by Joe Jackson
The Cougars went on a rampage after the Red Sox defeat, winning five straight games, and pushing away from the pack in the American League. With the regular season more than half over, the league standings showed the Cougars two and a half games ahead of the second place Bulldogs, with eight games left.
The Giants in the Springdale National League were far ahead of the other three clubs in their four-team league, undefeated in nine starts and looking to clinch their pennant soon.
With the regular season schedule winding down, the Cougars began preparing for another meeting against the second place Bulldogs. The Bulldogs had won three straight and were not yet willing to concede the American League pennant to the Cougars.
Coach Anderson started Cris Martinez against the Bulldogs because Josh Miller had worked against the Red Sox three days before and had thrown exactly eighty-five pitches, so he could not pitch at all. The league ruling was that a pitcher could not work again until he had four days full rest after throwing so many pitches. Tyrone’s mother had volunteered, before the very first game, to record the pitch count for the Cougars and was very serious about it.
Matthew Davis said before the game got under way, “If we beat these fellows once more we’re practically in, and I don’t see how we can help but beat them.”
“Let’s not talk that way,” Michael warned him.
“All right,” the redhead said, grinning. “We beat them twice, already, didn’t we?”
“Today’s another day,” Michael observed, “and the Bulldogs know they have to stop us if they want to stay in the race. Besides, have you ever heard of the revenge factor? Their focus will catch up with our cockiness if we are not careful.”
“They have about as much chance of winning as they do of stopping a freight train,” Davis said. “We’ll roll right over them.”
In the first inning, they looked as if they were ready to roll. Hitting the Bulldog pitcher freely, they chalked up four runs, including a Tyrone Johnson home run with a man on base.
“That’s it,” Davis said, laughing as he raced out to third, the Bulldogs coming in for their turn at bat.
The first Bulldog dropped a bunt down the third-base line, catching Davis sleeping. He grinned sheepishly as he picked up the ball after fumbling it a few times.
“He’ll die there, Cris,” he told the pitcher. “Don’t worry about him.”
The next Bulldog pushed a bunt down towards first base and both Tyrone Johnson and Cris Martinez went after it. On a bunt to first, Michael needed to race over from second and cover the bag for Tyrone, but he was not paying attention either. Because first base was not covered, both runners were safe.
Cris Martinez looked at Coach Anderson on the bench and Michael could see that Cris was worried. He walked the next man to fill the bases and then the Bulldog clean-up batter doubled off the right field fence, scoring all three runners. He scored later on another single to right center field. The score was now tied 4 to 4, with no outs and a man on first.
Coach Anderson came out to talk with Cris Martinez while the Bulldogs whooped it up in their dugout. Cris stayed in the game, worked hard on the next batter, and got him to hit a roller down to third.
Davis stormed in fast to pick up the slow roller and let it go through his legs. The next batter hit a high fly to Jake Jones and Jake got under it like a big leaguer, and then lost the ball, which allowed the fifth run to cross the plate, putting the Bulldogs in the lead.
It was 5 to 4 at the start of the second inning and Michael could see the worry and concern on the faces of the Cougars as they sat in the dugout. They had thought themselves to be unbeatable, yet the Bulldogs were kicking them around as if they were the last-place Eagles.
The Cougars went down in one-two-three order and the Bulldogs next at bat chased Cris Martinez off the mound with two hits, then an error by Andy Wilson. Andy let a hard grounder go through his legs with two runners on base and both runners scored, the batter going to third. It was now 7 to 4, Bulldogs on top. Willie Brown came in, but Willie threw a home run ball to the Bulldogs clean-up hitter and it was 9 to 4, just like that.
“Let’s get started,” Michael called worriedly.
They were having trouble getting started. The Bulldog pitcher was very effective after the first inning, for the Cougars could not get any runners past second base.
It was 11 to 4 for the Bulldogs in the fifth with only one inning remaining. Coach Anderson called for that big rally in the fifth, but it was the Bulldogs who rallied, chasing four more runs across the plate, making the score 15 to 4 and it stood that way when the final Cougar out was made.
A soundly whipped Cougar squad left the field, none of them with anything to say. It was not a game lost because of bad breaks or because of a single misplay. The whole team had played poorly and the Bulldogs had played well.
“One of those things,” Coach Anderson said, trying to be cheerful about it. “We had a bad night. Next week we will do better. We are still in first place.”
Looking at the Cougar coach, Michael had the peculiar feeling that Coach was happy because of the loss. He did not say that, but it was in his body language.
