by Fred Bowen
“Head down. Eyes on the ball, Jake,” Mr. Daley said.
Jake got his focus back and began to smack solid line drives into the net—most of the time.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Adam blasting balls at the other soft-toss station, one right after the other. More important, he could hear every one of Adam’s hits as his bat connected with the ball and sent it flying dead center into the net. Each hit sounded with the same solid whack! as the one before.
A little later, Coach Sanders stood in front of the whole team wearing his usual Boston Red Sox cap, blue with a red B. Jake’s dad and Isaiah’s dad stood behind him. The players took a break on the grass at the edge of the infield, sipping from their water bottles. “I like what I’m seeing out there,” Coach Sanders said as he paced the baseline. “We’re off to a good start. Everybody’s working hard and hustling. The games start in two weeks, on Saturday, April 18. Mr. Daley, will you please hand out the schedules?”
Jake’s dad stepped forward and handed a blue sheet of paper to each player.
“When do we get our uniforms?” Kyle asked.
“Next practice, I hope.”
Jake glanced at the list of games on the schedule.
Coach Sanders kept talking and pacing. “When the season begins, we’ll be playing to win. I’ll play people in the positions where I think they can most help the team.” The coach paused and looked around at his players. “But I don’t want to wear out the pitchers’ arms, so no one will pitch more than two or three innings a game. Any questions?”
Jake glanced to his right and then to his left. None of the kids spoke or raised a hand.
RED SOX SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
Sat. April 18 Braves 2 pm
Wed. April 22 Royals 6:30 pm
Sat. April 25 Yankees noon
Tues. April 28 Dodgers 6:30 pm
Sat. May 2 Reds 4 pm
Thurs. May 7 Giants 6:30 pm
Sat. May 9 Tigers 10 am
Tues. May 12 Braves 6:30 pm
Sat. May 16 Royals noon
Sat. May 23 Yankees 2 pm
Wed. May 27 Dodgers 6:30 pm
Sat. May 30 Reds 4 pm
Wed. June 3 Giants 6:30 pm
Sat. June 6 Tigers noon
Sat. June 13 Championship Game
“Seems like the Red Sox want to play more than talk,” Adam whispered to Jake with a grin. “I like that.”
“All right,” Coach Sanders said with a clap of his hands. “Let’s have some real batting practice now. I’ll pitch. Everybody gets ten swings.” He started pointing around the field, telling kids where to go. “Adam, you’re up first. Jake, you’re on deck. Michael’s on double deck. Everybody else is out in the field. Let’s hustle.”
The Red Sox raced to their positions. Adam and Jake picked out bats from the half-dozen lying in the dirt behind the backstop.
“Batter up!” Coach Sanders called from the mound.
Adam stepped up to the plate. He dug his right foot into the dirt and stared out at Coach Sanders. Jake leaned forward against the chain-link backstop and watched Adam’s smooth swing send line drives flying into the field, pitch after pitch. Each hit sounded with the same firm whack! that Jake had heard when Adam was hitting soft tosses into a net. Then Adam really connected, and the ball rocketed high and deep as the outfielders watched in awe.
“Wow,” Michael whispered on the sidelines as the ball soared higher and higher.
But Jake wasn’t watching the ball. From behind the backstop he kept his gaze on Adam. The new player’s face was shining in the late afternoon sunlight as he watched the ball fly high and long.
As he eyed Adam, Jake started to worry. Maybe this isn’t going to be my year after all, he thought.
Chapter 4
The yellow tennis ball bounced low and hard against the house and then skipped along the well-mowed grass. Jake raced to his right and fielded the bouncing ball backhanded. “Daley makes a great play for the Red Sox, going deep into the hole,” he said in his best announcer’s voice as he pivoted and fired the ball against the house again.
Thunk! This time the ball bounced high to Jake’s left. He scrambled quickly to his glove side and snagged the ball out of the air. “Another great play by Daley!” he shouted in his announcer’s voice. “He’s the star of the team.” Then he flipped another throw at the house.
“Hey, what’s up?”
Jake took his eyes from the spinning tennis ball and saw Adam heading toward him, cradling a basketball in the crook of his arm. The tennis ball bounced over Jake’s glove. Adam cupped his free hand around his mouth and announced in a loud voice, “Error on the second baseman, Daley.”
