Man Out at First (4 page)

“Never mind,” Nick cut in disgustedly. “Maybe Jack
will
come through. C'mon, we don't want to be late. Coach Parker might bench us, too.”

He grabbed Rudy's arm and tugged him down the steps. The two boys walked away without a backward glance.

Turtleneck closed his comic book and watched his friends pass by Mr. Shaw's house.

I wonder if those guys even care if I play or not, he thought.

A flash of light from next door caught his eye. The sun was reflecting off one of the new nails he'd hammered into Mr. Shaw's
steps.

Turtleneck looked at it for a moment. And suddenly he realized that
he
cared whether he played or not.

He jumped up and ran into the house. He quickly changed into his uniform, grabbed his glove, and headed out the door.

Turtleneck rattled down the steps and started off toward the baseball diamond. Then he stopped.

He ran up Mr. Shaw's steps and knocked at the door.

“Who is it?” a voice called from inside.

“It's me, Turtleneck, uh, Theodore,” Turtleneck replied. He poked his head around the door and peered inside. Mr. Shaw was
sitting in his easy chair, listening to music. “Would—would you come to my baseball game with me?”

Mr. Shaw grinned and snapped off the radio. “Best offer I've had all day!” he said.

By the time they made it to the baseball diamond, the game had already begun. Turtleneck helped Mr. Shaw find a seat, then
ran over to the dugout.

Coach Parker looked surprised to see him.

“Rudy and Nick told me you weren't feeling well, T,” he said. He raised an eyebrow. “Looks like you recovered. Grab some pine.”

Turtleneck hesitated for a moment. The only open spot on the bench was next to Nick.

I wonder if he's still sore at me, Turtleneck thought.

As if he could read his thoughts, Nick looked up at Turtleneck and grinned. “I think I can squeeze you in over here,” he joked
as he pointed to the space beside him. “Glad you could make it, T.”

Turtleneck sat down with a laugh and replied, “Well,
someone
has to get the chatter started.” He cupped his hands around his
mouth and yelled, “C'mon, Mudders!” The rest of the team echoed his cry with encouraging yells of their own.

The High Street Bunkers hadn't scored any runs in their turn at bat, so the score was still 0–0. T.V. Adams was up first for
the Mudders in the bottom of the first inning. He faced Alec Frost, the Bunkers' pitcher. Alec had a fastball that could whiz
by a batter in the wink of an eye.

But T.V.'s eyes never left the ball on the first pitch. He sent the ball flying far into the outfield for a solid single.

Nick Chong was the next batter. He took a couple of practice swings, then stepped into the batter's box. Alec's fastball sizzled
toward him.

“Strike!” the umpire yelled.

“C'mon, Nick, you can do it!” Turtleneck cried.

Nick adjusted his batting helmet and got ready for the next pitch.
Crack
! He belted a
hot grounder that advanced T.V. to second. Nick made it to first safely.

Alfie Maples, the quiet right fielder, took two balls, then popped out. Bus Mercer was up next. He looked ready for anything
Alec Frost had up his sleeve.

Alec reared back and threw. A wild pitch! Bus barely had time to jump out of the way. After three more pitches, Bus walked.

Bases loaded and only one out. Rudy Calhoun stepped into the batter's box.

Three swings later he stepped out again. Two outs.

Rudy walked back to the dugout. 'Turtleneck punched him lightly in the shoulder.

“Shake it off, man,” he said. “You'll get another chance to hit.” But I wonder if I'll get a chance to hit this game, he added
silently.

Rudy smiled weakly and turned to watch Sparrow Fisher bat.

Sparrow took his time waiting for the right
pitch. He took a ball and two strikes before he swung at the fourth pitch.

Crack
! He hit a line drive between second and third. The ball just missed the shortstop's glove. T.V. made it home.

Mudders 1, Bunkers 0. Two out, bases loaded—and Barry McGee, the Mudders' strongest hitter, was at the plate.

Barry let the first pitch go by for a called strike. Then he swung with all his might at the second pitch. Bat connected with
ball and sent it soaring over the outfielders' heads. A home run!

The Mudders' fans cheered loudly. Turtleneck could hear Mr. Shaw yelling with the others.

José Mendez struck out to end the inning. Mudders 5, Bunkers 0.

The second, third, and fourth innings went scoreless for both teams. The Mudders were getting ready to take the field when
Coach
Parker called Turtleneck and Jack Livingston over.

“Jack, you've played a good game,” he said. “Now I'm going to give Turtleneck a chance. Don't let me down, T.”

