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  “How is he, Chico?”

  “He was talking to me,” said Chico.

  “Good! Here, let me have him.” Coach Day put his arms around String’s shoulders. “String! Are you all right?”

  String turned his head. His eyes opened. “I guess I swallowed a lot of water, Coach. My stomach feels full.”

  Coach Day smiled. “We’d better get you to a doctor, String. From what Buddy told us, that was quite a long fall.”

  “Chico saved my life, Coach,” said String. “He dived in after me. That took a lot of nerve, Coach. You know it?”

  15

  The doctor could find nothing seriously wrong with String, except that he suffered slightly from shock. However, he advised that String be sent to a hospital.

  String stayed in the hospital only a day. He was told, though, that he should rest for a week. During that time the Royals played two games. They squeezed a win over the Bombers, 8 to 7. Then they started off round three with a loss to the Braves, 5 to 2.

  Chico got a hit in each game. He felt he was getting back in stride.

  On August 3, the Royals played the Colts. With String back on first base, the Royals were their old selves again. But no, thought Chico. Something was different from before.

  The Colts pounded Frankie’s pitches, but a Royals man was always there to catch the ball. Their defense was like a brick wall.

  The fans gave String a rousing cheer when he stepped to the plate. There were two men on. It was a good chance to score.

  String took two strikes, then went down swinging. Ground balls to short and first ended the Royals’ threat. The Colts were playing well defensively, too.

  The innings went on without a score. The game turned into a pitchers’ duel. Several men from both teams got on bases, but tight playing kept them from scoring.

  In the fifth, the Colts started to build some momentum. The first batter singled, then stole second. Then Frankie threw a hook that went wild. The runner raced to third.

  “Let’s settle down!” yelled Coach Day.

  String and Dutch Pierce walked to the mound to talk with Frankie. They returned to their positions and started a steady flow of infield chatter.

  Out in left field, Chico watched the batter closely. Here was a strong hitter, he remembered. He didn’t hit the ball very high, but low and hard.

  Crack! A smashing hit to left. It sailed over third baseman Dutch Pierce’s head in a long clothesline drive.

  Chico moved back. The ball was coming like a bullet. It was going over his head!

  He leapt. Plop! He had it!

  The runner on third tagged up and made a beeline for home. The way the game was going, that run could mean plenty. It could win the ball game.

  Chico reared back and pegged the ball in as hard as he could. It went over Dutch’s head and bounced once. Then Dale caught it at the plate and tagged the runner.

  “You’re out!” yelled the umpire.

  The Royals fans stomped on the bleachers and screamed.

  “Beautiful peg, Chico!” Dutch called.

  “Thataway, Chico!” String shouted from first. “Great arm!”

  Chico glowed with pride.

  The next man grounded out, and the inning was over.

  With one out and no men on, String came to the plate. This time he cut hard at the first pitch and struck it solidly. Even as the ball sailed far and high, everybody knew just where it was going.

  Over the fence! A home run!

  The Colts’ momentum was gone, and their final at-bat was scoreless. The game ended, 1 to 0.

  The whole Royals team crowded around String and Frankie. They happily pounded their backs and shook their hands. String’s smile stretched from ear to ear.

  Then he saw Chico. He came forward and put an arm around Chico’s shoulders.

  “Boy, Chico!” he said. “You really threw that apple! It was perfect!”

  “Thanks,” said Chico, smiling. “You really hit that apple!”

  “Thanks, Chico. Look, after you change clothes and eat, come over to my house, will you? I have something I want to ask you.”

  Chico nodded. “Okay!”

  He knew now what was different from before. It was String.

  At home Chico took off his uniform, washed, put on clean clothes, and ate. All the while he wondered why String wanted him to go to his house.

  It was almost twilight when he left. He met Buddy on the way, and Buddy went with him. Chico didn’t think String would mind.

  “Hi, Chico. Hi, Buddy,” said String as he opened the door for them. “Come on in.”

  The boys sat in the living room. String left the room for a minute. When he returned, he was wearing a brand-new bathing suit. He grinned sheepishly.

