“Can I try again?” Rhino asked.
“That’s enough sliding for you today,” Coach said. “No more until the game. Let’s make sure that ankle stays in tip-top shape.”
Rhino took another turn playing first base. They were successful in making the double play about half the time.
“That’s it for today!” Coach Ray called. “Great workout. Time to enjoy the party.”
They walked to the picnic tables near the field and sang “Happy Birthday” to Bella. Her mom had set it up with tablecloths and cupcakes. She had hot dogs cooking on a grill.
Bella smiled when she unwrapped the gift from Rhino. “The Big Book of Planets,” she read from the cover. “Maybe now I can keep up with you at lunchtime!”
Rhino licked some chocolate cupcake frosting from his finger. “I’m way ahead of you,” he said.
“You probably memorized the whole book,” Bella said. “But I’ll learn. I’m a Fact Patrol member, too.”
All of the players had nice gifts for Bella. Even Dylan gave her a box of chocolates.
Rhino loaded up a hot dog with mustard and relish. Cooper had so much cupcake in his mouth that he couldn’t talk. Paul was making a big stack of potato chips, stuck together with ketchup. Even small, quiet Carlos was joking about one of his wild throws that soared over the fence.
This is a great thing about baseball, too, Rhino thought. Being part of a team. He had made several new friends this season.
Baseball was even better than he’d hoped it would be.
Rhino ran all the way to the field on Saturday morning. He had so much energy that he knew he wouldn’t get tired out.
Watch out, everybody, he thought. Here comes Number 6!
“Our team is complete again!” Bella yelled when she saw him.
“Nobody can stop us now,” said Cooper.
Rhino slapped hands with Carlos. He gave Paul a high five. During warm-ups, he caught every ball that came his way. During batting practice, he lined several pitches into the outfield.
He was excited! The Mustangs were facing the Tigers for the second time this season. The Tigers had a fast pitcher named Chang, but Rhino had hit a game-winning home run the first time. He couldn’t wait to get up there again.
But Rhino was shocked to discover that he wasn’t in the starting lineup.
“I’m not sure you’re ready to play a full game,” Coach Ray told him. “You’ll get in there later, but let’s take it slow.”
Paul looked toward the sky. “I hoped I’d never see first base again,” he said. He laughed and walked onto the field.
“I’m ready, Coach,” Rhino said softly.
“I know,” Coach replied. “But let’s play it safe for one more game.”
Stay patient, Rhino’s thinker told him. But it was hard.
The Mustangs were locked in another tight game. They were tied 1–1 in the third inning. The Tigers had two outs. Rhino knew he would start playing in the fourth inning, so he began to stretch.
Dylan walked two batters in a row. “Settle down!” Rhino called.
The next batter hit Dylan’s first pitch high over the fence in center field. Home run. Suddenly, the Tigers had a 4–1 lead.
After a groundout ended the inning, the Mustangs trotted quietly to the dugout.
“Let’s show some spirit!” Rhino yelled. “We’ll get those runs back.”
Dylan threw his glove onto the bench and sat down in a huff.
“Is your arm okay?” Coach asked him.
Dylan stared straight ahead for a moment. He sighed. “It’s kind of tired, I guess. A little bit sore.”
“No problem,” Coach said. “We’ll move you to shortstop. Cooper will pitch.”
“What about me?” Rhino asked.
“You’ll pinch-hit for Paul if he gets to bat this inning,” Coach said. “Then you can go in at first base.”
Paul was scheduled to be the Mustangs’ fourth batter. As long as someone got on base, Rhino would bat in his place.
“Guess I’m finally done at first base,” Paul said.
“You handled it great,” Rhino replied. “Nice work.”
Dylan drew a walk with two outs, and Rhino stepped toward the plate. He thought about the home runs he’d hit earlier in the season.
But he also thought about what happened last time he batted in a game. Pain!
That was two whole weeks ago, his thinker told him. The ankle’s healed! Just connect with that pitch.
He went over the things Grandpa and C.J. had told him. Step straight ahead. Swing smoothly.
