The Away Game Read online

  To Alexandria. The world is yours.

  —R.H. & K.H

  CONTENTS

  TITLE PAGE

  DEDICATION

  LETTER

  CHAPTER 1: AN HONOR

  CHAPTER 2: FACING THE FEAR

  CHAPTER 3: RHINO’S NEW SKILL

  CHAPTER 4: BASEBALL JOKES

  CHAPTER 5: DEALING WITH THE NERVES

  CHAPTER 6: EXTRA HOT

  CHAPTER 7: A ONE-RUN MARGIN

  CHAPTER 8: SHEDDING THE BLUES

  CHAPTER 9: BREAKFAST SURPRISE

  CHAPTER 10: A SLUGFEST

  SNEAK PEEK

  PREVIEW

  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

  COPYRIGHT

  * * *

  Dear Reader,

  I was just about Little Rhino’s age the first time I spent a night away from home for a baseball tournament. I was filled with excitement and anticipation as I packed my bags for my overnight adventure. I was nervous because I wasn’t going to have my family around. Would I get homesick? But at the same time, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to spend a night away from home in a hotel with all of my teammates. I was excited to play my favorite sport in a stadium I had never visited. I remember packing a ton of snacks, a deck of cards, and my baseball gear.

  As I got older and made it to the minor and major leagues, I was never nervous to travel. I was curious to see what each city had to offer. History was one of my favorite subjects in school, so exploring the cities on an off day or before I had to report to the ballpark made traveling even more fun. Every field was a little different. Every team had its own style. I enjoyed staying in hotels with my teammates because they felt like family to me. We would hang out, eat together, and really get to know each other. It still is one of my favorite parts of the game!

  * * *

  Rhino! Rhino! Rhino!”

  Little Rhino glanced at his teammates, who were standing inside the dugout fence, chanting his name. He nodded, but tried hard not to smile.

  Rhino gripped his bat and strode to the batter’s box. He took a couple of easy swings and glared at the pitcher. The pressure was on!

  Bases loaded. Two outs. The Mustangs trailed by two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. This was their last at bat.

  The Bears’ pitcher squinted as he read the catcher’s signals. Then he leaned forward and fired a sizzling fastball. It looked wide, and Rhino let it go by.

  “Strike!” called the umpire.

  “No batter!” yelled the infielders.

  “Let’s go, Rhino,” shouted Bella, taking a lead off second base.

  Rhino tapped his bat on the plate. The crowd was on their feet, cheering.

  “Ball,” said the umpire as the catcher leaped high to grab the next pitch.

  First place in the league was on the line in this game, and the showdown between Rhino and the pitcher was shaping up to be a classic. Rhino led the league with five home runs, and the Bears pitcher had the best record.

  Rhino had belted a two-run homer in the first inning, but he’d struck out twice since then. The Bears had played steady baseball all season. Rhino’s Mustangs had come into the game on a hot streak, with five wins in a row. Whichever team won today would be in first place.

  Rhino took a quick look at the other base runners: Carlos on third base and Dylan on first. Both were bouncing on their toes, ready to sprint.

  Their teammates in the dugout chanted again. “Rhino! Rhino!”

  Here came the pitch. Rhino took a massive swing.

  The Bears yelled as the catcher safely caught the ball.

  “Strike two!”

  Rhino’s thinker told him to relax. You’ve been in pressure situations before. Just meet the ball.

  Rhino looked out at the scoreboard in center field. BEARS 7, MUSTANGS 5.

  He took a deep breath.

  Whack! Rhino felt his muscles surge as he clobbered the next fastball. The ball streaked toward the scoreboard, but Rhino didn’t watch it. He raced to first base as the crowd whooped.

  Rounding first, Rhino saw the Bears’ center fielder watching helplessly as the baseball flew over his head for a home run. Rhino leaped with both hands up as he stamped on second base, then continued running.

  The Mustangs won. They were in first place!

  Carlos, Bella, and Dylan waited for Rhino as he ran toward home. They pounded his back and yelled as the rest of the Mustangs ran from the dugout.

