Pitcher Pressure by Jake Maddox

Author:Jake Maddox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 9781434215963, Fiction, Jake Maddox Sports Stories, Sports & Recreation/General, Sports & Recreation/Baseball & Softball, Social Issues/Friendship, Family/Multigenerational
Publisher: Capstone
Published: 2010-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

A Close Play

Allen prepared to bat in the top of the seventh inning. It was the last inning of the game. The Twins were still behind 4–3. If Allen and the Twins wanted to win, they would need at least two runs.

Patrick grabbed a bat and a helmet. He was first up. Allen took his place on deck, since he was batting next.

“Drive the ball!” yelled Thomas from the dugout.

Patrick let the first pitch go outside for a ball. Then he swung at — and missed — the next pitch.

“You can do it!” shouted Allen.

Patrick dug his feet into the dirt around home plate. The pitch sailed toward him. Patrick swung hard and connected. The ball flew through the infield and past the second baseman for a solid hit.

“That’s it!” shouted Allen.

He walked toward home plate. He stepped into the batter’s box. He felt calm. He breathed easily and his heart beat normally.

He wasn’t nervous about baseball anymore. He felt good as he looked out at the pitcher. Somehow, he just knew he was going to get a hit.

The first pitch flew toward him. Allen drove it toward the outfield. It bounced in front of the left fielder for a hit. Allen ran to first base. Patrick ran to second.

“You ripped that thing!” yelled Patrick.

Allen looked toward home plate. “Thomas, drive us in!” he shouted.

Thomas walked toward the plate. The pitcher wound up.

Allen took a two-step lead off first base. He wanted to be ready to run.

The sky was beginning to darken. Soon the stadium lights would go on. Grandpa Jim loved nights like this. If the Twins came back to win and if Grandpa was okay, Allen would have a great story to tell him.

The pitcher went into his windup. The ball flew toward home plate.

Thomas kicked his front leg off the ground and thrust his entire body forward. His bat met the ball and drove a hit deep into the outfield.

Allen sprinted toward second. As he ran, he watched the ball bounce past the center fielder and roll all the way toward the fence. In front of him, Patrick rounded third and easily made it home.

As Allen approached third base, he looked at the dugout. Coach Akers was giving him the signal to run home.

Allen raced around third and sprinted for home. Patrick was waving both of his arms toward the ground. That meant it was going to be a close play.

Allen knew what the signal meant. Patrick was telling him to slide.

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