“Let’s go, Chang!” yelled the shortstop.
The Tigers’ pitcher narrowed his eyes and stared at Rhino. He was tall, and he pitched with a quick, overhand release.
The first pitch looked great to Rhino. It was a little high and a little outside, but it was straight and not very fast.
Rhino swung hard.
The ball smacked into the catcher’s glove.
“Strike!” called the umpire.
Rhino wiggled his toes. How did I miss that? He took a practice swing and got ready.
The next pitch was inside and faster. Rhino leaned back as it went by.
“Strike two!”
The Tigers cheered and pounded their gloves. Rhino tapped the plate with his bat. He couldn’t let another close pitch get past.
Whoosh. His swing hit nothing. The Tigers ran off the field. Rhino walked slowly to the dugout to get his glove.
“Three seconds,” came a steady voice. Rhino looked up to see Grandpa James in the bleachers. They both smiled. The three-second rule meant that you could feel bad about a mistake for that long, but then you had to get over it.
“Keep your head up,” Coach Ray told him. “You’re just a little rusty.”
Rhino nodded. He ran to first base and threw a ball to Carlos.
Cooper pitched very well and didn’t allow any runs. But the Mustangs still trailed, 4–1. They needed a rally. In the sixth inning, they started one.
Cooper singled. Bella did, too. When Dylan drew another walk, the bases were loaded for Rhino.
It was easy to do the math. A home run would win the game. Grand slam, Rhino thought. Bash that ball and make it happen.
But his thinker knew better. Just connect, it told him. Any hit will bring in some runs.
The pitcher glared at Rhino. Rhino glared back.
The pitch was fast and straight down the middle.
Crack! Rhino was running as soon as the ball left his bat. It dropped into the gap between left field and center, and rolled all the way to the fence.
Cooper scored. Bella did, too. Dylan rounded third and raced toward home as the shortstop caught the throw from the center fielder.
“Slide, Dylan!” yelled a Mustang.
Rhino kept running.
Dylan slid and a cloud of dust flew into the air.
“Safe!” yelled the umpire.
Rhino dove into third base. The game was tied. Everyone else was on their feet, yelling and jumping.
Rhino stood, too. He took a deep breath and wiped the dirt from the front of his jersey. His work wasn’t done yet.
Carlos came up to bat. He was an excellent fielder, but he didn’t have many hits this season.
Just put it in the outfield, Rhino thought. I’ll score.
Carlos popped the first pitch high into the air. The first baseman ran toward it, but it drifted into foul territory.
Carlos put some power behind the next one. It flew in the air into right field. Rhino kept one foot firmly on third base. Since there were no outs yet, he could run as soon as the ball was caught. It would be a race against the throw. If he scored, it would mean a win for the Mustangs.
The outfielder caught the ball. Rhino put his head down and pumped his arms, sprinting with all of his speed.
The cheering from the crowd rose in one giant “Ohhhhhh!”
The catcher squatted squarely in front of home plate. Here came the ball! Here came Rhino!<
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He heard the smack of the ball in the catcher’s glove. He felt the plate a half a second before he felt the tag on his leg.
“Safe!” was the call.
The catcher groaned.
Rhino leaped up. His teammates were racing toward him.
Back in business, Rhino thought. He flexed his ankle and it felt great.
The hugs from his teammates felt even better. The Mustangs had won again.
Little Rhino stepped up to home plate. He gripped the bat tight. The breeze in the treetops sounded like the crowd at a Major League Baseball game. He imagined that the bases were loaded.
Hit this one out of the park, he told himself.
Rhino glared at the pitcher. Here came the ball!
With a hard, steady swing, Rhino connected. The smack of the bat against the ball sent a thrill through his body.
“Nice hit!” said Grandpa James with a smile.
Rhino smiled back. He dropped the plastic bat and watched as the ball flew over the tall hedge. He’d hit it out of the backyard! Rhino had never hit one that far before.
