“Keep making the pitcher work!” Coach Stafford told his troops. “We’ve got to make this inning his last!”
Harry got them started, running up a full count before swatting a clean double down the left field line. Ryan followed by working a walk.
The pitches were starting to pile up for Brad, but he didn’t seem any the worse for wear. His pitches were still whistling in, faster than a speeding bullet.
JJ couldn’t stand up to those fastballs, and after battling for seven pitches, he went down swinging. Then up came Avery.
Derek saw Brad dig in extra deep, wanting more than anything else to show up this girl, who’d had the nerve to embarrass him by getting a hit off him!
He buzzed her again on the first pitch—but if he thought that would scare Avery, he had no idea who he was dealing with. She edged even closer to the plate and hit the next pitch so hard, it glanced off the first baseman’s glove and bounced six feet away from him!
It became a footrace to first between Avery and Brad, who was hustling over to take the throw. They got there at the same time and collided! Avery went flying into foul territory, while Brad fell the other way, dropping the ball!
“Safe!” cried the ump. “Everybody’s safe!”
Avery got up, dusted herself off, and yelled “YEAH!” looking straight at Brad, who certainly wasn’t going to apologize. It might have been a rough play, but it was a clean one, and they both knew it.
Bases loaded now, with only one out. Vijay swung at the first pitch and hit a pop foul that the Tigers’ catcher caught easily.
Now it was up to Tre’. He took two strikes, then stroked a looper down the left field line! Derek thought for sure it would drop in for a double—but Dave launched himself into the air, reached out to the full extent of his tall frame, and made the leaping catch!
Derek groaned in agony, along with all his teammates and the Yankees’ fans.
This was too much! How many men had they left on base already? Derek knew scoring chances didn’t grow on trees.
He took a moment to point to Dave. “Great play, man.”
Dave smiled. “Now we’re even.” He blew out a deep breath, as if to say, Some game, huh?
Incredibly, the game was still scoreless. But it didn’t stay that way for long.
Chapter Sixteen FIGHT TO THE FINISH
Harry had stood tall on the mound for three straight innings, but he’d spent a lot of pitches doing it. He worked the first hitter to a 3–2 count—with the two strikes being long drives that fell just foul.
Not wanting to walk the leadoff man, Harry then grooved a so-so fastball, right down the plate. The hitter pounced on it, driving it to right center for a ringing double!
Derek saw his two coaches talking in low voices, looking over at Harry. They had to be deciding whether to pull him now or leave him in. In the end, they stayed with him.
It turned out to be the wrong move. Harry fell behind in the count again, then had to throw one over the middle. The batter hit it on the nose for another double—scoring the first run of the game!
Harry kicked the dirt, disgusted with himself. It was just one run, but this late in the game, it felt like they were down ten runs, not one.
“Hang in there, Harry!” he shouted. “Let’s go!” No way was Derek going to let his team go down in defeat—not without a fight!
Harry was tiring, that much was obvious. But the coaches kept him in there, hoping their best pitcher could stop the bleeding.
Sure enough, Harry rallied to strike out the next man for the first out of the inning.
Facing the Tigers’ number eight hitter, Harry got ahead in the count, 0–2. “Come on, Harry!” Derek shouted. “No batter, no batter!”
Harry nodded, pulled the bill of his cap down over his eyes, reared back, and threw. The hitter sent a ground ball the opposite way. It wasn’t hit hard, but it was placed perfectly between Avery and Ryan. It skittered between them into right field, and the Tigers’ second run scored!
Coach K practically ran out to the mound—as if it weren’t already too late. “Mullins!” he called, motioning for her to take the mound.
As the downcast Harry walked to the bench, Coach K handed Avery the ball. “You okay?”
She nodded vigorously, staring into space, in a world of her own.
“Okay, kid. It’s showtime.” He clapped her on the back and headed for the dugout, shaking his head.
Avery blew out a big breath, then toed the rubber, staring in at the catcher. She wound up, then fired a fastball over the inside corner.
The hitter backed away, but the ump yelled, “Strike one!”
Avery took the return throw and got right back onto the rubber. She was breathing hard, all intensity and fire. The next pitch was a changeup, and the hitter swung early, catching only air.
“Strike two!” the ump called.
The Yankees fans were cheering their hearts out, but the players behind Avery didn’t make a sound. They were all holding their breaths.
Avery fired a fastball, high and outside. Protecting the plate with two strikes, the hitter reached for it, and hit a grounder straight to Derek. He flipped to second for one, and the throw to first was in plenty of time to complete the double play.
Inning over!
“YAAAAAHHHH!” Avery screamed, pumping her fist repeatedly as she marched back to the bench, still staring straight ahead.
Derek grinned and shook his head in admiration. He liked to think of himself as an intense competitor. But Avery? She took the cake!
“Okay, team, let’s get those runs back!” Coach K shouted, clapping his hands in encouragement.
Mason was up first—top of the order—and Derek was optimistic. They had the right guys up to start a rally.
Even better, the Tigers had a new man on the mound.
Thank goodness! Derek thought. He