  “Two blasts!” shouted Bella. That was a first. Rhino had never hit two homers in one game before.

  The Bears’ pitcher looked glum as the teams shook hands.

  “Great game,” Rhino told him.

  “Nice hit,” the pitcher mumbled. “But we’ll get you next time.”

  “Good luck until then,” Rhino replied. “Keep that arm loose.”

  Coach Ray gathered the Mustangs in the dugout. “I’m very proud of this team,” he said. “Winning six straight games is tough. But what I’m most proud of is your hard work and sportsmanship.”

  Rhino clapped and the others joined in. “Thanks, Coach,” he said. “You’re a great leader.”

  Bella nudged Rhino with her elbow and smiled.

  “Winning today gives us a real honor,” Coach said. “Since we’re in first place, we’ll be representing our league in a special tournament next weekend. It’s an exhibition, so it won’t affect how we’re doing in this league. It is basically a practice game. But it will be an exciting trip and gives us a chance to test ourselves against some very strong teams.”

  Wow, Rhino thought. That sounds like a Major League honor. He couldn’t wait.

  Coach told the players that he’d understand if not everyone decided to make the trip. They’d be traveling by bus to the state capital and staying overnight in a hotel. If they won their first game, they’d play in the championship game the next day.

  Rhino gulped. Two nights in a hotel? Away from C.J. and Grandpa James? Rhino had never slept anywhere except Grandpa James’s house. Not even for a sleepover at his best friend Cooper’s. And Rhino’s brother, C.J., was always there with him.

  “This will be so great,” Bella said to Rhino as they left the dugout.

  Rhino nodded. That was easy for Bella to say. Her father would be along for the trip. Coach Ray was her dad.

  Rhino felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Dylan’s wise-guy smile.

  “Another great win, huh?” Rhino said.

  Dylan shrugged. “Of course. But we’ll see how well you do in the big-time tournament next weekend,” he said. “Things are different at the capital. Intense competition.”

  Dylan was always trying to stir up trouble. Just ignore him, Rhino’s thinker said. “How would you know?” Rhino asked.

  “I’ve been in plenty of big sports events,” Dylan said.

  “Like what?” Rhino replied. Dylan didn’t have any more experience than Rhino did. They were both playing on a real team for the first time this season.

  “Too many to name,” Dylan said.

  “Name one.”

  Dylan changed the subject. “Be sure to bring your teddy bear,” he said. “Being away from home overnight is going to be scary. For you.”

  “Why should I be scared?” Rhino asked. He was feeling uneasy about it. But he wasn’t going to let Dylan know that.

  “Believe me, you’ll be afraid,” Dylan said. “No big brother around. No grandfather.”

  Rhino started to walk away. “Get lost, Dylan. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Yeah, lay off,” Cooper said, stepping over. He jutted his head toward the gate. “Let’s go, Rhino.”

  “Great homer,” Cooper said when they were out of Dylan’s earshot. “And great news: My dad is going on the trip with us.
You and I can room with him at the hotel.”

  That made Rhino feel a little better. Cooper’s father was always kind and supportive to him.

  Then Rhino had an idea. Maybe Grandpa James could be there, too! Having Grandpa along would make it the best trip ever.

  Rhino felt that same surge of excitement he’d felt when he hit the game-winning homer. “State capital, here we come!”

  Rhino ran all the way home. He couldn’t wait to tell Grandpa James about the trip. And about his two home runs!

  “Grandpa!” he called as he hurried through the back door. “Wait until you hear!”

  Grandpa James caught Rhino in a bear hug and laughed. Rhino told him the news. “Cooper’s dad is coming along,” he said. “Can I go? Can you be there, too?”

  Grandpa poured Rhino a glass of milk. “First of all, congratulations on the game,” he said. “And of course you can go on the trip. You’ve worked very hard in baseball, and in your schoolwork. So you’ve earned it.”

  Rhino smiled. “What about you?”

