Prime Time Pitcher (10 page)

“Well, we had a job to do that was even more important than the game!” Koby said.

“We’ll have the final documentary finished by tomorrow,” Buck said, “and ready to air for prime time — Friday night at eight!
I have a sneaking suspicion your family will be watching it.”

“Yeah, and I’m going to be sure to make a copy and send it to Chuck!”

Buck winked at him, then disappeared back into the station.

Mr. Caplin looked at Koby quizzically. “What was that all about?”

“You’ll see.” Koby smiled mysteriously.

When Koby and his dad pulled in the driveway, Mrs. Caplin rushed out to greet them. “Welcome home, champ!”

“Thanks, Mom,” Koby said. “C’mon, you guys. It’s five to six, and Dan said the new promo’s gonna run during the six o’clock
news. I’ll get the VCR ready.”

His parents hurried in after him. They gathered in the living room.

“Dad picked up some pizza earlier for the special event. I’ll heat it up,” Mrs. Caplin said.

Koby put a cassette in the VCR and flicked on the television just in time. The promo started with the end of the game against
the Firebirds. Dan’s voiceover announced the Cardinals’ victory over Runkle and their championship status. He went on
to say that Channel 5 was proud to present a profile of one of the team’s key players.

The camera closed in on Koby. He was pointing to his teammates and saying, “I’m not the story, the Cardinals are!”

“Well done!” Koby’s dad said.

“I’m proud of you, Koby,” his mom added. “Very proud!”

“Thanks, Mom!” Koby said with a grin. “Now, how about that pizza?”

Koby scarfed down a few slices, then sat back.

“That was delicious,” he said. “Can I go outside and throw the ball against the pitch-back? I’m a little too pumped up to
start on my homework!”

“Go right ahead. You’ve earned it,” his mom said.

Koby grabbed his mitt and a ball and headed out the door to the driveway. He got the pitch-back out of the garage and set
it up at the end of the driveway in front of the garage door.

Koby threw a mixture of overhand fastballs and sidearm off-speed pitches. For the first time in weeks, he found he was concentrating
solely on pitching. Not on where the camera was. Not on
what he was going to say. And not on who else was talking or writing about him. It felt great.

“Hey, Kobe!” somebody yelled as Koby went into his windup.

Koby turned around to see who it was.

“Hey, Tug!” he said with a startled look on his face.

“I was watching the six o’clock news with my mom when the promo came on for the documentary. I just wanted to tell you I thought
it was pretty cool.” Tug extended his hand to Koby.

Koby shook it. “Do you want to come over and watch the documentary with us tomorrow night?”

Tug broke into a huge grin. “I wouldn’t miss a chance to see myself on camera — even if it is as a second banana to you!”

Monticello Middle School

June 17

by Sara Wilson

When I looked in my sportswriter crystal ball at the beginning of the season, I saw some improvement, perhaps, and a bit of
the ol’ Monticello pride returning. But a championship — hardly!

I remember asking Coach T. for his thoughts about the upcoming season. He said that Monticello has had a string of rough seasons
but that’s behind them. “You can’t steal second if you keep your foot on first.”

Well, we not only stole second — we took the whole diamond!

I’m not going to take space here to recap the final game against the Runkle School Firebirds, but in case you missed the action,
the final score of Thursday’s game was Monticello 4, Firebirds 3.

I’m not going to mention any players by name because every player on the team is a champ.

You see, today’s column is really just a thank-you note to the Cardinals and to Coach T., because the biggest winners were
the fans.

This was a season designed for prime time. Thanks for the memories.

This is Sara Wilson, signing off till September.

(Remember, you have one more chance to relive the memory: Check out the Channel 5 documentary Friday night at eight.)

Friday night at five of eight.

Koby’s dad pushed some additional chairs into the living room so there would be a seat for everyone they had invited.

“Is there any more popcorn?” Tug asked.

“Yeah, I’ll get it. You’re really a bottomless pit tonight, Tug,” Koby said as he ran into the kitchen.

“Hey, Kobe, hurry up! It’s starting,” Sara yelled.

