A few weeks later was the team’s first game. Ana wore a team shirt that looked like everyone else’s, except there was no number on it.
It was a home game, so the visiting team batted first. The Lions ran out to the field. Mali took her place at the pitcher’s mound. Laura crouched down behind home plate. Ana sat in the dugout with her notebook. At least she would have more to do than at practice. She’d have to watch everything very carefully.
Are you coming to watch the game? she texted Cara.
A reply came quickly. Why would I?
Ana put her phone away. Cara hadn’t been very nice lately.
The game began. Mali threw pitches hard. She struck out the first two batters. The third one hit the ball and ran to first. She was safe.
The fourth batter was a lefty. She was a powerful hitter, and she made it straight to second base while the Lions’ center fielder dove for the ball and missed.
The fifth batter hit a pop up. The first baseman caught it, and it was over. Everyone jogged back to the dugout to get ready to bat.
The Lions did well. Everyone had a base hit. By the end of the inning, they were up three to nothing.
Two more innings passed. During a transition, Ana took a look at the bleachers. She gasped. Caitlin was there!
Now she’ll know I lied to her. She’ll probably hate me, she thought miserably.
She turned her head so Caitlin wouldn’t know she had seen her. Maybe she could tell another lie and say that she was sick or injured, and that’s why she wasn’t playing.
At the bottom of the fourth inning, Mali struck out. She threw her bat angrily. Coach ran out to the field and called a time-out. She spoke quietly but with an angry look on her face. Mali huffed back to the dugout. She sat down far away from the rest of the team.
At the top of the fifth, Mali headed out to pitch. The first three batters all hit the ball easily. The fourth one did too, giving the other team their sixth run of the day. Now they were ahead.
Mali stamped her foot angrily. Coach called another time-out. She walked out to the field and spoke to Mali. Then the two of them walked back to the dugout together. Mali was benched!
Coach sent Shireen, the alternate, out to the field. She traded places with Marisela, the shortstop, who went to the pitcher’s mound.
* * *
The Lions lost 13–11. As everyone packed up their things, Ana heard someone tapping at the chain-link fence. It was Caitlin.
“Hey,” she said kindly. “Can I talk to you two?” She was speaking to Mali as well.
Ana and Mali both sighed and came out of the dugout. The three sat on a bleacher bench.
“Well,” Caitlin said. “It seems like both of you had a bad day.”
“I should’ve made varsity,” Mali said angrily. “I hate pitching against babies. I’ve been playing softball my whole life.”
“You’re great at softball,” Caitlin said. “But your attitude needs adjustment.” She turned to Ana. “And why did you lie to me?”
Ana looked down so that she wouldn’t have to see Caitlin’s face. “I was embarrassed,” she admitted. “I wanted you to be proud of me, and I’m not even playing.”
“Ana, I am proud! You’re new to the sport, and you’re doing a really important job,” Caitlin said.
“It’s not the same,” Ana said. “I don’t matter.”
“That’s not true. Mali’s brother is our statistician, and we really appreciate him!” Caitlin said. “His notes help us get better.”
So Niran was Mali’s brother! That’s why Mali and her dad went to so many practices.
Caitlin sighed. “I have an idea. Mali, you have a lot of skills, and I bet you could help Ana practice. And Ana, I think your notes would be useful to Mali, and maybe you could help her with her temper. Why don’t the two of you get together and practice?”
Ana and Mali looked at each other. That didn’t sound so great.