“Books first,” Grandpa said with a smile.
“Baseball second,” Rhino added.
After dinner, Rhino read the book again. He understood it much better this time. Then he sat on his bed with his baseball glove. He held the ball in his hand. When he looked in the mirror, he imagined himself in a full baseball uniform. Tomorrow, that dream would come true.
The baseball field was loaded with kids. Some were taller than him and others looked really fast. Rhino saw many boys and girls he knew, but there were some that he’d never seen before.
“This will be great,” said Cooper. He’d walked to the field with Rhino and Grandpa James. “Let’s get out there.”
Cooper wasn’t shy when it came to playing sports. He didn’t have to talk much then. He let his sports skills do his talking for him. He ran onto the field and slapped hands with a couple of boys.
Rhino stood next to Grandpa and watched. Am I ready for this? he wondered.
“You’ll do fine,” Grandpa said. He squeezed Rhino’s shoulder.
Rhino gulped. He felt his hand begin to sweat inside his baseball glove. He had imagined that he would be a star. Now he wasn’t so sure. There were so many players. Some of them were very good athletes.
“Let’s sign up,” Grandpa said. He put on his glasses and steered Rhino toward a table. Several adults were helping kids fill out forms.
Rhino kept looking around as Grandpa filled out the papers. Kids were running and tossing baseballs around. They all looked confident. Rhino saw Dylan in the outfield. Dylan hadn’t seen him. He better not get in the way of my playing baseball, Rhino’s thinker said.
A man in a red jacket and a black baseball cap blew a whistle. He called for all of the players to take seats in the bleachers.
“We’ll break into four groups,” the man said. “Everyone will get a chance at each station. We’ll show you the basics of throwing and catching, fielding a grounder, batting, and running the bases. Then you’ll find out which team you’re on. Next week you’ll begin having practice sessions with your coach.”
Cooper tapped Rhino on the arm. “Let’s get in the same group,” he said.
Rhino and Cooper went to the throwing and catching station first.
“I’m Coach Ray,” said the man in charge of the first station. He showed them how to step toward the target when throwing the ball and to catch it securely in the web of the glove.
Rhino and Cooper already knew those basics. But not every kid did. They split into pairs and threw the ball back and forth. Coach Ray went from pair to pair to help. He was friendly but serious. “I see you’re a lefty,” Coach said to Rhino. “Do you bat left-handed, too?”
Rhino nodded. He felt better now. He was glad to be paired with Cooper. They were good at this.
Rhino struggled a bit at the next station. Fielding grounders wasn’t so easy, and he hadn’t tried that skill much at home. I’ll nail this with a little practice, he thought. The coach at this station showed him how to crouch correctly and get behind the ball. “Take a step toward it and keep your glove wide open,” said the coach.
This was fun. Rhino fielded the next three balls that came his way. He did very well at running the bases, too. Rhino was fast.
Batting was harder. Rhino didn’t have much experience hitting a hardball. The bat was heavier than the one he was used to. But he hit a few grounders and popped one up. He only missed the ball a few times.
They spent about twenty minutes at each station. It was clear to Rhino that a few of the players were better than he was. Some others were just beginners. Rhino could tell that he was better at some things than others.
“Can’t wait to be in a real game,” Cooper said. “I hope I get to pitch.”
Rhino wasn’t sure which position he’d like. Infielders had to deal with lots of ground balls. He’d done all right with that, but he was better at catching flies. I’d probably do best in the outfield.
The man in the red jacket blew his whistle again. “We’ll break into teams now,” he said. “Listen for your name. These first players will be on the Mustangs. If you hear your name, report to Coach Ray in right field.”
Rhino and Cooper didn’t need to wait long. They both were assigned to the Mustangs. Rhino raced to right field when he heard his name. Cooper soon followed.
Rhino recognized one other player on the team. It was Bella from the dinosaur group at school. The same family of butterflies flew back into his stomach.
“That’s my dad,” Bella said, pointing to Coach Ray. “He’s super nice.”
