The Year Mom Won the Pennant Read online

  Suddenly he remembered what Mom had said in another game: Do we have to do the expected all the time? He looked toward first and then third. The Stars were playing deep. He could try a bunt. It just might work. What could he lose?

  The pitch came in. He shifted his feet and bunted the ball down the third-base line, catching the Stars completely off their guard! The bunt was perfect!

  “Nice going, Nick!” shouted Mom.

  Three on and Gale came up. The fans yelled. Gale’s parents sat still, waiting patiently.

  “There you are, Gale!” yelled Nick. “I saved you a rap! Now, clonk it!”

  Stinky stretched and pitched. Gale swung. Crack! A solid smash! A high long ball to deep left! It kept going. . . going . . . Gone over the fence! A home run!

  It was over. The Thunderballs — and Mom — had won the pennant.

  Gale beamed proudly as he gripped Nick’s hand. “Thanks for saving me that rap!”

  The Snows came forward and shook hands with Mom. “Wayne thinks an awful lot of you, Mrs. Vassey,” said Mrs. Snow. “He’s always talking about you and your family. I wonder if you all would come over some day soon. My husband and I would love to have you. Will you?”

  Mom’s face shone radiantly. “We’ll be glad to, Mrs. Snow.”

  Another figure joined the small group. Burt Stevens. A smile was on his face, but it wasn’t as broad as it had been. He stretched out his hand to shake Mom’s.

  “Congratulations, Coach,” he said. “You won it fair and square.”

  Mom’s eyes sparkled. “Thank you, Mr. Stevens,” she said, and then added mischievously, “Sorry you don’t get a chance for a playoff.”

  “And I won the bet,” Dad said. “The Stevenses are taking the Vasseys out for a Chinese dinner. That’s the bet we had agreed on in Mr. Wong’s restaurant. Tomorrow okay, Coach Stevens?”

  “Tomorrow’s fine,” said Mr. Stevens, smiling.

  Matt Christopher®

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  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 Runway 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

  Skateboard Renegade Wingman on Ice

  Skateboard Tough The Year Mom Won the Pennant

  All available in paperback from Little, Brown and Company

  THE YEAR MOM WON THE PENNANT

  The Thunderballs’ new coach has a few tricks up her sleeve!

  When Nick’s mother takes on the job of coaching the Thunderballs, Nick is mortified. Being teased by his baseball team’s archrivals, the Tornadoes, makes it worse. But when Mom leads the Thunderballs to one victory after another in a race toward the pennant, Nick changes his tune - and the Tornadoes start singing the blues! This fast-paced baseball story has plenty of humor and action and will appeal to all young sports fans.

  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