Next was Dave, looking focused and dangerous. Derek was impressed, proud that his friend had been named the Tigers’ cleanup hitter. Derek had worked with him on his game a lot, and Dave had sure come a long way in two years! When he’d first arrived in Kalamazoo, he’d had barely any baseball experience.
Dave lined one into the second-base hole. It looked like a sure hit—but Avery dived for it, snagged it on the short hop, checked the runner back to third, and flicked it to Derek at second. In stride he threw on to first, just in time to complete the double play!
A huge cheer erupted from the Yankees players and fans. The players practically ran back to the bench, excited to go on offense, and thrilled that the Tigers hadn’t scored on what looked like a sure hit!
The cheer was matched by the moans from the Tigers side of the field. Dave, deprived of an RBI, walked slowly back to the bench, with a sad smile on his face. He pointed to Avery as he went. “Nice play!”
She pointed back at him, acknowledging the compliment.
“You too, Derek!” Dave added, pointing at him.
Derek touched the front of his cap as he sat down on the bench.
“Let’s go!” Coach Stafford urged his team. “Make him throw strikes. We’ve got to run up his pitch count so he hits his limit early!”
Derek could tell Coach K didn’t think the Yankees could score off Brad.
We’ll see about that, he thought.
One thing was sure—in order to hit Brad’s pitches, they had to believe they could.
Derek, for one, believed he could hit anybody—especially if he’d already seen them once.
But did the rest of the Yankees believe?
They did take more pitches in the second inning, making Brad throw a bunch, but it didn’t result in any base runners. Avery pounded the head of her bat into the ground when JJ struck out to end the frame, stranding her in the on-deck circle.
She would have had an at bat this inning, Derek knew. But because she’d shown up late, the coach had had to pencil her in at the last minute, and stuck her in the seventh slot instead of her usual fifth in the order. No wonder she was so frustrated.
Harry fared better in his half of the second. He did give up a single with two outs, but he put up another zero. And that was ultimately what mattered now.
Avery led off the third. The pitcher stared in at her for a really long time. Then he threw one inside that made her jump out of the way.
Some of the Yankees booed. Derek didn’t think Brad was trying to hit her, just scare her—which was well within the rules—except he hadn’t pulled that on any of the hitters who weren’t girls.
Avery got right back in there, determined to show him she wasn’t afraid. When she lined the next fastball right back at him, it was Brad’s turn to duck out of the way! The ball sizzled straight into center field for the Yankees’ first hit of the game!
“WOO-HOO!” Avery yelled as she rounded first, clapping her hands. “Let’s go!”
Unfortunately for the Yankees, giving up a hit to a girl seemed to make Brad angry—and his pitches even nastier. Vijay ducked out of the way on a called third strike. Tre’ popped up to the catcher on a wicked changeup.
With two outs Mason hit a soft grounder down the line. But by the time the first baseman fielded it, Mason was already past him!
“SAFE!” called the ump.
Derek came up, with two out and two on, determined to have a better at bat this time. Brad started him off with a changeup, but Derek didn’t bite. He worked the count to 2–1, then fouled off six straight pitches. He took another ball, fouled off three more pitches, and finally hit a screamer to second.
The fielder got his mitt on the ball, but it scooted a few feet away, and everyone was safe! Bases loaded!
Pete came up, taking some ferocious practice swings. “Easy… easy,” Derek said under his breath, hoping Pete could read his thoughts.
But Pete was determined to hit one out of the park. He swung through two fastballs, then popped a changeup weakly back to the mound, leaving three Yankee runners high and dry.
Derek felt it like a punch to the gut. He could only imagine how Avery felt, with her stomach already hurting.
She sure wasn’t letting on. Derek saw her kick the dirt as she got her mitt and headed out to second, as silent as the grave.
He sure hoped she was okay—that she’d be all right after this. Maybe it would have been better for her health if she hadn’t played, but for his sake and the team’s, he was sure glad she was out there right now!
Harry ran into trouble in the bottom of the third. He walked the leadoff man, who stole second when a pitch got away from JJ. When the next hitter walked, Coach K came trotting out to the mound to calm Harry down.
It seemed to work. He struck out the next batter, and then up came Brad again, with Dave on deck.
With a sweet swing, Brad hit a long fly to center. Mason caught it, but both runners tagged up and advanced on the play.
Could have been worse, thought Derek. Second and third with two out, and once again Dave coming to the plate in a critical spot.
Dave swung at the first pitch and lined it over Derek’s head.
Derek leapt—and came down with it!
Dave let out a yowl and put his head in his hands. Once again he’d been foiled by his best friend! And the Yankees had avoided doom by the skin of their teeth.
Dave looked at him and shook his head. Derek could see the frustration on his face, but Dave cared enough to give Derek his props with a pointed finger.
That made twice this game, Derek thought with satisfaction—though he wished it hadn’t been
