iIFodr

ittleFoxReaders

Level8

SportsStoriesChangeup4

InLeftField

1

T

hescrimmageagainsttheSwallowswasanawaygame.

“I’mready,”Patrickrepeatedunderhisbreath.Buthehadn’tgottenmuchsleepthenightbefore.Hismathquizwithared57hadsatonhisdesklikeawarninglight.Andhe’dbeenworriedaboutwhowouldstartascatchertoday.

Patrickrubbedhisluckycatcher’smittasCoachslappedtherosteronthedugoutwall.

“Here’sthelineup,boys.Readytoplaybaseball?”

“Yeah!”roaredtheteam.

Patricktookadeepbreathandwentovertolookattheroster.Secondupforbat,PatrickDeboe,Number12.

Dellflashedhimagrin.“Mickey’sgood.ButyouandIhavegotthedancedown.”

Patrickgrinnedtoo.HeandDellweregooddance

2

partners,meaningthataspitcherandcatcher,theycouldfolloweachother’smovesinstinctively.

“Playball!”theumpireyelledafewminuteslater.

TheDragonswereupfirst.Patrickmanagedtohitasingle.Butthenextthreebattersstruckout,sotheDragonswentscoreless.

DellheadedtothemoundwhilePatricktookhispositionbehindhomeplate.“Firstgame.Firstpitch,”hethoughthappily.Mickeywasaniceguy,butbeatinghimforthestarterpositionsurefeltsweet.Nowhehadtoprovehedeservedtokeeptheposition.

3

ThefirstbatterupfortheotherteamwasNumber14.Patrickrememberedthatthisbatterwastheonewhocrowdedtheplate.Patrickputdownonefingertosignalafastpitch.Dellwoundupandwhizzeditin.

“Strike!”calledtheumpire.

PatricknoddedatDell.Twomorepitches,twomorestrikes,andtheyhadtheirfirstout.

“Nicework,youtwo!”calledDaniel.

“Finally,acomplimentfromDaniel!”Patrickthought. Number42tappedhiscleatswiththebatandplantedhisfeetinthedirt.Patrickrememberedthatthiskidwasagoodhitter.HeputdowntwofingerstosignalacurveballtoDell.

Swoosh.

“Strike!”

4

Thebattercaughtapieceofthenextpitch,buttheballwentfoul.Patrickcaughtiteasily.

Patrickgrinned.Theyhadtwooutsalready.

***

Inmiddleschoolbaseball,theteamsplayedseveninnings.Bythebottomofthefinalinning,theDragonswereahead,7-6.

Number42fortheSwallowswasupagain.

“Helooksreadytoslamahomerun,”thoughtPatrick.HesignaledDellforthechangeup.

Dell’spitchwashigh,butNumber42hititsolidly.Theballsailedjustinsidethirdbase.InleftfieldTodddoveforit.PatrickheldhisbreathasToddrolledonthefield.WouldToddcomeupwithit?

5

“Yes!”screamedPatrick,seeingTodd’sglovefirmlywrappedaroundtheball.Twoouts!OnemoreoutandtheDragonswouldwin!

Theneveryonegotquiet—Toddwasstilllyingonthefield.“Ohno,”Patrickthought.

CoachjoggedouttocheckTodd’sinjury.MinuteslaterToddstood,gingerlyholdinghisarmagainsthischest.ThecrowdclappedashewalkedoffthefieldwithCoachandovertohisparents.

CoachhurriedovertothedugoutandmotionedforMickey.ThenhelookedatPatrick.“Takeleftfield,Patrick.Thisnextbatterhitsdeep,soweneedsomeonewithexperience.Mickeywillgoinascatcher.”

“Okay,Coach,”Patrickmumbled.Hepulledoffhiscatcherequipmentandfoundhisglove.Asheputonhiscap,heglancedattheSwallows’nextbatter.Thiskidlikedthepitcheslow.ShouldhewarnMickey?

6

“Nah.That’sDaniel’sjob,”thoughtPatrick.

Dell’sfirstpitchwasastrike.ThenawildpitchfromDellputtheSwallowsbatteronbase.

“Thatwasn’tMickey’sfault,”Patrickthought.Butstillthecatcheralwaystooktheblame.Itwasjustpartofthejob.

Thenextbatterhadachancetobringintherunnerandtieupthescore.Dellsentthepitchin,lowandoutside.Thebatterswung.Theballpoppedupbehindhomeplate.Mickeyscrambledtocatchit,pullingoffhismask.Theballdriftednearthefenceandthenfelldown,down...

Mickeystretchedoverthefence,teeteringtokeephisbalance.Theballsettledsolidlyintohismitt.

“Out!”criedtheumpire.“Gameover!”

TheDragonshadwon!TheteamswarmedaroundhomeplatetocongratulateMickey.

7

“Whatanamazingcatch!”PatrickclappedMickeyontheback.

“Thanks.”Mickeygrinned.“AnotherinchoutsidethefenceandIwouldn’thavereachedit.”

Thetwoofthemjoinedthelinetoshakehandswiththeotherteam.PatricktappedthehandoftheSwallowsplayerwhohadmadethelastout,feelingsorryfortheguy.Itwasbadlucktobethehitterwhomadethelastout.

InthedugouteveryonekeptravingaboutMickey’scatch.

Patrickwasgladhisteamhadwon,buthefeltalittlejealousthathehadmissedthemainaction.“It’sjustonegame,”hetoldhimself.“Nexttimeyou’llbebackwhereyoubelong—behindhomeplate.”

8

***

“Huh?”Patricksaidthenextmorningatschool.

Dellrepeatedthebadnews.“Toddinjuredhisshoulder.He’soutforatleastaweek.”

“Hecan’tplayagainsttheBandits?”askedPatrick.PatrickhadalreadystartedmemorizingtheBandits’roster,thefirstteamontheDragons’regularschedule.

“Nope.”Delllookedgrim.“Anditwillbeachallengetobeatthemwithoutourstarhitter.”

“You’reright,”Patrickagreed.“And...”Hisheartsankatanotherrealization.“Mickeyisagoodhitter.Coachwillprobablystarthimascatcher.”

“Yep.InthreeweeksweplaytheHornets—our

9

biggestrivals.IhopeTodd’sbackbythen.”

Patricknodded.HehopedToddwouldbebackbythentoo.

***

Theweatherforpracticeafterschoolwascoldanddreary.PatrickworkedwiththefielderswhileDanielspentextratimecoachingMickey.

Patrickcouldn’thelpglancingtowardhomeplateafewtimes.

“Waytogo,Mickey!”Danielkeptsaying.“You’reframingpitchesreallywell.”

JustthenaballthrownbythecenterfieldersailedpastPatrick.

10