The Diamond Champs Read Online Free PDF

catching a grounder. It would certainly seem obvious to the coach, but do you think he'd make a change? No. It seemed
     that he had a special reason for playing Eric there.
    The Steelheads had first bats, and Roger started off the game with a hot grounder through short. Larry bunted him to second.
     And Nick, after fouling two pitches to the backstop, cracked a two bagger that scored Roger. Anyone else except heavy-footed
     Nick might have stretched the hit into a triple.
    A. J. went down swinging, and Jack popped out to second—1 - 0, Steelheads.
    The Blue Jays threatened to score when they got two men on base with two hits, but strong defensive plays after that kept
     the runners from scoring.
    It wasn't until the fourth inning that the Steelheads' bats began pounding out hits again. A. J. got a triple with two on,
     and then scored on Jack's smashing single over short. Jo kept up the rally with a double, and then scored on Moe's streaking
     hit over the third-base bag. Five runs crossed the plate before the Blue Jays managed to stop them—6 - 0, Steelheads.
    The kids were happy, but the coach was even happier.
    “With that lead we should coast,” he said, a tone of merriment in his raspy voice. “But we won't. We're not going to take
     a single chance of losing.”
    The team nodded as a unit. Kim met Doug's eyes.
Well, do you still thinkhe's some sort of crook
? they seemed to ask.
    I'm still not sure
, Kim wanted to reply.
    The Blue Jays picked up a run in the bottom of the fifth and two in the bottom of the sixth. But the three runs weren't enough.
     The Steelheads took the game, 6 - 3.
    “Nice playing, gang!” Coach Stag praised the team. “Let's keep it up! We'll win the championship if you play as you did today.
     I know we will.”
    “Is there practice tomorrow, Coach?” Jo asked.
    “Yes. But not on Monday,” replied the coach. “We've got two games next week. I'm hoping that we won't have to practice in
     between games anymore.”
    Jo's eyes shone. “I wouldn't care,” she said. “I love it!”
    “So do I,” admitted Nick.
    From the pleased looks on the faces of the other players, Kim was sure that noneof them minded the practices either, even though the practices were usually tougher than the games.
    “It will depend, though,” said the coach. “If we start losing, we will practice. So let's keep winning. Okay, see you tomorrow.”
    Mr. Rollins walked home with Kim and Eric. This was the second game he had attended, and he seemed impressed by the Steelheads'
     showing.
    “You kids played real well,” he said. “I'm surprised, though, that Coach Stag didn't have you all play.”
    “He's got a system of his own, Dad,” explained Kim. “His lineup is different for each game, but there are no substitutions.
     Anyone who doesn't play in one game will play in the next.”
    His father shrugged. “That is different, all right.” Then he chuckled, and added, “Watching you kids play makes me realize
     how time flies. I only know a few of the kids on your team, but I used to play with theirfathers. Know what that means? I'm getting old, man!”
    “What position did you play, Mr. Rollins?” Eric asked.
    “Right field.”
    “The same as me,” said Kim.
    “Hey, that's a coincidence,” said Eric, wide-eyed with surprise. “I play third, and my dad used to play third.”
    Kim looked at him. “Is your father left-handed like you are?”
    “No.”
    “Lars?” Mr. Rollins chuckled. “He was definitely right-handed, and one of the best third basemen in northern New York. I've
     never seen anyone who fielded bunts as he did, nor who could throw as hard. If he were able to hit as well as field, he would've
     gone up to the big leagues.”
    Eric grinned. “My mother used to say the same thing, Mr. Rollins,” he said proudly.

8
    T HE STEELHEADS WON THE
next two games, beating the Herons and the Magpies for a record of four wins against three losses.
    “We're getting there,” said Coach Stag.