The Homerun Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

brothers, Benny and Henry. I’m Jessie.”
    â€œCarl Soper. Pleased to know you.” Mr. Soper shook hands with them all.
    Violet said, “We play ball, too, back home.”
    â€œAnd where might home be?” asked Carl Soper.
    â€œGreenfield, Connecticut,” answered Benny.
    The older man’s brows lifted. “That’s far away. Just passing through the Hudson Valley?”
    â€œNo, we’re staying here,” Henry replied. “Our grandfather is working with the town council to help restore Pikesville.”
    Carl Soper grunted. “Restore! That’s all you read about in the Pikesville Star . If they hadn’t closed the hat factory, the town wouldn’t have died. Now the town council has all these newfangled ideas to make Pikesville into a tourist spot.”
    â€œDon’t you think it will work?” Jessie asked.
    Instead of answering, Carl leaned forward, intent on the play down below. “What’s going on?”
    Jessie saw Emily Soper take a bat from the batboy. Emily swung the bat a few times to get the feel of it. Suddenly a man jumped off a bench. He wore a whistle around his neck and a red shirt.
    â€œThat’s Coach Jenkins,” said Carl. “He’s the Eagles’ coach.”
    Coach Jenkins took the bat from Emily with an apologetic smile and gave her another. Emily swung this bat and nodded that it was okay. Even from the grandstand, Jessie could see Emily looked puzzled.
    â€œThat’s weird,” she remarked. “Why would the other team’s coach change Emily’s bat?”
    â€œWho knows? But my granddaughter is the best batter on the team,” Carl Soper said proudly. “If anyone will win this game for the Half Moons, it’ll be my Emily.”
    The pitcher wound up the pitch.
    â€œTheir pitcher looks pretty good,” commented Henry.
    Carl nodded. “His name is Danny. He’s Coach Jenkins’s little brother.”
    Danny threw the ball.
    Crack!
    Emily’s bat hit the ground and she raced to first base. Her ball was still in the air. Emily danced at first, then decided to go for second. It would be close. She would have to slide, Jessie decided.
    As she dove for the bag, the second baseman put out his foot, preventing Emily from finishing the slide.
    Instantly the umpire came between Emily Soper and the Eagles’ second baseman.
    â€œInterference!” the Half Moons were yelling. The play was called fair and Emily was called out. The dark look on Emily’s face showed her anger and disappointment.
    Then the coaches got into the debate. The two men argued hotly and the umpire called a time-out.
    Emily Soper hopped into the stands. Her grandfather handed her a soda from the ice-filled cooler at his feet.
    â€œDid you see that?” Emily said. “Did you see Jason Baker stick his foot out? It was interference and the umpire called me out instead!”
    â€œYes, we saw,” said Carl Soper.
    Jessie noticed that Emily was holding her right arm.
    â€œIs your arm okay?” she asked.
    Emily glanced at her arm. “I’m okay. Who’re you guys?”
    â€œI’m sorry,” said Mr. Soper. “Emily, meet my new friends, Benny, Violet, Jessie, and Henry. They are staying here with their grandfather, who is in town on business.”

    â€œNice to meet you,” said Emily. She stuck her right hand out to Benny first and winced when he shook it.
    â€œHow bad is that arm?” asked her grandfather.
    â€œI’ll be all right.” Emily drank the rest of her soda and went back to her team.
    â€œShe’s a stubborn one,” Carl said with a smile. “Just like all us Sopers.”
    Soon Emily was up at bat again. The Eagles led 10–3. Emily needed to hit a home run and bring the players in from the bases.
    But from the way she held her bat, it was clear her arm was bothering her. She hit the ball, a pop fly. The first baseman easily