The days and games that followed flew by. Knowing that one more loss would mean elimination, the Mid-Atlantic players buckled down and played their best.
On Monday, they faced Huxley, Michigan, the Great Lakes Regional champion. Pennsylvania won in a landslide, 10–2, thanks to terrific hitting and heads-up play in the field.
Monday’s victory was followed by another on Tuesday, this time against the Southwest team from Lone Peak, Colorado. While the 7–5 score wasn’t as lopsided as the previous game, the win put Mid-Atlantic one giant step closer to earning a berth in the U.S. Championship.
Wednesday was a day off for Mid-Atlantic. After a morning practice and time in the batting cages after lunch, the team went to watch the four o’clock International game between Australia and Asia-Pacific.
“This should be a great game,” Ash commented as he, Carter, their teammates, and their coaches found seats together in Lamade Stadium.
Carter agreed. For one thing, it was a beautiful afternoon, sunny and hot with very little humidity. For another, if their previous games were any indication, the teams on the field promised to give strong performances. And, finally, the winner would advance to the International Championship, just one step away from the World Series title game.
“You rooting for one of them?” Raj asked Carter.
Carter hesitated before answering. He didn’t want to seem like he was playing favorites, but—“I guess I’d like to see Australia win. I’ve hung out with one of their players, Jon Burns, and he seems like a great guy. Plus, with Little League Baseball getting so popular in their Region, I think it’s cool they’re doing so well. I’m not sure anybody thought they’d advance as far as they have. I mean, obviously they’re really talented and all. They’d have to be to get here. But still, I read one article that called them the ‘underdogs from Down Under.’ ”
“Japan has always been my favorite International team,” Craig put in. “I like that tradition they have of scooping dirt off the mound after they win the World Series.”
“Well,” Charlie M. joked, “we’ll just have to make sure they go home with clean hands if we face them in the title game. As for me, I’ve always liked our neighbors to the north.”
When the other boys looked at him in confusion, he clarified, “Canada! I have a connection to that country. My grandfather was from Ontario.”
“Isn’t that the airport the players from West and Northwest flew out of?” Raj asked, sounding puzzled.
“That airport is in Ontario, California,” Charlie M. said with an elaborate eye roll. “I’m talking about the province of Ontario, Canada. You know, where Toronto is?”
Raj seemed even more baffled. “The Lone Ranger’s sidekick lives in Canada?”
“Not Tonto, To-RON-to!” Charlie M. said in exasperation while the other boys laughed. “Oh, never mind.”
Raj caught Carter’s eye. He winked mischievously, letting Carter know he’d only been pretending to be clueless. Carter laughed even harder.
The game began a little while later. Australia was the home team. Jon Burns was at shortstop. The other boys Carter had met in the pool weren’t starting, but he knew he’d see them play at some point.
Asia-Pacific started off strong with a pair of singles. The runners didn’t score, however, because the next three batters made outs. Australia, on the other hand, saw two runners cross home plate in the first inning thanks to back-to-back walks and a double from Jon Burns.
Even though he wanted Australia to win, Carter felt bad for the Asia-Pacific pitcher. “What would you say to him if you were his coach?” he asked Coach Harrison.
“That it’s just one inning and it’s over and done with, so he should put it behind him,” the coach replied without hesitation. “And I’d remind him that he’s not the only player on the field. The inning’s results do not fall just on his shoulders.”
“I hope his coach tells him something like that,” Carter said.
Coach Harrison smiled. “I’m sure he will.”
The second inning went by scoreless for both teams. In the top of the third, Asia-Pacific’s bats started talking. They racked up three runs before Australia retired the side.
The Australian boys tried but failed to close the gap. The score at the end of the third inning remained Asia-Pacific 3, Australia 2. That’s where it stayed for the next two innings, too.
“Leading off for Asia-Pacific,” the game announcer intoned, “Li-Chung Wu!”
Carter leaned forward. Wu had clocked a double in the third inning that scored two of his teammates. He was superquick, too, not just on the base paths but in the outfield, where he seemed to fly over the green grass. This at bat, though, he didn’t need speed because the Australian pitcher grazed him with the ball. Wu dropped his bat and trotted to first.
The pitcher, meanwhile, shook his head, clearly upset with himself. He seemed to get over it, though, for he struck out the next batter. The third belted a line drive between first and second. Wu raced to second, touched the bag, and kept going, landing safely at third.
“Hoo, boy,” Carter muttered. Things weren’t looking good for Australia. If the next Asia-Pacific player got a decent hit, Wu would probably score.
Ping!
The batter knocked a grounder toward third. The third baseman sprinted in to meet it. The left outfielder ran to cover the bag. The third baseman scooped up the ball, checked Wu on third, and then relayed it to second. The moment the ball left his hand, however, Wu took off. The second baseman got the runner out and immediately threw to home. The throw was high! The catcher had to leap for it. He made the catch but was out of position. Wu scored.
“Oh, man, that was tough,” Ash said, shaking his head in sympathy for a fellow catcher.
Australia got the next batter out to end the inning. Now they had one last chance to add to their side of the scoreboard. If the difference in score had been a single run, Carter thought they might be able to tie it up and send the game into extra innings. But with the score 4–2? He wasn’t so sure.
His hope for an Australian win went up a notch, though, when the first two batters singled. Then Jon headed to the plate.
“Here you go, Jon! You got it!” Carter yelled.
Jon watched the first pitch zip by for a called strike. He let the second one pass, too. When that was ruled a strike as well, he quickly stepped out of the box. Bouncing on his toes, he shook out his arms and tilted his head from side to side. The moves looked like a ritual to Carter, something Jon did to help him get loose and focused. If so, he hoped it worked, for Australia’s sake.
Jon got back into position. The pitcher wound up and threw. Jon swung. Pow!
Carter and his teammates leaped to their feet. Carter tracked the high fly ball as it soared through the blue sky—and dropped behind the fence! With that blast, Australia pocketed the win, 5–4.
When Carter saw Jon in the dining hall that night, he made a beeline for him. “Congratulations, man! That walk-off homer was amazing!”
Jon blushed to the roots of his blond hair at the praise and grinned with happiness. “Ta, Carter,” he replied. Carter had learned that ta was the same as thanks. “I have to admit, it felt good. Felt bad for the Asia-Pacific players, though, you know?”
Carter nodded his understanding. “You going to the U.S. game tonight?”
“Nah, I’m spent. If I watch, it’ll be in the rec room. You?”
“Liam’s playing, so I’m going to Lamade.”
“Oh, right! If you see him, tell him I’ll be barracking for him!”
“Um, what?”
Jon laughed. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you don’t speak Strine,” he replied, meaning Australian lingo. “Barrack means to cheer.”
“In that case, I’ll tell him!”
Carter didn’t see Liam before or after the game, however. But he “barracked” for his cousin through six innings. And when the game ended with West beating the New England team from Massasoit, Massachusetts, 8–5, he whipped out his phone and sent him an excited text.
Doofus! You’re in the U.S. Championship!