“No dancing,” Bella said. “Just some funny stuff. My dad is running the dinner, so he asked me to set something up for our team.”
“Do we have to do the skit even if we don’t win the championship?” Rhino asked.
“Sure. Why would that matter? A couple of the other teams will do a skit or something, too, so we want to be the best. I was going to ask Cooper and Carlos to be in it, too.”
Rhino shrugged. “Count me in,” he said.
“Okay, but don’t tell anybody else. Remember, it’s a surprise for the dinner. A secret.”
Rhino ate the last bite of his hot dog, then wiped some mustard off his mouth with a napkin.
“I’m still hungry,” he said to Grandpa. “Let’s get home to that PB&J.”
Rhino usually ate lunch with a group of kids who loved to talk about dinosaurs or astronomy, like the stars or planets. But on Monday, Bella called a meeting with Cooper, Rhino, and Carlos to talk about their skit for the dinner.
“We need to do something funny,” Bella said as they ate together in a corner of the cafeteria. “There will be lots of speeches about teamwork and sportsmanship. All of that is important, but I want to do something exciting! I want to make the guests laugh.”
Rhino bit into his sandwich. He loved to laugh, but baseball was serious business to him. Still, this wasn’t all about baseball. The awards night was supposed to be relaxing and fun, not competitive.
“Here’s my idea,” Bella said. “Remember how excited we all were on the first day of practice? And how nervous?”
“I couldn’t even eat my lunch that day,” Carlos said, holding up his sandwich and staring at it like it was poison. “I’d hit a few plastic baseballs in the yard with my dad, but being on a team was a whole different thing. I was sure I’d swing and miss at every pitch.”
“You were right,” Rhino said as a joke, nudging Carlos with his elbow.
Carlos laughed. “I know. But by the end of the practice session I wasn’t so nervous anymore. I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t hit the ball!”
“It shows you how much we’ve all improved, doesn’t it?” Bella said. “That’s a good message for the skit.”
Rhino thought over the skills he’d learned that spring. How to cover first base and wait for the right pitch instead of swinging hard at anything near the plate.
“Showing that we were scared is a good way to start,” Cooper said. “Maybe we can do a skit with two batters. One is certain that he’ll hit a home run every time, but then he doesn’t hit a thing. The other is afraid that he’ll keep striking out, but then he wallops the first pitch.”
“I know who the overconfident one could be,” Rhino said. “Dylan. Remember how he thought he was such hot stuff?”
“He was a bully, too,” Carlos said. “Making fun of anybody who dropped the ball or struck out. We could do an entire skit about him.”
Bella shook her head. “I know, but that wouldn’t be nice at all,” she said. “You have to admit that Dylan’s been a much better teammate lately. Besides, he’ll probably win at least one of the big awards. Let’s not spoil his evening by making fun of him.”
Rhino took a handful of BBQ chips and let out a sigh. Dylan had spoiled plenty of days for other people on the team. And if he scooped up most of the awards, where would that leave Rhino or his other teammates?
Dylan and Rhino weren’t exactly friends, but they supported each other and worked together for the good of the team. I deserve a big award as much as he does, Rhino thought.
“So let’s work on this,” Bella said. “I like the idea of starting out nervous and making mistakes. Everybody can relate to that. By the end of the skit, we’ll show how far we’ve come in just a couple of months. Beginners to champions!”
“We’re not champions yet,” Rhino said.
“But we will be, right?” Bella replied.
“I think so,” Rhino said. “We’ve beaten every team at least once, so we should be able to do it again.”
“I’ve heard that the pressure is triple in the playoffs,” Cooper said. “There’s so much riding on every pitch. If you lose a game, your season’s over.”
Rhino didn’t feel scared. He felt excited. “We’ve done well under pressure,” he said. “The idea of performing this skit makes me more nervous than a game, though. The whole league will be watching. And listening!”
“So we’d better be good,” Bella said. “We need to work on a script. How about meeting again on Wednesday at lunchtime? Bring some ideas.”