  Grandpa patted Rhino’s shoulder. “Next Saturday evening is C.J.’s science fair,” he said. “I’d love to go to your tournament, but I promised your brother weeks ago that I’d be at the fair.”

  “Can you drive to the tournament after?” Rhino asked.

  Grandpa smiled. “I don’t think so. The capital is nearly three hours away. We would get there very late at night.”

  Rhino rubbed his chin. “I guess I’ll be okay,” he said softly.

  “Sure you will,” Grandpa said. “But it’s up to you. If you’d rather stay home, I’ll understand. And so will your coach. He phoned me last night.”

  “He did? So you knew about the tournament before I did?”

  “Of course,” Grandpa said. “Coach Ray didn’t want to tell the players before today’s game. But he needed to make sure the parents knew. I told him I believed you’d want to play, but that it would be your decision.”

  Rhino stared at his glass of milk. He did want to play. And he certainly didn’t want his teammates to think he was afraid to spend a night away from home. Dylan would never let him hear the end of that!

  “Think it over,” Grandpa James said. “But you’ll need to make a committed decision by Monday. Once you decide, there will be no changing your mind.”

  Rhino nodded. His thinker told him to be brave. This will be fun! And what a great chance to show your skills against the best players in the state.

  “I’m going,” Rhino said firmly. “I’ll be okay.”

  “I know you will,” Grandpa said. “You’ve done a lot of things to be proud of this spring. This will be another one, no matter what happens in the tournament.”

  Rhino felt better. He finished his milk and made himself a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich. His favorite meal!

  When C.J. came home, he and Rhino went out to the yard to have a catch. C.J. was in seventh grade—four years ahead of Rhino. He’d been playing on sports teams for several years, and was the starting shortstop for his middle-school team.

  “I heard about the tournament,” C.J. said. “I wish I’d had an opportunity like that when I was your age!”

  “It’ll be very cool,” Rhino said. But he didn’t sound as enthusiastic as before.

  “I’m sure it will,” C.J. said. “Something bothering you?”

  C.J. fired a high throw and Rhino had to leap for it. Rhino nabbed the ball, spun around, and tossed it back.

  “Nice grab,” C.J. said.

  Rhino caught another throw. He tossed it high in the air. C.J. circled under it and made the easy catch.

  “So?” C.J. asked.

  Rhino shrugged. “The games don’t worry me,” he said. “But …”

  “Being away from home does?”

  “A little.”

  C.J. nodded. “I was ten the first time I did an overnighter,” he said. “A year older than you are. Remember? I went camping with Robert’s family.”

  “I think so.” Rhino threw a hard grounder and C.J. scooped it up.

  “I was so excited about it,” C.J. said. “Fishing, hiking, cooking hot dogs over the fire. It was going to be so cool.”

  “Wasn’t it?” Rhino caught the ball and held it. He took a few steps toward C.J.

  “It was,” C.J. said. “All those things were great. We set up a couple of tents right on the shore of the lake. The moon was full that night and you could hear a million crickets chirping, and every once in a while a fish would jump. It was cool.”

  Rhino frowned. “So you weren’t scared at all?”

  C.J. laughed. “I didn’t think I was. Then Robert and I crawled into our tent. He fell asleep in about two seconds. I just laid there, thinking about how far away I was from Grandpa James. I’d never slept in any house but this one. What if something happened? What if a bear came by, or I got lost in the woods somehow?”

  “So you were scared.”

  “I was petrified.” C.J. nodded toward the back steps, and he and Rhino sat down. “After about a half hour I woke Robert up. Not to tell him I was scared. I made up some excuse, like I needed a snack.”

  Rhino laughed. “What did he do?”

  “He rolled over and went back to sleep. So I grabbed a snack. I had a candy bar in my knapsack. That helped for a minute.”

  Rhino’s thinker told him to remember that. Bring snacks!