Turtleneck took a deep breath and replied, “I won't, Coach.” To himself he added,
I hope
.

Turtleneck headed to first base. As he passed by the stands he saw that Mr. Shaw was smiling. I wonder if he knows I'm on
the field, Turtleneck thought.

Then Mr. Shaw yelled, “C'mon, Theodore—Turtleneck! Show 'em what you're made of!”

Turtleneck pounded his fist into his glove. Okay, Mr. Shaw, he thought with determination. I'm going to do my best!

The infield threw the ball around the bases a few times to warm up. Turtleneck felt a little better each time the ball landed
safely in his glove.

Sparrow Fisher hurled the first pitch. The batter belted a hot grounder straight to Bus and took off for first. Bus scooped
up the ball. He turned and threw it hard to Turtleneck.

Turtleneck stretched out his glove. The ball zoomed toward him. Closer, closer—
thud
! He caught it in the webbing of his mitt for the first out.

Cheers rose from the stands. Turtleneck tossed the ball back to Sparrow. He glanced over at Bus. But Bus was already waiting
for the next batter.

Is he still mad at me? Turtleneck wondered. Then he shrugged and got ready, too.

The second batter went down swinging, but the third slugged the ball into the outfield for a double. Two outs, and a man on
second.

“Okay, team, here we go!” Coach Parker yelled from the dugout. “The throw goes to first for the last out! Let's make it count,
now!”

Turtleneck had butterflies in his stomach.
What if he couldn't catch the throw?

Sparrow threw a fastball. The Bunkers' batter swung hard and sent the ball down the first-base line. Turtleneck reached his
glove out to snag it.

The ball hit a stone and took a crazy bounce. It shot up toward his face! Turtleneck jerked his head to one side just before
the ball hit him. It landed in the grass behind him. There was a groan from the crowd as he ran back to retrieve it. The batter
was safe at first.

Turtleneck was shaken. How could he muff such an easy out? Worse yet, what would he have done if the ball had hit him?

Turtleneck's mind was racing. Then he heard a voice yelling his name.

“Turtleneck! Don't let it bother you! Shake it off, man!”

The voice belonged to Bus Mercer. Amazed, Turtleneck turned to look at him.

Bus was watching, concerned. When he
saw Turtleneck look over, he gave him the “thumbs up” sign. Then he turned his attention back to Sparrow.

Turtleneck didn't know what to think. Then he took a deep breath. He tried to take Bus's advice and “shake it off.” He bent
down and waited for Sparrow to pitch.

Crack
! A line drive straight back at Sparrow! But instead of snagging the ball for the last out, Sparrow ducked. The ball flew
over his head, took one hop, then landed smack in Nick Chong's glove.

Toe on the bag, Turtleneck reached out to catch Nick's throw. It came straight at him—fast.

Thud
! Something hit him in the chest. For a split second Turtleneck thought he'd dropped the ball. Then he heard cheers. He looked
down and saw he was cradling it in his glove against his chest.

Three outs and the Mudders were still up, 5–0.

The Mudders headed for the dugout. Turtleneck hesitated, then sat down between Bus and Nick in the dugout.

Bus was quiet for a second. Then he cleared his throat. “T, I feel awful about the other day. It was all my fault. I didn't
look to see if you were ready to catch my throw—I just threw it.” He dug his toe in the dirt. “I should have said something
sooner. Are you feeling okay now?”

Before Turtleneck could answer, Sparrow came and sat next to Nick. “Great snag, Nick. You saved the play! I don't know what
came over me. I saw that ball coming and I thought for sure it was going to hit me.” He thumped Turtleneck on the back and
grinned. “And we all know what happens when you get hit by a ball!”

Bus shot a sideways glance at Turtleneck.

Turtleneck was silent for a moment. Then, with a muffled laugh, he pretended to faint. He collapsed at Nick's feet and lay
still.

Everyone started laughing. Coach Parker rushed over to see what was wrong. Turtleneck scrambled to his feet.

“Well, T, you certainly seem to be back into the swing of things. Now let's see if the swing is back in you!” He handed him
a bat.

“Yes, sir!” said Turtleneck.

He trotted to the on-deck circle and took a few practice swings. He was just about to step into the batter's box when he heard
a yell from behind him.

“Hey, Turtleneck! Think quick!”

Turtleneck dropped the bat and spun around quickly. He caught the protective helmet Nick had tossed to him. Nick laughed.

“Nice to have you back, T,” he called from the dugout.

Turtleneck just grinned and picked up the bat.

Okay, Alec Frost, he said to himself. Throw that ball as hard as you can. I'm ready!

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