Jake’s lips tightened as he picked up the ball at the back fence. It seemed like Adam was coming over every afternoon now, whether he was invited or not. “You distracted me,” Jake protested.
Adam shrugged and held up the basketball. “You want to shoot some hoops?” he asked.
Jake shook his head. “Nah, I gotta practice,” he said.
“Why? We don’t have practice today. Come on.”
Jake threw the ball against the house, but kept talking as he fielded grounders and kept his eyes on the ball.
“Coach Sanders said I’ve got to field the ball cleanly if I want to play shortstop,” he said. “So I’m practicing grounders.”
“I’m gonna be the shortstop,” Adam said. “Coach puts me there every infield practice.”
“No kidding. But you’ll probably pitch a few innings every game. We’ll need a shortstop whenever you’re pitching,” Jake said as he fired another throw against the house. I’m going to practice so hard, I’ll be even better than you! he added to himself.
The ball bounced back. Jake got in front of it, but he lifted his glove too early and the ball skipped between his legs.
Adam cupped his hand around his mouth again. “Error on the shortstop, Daley,” he said, grinning.
Jake didn’t think that was funny. He hoped Adam would leave soon.
Just then, Jake’s father stepped out the back door. “Oh, hi, Adam. How’s your mom?”
“Fine. She’s working late.” Adam bounced the basketball on the Daleys’ patio.
“Do you want to have dinner with us?” Mr. Daley asked.
“What?” Jake said, but his father shot him a quick watch-your-manners! glance. “We’re going to meet Jake’s mom at Mi Rancho, a Mexican restaurant downtown.”
“Sure,” Adam answered without hesitation. “I’ll just text my mom.”
“We’ll be leaving in twenty minutes,” Mr. Daley said as he went into the house.
Adam put the basketball down. He texted his mom, pocketed the phone, then held out his right hand. “Come on, I’ll throw you some grounders.”
“Fine,” Jake said. Reluctantly he tossed Adam the tennis ball.
“Okay, you ready?” Adam said. He turned and fired the ball against the house. Thunk! The ball skipped along the grass. Jake dashed to his right, reached his glove across his body, and snagged the ball. Then he leaped, twisted in the air, and flipped a hard throw right to Adam. “Nice play.” Adam nodded. “Maybe you will make it as our starting shortstop.”
Fat chance of that with you around, Jake thought.
Less than an hour later, Jake’s family and Adam were sitting around a table covered with a plastic red tablecloth at the small, crowded restaurant. Mr. and Mrs. Daley sat together near one end of the table. Jake, his nine-year-old sister Ivy, and Adam sat at the other. Soon the table filled with easy conversation.
“So, are you boys ready for the first game?” Mr. Daley asked as he helped himself to some beans and rice.
“Yeah,” Jake and Adam answered together.
“When is the game?” Mrs. Daley asked.
“Saturday at two o’clock,” Jake said. “Please pass the chips.”
“Will your mom or dad be at the game, Adam?” Mrs. Daley asked as she handed Jake the chips.
&
nbsp; “I don’t know,” Adam said, looking down at his plate. “I don’t think so.”
“Do you see your dad much?” Mr. Daley asked. Jake saw his mom give his dad a warning look.
“Not too much,” Adam said. “Me and my brother sleep at his apartment sometimes.”
Mr. Daley nodded and then changed the subject. “Think Coach Sanders is going to pitch you on Saturday?”
“I hope so,” Adam said, looking up and smiling. “I’ll only get to pitch a couple of innings, though. But that’s okay, because I like to play in the infield too.”
“Are you the best player on the team?” Ivy asked, looking across the table at Adam. Jake glared at his sister.
Mr. Daley spoke before Adam had a chance to answer. “Adam is very good,” he said. “But we have a lot of good players on the team. Your brother’s been doing a good job at second base.”
“I wish Coach would put me at shortstop, Dad,” Jake said.
“We’ll see,” Mr. Daley said. “Do you boys want some more salsa?”
“Sure,” Adam said, reaching for the small bowl.