Koby ran through the kitchen door, balancing a bowl of popcorn and some sodas. “Dad, can you flip in the cassette, please.
I want a copy of this!”

The program started with a voiceover of Dan: “What you are about to see is the hard work and triumphs of a middle school athletic
team — the Monticello Middle School Cardinals — as they embark on a sports adventure that will take them to the top of the
Meadowbrook Conference.”

“Wow, is he talking about us?” Koby said with a laugh. “It sounds so official!”

“Yeah, it sounds very ‘newsy.’ “ Tug chipped in. “I wouldn’t even know it was Dan’s voice.”

Dan continued: “We will look at the season through the eyes of a determined and dedicated right-handed pitcher, Koby Caplin
…”

“He’s making you sound pretty good!” Tug said as he threw a pillow at Koby.

“Yeah, you can do all kinds of tricks with television! Shhh, I want to hear this next part!” Koby said as he threw the pillow
back at Tug.

They all watched as the video showed highlights from the season.

“… and hear in Koby Caplin’s own words about what made the Cardinals into a championship team.”

Koby’s voice continued as the voiceover: “There are no prized bears on the Monticello Cardinals. That’s what Coach T. would
tell the team every day —”

“Hey, Kobe, Coach T. will like that you quoted him. It might help with your social studies grade!”

“Cut it out, man, and listen! This next part I want to see!”

The camera panned Chuck’s room, ending with a close-up of the Team Spirit Award on the shelf.

Koby continued: “… and this is what every player
should work toward, whether you actually get the trophy or not. The real award is trying your hardest and doing all that you
can do to work together as a team. My brother, Chuck, taught me that. And if he’s watching now, Chuck, I want you to know
I got your message. And Sara didn’t even have to reveal you as her ‘secret source.’ ”

Sara shot Koby a smile over her shoulder. Koby gave her a thumbs-up, then turned his attention back to the screen.

“Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the real goal. You can get too bogged down comparing stats, or looking for your name
in the paper, or trying to win games single-handedly. I ought to know. It happened to me while this documentary was being
filmed.”

Koby glanced around the room at his friends and family. Each of them had a smile on his or her face.

“But middle school team athletics aren’t about the individual. They’re about learning to be a part of the whole, building
friendships, and reaching together for the prize. Well, the Cardinals won the prize this year — and I’m happy that I was able
to be a part of it all. GO, CARDINALS!”

Epilogue

Applause filled the room as Principal Sleeper introduced the team at the baseball awards banquet. As each player was called
up, he handed him a championship certificate and a small trophy.

Coach Tomashiro stepped up to the podium to hand out the two major awards. The cafeteria got very quiet.

“Let me first say that I am proud of every player up here. I’m also proud and very appreciative of all of you out there who
supported us this season. There are two awards that give me a great sense of honor to present. The first is for the Most Valuable
Player of the Meadowbrook Conference, as voted on by all the coaches in the league. I am pleased to present this trophy to
our own Koby Caplin.”

Everyone jumped to their feet and applauded. “Koby, could you please come forward to accept this trophy?”

Koby stood from his seat and walked up to the stage. Coach Tomashiro shook his hand and handed him the trophy.

“Thanks, Coach!” Koby said above the roar of the crowd. He stood quietly as Coach Tomashiro began his next presentation.

“And it is my equal pleasure and honor to present this next trophy for the Team Spirit Award. Tug McCue, would you please
step forward!”

Tug leaped onto the stage two steps at a time, then took his place next to Koby.

“Hey, shove over — you’re in my light,” Koby whispered to his pal. Tug gave him a sidelong glance and met Koby’s grin. The
boys’ laughter mingled with the sound of applause. Each with an arm around the other’s shoulders, they held their trophies
aloft and gave a whoop.

Baseball Pals	Face-Off
Baseball Turnaround	Fairway Phenom
The Basket Counts	Football Fugitive
Catch That Pass!	Football Nightmare
Catcher with a Glass Arm	The Fox Steals Home
Center Court Sting	Goalkeeper in Charge
Challenge at Second Base	The Great Quarterback Switch
The Comeback Challenge	Halfback Attack *