Grandpa pitched to Rhino every day after Rhino’s homework was done. “Books first, baseball second” was the rule in their house. Rhino always raced home from third grade, had a snack, and did his work. Then he changed into shorts and an oversized jersey, grabbed his bat and glove, and met Grandpa in the yard.
“You’re really hitting them now, Rhino,” Grandpa said. Rhino’s real name was Ryan but everyone except his teachers used his nickname. “Better get that ball before it rolls all the way to Main Street!”
Rhino laughed. He knew the ball hadn’t gone that far. It was just a plastic one—not like the real MLB baseball they used for playing catch. He hit with a plastic one because a real one might break a window. That would be bad.
Rhino trotted out of the yard. He stopped cold when he saw Dylan on the other side of the street. Dylan was tall and thin and always looked mean. He was holding Rhino’s ball.
“Looking for this?” Dylan said with a sneer. “Come and get it, wimp.”
Rhino gulped. Dylan was the meanest kid in third grade. He teased everyone and often got into fights. Dylan acts tough, but he’s not, Rhino’s thinker said. Grandpa James would always point to his head and say, “Your thinker is there to think the things you can’t say out loud.”
Still, Dylan was bigger than Rhino. He was always sneering, his glasses sitting crooked on his face, and his stiff blond hair stood up on his head, making him look even taller.
“Come on over,” Dylan said. “Come get your baby ball.”
Rhino looked back. The leafy hedge blocked Grandpa’s view. Rhino couldn’t return to the backyard without the ball. He swallowed hard and walked across the street.
Rhino reached for the ball. Dylan held out his hand, then pulled it away. Rhino reached again. Dylan twisted and waved the ball over his head.
“Give me the ball,” Rhino said. Inside his head, his thinker added, You big bully.
Dylan held the ball out again. “Take it,” he said.
Rhino put his hand on the ball. Dylan wouldn’t let go.
“Let me have it,” Rhino said. This is why you have zero friends, Dylan, he thought. You’re nothing but a bigmouthed bully.
“Just take it,” Dylan said. But he gripped the ball harder.
Rhino frowned and squinted his brown eyes. He pulled the ball, but Dylan just laughed. He was stronger than Rhino.
Rhino heard Grandpa’s voice from the yard. “Rhino?” he said. “Is everything all right?”
Dylan looked surprised when he heard Rhino’s grandfather. He yanked the ball away, then threw it at Rhino. It hit Rhino’s chest and fell to the street. Rhino scooped it up.
Dylan was walking away fast. Rhino had never seen Dylan back down from something before. He didn’t look back.
Rhino stepped into the yard. Grandpa James had come closer to the hedge. He raised his bushy eyebrows but didn’t say anything.
Rhino felt shaky. He didn’t like uncomfortable situations. If Grandpa hadn’t been there, Dylan might have started a fight. Or he might have kept the ball.
“Ready to hit some more?” Grandpa said. He gripped an imaginary bat, flexing his arm muscles, and making a powerful swing. Grandpa had always been very fit and athletic.
Rhino slowly walked back over to Grandpa. “I think I’ve had enough for today,” he said softly.
“Really?” Grandpa asked. “You usually want to hit until it gets dark out.”
Rhino shrugged. “I guess I’m tired.” He felt embarrassed because Dylan had picked on him and Rhino didn’t get a chance to stand up for himself. He had let his thinker do all of his arguing, and then his grandfather showed up. Grandpa James probably heard the whole thing.
Grandpa put his hand on Rhino’s shoulder. “Three seconds,” he said.
Grandpa had taught Rhino the “three second rule.” When you’re angry or feeling bad about yourself, take three seconds to be upset. Then remember how great you are.
Rhino let his shoulders drop. He blew out his breath.
“Let’s do some throwing,” Grandpa said. He picked up a hardball and watched Rhino grab his glove off the lawn.
“Sounds good,” Rhino said. After a few throws he felt better.
Grandpa tossed the ball high in the air. Pop flies like those were the hardest ones for Rhino to catch. The daylight was fading. Rhino set himself under the ball and watched as it reached its highest point. The ball seemed to hang in midair for a second. Then it dropped. Rhino made the catch.
