The Hit-Away Kid Read Online Free

He carried the bat halfway down the baseline before he tossed it aside
     and ran around the bases. He heard the fans yelling and could hardly resist the temptation to turn and look at Alec and see
     the expression on his face.
    But he didn’t look. He didn’t have to. He had gotten what he needed. A home run. All he needed was one more. But it’s not
     thateasy, pal, he told himself. He’ll pitch differently to you the next time. He might even strike you out. You’re still in deep
     trouble no matter how you look at it.
    The cheers stopped after the guys slapped fives with Barry and he sat down near the end of the dugout. Zero, who had also
     scored, sat beside him. Then Susan came and sat on his other side, giving him a big smile. “That was beautiful,” she praised
     him.
    “Thanks,” he said. She was nice to him, but he knew she’d never forget the fly he had missed in last week’s game.
    Turtleneck doubled, putting him in a position for another run. But José struck out on a two-two pitch, ending the top half
     of the inning and giving Alec his fourth strikeout. He’s really hot today, Barry thought worriedly as he picked up his glove
     and trotted out to left field.
    Dick Strom, leading off for the Bunkers, drove a hot liner between Turtleneck and Sammy that went for two bases. Barry fielded the ball and whipped it to third to keep Dick from running there. Then Judd singled,
     driving in Dick.

    “Close to the foul line, Barry!” T.V. yelled at him, motioning him over as Dave Apple came to the plate.
    Dave blasted a long fly to deep left that went foul by inches, but Barry caught it for an out. Good ol’ T.V.! Barry thought.
    Zero walked Jake Jacoby, and Fuzzy popped a fly to short. Then Ron Bush walked, and Tony grounded out to shortstop for the
     third out. Mudders 2, Bunkers 1.
    Only Bus managed to get on base in the top of the third inning, and that was because of an error by the shortstop. Then Alec
     led off for the Bunkers and lambasted Zero’s first pitch for a homer over the center-field fence. It was, Barry thought, probably
     the longest hit he’d ever seen there.
    Andy Campbell kept it rolling by crackingout a single. Dick walked. Judd popped up. Then Dave doubled to right center field, scoring two more runs. Zero fanned Jake
     for his first strikeout but walked Fuzzy. Ron singled over short, scoring the Bunkers’ fourth run. Then Tony laced a grounder
     to Bus, which Bus fielded for the third out. Mudders 2, Bunkers 5.
    They’re really rolling, Barry thought, still worried as he and the rest of the Mudders trotted off the field to start the
     top half of the fourth inning. Alfie hit a hard one down to shortstop, which Fuzzy missed. Then Zero singled over short for
     his second hit, sending Alfie to second.
    And Barry came up.
    “Barry!” called the coach.
    Oh, no! Barry thought as he glanced down toward the third-base coaching box. He’s not going to take me out, is he?
    “Look those pitches over carefully,” Coach Parker advised, clapping his hands softly.
    Barry nodded, took a deep, relieved breath, then stepped into the batter’s box. The first pitch was slightly low and inside.
     Barry let it go by.
    “Strike!” said the ump.
    Barry and the tall guy in the white pants and shirt exchanged looks. Then Barry got ready for the next pitch. It came steaming
     down the middle of the plate, and Barry swung.
    Crack!
A shallow drive to deep left center field!
    Barry dropped the bat, raced to first … to second … to third …
    He missed touching second base, but he couldn’t stop now. He kept going.

10

    Barry saw Coach Parker holding up his hands as he came running in to third base, and he stopped there, breathing hard and
     sweating. He took off his helmet and cap and wiped the sweat off his forehead. Then he looked directly at the coach and nervously
     wondered, Did he see me miss second base? Did the umpire see me?
    The coach was smiling. “Nice hit, Barry,” he