Shadow Over Second by Matt Christopher, Anna Dewdney Page A

baseman. “Are you going for a record or something?”
     

    Nicky just smiled and shrugged. Although Dale hadn’t
specifically
mentioned the RBI record, answering might ruin his luck.
    Nicky watched Alfie Maples walk on four pitches. Then Bus Mercer hit a solid single, loading the bases. Rudy Calhoun struck
     out, but Sparrow Fisher singled. Nicky took off from third the minute he heard the bat connect with the ball. He crossed home
     plate safely, adding another run to their score.
    Bus wasn’t as lucky. Sparrow’s single was close to second base. Dale Emerson stepped on the bag seconds before Bus slid in.
     Bus wiped the dust from his pants and jogged off the field.
    With runners on first and third, Barry McGee, the Mudders’ strongest hitter, stepped to the plate. Nicky cheered him on with
     the rest of the Mudders’ bench.
    Much to everyone’s surprise, Barry failed to connect with Bucky’s pitches. He struck out.
    The scoreboard read Mudders 5, Dragons 1.
    “Okay, Sparrow,” said Nicky as he passed the Mudders’ pitcher on his way to second base. “The sooner you strike ’em out, the
     sooner we can get home!”
    “And the sooner I can get some dinner in my empty stomach!” called Turtleneck Jones from first base. He patted his belly.
    Nicky laughed. “I thought I heard something growl at me earlier. Hey,” he added. “Speaking of growling, come by my house later
     on and I’ll show you something really neat.”
    “What is it?” Turtleneck asked curiously.
    “You’ll see.”
    Both boys turned their attention to the game. Sparrow breezed in three pitches to Andy Jackson, all balls. Then he laced two
     pitches chest-high and over the middle of the plate. The count was now 3 and 2.
    “Bear down, Sparrow!” Nicky encouraged. “Just one more!”
    Sparrow twirled the ball around and around in his hand. Then he stretched and delivered.
    Crack!
A high, long shot toward right field! Alfie Maples took off after it, but he didn’t stand a chance. It was going… going…
     It was gone! A home run!

3

    “That’s okay!” called Coach Parker from the dugout. “Don’t let it shake you, Sparrow!”
    That homer put the Dragons within three runs of the Mudders, reminding Nicky that as long as the Dragons were at bat, they
     could come out on top.
    Nicky pounded his glove and crouched, ready to field anything that came near him. But Cush Boochie, the next man up, didn’t
     give him a chance. Cush singled over short.
    Beans Malone stepped to the plate.
    “C’mon, Sparrow! Get ’em outta there!” Nicky yelled.
    Sparrow did. He fanned Beans on three straight pitches.
    That took the wind out of the Dragons’ sails. Lefty Cash and Bucky Neal met the ball, but only to squeak out little dribblers.
     Bus easily fielded the first one and made a clean throw to Turtleneck for the second out. Nicky did the same with Bucky’s
     hit. The game ended with the Peach Street Mudders beating the Dragons 5 to 2.
    The Mudders gathered in the dugout, slapping each other on the back and exchanging high fives.
    “Some fine hitting there today, Nicky,” Coach Parker said. He gave Nicky a meaningful look but said nothing more. Nicky smiled
     gratefully. He knew that the coach knew about the record — and about Nicky’s superstition against talking about it.
    Nicky began collecting the bats and balls. Then he overheard something that made his heart stop.
    “Do you know who holds the RBI record?” the Mudders’ scorekeeper asked the Dragons’ scorekeeper.
    “Some guy named Sam Jolly. He made it three years ago.”
    “Well, I doubt he’s going to hold it for much longer!”
    Nicky bolted out of earshot and almost ran into Turtleneck Jones. “Let’s get out of here!” he cried. Turtleneck looked surprised
     but grabbed his glove and followed Nicky off the field.
    That was close
, Nicky thought.
But they didn’t mention my name. So I think I’ll be okay
.
    By the time he and Turtleneck reached their neighborhood,