“That’s good,” Rhino said. He’d already learned a lot from Coach Ray.
Coach clapped his hands and said, “All right, Mustangs. This will be a great season.”
Rhino had a big grin. He could tell that being on a team would be fun. He’d learn a lot and get to compete. Cooper and Bella would be nice teammates.
Coach looked at his clipboard. He counted the players in the group. “Someone’s missing,” he said. He raised his head and looked toward the infield. “Here he comes,” Coach said.
Rhino turned to look. Then his heart sank. No way! He could hear that bigmouth talking from a mile away.
Dylan was trotting over to join the Mustangs!
On Monday, Rhino waited for Cooper in the cafeteria. Cooper was in the lunch line, but Rhino had brought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from home.
“Ready for today’s practice?” came a nasty voice.
Rhino turned to see Dylan staring at him.
“You won’t even be able to lift the bat,” Dylan said. He laughed. “It weighs a lot more than that baby one you use at home.”
“I know that,” Rhino said. Bigmouth, Rhino’s thinker added. Rhino wasn’t worried. He’d batted with a real wooden bat at the tryouts.
“You’ll strike out every time,” Dylan said. “I hope the coach keeps you on the bench.”
“Everybody plays the same amount,” Rhino said. He stood a little taller and glared at Dylan. “That’s what the coach told us.”
“Well, if the coach is smart, he’ll forget that rule,” Dylan said.
Dylan jumped when Cooper nudged him from behind. Cooper was just as big as Dylan and not afraid. “You got a problem over here?” Cooper asked Dylan.
“Just my teammate,” Dylan said. He jutted his chin toward Rhino.
“He’s my teammate, too,” Cooper said. “I don’t see that as a problem.”
Dylan walked away without saying another word.
“He’s annoying,” Cooper said.
Rhino just shook his head. “Let’s go to the dino table,” he said.
“Again?” Cooper replied.
“Come on,” Rhino said. “You don’t have to say much. Just tell us what you know.”
The talk today was about sauropods. Rhino knew a lot about them.
Sauropods were some of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered.
“You know SAW-ro-pods, those dinosaurs with a long neck, a tiny head, a big body, and a long tail?” Bella said.
Bella smiled at Rhino from the far end of the table. She had a lot to say.
“Their necks were incredibly long,” Rhino said. “Like thirty feet for the biggest ones!”
“Can you imagine being a hundred feet from the tip of your tail to your nose?” said Bella. “Would you even know that you had a tip of the tail?”
“They couldn’t hide very well,” said a girl with black braids. “I mean, they couldn’t even fit in most caves.”
Rhino knew that the sauropods didn’t have to hide. They were so big that few other dinosaurs would attack them. They grazed on plants and were fairly harmless for such huge creatures.
Rhino loved to draw pictures of sauropods. Sometimes he drew T. rex and other big meat eaters attacking the sauropods. But usually he drew them just eating from the treetops. He knew that the biggest ones had to eat hundreds of pounds of plants every day.
Rhino hoped that Cooper would say some of those things.
But Cooper ate quietly while the others talked.
When lunchtime ended, Rhino tossed his sandwich wrapper in the trash can. Bella was also throwing out her garbage. Then they joined the crowd of kids trying to exit the crowded lunchroom.
“My dad thinks we’ll have a very good team,” Bella said.
“I hope so,” Rhino said. He was also hoping that Dylan wouldn’t spoil the fun for everyone.
“Dad said you’re good at fielding the ball,” Bella said.
“He did?” Rhino was glad to hear that Coach Ray had noticed. Major League Baseball, here I come, he thought.
“Yes. He said you look as if you’ve been practicing.”
“I have,” Rhino said. “My grandpa pitches to me every day after school. We play catch, too.”
“My dad’s been teaching me some things,” Bella said. “He says the toughest part of having a new team is that a lot of kids have never played baseball at all. But we have a few who already know the basics.”
Rhino nodded. He knew that he could catch and throw well. And he could hit like a champion with Grandpa. He was concerned about the heavier wooden bat, especially after what Dylan said. But Rhino would make sure to practice, practice, and practice.
