The Away Game by Krystle Howard

Author:Krystle Howard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2016-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

The Cardinals pitcher was wary. He’d seen Rhino’s power in that long foul ball the last time, so he kept his pitches low and inside.

The count ran full. Three balls and two strikes. Cooper took a big lead off first base.

Bam! Rhino smashed the ball and it lined toward right field. The second baseman leaped and touched the ball with his glove, but it still rolled into the outfield. Rhino was safe at first, but he hadn’t driven in a run. Cooper was stalled at third.

An easy pop fly ended the inning. CARDINALS 1, MUSTANGS 0.

“We’ve got two more at bats,” Cooper said as they took the field. “Hold them scoreless. We can still win this thing.”

At least Rhino had broken up the no-hitter. That might give the other Mustangs some confidence at the plate.

But the Mustangs went three up, three down in the fifth. Still, Dylan kept the Cards in check. It remained a one-run game as the Mustangs came up to bat in the sixth.

The first batter struck out, but that brought up the top of the Mustangs’ order.

“Let’s go, Coo-per!” chanted the players on the bench. Five quick claps, then “Let’s go Coo-per!” again.

Rhino sipped from a water bottle. The Cardinals were tough, but Rhino was sure his team could win. Just get on base, Cooper, he thought. I’ll bring you home this time.

Cooper came through. He smacked a line drive over the shortstop’s head and it fell safely into left field. Bella followed with a single, too.

“Do it for the puppy,” Rhino said to Dylan.

Dylan smirked. He popped a perfect bunt in front of the plate, moving Cooper and Bella to second and third. Dylan was out, but he’d done his job. Rhino held out his hand and Dylan slapped it as he trotted to the dugout.

“Rhino! Rhino! Rhino!”

A solid single would tie the game or give the Mustangs the lead. A home run would leave no doubt.

Rhino tapped some dirt from his cleats with the bat. His eyes met the pitcher’s.

A sudden thought crossed Rhino’s mind. Making an out here might not be so bad. The Mustangs would lose the game, but then they’d be heading home. He’d sleep in his own bed tonight.

That’s not you, his thinker told him. Be a winner.

Rhino crushed the first pitch deep into right-center field. The ball smashed off the fence, and Rhino raced into third base with a stand-up triple.

Cooper scored, then Bella.

Rhino watched the scoreboard change: CARDINALS 1, MUSTANGS 2.

And that’s how it looked when the game ended.

“A great defensive effort by both teams,” said the announcer. “The Mustangs advance to tomorrow’s championship game, right here at noon.”

Two more teams began warming up on the field for the second game. The Mustangs bought lunch at the refreshment stand, then took seats in the bleachers to watch.

The team in black and orange had a strong pitcher. He fired a two-hit shutout.

“Glad we don’t have to face him tomorrow,” Cooper said. “Wonder who else they have?”

“We’ll find out soon enough,” Rhino said.

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