The Kid Who Only Hit Homers by Matt Christopher

Author:Matt Christopher [CHRISTOPHER, MATTHEW F]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780316096010
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2009-12-19T05:00:00+00:00

8

The Hooper Redbirds had first raps against the Lansing Wildcats in their second league game on the Lansing athletic field. Apparrently Coach Corbin’s faith in Sylvester Coddmyer III had improved, because he was lifting Sylvester’s position in the batting order from ninth to eighth.

Sylvester glanced at the first-base bleachers. Sure enough, George Baruth was sitting at the end of the third row, wearing the same pants, same jersey, same coat, same cap. Mr. Baruth must have caught his eye for he lifted a hand in a wave, and Sylvester waved back.

He thought of that evening last week when he was sick and had that dream—or whatever it was—of George Baruth’s coming to visit him. If it was a dream, it sure was as real as could be.

Jim Cowley, leading off, lambasted a high pitch to center field for the first out. Ted Sobel struck out, Milt Stevens walked, and Jerry Ash flied out to end the top half of the inning.

Right-hander Terry Barnes, slender as a reed and slow as molasses, had trouble finding the plate and walked the first two Wildcats. Up came Bongo Daley, the short, stout Wildcat pitcher.

“A pitcher batting third?” muttered Jim Cowley. “Must be a hitter, too.”

Apparently Bongo was. He drilled Terry’s first pitch to left center for a double, scoring one run. The cleanup hitter stepped to the plate.

Terry bore down and struck him out with five pitches. Bobby Kent caught a long fly in center field. The runner on third tagged up and raced in for the second run. A pop-up to short ended the inning.

“Come on, you guys,” snapped Coach Corbin. “This isn’t tiddlywinks. It’s baseball. Let’s get going!”

Bobby, leading off, smashed a liner down the left-field foul line that just missed going fair by inches. He lambasted another almost in the same spot.

“Straighten it out, Bobby!” yelled the coach.

Bobby did. The third baseman caught the next line drive without moving a step.

The ball hadn’t risen more than five feet off the ground. One out.

Duane walked. Eddie popped to short for the second out, and up to the plate stepped Sylvester Coddmyer III.

The crowd cheered. The cheerleaders led with:

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