“Your dad says everyone will play, right?”
“Of course,” Bella said. “We’ll all get an equal shot.”
“That’s good.”
Bella glanced at the clock. “Running late,” she said. “See you at practice.”
“See you then,” Rhino said.
He was glad that there would be a few friendly faces at practice. He hoped that would be enough to outweigh one very nasty face.
The afternoon was warm with a light breeze. Rhino hurried to the field with Cooper. He looked around but didn’t see Dylan.
“Maybe he won’t show up,” Rhino said.
“Don’t count on it,” Cooper replied. “He’ll be here.”
Coach Ray was on the pitcher’s mound, tossing a ball back and forth with Bella. She took off her orange baseball cap and waved it at Rhino and Cooper.
“Start throwing,” Coach said. “Spread out.”
Rhino grabbed a new baseball. The smooth covering was cool in his hand. He loved how the red stitching felt in his grip. He fired the ball to Cooper.
“Whoa,” Cooper said as he caught it. “Easy, Rhino!”
Rhino laughed. He was excited. “Too hot for you?” he asked.
Cooper threw it back just as hard. Rhino had to lunge for the ball.
“Be accurate!” Coach Ray called. “No sense throwing it fast if you can’t throw it straight.”
Cooper blushed. He stuck his tongue out at Rhino. They threw the ball easier for the next several minutes. By then, all of the players had arrived. Dylan was in the outfield by himself, tossing a ball into the air and catching it.
“Let’s work on grounders now,” Coach said. “Throw the ball on the ground to your partner.” He showed the proper position for fielding the ball.
Later, each player got a turn at bat. Coach sent Rhino into center field. Coach did the pitching.
Rhino fielded two balls that were hit his way. But most of the players didn’t hit the ball as far as the outfield.
“We need some power!” called Bella, who was in left field. She smacked her glove with her fist. No one had hit the ball in her direction yet.
It was Cooper’s turn to bat.
“Get ready,” Rhino called to Bella. “He’s strong.”
Cooper hit the first pitch right back to Coach. Since this was a practice session, each player was able to swing ten times. On his last hit, he ran the bases.
Cooper’s final hit was a line drive into the outfield. The ball landed between Bella and Rhino. They both ran after it. Bella got to it first. She fired the ball toward second base. Cooper stepped onto the base just before the ball arrived.
“Nice throw!” Coach said. “Rhino and Dylan, you’re the next batters.”
Rhino ran fast toward the dugout. He picked up a bat and wrapped both hands around the handle. The bat seemed a bit too heavy. He grabbed a slightly smaller one. That one felt right. He made sure no one was close, then took a practice swing. He put on a batting helmet and walked proudly toward home plate.
“Ten swings,” Dylan whispered as Rhino walked past. “Bet you miss every one.”
Rhino could feel his face heat up. Ignore him, Rhino’s thinker said. He’s all noise.
Dylan kneeled in the on-deck circle, a few feet away. Rhino focused on the coach.
The first pitch was straight down the middle of the plate. The ball was moving more slowly than Grandpa James’s pitches. Rhino expected to slam it.
But his swing hit nothing but air.
“Nice cut,” Coach said. “You swung just a little early.”
“You missed it by a mile,” Dylan muttered. “Not even close.”
Rhino glared at Dylan and tightened his lips, but he didn’t say anything. Dylan smirked.
Rhino nicked the next pitch. It rolled behind first base. Foul ball.
“Lucky,” Dylan said. “You won’t hit this next one.”
Coach turned his gaze to Dylan. “Let’s be supportive,” he said. “This is a team. We all work together.”
Dylan looked at the ground.
I’ll show him, Rhino thought. This one’s going over the fence. The ball is Dylan’s big mouth.
Rhino swung hard. But he missed again.
“Just make contact, Rhino,” Coach said. It was the same advice Grandpa James always gave him.