“I like the ideas we already came up with,” Rhino said.
“So do I,” Bella replied. “But we still need a script. And practice. I don’t want to mess this up. My dad’s counting on us.”
“Maybe we should scrap the skit and bring back the band,” Cooper said. He’d played the drums in Mustang Rock. Rhino played guitar.
“Yeah,” Carlos said. “I’m more confident singing than talking in front of a crowd.”
“Not a bad idea,” Bella said. “Maybe part of the skit can be a song. But it has to be about baseball. And being nervous.”
Maybe it should be about the big awards, Rhino thought. That’s what he was most nervous about. Baseball wasn’t easy, but it was always fun. He didn’t want to wait until next season to earn a big trophy like C.J.’s. He wanted one now.
Be patient, his thinker told him. Helping my team win is much more important than a trophy.
Most of the Mustangs’ games had been on Saturdays, so a Tuesday evening playoff game was an exciting change. Parents and grandparents filled the bleachers, and many of the players from other teams lined the fence.
“There are way more people here than at any of our other games,” Rhino said, tossing a ball to Carlos. Game time was still about ten minutes away.
Cooper was slowly warming up in the bullpen. The Groundhogs were out in left field, snagging fly balls and rolling grounders to one another. The Groundhogs were the visiting team tonight, so they’d bat first.
Rhino couldn’t wait to swing the bat for real. He’d scorched a few pitches in batting practice, sending them far over the fence.
“Bring it in!” Coach Ray called from the dugout.
Rhino caught one more throw from Carlos and ran in. “We need to be sharp today,” Rhino said to Carlos. “And smart! Baseball is a thinking game, too.”
Rhino put his thinker to work several times in the early innings. When a Groundhog player took a big lead off first base, Rhino caught Cooper’s eye and gave him a signal that they’d talked about before, pulling on the brim of his cap. Cooper fired the ball to first base. Rhino made the catch and tagged the base runner as he slid.
The umpire swung his arm and jutted his thumb.
“Out!”
The Mustangs and their fans exploded in cheers. It was their first pickoff of the season. Rhino didn’t think any of the other teams had done one, either.
In the fourth inning, Rhino made another smart play. Dylan was on second base after smashing a double to lead off the inning. Everyone in the park was certain that Rhino would be swinging for the fences. But the game was still scoreless, so one run could be a huge advantage. Instead of trying for a power shot, Rhino tapped a beautiful bunt up the first-base line. He was thrown out, but Dylan made it to third. The Mustangs were on the verge of taking the lead.
Unfortunately, Carlos struck out and Gabe hit a lazy pop fly to end the inning.
“Should have swung away,” Cooper mumbled, shaking his head as he and Rhino took the field.
“Next time,” Rhino said. “Just keep pitching great.”
Cooper continued his shutout pitching, but so did the Groundhogs’ tall left-hander. For the first time all season, the Mustangs entered the sixth inning in a scoreless tie.
Rhino glanced up at the bleachers and saw Grandpa and C.J. They both waved. Rhino touched his cap and nodded slightly. Big pressure now, he thought. “Defense!” he yelled.
The leadoff hitter sent a sizzl
ing ground ball up the middle for a single. He stayed close to the base while Cooper faced the next batter, remembering that his teammate had been picked off.
“Turn two!” Rhino called.
Cooper had yielded only two hits today, both singles. He’d pitched well, but a small letdown now could cost the Mustangs the game.
Cooper stayed solid. He struck out the next batter.
“Nice!” Rhino called. “Two more outs.”
The Groundhogs’ pitcher was up to bat now. As a lefty like Rhino, he was more likely to hit the ball toward the first-base side of the diamond, or into right field. Rhino bounced on his toes, ready to grab anything hit his way.
“Strike one!” called the umpire as Cooper blazed a fastball past the batter.
Rhino stepped over to first base, making sure the base runner wouldn’t decide to take a bigger lead. Then he hustled back to the edge of the grass.