“Nice one,” Grandpa said.
Last month, when they’d started practicing baseball, Rhino almost never caught a pop fly. Now he grabbed them every time.
“You’ve made a lot of progress,” Grandpa said. “Everything takes time and practice. Catching pop-ups. Hitting the ball.”
Rhino nodded. Then he remembered the clash with Dylan. He stared toward the hedge and replayed the conflict. I should have told him to get lost, he thought.
“Everything takes time, Little Rhino,” Grandpa said again. “Even dealing with a bully.”
Bring it on, Little Rhino thought.
Baseball season was here! Rhino and his teammates had been practicing for two weeks. Finally, Saturday’s game would be for real.
Rhino hit a game-winning home run in the Mustangs’ practice game a few days earlier. He’d also made a great catch in center field. He felt confident. He was ready. Today’s practice session was the last one before the opener.
“I’m going to smack another homer,” Rhino said. “My new bat is awesome.”
The bat was a gift from Grandpa James. He had surprised Rhino with it that morning. “You earned this,” Grandpa said. Rhino had received excellent grades on his latest progress report. He worked just as hard in the classroom as he did on the baseball field. Rhino was so happy. The bat felt perfect when he swung it—almost like it was part of his body. It was the right weight and length for him, and it cut smoothly through the air.
The day was warm and sunny. Rhino pulled off his sweatshirt. He untucked his baggy white T-shirt out from his shorts. The team didn’t practice in their uniforms. Then Rhino wrapped his hoodie around the new bat he had with him and set it on the dugout bench. He and his best friend Cooper were the first players to arrive at the field, as usual.
“Let’s catch, Rhino,” Cooper said. “We need to warm up.” “Rhino” was the nickname that everyone called him, even though his real name was Ryan.
They tossed a ball back and forth. Coach Ray and his daughter, Bella, arrived a minute later. Other players started to trickle in, too. They were all wearing their bright blue caps with the big M for Mustangs.
Bella trotted over and winked at Rhino. “Hey, Cooper,” she said, flipping her brown ponytail. “Mind if we switch? I need to work with my outfield partner.” Bella had played right field in the practice game.
“Sure,” Cooper replied. He looked around for someone else to throw
with.
Bella punched her glove and said, “Fire it here, Rhino.” She had her cap on backward.
After everyone had warmed up, Coach started a drill. “We need to develop quick hands,” he said. He had one player in each group send a fast ground ball to the other.
“Field it cleanly, then release it fast,” Coach said. “A quick throw can make the difference between an out and a base runner.”
They worked on that for several minutes, then Coach sent the starters out to their positions. It was time for batting practice. “Play it like a real game,” Coach said. “Run out every hit. You’ll all get plenty of chances to swing the bat today.”
Rhino sprinted to center field. He was so excited that he hopped up and down, waiting to make his first catch of the day.
He didn’t wait long. The first batter looped a soft fly ball over the head of the second baseman. It looked like it would drop for a single, but Rhino darted after it.
The ball hung in the air just long enough for Rhino to get under it. He reached out his glove on the run and made the catch, then tossed the ball back to the pitcher.
“Incredible speed,” said Bella, who had run over to back him up. “No one’s going to get a hit if you’re out here!”
Rhino blushed. What’s up with Bella lately being all nicey nice? He trotted back to his position.
He caught another fly ball and fielded two grounders that got through for singles. Then Coach waved the three outfielders in to bat.
Rhino put on a helmet and grabbed his new bat. He stood with Bella while their teammate named Carlos took his turn at the plate. Carlos was the smallest player on the team but he was a good fielder.
“Nice bat,” Bella said to Rhino. “Brand-new?”
Rhino nodded. “It’s the best bat,” he said. He handed it to Bella for a look.
“Too heavy,” Bella said.
“It’s just right for me,” Rhino replied.
Rhino studied the pitcher. Dylan was a wise guy and often a bully, but he was a good athlete. He’d given Rhino a hard time early in the season, but lately he minded his own business.
Dugout Hero Page 4
