Split Decision by Todd Hafer

Author:Todd Hafer [Hafer, Todd]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Published: 2009-11-11T13:00:00+00:00

On the Monday after the Holy Family loss, Coach Curtis put the freshmen and JV baseball teams through a three-inning practice game, which the JVs dominated, 6 to 1. Bart hit two batters, including Terrance Dylan, the only frosh to make the junior varsity team, so far. Frowning, Dylan rubbed his hip where the ball had hit him. Then he turned to glare at Bart.

Man, thought Cody, who was putting in some time at second base, that look from TD could melt steel!

After ending practice by striding effortlessly four times around the diamond, and beating all the JV players, as well as the freshmen, Cody trotted to the track to catch the end of the tracksters’ workout.

Chop stood in the shot put ring, trying to toss the metal orb with his left hand. It wasn’t going well. “Dang!” Chop bellowed in frustration. “I’m throwin’ like a girl!”

“Careful, Chop,” Cody said, slowing to a walk as he approached his friend. “If Robyn hears you, you’re gonna get a lecture, if not a smack upside your head.

“Besides,” he added with a wink, “I’ve seen our girl shot-putters. Their form’s a whole lot better than yours, lefty.”

Chop let out a bark of laughter. “That’s harsh, traitor—I mean, Cody. But I guess it’s true. The scary thing is … goin’ lefty with the shot is working a whole lot better than it is with the disc. I nearly corkscrewed myself into the ground a while ago. Dawg, havin’ a busted hand is killin’ me. It makes me so mad—I could kill Alston!”

Cody let pass the “traitor” dig. He narrowed his eyes and stared down his friend. “Isn’t that ‘kill Alston’ attitude what got you hurt in the first place? Haven’t you learned anything?”

Chop shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a warrior.”

Cody exhaled sharply. “Listen to me, Chop,” he said, “Proverbs says the person who controls his temper is better than a warrior who captures a city. You need to feel this. All the strength in the world won’t help you if you can’t keep your anger—and your ego—in check. Think about it. Even the mediocre freshmen weight-tossers will be able to whup your tail now, all because of your lack of self-control. You should be throwin’ with the varsity. Now you might not even make the frosh top three.”

Chop shook his head violently, as if trying to dislodge Cody’s words from his mind. “You’re pilin’ on, little brother,” he groaned. “You’re kicking me while I’m down.”

“No,” Cody countered. “I’m keeping it real. You’re not gonna make me feel guilty, just because you can’t handle the truth.”

Chop let the shot put plop in the moist sand outside the ring. “Co,” he said softly, “what am I gonna do when I move and don’t have you around anymore? None of my other friends will stand up to me like you do. They’re afraid.”

Cody arched his eyebrows. “Maybe they wouldn’t be so afraid if they didn’t think you’d get medieval on ’em.”

Chop nodded. Then he jerked his head up from the shot put area to the track.

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