The Best Bat

  To Darian and Ariana. We love you.

  — R.H. & K.H.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Letter

  CHAPTER 1 A Big Change

  CHAPTER 2 Switching Things Up

  CHAPTER 3 Who’s to Blame?

  CHAPTER 4 Confusing Clues

  CHAPTER 5 Cleanup Hitter

  CHAPTER 6 No Excuses

  CHAPTER 7 Raising the Stakes

  CHAPTER 8 Learning the Ropes

  CHAPTER 9 The Right Reply

  CHAPTER 10 Pulling for a Win

  CHAPTER 11 Butterflies

  Teaser

  About the Authors

  Copyright

  * * *

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you are enjoying the Little Rhino series!

  This story means a lot to me because I’ll never forget my first baseball bat. It was a black bat, and I took care of it like it was the most important thing in the world to me. I would talk to my bat, clean my bat … I would even sleep with my bat! When I held that bat, it felt like it was made just for me. I loved that it was going to help me hit home runs far out of the park.

  My bat was my responsibility. When you are part of a team, you have to learn how to be responsible. It is important to show up to practice and games on time with all of your equipment. That is as much a part of being a good teammate as encouraging the people you play with to be successful and to have fun. When you’re having fun, that’s when you start winning games.

  * * *

  Bring it on, Little Rhino thought.

  Baseball season was here! Rhino and his teammates had been practicing for two weeks. Finally, Saturday’s game would be for real.

  Rhino had hit a game-winning home run in the Mustangs’ practice game a few days earlier. He’d also made a great catch in center field. He felt confident. He was ready. Today’s practice session was the last one before the opener.

  “I’m going to smack another homer,” Rhino said. “My new bat is awesome.”

  The bat was a gift from Grandpa James. He had surprised Rhino with it that morning. “You earned this,” Grandpa had said. Rhino had received excellent grades on his latest progress report. He worked just as hard in the classroom as he did on the baseball field. Rhino was so happy. The bat felt perfect when he swung it—almost like it was part of his body. It was the right weight and length for him, and it cut smoothly through the air.

  The day was warm and sunny. Rhino pulled off his sweatshirt. He untucked his baggy white T-shirt out from his shorts. The team didn’t practice in their uniforms. Then Rhino wrapped his hoodie around the new bat he had with him and set it on the dugout bench. He and his best friend, Cooper, were the first players to arrive at the field, as usual.

  “Let’s catch, Rhino,” Cooper said. “We need to warm up.” “Rhino” was the nickname that everyone used, even though his real name was Ryan.

  They tossed a ball back and forth. Coach Ray and his daughter, Bella, arrived a minute later. Other players started to trickle in, too. They were all wearing their bright blue caps with the big M for Mustangs.

  Bella trotted over and winked at Rhino. “Hey, Cooper,” she said, flipping her brown ponytail. “Mind if we switch? I need to work with my outfield partner.” Bella had played right field in the practice game.

  “Sure,” Cooper replied. He looked around for someone else to throw with.

  Bella punched her glove and said, “Fire it here, Rhino.”

  After everyone had warmed up, Coach started a drill. “We need to develop quick hands,” he said. He had one player in each group send a fast ground ball to the other.

  “Field it cleanly, then release it fast,” Coach said. “A quick throw can make the difference between an out and a base runner.”

  They worked on that for several minutes, then Coach sent the starters out to their positions. It was time for batting practice. “Play it like a real game,” Coach said. “Run out every hit. You’ll all get plenty of chances to swing the bat today.”

  Rhino sprinted to center field. He was so excited that he hopped up and down, waiting to make his first catch of the day.

  He didn’t wait long. The first batter looped a soft fly ball over the head of the second baseman. It looked like it would drop for a single, but Rhino darted after it.

  The ball hung in the air just long enough for Rhino to get under it. He reached out his glove on the run and made the catch, then tossed the ball back to the pitcher.

  “Incredible speed,” said Bella, who had run over to back him up. “No one’s going to get a hit if you’re out here!”

