Long Stretch At First Base Read online

  Tony took a called strike. Then two balls. Then he blasted an inside pitch to left field that looked sure to be a hit. The Mustangs left fielder came in fast, caught the ball near his shoelaces. The fans for both teams cheered. That was one of the best catches of the year.

  Jerry Echols walked. Cappie drove a hot liner through the pitcher’s box, sending Jerry all around to third. But Bert, who had replaced Bobby, popped out to short. Three outs.

  As Tony started for first, Mr. Barrows called to him. “Come back, Tony. Kirby’s taking over at first. Nice game, boy.”

  Bobby wished that he was out there now. He could throw ’em anywhere with Kirby playing first.

  Kirby caught a high peg from Mark, then made a put-out himself when he caught a fast-hopping grounder and stepped on the bag. He sure looked good — better than Tony, thought Bobby. The next Mustangs hitter went down swinging.

  The Redbirds squeezed across a run in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and two men on, Kirby came to the plate.

  Hit it! Bobby whispered to himself. Hit it, Kirby! Those scouts were watching. Kirby had to hit.

  Crack! A single through short! He did it!

  Another run scored and the game was tied up again!

  “All right, Kirby!” screamed Bobby, drumming his feet on the dugout floor. “You did it!”

  The Mustangs held them scoreless the rest of the inning.

  In the sixth, the Mustangs lead-off man singled. A bunt put him on second. Then a sharp drive through the pitcher’s box scored the run and broke the tie.

  The Redbirds tried hard to tie the score again, but the Mustangs held on to their lead like a hungry dog to a bone. They carried off the win, 6-5.

  Every member of the team felt a little downcast. All except Bobby. He was not especially hurt. What he wanted to know was: Who would be picked on the All-Star team? Kirby or Tony?

  That night he found out. The telephone rang at eight-thirty. Mrs. Jamison answered it.

  “Bobby, it’s for you,” she said.

  Bobby stared. “For me?” His hand shook nervously as he took the receiver from her. “Y-yes?” he stammered.

  “Bobby? This is Curt Barrows. Got some nice news for you. You and Tony Mandos were selected to play in the All-Star game at Cooperstown. Congratulations!”

  “Me and Tony?” Bobby’s heart pounded.

  “That’s right. You and Tony. I’ve already told him. See you at the next game, kid.”

  Bobby hung up as if he were in a dream. He sat down, gasping for breath. He could hardly believe it. Me and Tony, he thought. Me and Tony.

  But why wasn’t it Kirby?

  “Who was that?” asked Kirby. He was standing in the doorway.

  “What are you so white for?” asked Ann. She was sitting in a chair across the room.

  Bobby wet his lips. “Tony and I were picked on the All-Star team,” he said, still half numb from the news.

  A smile crossed Kirby’s face from ear to ear. “Just what I figured,” he said. “I knew you’d get it. I knew it all the time.”

  Bobby stared. “But you’re the one who should have been picked! Not me or Tony!”

  Kirby shook his head. “Not me. Tony’s a lot better ballplayer than I am. So are you. I had a hunch all the time that you and Tony would be picked. Guess I was right.”

  Bobby’s eyes stung with tears. Kirby wasn’t mad. He wasn’t sad about it, either. He was taking it like — well, like a man!

  Ann grinned. “Well, Mister Shortstop,” she said, “how does it feel to be an All-Star player?”

  “Fine, I guess,” said Bobby. He thought about it a little more. The more he thought about it, the better he felt.

  In a louder, happier voice he cried out, “Yes, sir! I guess I feel just fine!”

  How many of these Matt Christopher

  sports classics have you read?

  Baseball Pals Little Lefty

  The Basket Counts Long Shot for Paul

  Catch That Pass! Long Stretch at First Base

  Catcher with a Glass Arm Look Who’s Playing First Base

  Challenge at Second Base Miracle at the Plate

  The Counterfeit Tackle No Arm in Left Field

  The Diamond Champs Red-Hot Hightops

  Dirt Bike Racer Run, Billy, Run

  Dirt Bike Runaway Shortstop from Tokyo

  Face-Off Soccer Halfback

  Football Fugitive The Submarine Pitch

  The Fox Steals Home Tackle Without a Team

  The Great Quarterback Switch Tight End

  Hard Drive to Short Too Hot to Handle

  The Hockey Machine Touchdown for Tommy

  Ice Magic Tough to Tackle

  Johnny Long Legs Wingman on Ice

  The Kid Who Only Hit Homers The Year Mom Won the Pennant

  All available in paperback from Little, Brown and Company

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  Long Stretch at First Base

  Bobby Jamison is worried that his older brother, Kirby, won’t be chosen to play first base for the All-Star team because he isn’t a strong hitter. He practices with Kirby as much as he can, but it seems the Redbirds’ other first baseman, Tony Mandos, is a better all-around player. Still, Bobby is convinced that with a little help, Kirby would come out as the obvious choice. Then Bobby sees his chance to give Kirby the advantage over Tony … but will his conscience let him take it?

  Matt Christopher is the writer young readers turn to when they’re looking for fast-paced, action-packed sports novels. A resident of South Carolina, he is the author of many books, among them The Return of the Home Run Kid. For a listing of all his titles and information on joining the Matt Christopher Fan Club, turn to the last page of this book.