“Who are you playing on Saturday?” Mrs. Daley asked.
“The Braves,” Jake said. “They have Tony DiMichael. He’s supposed to be a real good pitcher.”
Mr. Daley smiled. “It’s too bad Coach Sanders can’t pitch for the Braves. Adam’s been crushing all his pitches in practice. Last Tuesday, he hit the longest home run I’ve ever seen.”
Jake felt his shoulders tighten.
“Really?” Mrs. Daley smiled. Adam didn’t answer. He was busy wolfing down a beef burrito.
“Are you guys going to be better than last year?” Ivy asked.
Adam shrugged as he finished chewing his mouthful of burrito.
“I guess we’ll start finding out on Saturday,” Jake said.
But with a star like Adam, how could they lose?
Chapter 5
Okay, Red Sox. Listen up!” Coach Sanders shouted. The team crowded around him. It was Opening Day and the Red Sox were ready to play ball. “It’s our first game of the year,” the coach went on. “Don’t worry, everybody will get a chance to play. Here’s the starting lineup. Chris will lead off and play center field. Jake bats second and plays shortstop …”
Shortstop! All right! Jake sat up a bit taller on the bench.
“Adam is pitching and batting third.”
Of course he is, Jake thought. And Coach will probably put him at shortstop as soon as he’s through pitching.
“… Isaiah’s at third base and batting cleanup. Evan, you’re catching and batting fifth. Hannah …” Coach Sanders gave out the rest of the lineup and then turned to Mr. Daley. “Did you bring your laptop?” he asked.
“I’ve got it right here,” Jake’s dad said, patting the computer bag on his shoulder. “I’ll score the game.”
“Hey, with your dad keeping the score, he’ll probably give you a hit every time,” Ryan teased. Jake smiled. He knew his dad wouldn’t do that, but he was happy his dad would be around.
The Braves were up first. Adam struck out the first batter with a blazing fastball. The second batter popped up to first base. “Two outs,” Jake called to the outfield, holding two fingers over his head. He felt great standing at shortstop.
The next batter hit a high hopper to Jake’s right. Jake snagged the ball and threw to first base, but the runner beat the throw. Standing on the mound, Adam turned to Jake. “Don’t worry, I’ve got the next batter,” he said. Sure enough, he struck out the Braves clean-up hitter with a sizzling third strike.
“Chris, Jake, Adam, Isaiah …” Mr. Daley called the lineup as the Red Sox came off the field and got ready to hit.
Chris popped out on the first pitch. After a couple of quick practice swings, Jake stepped into the batter’s box. Tony DiMichael, the Braves pitcher, threw the first pitch by Jake’s late swing.
“Strike one!” the umpire shouted.
Jake stepped out of the batter’s box and blew out a deep breath. I don’t want to be the first strikeout of the year, he thought as he stepped back into the box and looked out at the Braves pitcher. The second pitch was on the outside corner of the plate. Jake swung hard.
Crack! The ball sailed over the second baseman’s head for a clean single. The Red Sox bench was up and cheering.
“All right, Daley!”
“There goes your no-hitter, DiMichael.”
“Way to be a hitter.”
Jake looked back and saw his father entering the hit into his laptop with a smile. His mother and sister were whistling and clapping.
“Come on, Adam, drive me in,” Jake shouted to his friend from first base.
At the plate, Adam let the first pitch sail wide. Jake danced off first base and then looked back to the bench. “Be ready to run on a passed ball!” Coach Sanders shouted.
Jake crouched at first base with his left foot on the edge of the bag and his right knee bent. Tony DiMichael reared back and tried to get something extra on the next pitch. Adam unleashed a smooth swing and the ball exploded off the bat.
Jake ran toward second base, but then slowed to a jog as he watched the flight of the ball. The Braves leftfielder took a few steps toward the fence and looked up too. The ball soared twenty feet over the fence. It was a home run! No doubt about it.
Jake rounded the bases inside a circle of cheers. The whole Red Sox team was at home plate. They slapped him on the back and then pushed him away to make room for Adam. The Red Sox home-run slugger was smiling as he jogged around third base. The team mobbed him at home plate with loud cheers and huge hugs.