  “I don’t have anything to give you to thank you for saving my life, Chico,” he said plainly. “In fact, I’m going to ask you for something.” He took a deep breath and blurted out, “Will you teach me how to swim?”

  Chico gazed at him solemnly. “Okay, but I want something in return.”

  String and Buddy looked at him with surprise. “You do?” String said.

  “Yes,” Chico replied. He broke out in a big smile. “I want you to teach me how to hit with that long yellow bat! Next season, I want to put one over the fence like you do!”

  String and Buddy laughed out loud. “It’s a deal!” String said. “I’ll meet you at the ballpark first thing tomorrow morning. But now you guys scram. I feel like an idiot standing around here in my bathing suit!”

  Still laughing, Buddy and Chico headed for home.

  Things are working out just fine, thought Chico happily. Just fine.

  Matt Christopher®

  Sports Bio Bookshelf

  Muhammad Ali Mario Lemieux

  Lance Armstrong Tara Lipinski

  Kobe Bryant Mark McGwire

  Jennifer Capriati Yao Ming

  Jeff Gordon Shaquille O’Neal

  Ken Griffey Jr. Jackie Robinson

  Mia Hamm Alex Rodriguez

  Tony Hawk Babe Ruth

  Ichiro Curt Schilling

  Derek Jeter Sammy Sosa

  Randy Johnson Venus and Serena Williams

  Michael Jordan Tiger Woods

  THE #1 SPORTS SERIES FOR KIDS

  MATT CHRISTOPHER®

  Read them all!

  Baseball Pals Dive Right In

  Baseball Turnaround Double Play at Short

  The Basket Counts Face-Off

  Body Check Fairway Phenom

  Catch That Pass! Football Fugitive

  Catcher with a Glass Arm Football Nightmare

  Catching Waves The Fox Steals Home

  Center Court Sting Goalkeeper in Charge

  Centerfield Ballhawk The Great Quarterback Switch

  Challenge at Second Base Halfback Attack *

  The Comeback Challenge The Hockey Machine

  Comeback of the Home Run Kid Ice Magic

  Cool as Ice Inline Skater

  The Diamond Champs Johnny Long Legs

  Dirt Bike Racer The Kid Who Only Hit Homers

  Dirt Bike Runaway Lacrosse Face-Off

  Line Drive to Short ** Slam Dunk

  Long-Arm Quarterback Snowboard Champ

  Long Shot for Paul Snowboard Maverick

  Look Who’s Playing First Base Snowboard Showdown

  Miracle at the Plate Soccer Duel

  Mountain Bike Mania Soccer Halfback

  No Arm In Left Field Soccer Scoop

  Nothin’ But Net Stealing Home

  Penalty Shot The Submarine Pitch

  Prime-Time Pitcher The Team That Couldn’t Lose

  Red-Hot Hightops Tennis Ace

  The Reluctant Pitcher Tight End

  Return of the Home Run Kid Top Wing

  Roller Hockey Radicals Touchdown for Tommy

  Run For It Tough to Tackle

  Shoot for the Hoop Wheel Wizards

  Shortstop from Tokyo Windmill Windup

  Skateboard Renegade Wingm
an on Ice

  Skateboard Tough The Year Mom Won the Pennant

  All available in paperback from Little, Brown and Company

  BASEBALL FLYHAWK

  What’s the first baseman got against Chico?

  Chico Romez is new to the Royals baseball team. All the players welcome him and his ability in the outfield — all the players except one, that is. String Becker, the first baseman and most popular member of the team, seems to have it in for Chico. He yells at Chico for committing foolish mistakes, snubs him on and off the field, and worst of all, makes fun of Chico’s love of diving and swimming. What will it take for Chico to prove himself to String?

  Matt Christopher is the name young readers turn to when they’re looking for fast-paced, action-packed sports novels. For a listing of all his titles, please see the last pages of this book.

  * Previously published as Crackerjack Halfback

  ** Previously published as Pressure Play