CHAPTER 3

The Pitcher Goes Wild

On Tuesday, Nona drove Raisa to practice. The team is counting on me, Raisa reminded herself. I have to help Annie.

Coach Garcia waved everyone in. She handed out uniforms, and the girls pulled the orange-and-blue jerseys over their heads.

“A few of you have already met her,” Coach Garcia began, “but I’d like to introduce our newest player, Annie.”

Annie waved, and the team cheered for her.

Coach Garcia led the team through their warm-up. She hit grounders to the infield and fly balls to the outfield to get everyone’s muscles loosened. Then, while the rest of the players started batting practice with the assistant coach, Coach Garcia pulled Raisa, Julia, and Annie aside for pitching drills.

Julia stood at the backstop and held her mitt out as a target for the ball. Kaitlyn watched from the side.

“You’re right-handed, Annie,” Coach Garcia said as she walked to the mound with Raisa and Annie. “So start with your right foot here.”

Coach Garcia tapped the rubber plate on the ground with her toe. Then she held her hands straight out in front of her. The ball was in her right hand, and her mitt was in her left.

Coach Garcia swung her right hand up and around, in a windmill motion. She pushed off with her feet and pitched the ball to Julia. It landed in Julia’s mitt with a loud smack!

“Go ahead and give it a try,” Coach Garcia said. She stood back as Julia tossed the ball to Annie.

Annie stepped to the mound. Instead of keeping her right arm in front of her and rotating up, as the coach had done, Annie swung her hand behind her, then swung it back to the front.

Annie threw the ball, but it went wild. Julia dived to catch it.

She’s not doing it right, Raisa thought with a frown. Maybe Coach will correct her.

But Coach Garcia just called, “Nice try!”

Raisa’s frown deepened. Didn’t she see Annie miss the target? she wondered. Maybe this is one of the things she’s counting on me to help with.

“Try again,” said Coach Garcia.

Annie nodded and threw the ball again, but this time her pitch was too soft. The ball landed a few feet from Julia. She scrambled to grab it.

She’s still learning, Raisa told herself. It’s just the first practice.

But she felt impatient. If they were going to win, Annie needed to learn—fast.

The next time, Annie tossed the ball harder. It was another wild pitch. Julia jumped backward to catch it.

“Keep trying. That’s what counts,” Coach Garcia told Annie.

Raisa blew out a tight breath. I know Coach Garcia has to be encouraging, she thought, but we need a solid pitcher. I’ll have to help Annie learn to pitch like me on our own time.

After thirty minutes of pitching practice, it was time to join the team for batting drills.

“You’ll have to practice with Annie,” Kaitlyn said, echoing Raisa’s thoughts. “Otherwise we’ll never win.”

“Maybe we can both help her,” Raisa said. If Kaitlyn helps, it won’t be as much pressure on me, she thought privately.

“You have to do it, Raisa. You’re the starting pitcher,” Julia said, overhearing their conversation.

Raisa didn’t want to let her teammates down. She nodded. “You’re right,” she said. “Consider it handled.”

“Annie, you’re up to bat!” Coach called.

Annie stepped up to the batting tee and swung. Her bat connected, and the ball sailed to second base.

Raisa cheered. Annie was a great hitter. She just needed help pitching, and it was up to Raisa to teach her.