Out at Second by Matt Christopher

Author:Matt Christopher [CHRISTOPHER, MATT]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV005000
ISBN: 9780316122948
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2011-02-08T05:00:00+00:00

11

Manny didn’t see Stu for the rest of the school day. After school, his mother picked him up and took him for a haircut, so he didn’t see him on the bus ride home, either. And since he went straight from the barbershop to the baseball field, he didn’t stop by Stu’s house to get him.

If he had, then maybe the scene that played out later could have been avoided.

Manny arrived at the field just before three thirty. Several other Grizzlies were already there, including Jason Romano.

“How’re you doing?” Manny asked the shortstop.

Jason chuckled. “A lot better than I was a few days ago, that’s for sure! Who knew such a tiny little bug bite could make a guy feel so rotten?”

Coach Flaherty appeared then and pulled Manny aside. “Griffin, I heard Fletcher was back at school today.”

Manny nodded.

“Then why isn’t he here?”

That’s when Manny realized that Stu was missing. “I don’t know, Coach,” he said. “I told him about practice starting early, just like I said I would.”

The coach blew out a long breath. “Well, if he misses all of the warm-ups, he’ll find himself warming up something else instead—the bench!” With that, he ordered the team to run three laps around the field.

As he jogged along, Manny kept an eye out for Stu. He knew he had told him about the time change—so where could he be? To his relief, he spotted him joining the run at the third lap. He slowed his pace to let Stu catch up.

“Good thing you made it!” he said. “The coach was—”

“Yeah, I made it, no thanks to you,” Stu growled. “Why didn’t you tell me we were supposed to be here at three thirty?”

“I did!” Manny protested. “Yesterday afternoon, when I stopped by! Remember?”

Stu squinted at him. “I guess I didn’t hear you then,” he said at last. “Sorry.”

After the laps, the coach outlined the details of the scrimmage. “The Dolphins coach and I agreed that we’d play this as a three-two-count game. That means every batter comes to the plate with a count of three balls and two strikes. That way, our pitchers will get in some practice without tiring their arms, and the batters will get strikes to hit so the fielders can get some practice. And it will still be exciting. Got it?”

The players nodded as one so Coach Flaherty continued.

“Okay, now for the lineup. Domingo, you’re at pitcher first with Ray starting off at catcher. Luis, you’re at first. At second…”

He paused here and frowned at his clipboard. “Stu, you start off there. But Sean, be ready to go in for him.”

He listed the rest of the roster in rapid fire: Jason at short, Kiyoshi at third, with Charlie, Patrick, and Gary in the outfield, and then reminded those who weren’t starting that they’d get their turns, too. With that, he told everyone to find a spot on the field. “Easy throws at first, and then add in some grounders and pop-ups. Starters, I expect to see plenty of hustle out there.

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