Owl Ball by Josh Alves

Author:Josh Alves [Masterson, Hoss]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 978-1-4965-4309-7; 978-1-4965-4313-4; Animal All-Stars; Animals; Sports; Chapter Books; Early Readers; Children's Fiction; Sports; Sports Fiction; Owls; Baseball
Publisher: Capstone
Published: 2019-10-16T00:00:00+00:00

Ringneck walked backwards around the bases. Then he slid into home plate, just to show off. He turned to his fans and took a deep bow. The Duck fans were on their feet, quacking away.

The hometown fans didn’t think it was all that funny. They hooted, “Boo! Boo!”

“Nice pitch,” Ringneck said to Ollie.

Score: Ducks 2, Owls 0.

The Owl catcher led off the bottom of the eighth inning.

On the mound Ringneck was still throwing fireballs.

The catcher dropped a bunt down the third base line. A beauty. He hustled down to first base. When the throw from third flew over the first baseman’s head, the catcher rounded the bag and dove into second.

The ball came in. It was a close play.

“Out!” Stanley hollered.

Ollie and Coach Wise jumped off the bench. They rushed to the plate.

“He was safe by a mile,” the coach said.

Stanley pulled off his umpire’s mask. “I told you both,” he said. “No sliding!”

“He didn’t slide,” Ollie argued. “He dove into second.”

“Still sliding,” the umpire said and turned his back. “His beak is as sharp as his talons.”

“That isn’t right,” Ollie said.

Stanley Stork turned around. “You both want to get thrown out?”

The Owls were running out of outs.

Ollie hoped he’d get another chance to bat. But the Owl third baseman popped up to second. Then the Owl leftfielder swung for the fences but struck out.

End of the eighth inning. Score: Ducks 2, Owls 0.

In the top of the ninth, Ollie started to fade. His curveball lost its sharp break. And his fastball seemed to be dropping speed. Maybe he was getting tired. After he walked the first Duck batter, Coach Wise walked out to the mound.

“You feeling all right?” the coach asked him.

“I’m okay,” Ollie told him

The coach looked into Ollie’s yellow eyes. “I can bring in Shortwing to pitch.”

“No,” Ollie said. “I want to stay in.”

“You’re not following through,” said Coach Wise. “I think you’re getting tired. I’ll bring Shortwing in. You know that Ringneck is due up this inning.”

“Please,” Ollie said. “I can do it.”

Coach Wise patted Ollie on the back with a wing. “All right, Ollie,” he said. The game went on.

The Duck rightfielder stepped up to the plate. Ollie still could not find control of his curveball. And his fastball was flying too high. Ollie walked the batter.

Two on and no out. Then a green and blue wood duck stepped up. Ollie still couldn’t find his control. He walked the wood duck on four straight pitches.

Coach Wise looked concerned. Ollie waved him off.

Big old Ringneck waddled up to the plate. He looked out at Ollie.

He swung his bat four times before he stepped into the batter’s box. Each swing was bigger and faster than the last. Then he pointed his bat at Ollie. “Bring it on!” he hollered.

Ollie threw a fastball.

“Ball one,” Stanley said.

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