  “Every sound made me more scared,” C.J. said. “I opened the tent flap and looked out. It was dark, but I could see shapes in the moonlight.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah.” C.J. pounded his fist into his mitt. “I just watched the lake for a long time. And I remember thinking, ‘Robert’s parents are right there in the other tent.’ I started to feel safer. And it was a beautiful night. I was never not scared that night, but it got easier. Sooner or later I fell asleep. Before I knew it, morning arrived.”

  “It always does, huh?”

  C.J. put his arm around Rhino’s shoulder. “Every time,” he said. “So, enjoy the tournament. Don’t complicate things by worrying about being away from home. You’ll get through that. Just like I did.”

  The Mustangs were excited but nervous at practice that week. None of them had ever played in a game outside of this league.

  “There’s enough pressure here, where we know everybody on the other teams,” Bella said to Rhino as they tossed a ball around before practice began. “What will it be like on Saturday against a team from another part of the state?”

  “Fun, I hope,” Rhino said. “We’re a good team. We’ll do fine.”

  The game didn’t worry Rhino at all.

  “This tournament will be a big step for us,” Coach Ray said. “We need to be very sharp, so let’s work on our fielding skills.”

  Rhino jogged to first base. It was one of the toughest positions in baseball, and he was proud to play there. This baseball field was beginning to feel like his second home.

  Coach Ray stood near Rhino, just behind the base. “Let’s work on catching the ball,” he said.

  Rhino nodded. But I’m good at catching the ball, he thought. He’d only dropped one all season.

  Coach smiled. “You look confused, Rhino. What I mean is, let’s think about how to stand, depending on who’s throwing it to you.”

  Rhino wasn’t sure what Coach meant.

  “You’ve been off-balance a few times in the games,” Coach continued. “Remember in the fourth inning the other day? You had to lunge way over on that throw from Cooper.”

  “I remember,” Rhino said. “But I did catch it.”

  Coach waved Rhino aside and stepped onto the infield. “Watch me,” he said.

  Coach threw the ball to Sara at third base. Then he ran to the bag and faced her, waiting for the ball to return. Sara’s throw was a little wide, but Coach reached it easily, keeping his foot on the base.

  “Keep watching,” Coach said. He bounced the ball to Cooper at shortstop, then to Carlos at second base. Coach made the easy catches b
oth times.

  “Notice anything?” Coach asked.

  Rhino shrugged. “You did everything right. You didn’t stretch way out unless you had to. Kept your foot on the base.”

  “Right,” Coach replied. “Just like we’ve been working on all season. Anything else?”

  Rhino shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

  “Watch again,” Coach said. He threw the ball to Sara at third.

  “Now watch my shoulders,” Coach said. He made the catch and turned to Rhino. He held up his hand and pointed at Sara like an arrow. “See how my shoulders were squared up with her?

  Coach went through the same routine with throws from Cooper and Carlos. He turned to face the thrower directly each time.

  “Whoever is throwing the ball to me, I want my shoulders squared up to him or her. The middle of my chest is facing straight at that player.”

  “I get it,” Rhino said. Another new skill, his thinker told him. Learning to play first base was hard, but little by little he was becoming a standout.

  “Try it,” Coach said.

  Rhino took throws from each of the infielders. Square up, he told himself each time. It was easy to remember.

  “Batter up!” Coach called.

  Bella batted first.

  “Just make contact with the ball,” Coach said. “We don’t need home runs today, just solid hits and nice, steady throws.”

  Rhino bounced up and down a few times, then got in his fielding stance.

  Bella smacked the ball hard, just to the side of second base. Carlos fielded it and pivoted, then fired the ball toward Rhino.

  Rhino faced Carlos. From the corner of his eye he could see Bella sprinting toward the base.

  Carlos’s throw was high and way off line. Rhino reached across but couldn’t get to it without leaving the base. He made the catch, but Bella was safe.

  “Good hustle, Bella,” Coach said. “And good work, Rhino. You did what I said, and you kept the ball in play.”

  Bella grinned at Rhino. “Too quick for you,” she said.

  The next batter lined the ball toward shortstop, and Cooper grabbed it on one bounce. Square up, Rhino thought. He made the catch easily.