Crack! The ball made a quick bounce near the mound and streamed toward right field. It was deep in the hole between Rhino and Carlos, but Rhino had the better chance to stop it. He made a back-handed catch, and instantly sized up the situation. He was too far from first to beat the hitter, and Cooper was too late to cover. The smart play was to second base, where Dylan was running over from shortstop.
Rhino fired the ball to second, but Carlos was sprinting there, too. Dylan caught the ball and lunged for the sliding base runner. Carlos stumbled and let out a yelp.
The runners were safe at first and second base. The umpire called time-out and waved for Coach Ray to come onto the field. Carlos was lying on his back, holding his leg.
Rhino trotted over. “You got kicked?”
Carlos looked up and grimaced. “Right in the shin,” he said. “Wow, that stings.”
Coach handed Carlos a water bottle and carefully rolled down Carlos’s sock. He pressed gently on the shin.
“I think it’s okay,” Carlos said.
Rhino helped Coach pull Carlos to his feet and take a few steps. “I’m fine,” Carlos said, but his voice sounded as if he was in pain.
“We can’t take a chance,” Coach said. “Let’s get you to the dugout.”
Carlos frowned, but he walked to the dugout without help, limping a little. The spectators cheered, and all of the players clapped.
The Mustangs were in a jam. Runners on first and second. One out. And a key infielder out of the game.
Coach looked around. A couple of other Mustangs had taken turns at second base early in the season, but Carlos had established himself as the best by far. Sara and Paul were in the dugout, and they’d played the first three innings. The league rules allowed for a player to return to the game to replace an injured teammate. Sara was awkward and not a great fielder, so Rhino was surprised when Coach called for her to come in.
Coach put his hand on Rhino’s shoulder. “I need you to play second.”
“Me?” Rhino had played first base for every inning of the season. Coach wanted him to switch? Now? In what might be the last inning for the Mustangs?
“Sara can play first base,” Coach said. “We need a talented fielder at second. I know you can handle it.”
Rhino looked at Cooper and Dylan.
“Do it for the Mustangs,” Dylan said. “Coach is right. We need you.”
Cooper gave Rhino a light punch on the arm. “It’s just for two outs,” he said. “You’re the man.”
Rhino swallowed hard. He turned to Sara and gave her a thumbs-up. Rhino had helped build Sara’s confidence early in the season when she really needed it. Now Rhino was the one who needed a confidence boost.
Rhino inhaled deeply.
And he took his position near second base.
This was like the beginning of the season all over again. Rhino felt nervous and unready at a position he’d never played.
At the most important moment of the season!
“One out!” Rhino called, trying to sound fearless. “Let’s turn a double play!” But he was really hoping Cooper would strike out the next two batters.
Don’t make a mistake, he told himself. Don’t give away a run. Or two!
But then his thinker came through loud and clear. Relax. You’re a great player.
“Any base!” Rhino yelled. With runners on first and second, the Mustangs could get a force-out on a grounder at first, second, or third.
Whack! The batted ball took a big hop. Dylan fielded it and turned toward second. Rhino was on his way, racing to get there before the base runner.
Rhino caught the ball and stepped on second base for an out. His momentum carried him toward third base, so it made sense to try for the double play there instead of twisting toward first.
Rhino leaped and threw as hard as he could. But his throw was way off course. The ball soared past the third baseman and rolled to the fence.
Rhino watched in agony as the runner rounded third and kept going. He slid into home before the third baseman reached the ball.
The batter ran easily to second base.
Rhino stared at the sky. He’d made a good play, and then a terrible throw. The scoreboard showed the damage. Groundhogs 1, Mustangs 0.
Three seconds, Rhino’s thinker told him.
“Shake it off,” Dylan said. “Let’s get this next guy. We’ll win the game in our next at bat.”
Dylan would lead off again in the bottom of the sixth. If the Mustangs could get out of this inning just one run behind, they’d still have a strong chance to win.
Cooper threw a strike. And another.
Rhino let out his breath. Pounded his glove.