Rhino could feel the sweat under his shirt now. He was warm and ready. After two more grounders, he squeezed the bat tighter.
“Last swing,” Coach said. “Run this one out.”
Rhino nodded. He kept his eyes on the pitcher.
The ball came a little faster, but it was straight. Rhino timed it just right. He smacked it hard. The ball took off on a line over the second baseman’s head. Rhino dropped the bat and sprinted.
As Rhino reached first base, he looked toward the outfield. The right fielder was just getting to the ball, and he was nearly to the fence. Rhino rounded the base and ran harder.
From the corner of his eye, Rhino could see the outfielder throw the ball toward second. Cooper was waiting for it, just in front of the base. Rhino would have to slide.
Rhino and the ball arrived at the same time. He heard the ball hit Cooper’s glove with a smack. Cooper lowered his glove to tag Rhino, but Rhino slid out of reach. His foot hit the base. Coach called, “Safe!”
Rhino jumped up and smiled. He and Cooper had both hit doubles.
“Yessssss!” Rhino said.
“Good base-running,” Coach said. “Get your glove, Rhino. Let’s give you a chance to play the infield.”
Rhino trotted back to the dugout. He picked up his glove.
Coach pointed to third base. “Try that spot,” he said.
Rhino set up a few feet from the base. Then he took a couple of steps back. Dylan was up.
Dylan hit the ball hard. His first few swings sent the ball into the outfield. When Coach told him to run the last one out, Dylan turned toward Rhino. He pointed with a finger, as if to say that he’d be hitting the ball over his head.
Whack! The ball sailed past the shortstop and flew into left field. It hit the fence on the first bounce. Bella and the center fielder scrambled after it.
Rhino braced as Dylan came racing around second base. The throw would be coming to third! Dylan was charging straight toward him at full speed.
Rhino was ready. The ball was on its way, moving fast. So was Dylan.
As Dylan slid, he grabbed Rhino’s leg, knocking him off balance. Rhino stumbled. He kicked free of Dylan, but the ball bounced past them both. Rhino raced to pick it up.
Rhino grabbed the ball and looked up. Dylan was standing on third base with a big grin.
“Is he allowed to grab me like that?” Rhino called to the coach.
“Definitely not,” Coach sa
id. “Did you do that on purpose, Dylan?”
Dylan shook his head. “Nope. He just got in my way.”
“Well, let’s be careful,” Coach said. “In a game, an umpire would call you out for interfering on purpose.” He told Dylan to get his glove and play right field.
Rhino tossed the ball to the coach. He felt a shove to his shoulder as Dylan walked past. Rhino shoved back harder.
“Stop being such a baby,” Dylan whispered. “You’re lucky I didn’t knock you over.”
“You grabbed my leg on purpose.”
“Watch your mouth,” Dylan said. “Or you might get grabbed again after practice. On purpose.”
Grandpa James arrived with C.J. just before practice ended. Rhino was glad to see them.
“We’ll go to Roman’s to celebrate your first practice,” Grandpa said. “Sound good?”
Rhino nodded. He was always ready for pizza, and Roman’s had the best in town.
Grandpa stopped to talk with Coach Ray for a few minutes. C.J. asked Rhino how practice had gone.
“I hit a double,” Rhino said.
“A double, huh? That’s great,” C.J. said. “Good team?”
“I think so,” Rhino replied. It all seemed good except for one teammate.
“You don’t sound very enthusiastic,” C.J. said. “Was there a problem?”
Rhino shook his head. “No problems. It’s all good.”
Grandpa jogged over. “Your coach is a nice man,” he said.
“He sure is,” Rhino agreed.
They were the last ones to leave the field. Other players’ parents had picked them all up. But as Grandpa James pulled out of the parking lot, Rhino saw Dylan walking by himself up the hill.
“Is he on your team?” Grandpa asked.
“Yes.”
“Should we offer him a ride?”
“No way!” Rhino said sharply.
C.J. turned to look at Rhino. He grinned. “I guess not,” C.J. said. “He’s the problem?”
My New Team Page 2