CHAPTER 2
Sharing the Mound
After Coach Garcia left, Raisa texted Annie.
Raisa: Hi, Annie! I’m Raisa! Welcome to the Tigers!
Annie: Hi! Thanks. ^_^
Raisa: I’m the starting pitcher for the team. Coach Garcia said you want to pitch too. I’d love to help you!
Annie: That’s Gr8 news! TY! Do you want to start today?
Raisa: Sure! Do you want to meet some of the team? Julia, Kaitlyn, and Taylor are super nice. Kaitlyn is a pitcher too.
Annie: That would be Gr8! TY! :D
Raisa started a new group text to her friends, then added Annie.
Raisa: Hi, guys! Meet Annie. She’s new to the Tigers. Want to meet up at the park today @ 1 to practice?
Julia: Definitely!
Kaitlyn: Can’t wait to meet you in person, Annie.
Taylor: Me too! C U soon!!
Raisa held her phone to her chest. I’m already helping the team! she thought proudly. This is going to be the best season ever!
* * *
After she finished eating lunch, Raisa told her grandmother she was headed to meet her friends, then biked to the nearby softball field. She sat on the bench and waited for everyone.
A few moments later, a redheaded girl carrying a softball mitt approached her. “Are you Raisa?” the girl asked.
Raisa smiled. “Annie?”
The girl grinned. “Yep!” she replied.
As she stood up, Raisa noticed Annie was much shorter than she was. In fact, she was shorter than most of the pitchers Raisa knew. But she didn’t think that would matter when it came to pitching.
Just then, Julia and Taylor arrived.
“Hi!” the blond girl said, waving at Annie. “I’m Taylor!”
Julia tucked her braids into her cap. “And I’m Julia,” she added.
“Hi,” Annie replied with a shy smile. “Thanks for meeting up with me. I was so nervous to move here from Wisconsin! I’m excited to be on the team. This is my first year in softball.”
“You’re going to love being a part of the Tigers,” Taylor said.
“I hope so!” Annie replied. “My grandma used to be a pitcher, and she made it sound so fun. I can’t wait to try it.”
“Where’s Kaitlyn?” Raisa asked as they began stretching. She looked around for the other pitcher.
“She’s probably just running late,” said Taylor. “She can catch up when she gets here.”
Raisa nodded. After they finished stretching, they ran laps. Then Raisa handed Annie one of the softballs she’d brought with her.
“Let’s start with the grip,” she said. “See how this seam looks like a horseshoe? Put your index and middle fingers here, and then put your thumb here.” Raisa demonstrated how to grip the ball.
Annie mimicked Raisa. “Like this?” she asked.
“That’s a good start,” Raisa said. She adjusted Annie’s grip. “How does that feel?”
“Weird. I’ve seen photos of my grandma, and she held the ball like this.” Annie moved her fingers so she held the ball with a four-finger grip instead of three. “Can I do that?”
Raisa shook her head. “That’s a grip for more experienced pitchers,” she said. “Since you’re new, you’ll want to hold it with three fingers.”
Annie nodded and readjusted her grip on the ball.
“Let me show you how to throw,” Raisa offered. She motioned to her friends, and Taylor stepped up to bat. Julia, the team’s catcher, crouched behind Taylor.
Raisa turned to Annie. “Watch me.” She rotated her left arm into a windmill motion and sent a pitch Taylor’s way. Taylor hit the ball back to her. The next time, Raisa snapped her wrist as she released the ball. This made the ball go faster. Taylor swung and missed. Julia caught the ball and tossed it back.
“Can I try?” Annie asked.
Raisa didn’t want to give up the mound. But a good coach—and teammate—would give Annie a chance, she thought.
Raisa handed over the ball. Annie threw it to Julia. It sailed high and came down to the outside of home plate, outside the strike zone.
“That’s a ball,” Raisa said. “But you were close to home plate. It’s a great start!”
Julia held the bat out to Annie. “Let’s see what you’ve got!” she said.
Annie stepped to the plate. Raisa pitched the ball to her, and Annie hit it with a solid crack! It sailed over Raisa’s head and toward second base. Taylor ran to catch it.
“Wow!” Julia said. “You’re a great hitter!”
“If you keep batting like that we’re going to win every game, including the championship!” Taylor cheered.
“Thanks,” Annie said, blushing. “I hope you’re right. But this is my first year. I still have a lot to learn.”
Raisa turned as a car pulled into the lot. “There’s Kaitlyn. Finally!” she exclaimed.
But when Kaitlyn climbed out of the car, the other girls gasped. Kaitlyn’s right arm was in a cast.
“Kaitlyn!” Raisa said as the other pitcher walked closer. “What happened?”
“I slipped and fell coming down the stairs,” Kaitlyn said as she came closer. “I broke my arm.” There were tears in her brown eyes. “I can come to practice, but I can’t play until the cast comes off.”
A surge of anger ran through Raisa. Kaitlyn’s broken arm meant they were down a pitcher. That wasn’t going to help their chances of winning another championship.
It’s not Kaitlyn’s fault she broke her arm, Raisa told herself. But she couldn’t fully shake her irritation.
“But we need you!” Julia cried. “The league rules say a pitcher can only pitch four innings max. With you out, Annie will have to take the mound.”
“Four innings! But I’m new!” Annie exclaimed.
“It’ll be fine,” Raisa said. But truthfully, she was worried too. What if I don’t have what it takes to coach Annie? she thought. What if I cost us the championship? I can’t let my friends down.
Raisa forced a bright smile. “With my help, you’ll be a great pitcher and help the team win our games! I promise!”