“Every club has one bad game in its system,” Coach Anderson tried to tell them. “Now, we have gotten rid of ours.”
On the way home with his father in the car, Michael mentioned his observation and Mr. Smith said quietly,
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Coach Anderson was glad you lost, Michael.”
“What?” Michael gasped.
“You boys were getting too arrogant and cocky,” Mr. Smith told him. “You were beginning to think nobody could beat you. Why even the best team in the big leagues loses many ball games over the course of a season? I think Coach Anderson realized your arrogance and cockiness and felt you needed an adjustment. You will all play better ball next week. Just hide and watch.”
“I hope so,” Michael muttered. “We really would like to go to the play offs. Dad, can you imagine us going to Williamsport and playing in the Little League World Series?”
“The Cougars didn’t look like a World Series contender this evening,” his father said with a smile. “However, you do have a fine young team. I think you’ll get back in stride pretty quickly.”
They did get back in stride three days later, with Josh Miller on the mound, against the lowly Eagles. A quiet, subdued, and grim Cougar team took the field. They made no errors all evening. It was the first time since the season opened that they had played a perfect game in the field.
At bat they scored eight times as Josh shut out the Eagles with three hits for an 8 to 0 victory. They were still in first place and the following evening the Red Sox whipped the Bulldogs, helping the Cougars to consolidate their hold on the top rung in the standings. With two-thirds of the games played of the scheduled eighteen, the Cougars now had a two game lead on the Bulldogs and it seemed safe.
However, the Cougars were not yet a complete team that played together as one should. Matthew Davis and Carlos Rodriguez had nothing to do with each other. Rodriguez did not care for Josh Miller. Davis had no use for Ethan Moore, even though Ethan was developing into a very fine fielder and hitting consistently.
Jake Jones was jealous of Tyrone Johnson because Tyrone was challenging him for the league home run crown. Both boys had hit six home runs each as the end of the regular season approached. Then Jake hit two home runs against the Red Sox as the Cougars soundly trounced Dusty Taylor’s team by a 12 to 3 score; later Jake clinched the title with another home run against the Bulldogs in the final league game, giving him the home run championship and the Cougars the pennant.
Michael said to Willie Brown on the evening they won the pennant,
“How far do you think we will go, Willie?”
Willie shook his head. “Hard to say,” he smiled. “We have to beat the Giants of the Springdale National League and then we go to the district tournament and then to the sectional tournament and then the regional tournament…”
“
Wait a minute,” Michael said. “Let’s keep the Giants in mind first.”
That same evening after they won the pennant, Coach Anderson had hesitatingly asked Michael about his parents letting the team use their basement or patio for a pennant victory celebration the following night.
“My place isn’t big enough,” Coach Anderson explained. “Of course I’ll bring all the party favors; you know the soda pops, the hamburgers, the ice cream, and cake. You think it will be alright?”
Michael grinned. “My Mom and Dad already discussed it with me,” he said. Then remembering Coach Anderson’s old car and the kind of clothes coach wore he said, “Of course you’re not supposed to pay for the anything, coach. I think most of the fathers…”
Coach stopped Michael right there, shaking his head vigorously. “My team,” he stated. “This party is on me, Michael.”
The party was a huge success, with all of the parents turning out for it except Josh Miller’s folks, who were out of town. Josh was present however, and seemed to unwind in his parent’s absence.
Andy Wilson’s father called upon coach for a speech as they were cutting the big cake. Coach Anderson said a few words, red-faced, fumbling, telling the parents what good kids they had and how he hoped they would go far in the tournament playoffs.
While watching the tall, gaunt, homely man speak to the crowd, Michael got emotional. He remembered how he felt when he learned Coach Anderson had picked him for the Cougars instead of Dusty Taylor for the Red Sox.
Ethan Moore’s father, the tailor, was there. Mr. Garcia, the restaurateur and Carlos Rodriguez’ father, a banker, talked it up. Tyrone Johnson’s father was sitting at the end of the couch, shy, aloof, and alone, but only for a moment. Mr. Smith went over and introduced himself, breaking the ice, and making him feel right at home. You could tell both men were proud of their boys.
Mr. Garcia, a short, chubby, shiny-faced man, made a speech, saying how wonderful it was that this Cougar team of kids was bringing together so many adults from all over town to an affair like this. He offered his sincere appreciation for the celebration.
Michael watched Coach Anderson sitting in the corner, smiling, taking it all in. Coach Anderson, who did not have a family, had found one here with this Little League team. He looked very happy.
PLAYOFFS BEGIN