Adam grabbed Jake by the arm. “Nice hit,” he said. “You keep getting on and I’ll keep driving you in. We’ll make a great team.”
Coach Sanders clapped his hands and shouted at the bench. “All right, good job, Adam and Jake. Let’s get some more hits. We need more runs.”
“Isaiah, you’re up,” Jake’s dad called from the corner of the dugout. “Evan’s on deck. Hannah’s in the hole.”
“We don’t need any of you guys,” Ryan joked to the upcoming batters. “We’ve got Adam!”
“We’re gonna need everybody,” Hannah said as she put on a batting helmet. “Even you, Ryan.”
“Are you kidding? I’m going to go get some ice cream,” Ryan said. “Adam can win this one all by himself.”
“I don’t think so,” said Jake, shooting a sideways glance at Ryan.
The Red Sox scored another run as Hannah smacked a single that brought Isaiah home. The Red Sox led, 3–0.
Adam pitched another shutout inning in the bottom of the second. The Red Sox didn’t score. Coach Sanders brought Sam in to pitch and, sure enough, moved Adam to shortstop and Jake to second base.
Why does Adam have to be so good at everything? Jake thought as he shifted to second. It isn’t fair. But he had to admit that Adam was really helping the team.
The Braves had an easier time with Sam pitching, scoring two runs in the third inning and adding two more in the fourth. When the Red Sox came to bat in the bottom of the fifth, the Braves led the Red Sox 4–3.
“Come on, we’re only down by one,” Coach Sanders called as the Red Sox ran off the field and got ready to bat. “We have two more chances to come back. Let’s get some runs. Who’s up?”
Mr. Daley checked his laptop. “Michael, Kyle, and then the top of the order: Chris, Jake and Adam. Everybody hits.”
Michael didn’t get a hit, but he did get on base with a walk. Kyle smacked a sharp grounder right at the Braves shortstop, who quickly tagged second base before Michael could get there. One out!
With his foot still on the base, the shortstop fired the ball to first.
“Oh no!” Jake yelled from the bench. It looked like the Braves were going to turn the grounder into a double play. But Kyle hustled down the baseline and beat the throw to first by the blink of an eye. Safe! Runner on first, one out.
“Come on, Chris. Be a hitter!” Jake cheered his teammate as h
e took a practice swing in the on-deck circle.
The Red Sox center fielder came through with a bloop single to left field. So Jake stepped into the batter’s box with Kyle on second and Chris on first base. One out. The pressure was on and Jake felt the excitement building. This is my big chance to be a hero, Jake told himself as he watched the Braves pitcher go into his windup.
The first pitch was a little high. Jake swung and lifted the ball high above the Braves infield. He took a few steps toward first base, but saw the Braves second baseman settling under the pop-up. The ball fell easily into the second baseman’s glove. Jake slammed his bat into the dirt and trudged off the field. He dropped onto the Red Sox bench and buried his head in his hands.
“Don’t worry,” Ryan said cheerfully. “We’ve still got Adam up. He’ll get a hit.”
“Will you stop talking about Adam all the time?” Jake snapped at his friend. “What if he doesn’t come through?”
Ryan looked at Jake as if Jake were crazy. “What are the chances of that?” he said.
Crack! Adam drilled a line drive deep into center field.
“Whoa, did you see that, Jake?” Ryan shouted as he jumped off the bench. The Braves raced frantically toward the ball.
When Jake saw Kyle race across home plate with the tying run, he jumped up too. Everyone was cheering as Chris rounded third base right behind Kyle. The Braves shortstop pegged a relay throw to home plate, hoping to get him. But the ball skipped by the catcher and Chris slid in with the go-ahead run.
Adam had come through again. The Red Sox led, 5–4.
“Told you!” Ryan shouted above the cheers. “Adam always comes through.”
The Red Sox added another hit and another run. They raced out onto the field in the last inning with a two-run lead.
The Braves made two quick outs. Then Jake dashed toward the first-base foul line and snagged a pop fly for the last out. He turned toward the infield and happily held up the ball, still tight in his glove. At shortstop, Adam pointed at Jake and shouted, “Great catch!”
The Red Sox had won their first game of the season, 6–4.