  Rhino blushed. What’s up with Bella lately being all nicey nice? He trotted back to his position.

  He caught another fly ball and fielded two grounders that got through for singles. Then Coach waved the three outfielders in to bat.

  Rhino grabbed his new bat. He stood with Bella while their teammate named Carlos took his turn at the plate. Carlos was the smallest player on the team, but he was a good fielder.

  “Nice bat,” Bella said to Rhino. “Brand-new?”

  Rhino nodded. “It’s the best bat,” he said. He handed it to Bella for a look.

  “Too heavy,” Bella said.

  “It’s just right for me,” Rhino replied.

  Rhino studied the pitcher. Dylan was a wise guy and often a bully, but he was a good athlete. He’d given Rhino a hard time early in the season, but lately he minded his own business.

  I still don’t trust him, but he is my teammate, Rhino’s thinker said. Grandpa had taught Rhino to always use his head and think things through.

  Dylan took off his cap and wiped the sweat off his forehead. He smirked at the batter, put his cap back on, and wound up to pitch.

  Carlos swung and missed. Dylan laughed. His next pitch was a strike, too. Carlos finally hit a weak ground ball that Dylan fielded. His throw to first was a little high, and it bounced off the first baseman’s glove and dropped to the ground.

  “Don’t be afraid of the ball!” Dylan yelled at the first baseman, Paul.

  Paul stared at his glove and ran his other hand through his curly red hair. He had dropped another throw earlier, and he did not seem confident about playing first base.

  Bella was up next and struck out. She frowned as she walked past Rhino on his way to the plate. “He’s got good stuff today,” she said. “Tough to hit.” Dylan glared at Rhino. Rhino glared back.

  Dylan is always so confident that he’ll get the best of everyone, said Rhino’s thinker. I’ll show him.

  Rhino stopped beside home plate. He took his bat and pointed to the outfield. “That’s where this one is going,” he said. Dylan shot him a dirty look as Rhino picked up a helmet from the backstop and walked around the base to get into his batting stance.

  The first pitch was high and way inside. Rhino leaned back and let it go by.

  The second pitch was low and outside. Rhino shook his head. “Put it in here!” he said.

  “Right past you,” Dylan said. He wound up and fired the ball.

  The pitch was waist-high and straight down the middle. Rhino timed his swing perfectly. With a sharp crack the ball soared high over the field. There was no question where it was headed.

  Rhino ran toward first base. He was only halfway there as the ball flew over the center field fence. His teammates cheered. Dylan kicked at the pitcher’s mound and frowned.

  “Good contact!” Coach called. He put up his hands and told Rhino to stop. “No need to run that one out,” he said. “Take another swing or two.”

  Rhino went back to the batter’s box. He smirked at Dylan. Dylan scowled even deeper. He slung another pitch toward the plate.

  Thwack!

  This time Rhino
hit it deep into left field, where it crashed against the fence. He raced around first base and slid into second, safely ahead of the throw.

  Rhino had hit a homer and a double on two straight pitches! He scored on Cooper’s single a few minutes later.

  “Should I go back to center field?” he asked.

  Coach waved Rhino over. “I’m thinking about making a switch,” he said.

  “What kind of switch?”

  “I’d like you to try another position,” Coach said. “It’s important for players to try different positions to see where they fit best.”

  Rhino nodded. He would do anything to help the team. “Left field instead of center?” he asked. Rhino knew that his strong throwing arm might be more valuable in left.

  Coach smiled. “A bigger switch than that,” he said. “I was thinking about the infield.”

  Rhino gulped. He’d played third base one day in practice and didn’t like it very much.

  “I know you are very capable of playing outfield. You’re a great fielder,” Coach said.

  Rhino let out a long breath. “Which position?” he asked.

  “First base,” Coach said. “That’s a key spot, and a natural one for a lefty like you. Having you in there could save us some trouble. Paul will do better at a position that has less pressure.”

