free Book Online Page A

But with the bases loaded, he realized he should play it safe for now.
    Zero streaked in a fastball.
    Crack!
    The ball zoomed to deep right field, drawing a cheer from the Bearcats fans. As Zero watched, the ball arced down and landed
     about ten feet beyond the right-field foul line.
    “Just a long strike, Zero!” Uncle Pete yelled from the stands. “Pitch it to ’em!”
    Zero did, and after four more throws had the count at 3 and 2.
    He could feel the tension in the air as he readied himself for the next pitch. A hit or a ball would mean at least one run,
     but if it was a strike, he’d have the first out.
    Maybe I should try that curveball again, he thought. He took a deep breath and threw.
    Crack!
    The ball shot up almost a mile high and came down between first and second bases. Nicky caught it for the first out. The three
     runners stayed on their bases.
     

    Zero sighed with relief. Only two more to go, he thought.
    But it seemed the other team had figured out he wasn’t pitching a solid game. They waited out his pitches instead of swinging
     at them. He gave up two more walks and a single. Then Bus Mercer turned a pop fly into a double play to end the inning.
    The score was Bearcats 5, Mudders 0.
    As Zero jogged off the field, he saw that Sparrow was warming up. He wasn’t surprised when Coach Parker motioned him to join
     him in the dugout.
    Zero shook his head miserably and sat down beside the coach.
    “What’s happening out there, Zero?” Coach Parker asked.
    “I just can’t seem to make the ball do what I want it to do,” Zero said glumly.
    “I wanted you to finish the inning, but I’m going to put Sparrow on the mound for the rest of the game. Meanwhile, why don’t
     youtalk to Chess about setting up some extra pitching practice time this week?”
    “I’ll go talk to Chess right now, Coach. Thanks,” said Zero. Coach is right, he added silently. A little more practice is
     all I need to make those fancy pitches work.
    Chess agreed to meet at Zero’s house the next morning. He slapped Zero encouragingly on the back, then grabbed a bat. He was
     up second, right after Bus Mercer.
    Bus was one of the Mudders’ best hitters. He started off the top of the fifth inning with a solid single. Then Chess walloped
     a line drive that the Bearcats’ pitcher somehow caught. One out, man on first.
    Zero watched Sparrow adjust his batting helmet and step up to the plate. That should be me up there, he thought sadly. Sparrow
     popped out.
    Barry McGee took a few practice swings, then readied himself for the first pitch.
    Pow!
    The ball soared far over the center-field fence for a home run! Bus and Barry rounded the bases. Zero stood and cheered with
     the rest of the team and all the fans. The score now read Bearcats 5, Mudders 2.
    Those runs were the last ones the Mudders earned. Turtleneck struck out to end the inning. Sparrow kept the Bearcats from
     getting any more runs at the bottom of the fifth, but the Mudders couldn’t seem to get a man on base their last raps at bat.
     The game ended at Bearcats 5, Mudders 2.
    Zero felt awful. If only he hadn’t given up those two walks in the bottom of the fourth, maybe that score would have looked
     better. But there was nothing he could do about it now.
    Next time, though, he vowed silently, they won’t know what hit ’em!

3

    Zero and the rest of the Mudders were gathering up their gear when Coach called them over to the dugout for a team meeting.
     He had an announcement to make
    “First, let me say you’ve played a good game today, even though the score says differently,” he said. “Now I’ve got some bad
     news. The fellow who was going to take my place as your coach when I’m on vacation was just in a bad car accident. That means
     we need to find a new substitute. Or else we’ll have to forfeit the three games we’ve got scheduled for the next two weeks.”
    The Mudders were stunned. Forfeit three games? That, plus the game they just lost,