byMeishGoldishillustratedbyR.W.AlleyCopyright©byHarcourt,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopy,recording,oranyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher.RequestsforpermissiontomakecopiesofanypartoftheworkshouldbeaddressedtoSchoolPermissionsandCopyrights,Harcourt,Inc.,6277SeaHarborDrive,Orlando,Florida32887–6777.Fax:407-345-2418.HARCOURTandtheHarcourtLogoaretrademarksofHarcourt,Inc.,registeredintheUnitedStatesofAmericaand/orotherjurisdictions.PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericaISBN10:0-15-350539-7ISBN13:978-0-15-350539-3OrderingOptionsISBN10:0-15-350335-1(Grade5Below-LevelCollection)ISBN13:978-0-15-350335-1(Grade5Below-LevelCollection)ISBN10:0-15-357535-2(packageof5)ISBN13:978-0-15-357535-8(packageof5)Ifyouhavereceivedthesematerialsasexaminationcopiesfreeofcharge,HarcourtSchoolPublishersretainstitletothematerialsandtheymaynotberesold.Resaleofexaminationcopiesisstrictlyprohibitedandisillegal.Possessionofthispublicationinprintformatdoesnotentitleuserstoconvertthispublication,oranyportionofit,intoelectronicformat.1234567891017912111009080706byMeishGoldishillustratedbyR.W.AlleyIneverimagineditwouldconcludethisway.Itwasthelastdayoftheseason,andourteamwastiedforfirstplace.Wehadtowinthisgame.WehadtobeattheBears.Thenwewouldreignassoftballchampions.Alleyeswereonme.Ihadhiteighteenhomerunsthisyear.Theseasonrecordwasnineteen.Ahomeruntodaywouldtietherecord,buttwowouldbreakit.3Fansfilledtheseatsatthepark.Myfamilysatbehindhomeplate—Mom,Dad,andmylittlebrother,evenUncleJackandAuntBettywerethere.Theywerecheeringbeforethegamestartedbecausetheywereexcited.Mytwinsister,Madison,wasalsothere,butshewasn’tinthestands.Shesatonthebenchnexttome.Sheplayedontheteam,too.4Maybeplayedisn’tthebestword.Madisonwasontheteam.Shejustdidn’tplaymuch.Shewasn’tverygoodsinceshecouldn’thittheball.CoachTaylorwasasoftballmaven.Sheknewalotaboutstrategy,butsherarelyusedMad...
