CHAPTER 6

Curveball

Later that week, when Raisa arrived for the game against the Sharks, Annie was already there.

This is my chance, Raisa thought. She ran up to give her friend some last-minute advice.

“Remember what we practiced,” Raisa said. “Keep your hips square, widen your stance, make sure you really push off the mound—”

“I know,” Annie said, “You’ve told me a thousand times.”

Raisa placed her hand on Annie’s shoulder. “The team is counting on you. Remember?” she said. “We’re going to win the championship—together. But we have to win here first.”

Annie pulled away. “I have to warm up,” she snapped.

Why can’t Annie see I’m trying to help? Raisa thought. If she doesn’t listen, we’ll lose the game. The whole team will be mad at her—and me. I can’t let that happen.

The Tigers were up to bat first. Julia hit the ball far into left field and made it to second base. Taylor was next to the plate. She hit the ball to right field and raced to first base while Julia sped toward third.

Then it was Raisa’s turn. Her bat connected firmly with the ball, sending it flying to center field.

Julia and Taylor made it home, scoring two runs. Raisa made it to second base.

Raisa clapped as Annie stepped to the plate. “Bring me home!” she shouted.

The pitcher threw the ball, and Annie connected! She dropped the bat and ran, but the first baseman caught the ball. Annie was out, but the Tigers were still ahead. At the end of the second inning, the score was 2–0.

Raisa stepped to the mound. She had to maintain their lead, for Annie and the team. The Tigers had to win today. Raisa threw the ball. It whizzed past the batter.

“Strike one!” the umpire called.

Raisa relaxed her shoulders. She threw out another pitch.

“Strike two!” the umpire shouted.

One more throw, and Raisa struck out the first batter. The next player struck out too, but the one after that made it to second base.

Coach Garcia called Raisa off the mound.

“I can keep going,” Raisa said.

Pitching felt great, but winning would feel even better. If she stayed on the mound, she could help the team and take the pressure off of Annie.

Isn’t that what a coach is supposed to do? Raisa thought. Help everyone?

“You know the rules,” Coach Garcia told her. “It’s Annie’s turn. You have to share the mound.”

As Raisa made her way to the dugout, she noticed Annie was holding the ball with a four-finger grip instead of a three-finger grip.

“Check your grip,” Raisa whispered, but Annie ignored her.

Raisa bit the inside of her cheek so she wouldn’t yell at Annie, but she was angry. She was doing all she could to help the team.

Why isn’t Annie doing her share? Raisa thought.

The batter walked to the plate. Annie threw the ball, but she didn’t push off the mound in the way Raisa would have. The batter easily hit the ball and sent it into left field. While the Tigers scrambled to catch the ball, the batter made it to third.

Raisa held her breath as Annie threw the ball to the next batter. The Sharks’ player hit it into the outfield and ran to first base. The player on third base made it home. The score was tied 2–2.

Raisa’s anger rose. Annie was ignoring all their hard work. Worse, she was giving the Sharks a chance to win.

For the rest of her time on the mound, Annie pitched the way she wanted. No surprise, the Tigers lost the game.

“You have to talk to Coach,” Taylor said to Raisa after the game. “Annie just cost us a win.” She ran to meet her parents.

Raisa knew she needed to talk to the coach, but first she had to talk to Annie.

“Our next game is against the Jets, and they’re the best in the league,” Raisa said as she approached Annie. “If you don’t pitch like I taught you, we’ll never win.” Raisa tried not to sound angry, but she couldn’t help it. “What were you doing out there today?”

“Playing the game,” Annie said.

“Not like I taught you,” Raisa told her.

Annie shoved her glove into her bag. “You didn’t teach me anything! All you’ve done is tell me. Tell me how to pitch and how to stand. You haven’t even tried to listen to me! You just force me to do it your way, and I hate it!”

Raisa stared at her in shock as Annie zipped up her bag. “You keep talking about how I need to be a good team player, but what about you?” Annie continued. “I just wanted to learn how to pitch and have fun with my new team. You ruined everything!”

With that, Annie slung her bag over her shoulder and stalked away. Raisa stared after her. How had this all gone so wrong? She needed to talk to Coach Garcia.