The batter hit the next pitch high in the air. The ball floated toward the outfield, but not very deep.
“I’ve got it!” Rhino called. He backpedaled a few steps and set up under the ball.
And made the catch for the third out.
Dylan raced over and clapped Rhino on the back. Cooper shook his hand. Sara gave him a thumbs-up.
“Great work out there,” Coach said as Rhino picked up a bat. “Teamwork!”
Carlos held out his hand and Rhino slapped it. “How’s the shin?” he asked.
“Sore,” Carlos replied, pointing to the ice pack on his outstretched leg. “But I’ll be fine for the next game. So let’s make sure there is a next one!”
The Mustangs had managed only four hits today, and Dylan had two of them. He looked very confident as he stepped up to the plate, glaring at the pitcher and taking a few hard swings.
“Wait for your pitch,” Rhino said from the on-deck circle.
Dylan didn’t wait long. He lined the first pitch deep down the right-field line and reached second base standing up ahead of the throw.
“Knock him home!” Bella called.
Rhino felt a surge of energy. He could make up for that throwing error with one swing. One more of his trademark home runs would win this game for the Mustangs.
The first pitch looked good. A little low, a little outside, but very hittable. Rhino swung with all his might.
Swish! Rhino hit nothing as the ball zipped by.
Just make contact, his thinker said. No more wild swings.
He hit the next pitch, but it headed foul—over the bleachers behind the dugout.
Two strikes already. Rhino had to drive Dylan in. With Carlos out of the game, Sara was the next batter, and she’d only had a couple of hits all season.
Wham! Rhino connected with a solid swing and sent the ball flying into right-center field. He sprinted toward first base and heard the ball smash into the fence.
“Keep going!” called Coach. Rhino slid into second. Dylan crossed home with the tying run.
Back in business, Rhino thought. Whole new ball game.
The Groundhogs’ coach called for time and walked to the mound. After giving up two straight doubles, the tall, left-handed pitcher was finished for the day. Rhino tried to relax while the new pitcher took some warm-up throws, but his mind was on one thing: Score the winning run!
Sara swung at t
he first pitch and missed. Then she watched one go by for a second strike.
Rhino wondered if he should run on the next pitch. Stealing third base was never easy, but maybe it was worth the risk. As the pitcher unleashed the ball, Rhino took off.
He heard a plunk and a big cheer from the crowd. The pitcher and catcher both scrambled toward the ball as it dribbled toward first base. Rhino steamed into third.
Sara was out, but Rhino stood just sixty feet from home! He was surprised that Sara had bunted with two strikes, since a fouled-off bunt counted as a third strike. But Sara had put the ball into fair territory.
“Come on, Gabe!” Rhino shouted to the next batter. The Mustangs’ catcher was short but he had some power. If he hit the ball out of the infield, Rhino could score.
Rhino looked at his friends in the dugout. They’d all worked so hard this season. They deserved to play in the championship game. Rhino could make sure that happened.
As soon as Gabe hit the ball, Rhino felt another energy burst. The ball flew into the outfield and the right fielder got under it. Rhino could run as soon as the ball was caught, as long as he stepped on third base first, so he kept his foot on the base and leaned toward home.
“Go!” shouted his teammates as the catch was made. Rhino sprinted hard, knowing that the throw was already on its way.
The ball bounced near the pitcher’s mound, and the Groundhogs’ catcher crouched in front of home plate. Rhino timed his slide perfectly. His foot hit the plate just before he was tagged. The umpire yelled that he was safe.
The Mustangs raced from the dugout and mobbed Rhino. They’d won!
“Don’t forget Gabe,” Rhino said. “He’s the one who hit the ball!”
“And Sara, too,” said Bella. “Her hit moved Rhino to third.”
“Yeah, that was a gutsy move, Sara,” Rhino said. “No one bunts with two strikes.”
Sara blushed. “I didn’t bunt. I swung as hard as I could, but I barely nicked the ball.”
Trophy Night Page 2