Chapter 7
The following Wednesday, Jo waited on second base, watching the batter carefully. The Sonics were playing the Angels, and they were down by three runs. Jo was really hoping the double she’d just hit would turn into a run.
Crack! The bat connected with the ball, and Jo took off running as fast as she could. As she touched third base, she saw that the ball had been hit into right field. The fielder was just scooping it up.
Jo rounded third and charged toward home plate. She heard the ball smack into the catcher’s glove half a second after her foot touched the plate.
Score! Her teammates went crazy. They were still down two runs, but at least now they were on the board.
Jo took a seat on the bench, breathing hard and grinning. The next batter took her place at the plate and stared at the pitcher.
The first pitch looked like a ball, but the umpire called, “Strike!” The rest of the Sonics groaned.
“It’s okay, just stay focused!” the coach called.
Lucy, the Sonic on first base, shifted nervously. She was ready to run as soon as the pitcher released the ball.
The next pitch sailed across the plate, and the batter swung at it hard. It bounced oddly off the bat and sailed over the pitcher’s head toward second base.
Lucy was already running, and the second baseman and shortstop both moved toward the ball. There was a moment of confusion over who should grab it.
As Lucy reached the base, the Angels’ shortstop was just reaching out for the ball. The two girls collided.
Jo heard a sharp cry, and then the Angels’ shortstop crumpled to the ground, clutching her hand. Both coaches went running toward her.
After a few minutes, Lucy and the Sonics’ coach came slowly back to the bench. Lucy’s eyes were a little red, like she’d been crying.
“The shortstop broke her finger,” the coach told them. “She’ll be fine, but we’re going to stop the game for today. We’ll schedule a rematch later.”
The girls all looked worried and upset. Delia put her arm around Lucy.
“It was an accident,” the coach assured her. “We try to be as careful as we can when we play, but sometimes these things happen. It’s nobody’s fault. Don’t worry — the doctors will get her fixed up in no time.”
* * *
Later that night, Jo was reading in her room when her phone rang. She looked at the screen but didn’t recognize the number.
“Hello?” Jo answered curiously.
“Is this Josephine Adler?” a woman’s voice asked.
“Yes, it is. Who’s calling?” Jo asked.
“This is Coach Sanderson from the Red Angels,” the voice said.
Jo sat back on her bed, shocked. Why would the Angels’ coach be calling me? she wondered.
She realized after a moment that she hadn’t said anything, and the coach was waiting.
“Um, what can I do for you?” Jo finally said.
“I know you saw what happened to our shortstop at the game today,” the coach said. “I just heard from her, and it looks like she’ll be out for the rest of the season. Your name came up as a possible replacement. How would you like to be a Red Angel, Josephine?”
Jo’s heart pounded in her chest. She’d wanted to be a Red Angel for so long. But now that the chance was finally here, she wasn’t sure it was what she wanted anymore.
Especially after what I heard those girls say about how the Angels got all those wins, Jo thought.
“Um, thank you,” Jo said to the coach. “Do I need to decide right now, or can I think about it?”
“Oh,” the coach said, sounding surprised. “Well, I can certainly give you a little time to think it over. Please call me by this weekend and let me know what you decide. We have a game next week, and I’d like to get our new player up to speed as soon as possible.”
“Okay,” Jo said. “Thanks again. I’ll let you know.”
She hung up the phone and flopped back on her bed. Jo’s mind was racing, but all her thoughts added up to one big question: What am I going to do?