  But can I deal with the pressure? Rhino wondered. There was lots of pressure on a first baseman. Rhino would have to field sharp grounders, handle quick throws from the other infielders, and catch long tosses from the outfielders.

  Rhino loved playing center field. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll try first base.”

  But I probably won’t like it, he thought.

  Then his thinker really went to work. If it’s best for the team, then it’s best for me. I’ll work hard at it and make it pay off.

  Rhino felt butterflies as he took his spot near first base. Cooper was still there after hitting his single. He was taller than Rhino and just as fast.

  Cooper took a few steps from the base. “Hit it in the outfield and I’ll score,” he said softly. Cooper was talking to himself, but Rhino heard.

  “Here comes a double play,” Rhino said with a laugh. “You’re out of here.”

  Paul was at bat. His curly red hair stuck out the sides of the batting helmet. He was a lefty, like Rhino, which was one of the reasons Coach had tried him at first base before he made a couple of errors.

  I’ll do better playing first base than he did, Rhino thought. I hope!

  Paul swung hard at the first pitch and caught just a piece of it. It rolled along the first baseline and dribbled foul. Rhino scooped it up. He faked a throw to Dylan, then playfully tagged Cooper. “You’re out!” he said.

  Cooper laughed. “Play ball,” he said. He was standing squarely on the base. He wasn’t out at all. Dylan signaled for the ball back. He shook his head at Rhino and Cooper like he didn’t want to see anyone else having a good time. Rhino tossed the ball back and got set, a few feet from the base. Cooper took a few steps toward second.

  Paul made solid contact this time, and the ball rocketed up the same line. Cooper ran for second. Rhino leaped for the ball, reaching his glove over his head.

  Whack! The ball landed firmly in Rhino’s glove for an out.

  Rhino scrambled to his knees. Cooper was running back toward first. If Rhino could get there ahead of him, he’d force him out.

  Their feet seemed to hit the base at the same time. Coach yelled, “Out!” and Rhino raised his glove in triumph. His first play at the new position was an unassisted double play!

  “Nice one!” Coach said. “Looks like first base might work pretty well for you.”

  Rhino felt a surge of confidence. Cooper walked off the field, shaking his head.

  There’s no stopping me now, Rhino thought. Hitting, fielding, I can do it all. Major League Baseball here I come.

  But things didn’t quite work that way. The next batter hit a grounder to the shortstop. The throw to first base was low and bounced in the dirt. It hit Rhino’s glove and rolled away, and the runner was safe.

  Shake it off, Rhino’s thinker said. Get the next one.

  A short while later, Dylan had to charge in for a ball that skipped slowly toward the pitcher’s mound. The runner was fast, and Dylan’s throw to first was off target. Rhino stretched as far as he could, but there was no way he could keep his foot on the base. He lunged for the ball and caught it, but the runner beat him to the base.

  “Stay on the bag!” Dylan yelled. “He was safe because of you.”

  “I’m not made of rubber bands!” Rhino yelled back. “My arm only stretches so far. Make a better throw!”

  “Calm down, guys,” Coach said. “That was a tough play. Yelling at your teammate doesn’t help anything.”

  Rhino let out his breath in a huff. Dylan’s mad because I always hit home runs when he’s pitching. Maybe pointing my new bat into the outfield was too much, but he can’t blame me for his terrible throw.

  After practice, Coach gathered the team in the dugout. “I want everyone to be here at least a half hour before the game on Saturday,” he said. “Be suited up from head to toe: baseball socks, cleats, uniform, cap. And remember, this is a team. We all support one another.”

  Rhino knew that last comment was meant for him and Dylan. Rhino wasn’t upset about being reminded to act like a good teammate, but Dylan stomped off the field toward the dugout.

  As the other players departed, Coach asked Rhino and Cooper to stay for a few minutes.

  “I’ll show you a few things about playing first base,” Coach said. He sent Cooper to shortstop.

  “I’ll put the equipment away, Dad,” Bella said.

