Hardball

by Steven Barwin

  I shook off the numbness in my arm. I headed toward the homerun derby and started to stretch.

  “You okay, Griff?”

  “Yeah, I think so.”

  I turned to see my dad with a huge grin on his face. “So, looks like my son’s going to be playing for the Hurricanes next year!”

  I smiled back. “Hope so.”

  “Hope? Trust me, you’re a guarantee.”

  I took a high five from him, glad he was excited for me.

  Carson jogged to a stop. “Hi, Uncle Ted.”

  “How you doing, Carson?”

  “Good.”

  “Don’t let me stop you boys. I’ll be in the stands.”

  Carson hit first, smoking line drives, one after the other. After his ten pitches he was all smiles.

  “Looks like you were never gone.”

  “Can’t tell you how good that felt. Thanks, coz.”

  “What did I do?”

  “Griff, you cleared my name, got me back on the Sharks…”

  “Oh, that. You’re welcome.”

  Carson laughed and handed me the bat. “You’re up.”

  I took the bat and stepped in front of the pitching machine. My eye was on the ball, but my mind was reeling with the events of the last few days. I took a deep breath. With this whole Wade thing taken care of, I could focus on doing my best. Maybe even lead this team to the playoffs.

  The first ball came in high, and I smacked it over second base. I sent the next pitch way up into the outfield. My next hit had a nice arc and dropped deep over first base. Number four could’ve been better, but I was riding high. It felt great to have such a heavy weight lifted off my shoulders. Five, six and seven were hit low and hard. In a game, they all would’ve gotten me on base. Eight came in low, and I stretched for it. It was a line drive and I could’ve taken somebody’s head off with it. I swung hard

  at the ninth ball. It had legs but started to drift foul. The tenth didn’t stand a chance. I got all of it, finding its sweet spot. Maybe lifting all those golf bags at the club was paying off.

  I was surprised when I saw it going for the fence. I lifted my bat into the air and watched as the ball carried over and landed in Lake Wade.

  Acknowledgments

  Southwest Florida, with its endless beaches, golf courses and relaxed atmosphere, has been my home away from home for many winters. My family has always allowed me time to explore and piece together scenes and plots for my stories. Their support continues to be invaluable.

  To Amy Collins, my editor, who helped me to sharpen the characters, boost the conflicts and flesh out the themes. Thank you.

  To the Orca team, thank you for supporting the development of novels that are high-interest, engaging, and fun to read and write.

  Steven Barwin is a middle-school teacher in Toronto, Ontario. He is the author of Hurricane Heat in the Orca Sports series and several Lorimer Sports Stories novels, including Fadeaway, Rock Dogs, SK8ER and Icebreaker, which was chosen as a Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens selection. For more information, visit www.stevenbarwin.com.

  Titles in the Series

  orca sports

  Above All Else

  Jeff Ross The Drop

  Jeff Ross

  Absolute Pressure

  Sigmund Brouwer Edge of Flight

  Kate Jaimet

  All-Star Pride

  Sigmund Brouwer Fly Away

  Nora Rock

  Blazer Drive

  Sigmund Brouwer Flying Feet

  James McCann

  Boarder Patrol

  Erin Thomas Gravity Check

  Alex Van Tol

  Break Point

  Kate Jaimet Hardball

  Steven Barwin

  Chief Honor

  Sigmund Brouwer Haze

  Erin Thomas

  Cobra Strike

  Sigmund Brouwer Hitmen Triumph

  Sigmund Brouwer

  Crossover

  Jeff Rud Hurricane Heat

  Steven Barwin

  Dawn Patrol

  Jeff Ross Hurricane Power

  Sigmund Brouwer

  Dead in the Water

  Robin Stevenson Jumper

  Michele Martin Bossley

  Kicker

  Michele Martin Bossley Thunderbird Spirit

  Sigmund Brouwer

  Maverick Mania

  Sigmund Brouwer Tiger Threat

  Sigmund Brouwer

  Oil King Courage

  Sigmund Brouwer Titan Clash

  Sigmund Brouwer

  Paralyzed

  Jeff Rud Topspin

  Sonya Spreen Bates

  Powerslide

  Jeff Ross Two Foot Punch

  Anita Daher

  Razor’s Edge

  Nikki Tate Underhand

  M.J. McIsaac

  Rebel Glory

  Sigmund Brouwer Venom

  Nikki Tate

  Scarlet Thunder

  Sigmund Brouwer Winter Hawk Star

  Sigmund Brouwer

  Sidetracked

  Deb Loughead

  Slam Dunk

  Kate Jaimet

  Squeeze

  Rachel Dunstan Muller

  orca sports

  For more information on all the books

  in the Orca Sports series, please visit

  www.orcabook.com.