  Coach showed Rhino where to stand. “You’re quick, so you can play somewhat deep,” he said. “You can usually outrun anyone to the base.”

  Coach tossed a ball to Cooper. “Watch me,” he said to Rhino.

  As Cooper threw the ball, Coach stepped onto first base and held up his glove. “Keep that foot planted,” he said to Rhino. “Only leave the base if the throw is off-line.”

  “Like that throw from Dylan?”

  “Right,” Coach said. “But on a good throw, always keep your foot on the base.”

  Rhino took several throws from Cooper. Most of them were on target. The fourth throw was too high, and Rhino jumped. His foot missed the base when he landed, but he found it in a second.

  “As you get used to the position, you’ll have a natural feel for where the base is,” Coach said. “You’ll be great at it, but it takes a while to learn.”

  Rhino grinned. He’d had a good practice, despite a couple of rough spots. Those two big hits had been the highlights.

  “The equipment’s all packed,” Bella said to her father. She handed Rhino a bottle of water. “We had an extra,” she said with a smile.

  “Thanks,” Rhino said. He took a long drink, then waved to Coach and Bella as they drove off.

  “Let’s go,” Cooper said, nudging Rhino. “I’m thirsty and starving. Bella didn’t give me an extra water bottle.”

  Rhino walked to the dugout to get his stuff. He picked up his sweatshirt, and his heart sank.

  His brand-new bat was missing.

  Rhino walked slowly up the driveway at Grandpa James’s house. He and Cooper had searched everywhere for the new bat. Under the dugout bench. Behind the dugout. In the dirt outside the field.

  Dylan! Rhino was sure Dylan had taken it. He’d been angry that Rhino had hit that home run and a double. This was Dylan’s way of getting back at him.

  Now Rhino had to face Grandpa James. He found him in the backyard, raking a large rectangular area of dirt that he’d marked off with stakes.

  “Why so glum?” Grandpa asked.

  Rhino started to speak but stopped. He looked over at his brother, C.J.

  C.J. was twelve. He looked like Rhino but was taller. C.J. had played in the same baseball league that Rhino was in now. Rhino hoped he could be as good of
a player as his brother.

  “Did you strike out?” asked C.J.

  “No,” Rhino said. “I hit really well today. But …”

  “But what?” Grandpa said.

  “My bat’s gone.”

  “Did it break?” Grandpa asked.

  “No.” Rhino looked down at his feet. “After practice, Coach had me stay a few minutes to work on fielding. When we were finished, my bat was missing.”

  “Did your coach pack it up with the other equipment by mistake?” C.J. asked.

  Rhino brightened. “Maybe. Can we check?”

  They headed for the house. Rhino glanced back at the yard. It looked like Grandpa was expanding the size of his garden. Rhino hoped there would still be enough room for batting practice and playing catch. Baseball in the yard with Grandpa was one his favorite things.

  Grandpa called Coach Ray. He explained what happened, and Coach said he’d call back. But after Coach had taken a look, he called to say that the bat wasn’t with the other equipment.

  “I know it was Dylan,” Rhino said. “He’s the only mean one on the team.”

  Grandpa was still on the phone with Coach Ray. Coach said he’d call Dylan’s house and see what he could find out.

  But that call didn’t help, either. “Dylan promised your coach that he didn’t touch the bat,” Grandpa said. “Your coach believes him.”

  “I don’t,” Rhino said.

  “You don’t have any evidence,” Grandpa said.

  “Sure I do!” Rhino replied. “Dylan is always being a pain. Today he yelled at me when he made a bad throw. And he was angry because I smacked his pitches like a Major League Baseball player.”

  Grandpa folded his arms across his chest. “First of all, the bat is your responsibility. Second, it’s not fair to accuse someone of being a thief.”

  “But he is.”

  Grandpa cleared his throat. “Remember last Halloween? C.J. blamed you for eating all of the peanut butter cups. How did that make you feel?”

  Rhino glanced at C.J., who was fighting back a smile. “Not good,” Rhino said. “That was different. I didn’t eat them.”