The Catcher's Mask Read Free

Sparrow Fisher was on the mound for the Mudders.
    “Okay, fellas,” Coach Parker called, “let’s do a few quick drills, then we’ll have a little infield practice. Once around
     the horn to begin.”
    Sparrow started the drill by hurling the ball to Rudy. Rudy threw the ball to first base. Turtleneck Jones sent it rocketing
     to Nicky at second. Nicky hurled it to T.V. Adams at third, who relayed it back to Rudy.
    “All right! Good throws, guys!” Rudy called. He had never felt better during a warm-up. He was raring to start the scrimmage.
    “Okay, Mudders, no mistakes, no mistakes!”
    Barry McGee came to the plate. “Sheesh, you’re a real loudmouth today, Rudy,” he said. “What’s come over you?”
    Rudy grinned through his mask. “It’s what’s come over my
face
that’s making the difference,” he said mysteriously.
    Barry stared at him, shrugged, then turned to face Sparrow.
    Sparrow’s first pitch was in the dirt in front of home plate. Barry jumped out of the way.But Rudy didn’t even flinch. He snagged the ball before it had a chance to rebound into the backstop.
    “Nice stop, Rudy. Guess what’s over your face is helping,” Barry complimented him. He faced Sparrow again and this time got
     a good pitch, which he sent through the grass toward first.
    José Mendez took a turn at bat next and hit a bouncing grounder toward second.
    Nicky fielded José’s hit cleanly and stepped on the bag to get Barry out. But he bumbled the throw to first and missed making
     the double play.
    “That’s okay, Nicky. Save it for the game instead!” Rudy yelled from behind the plate. Nicky waved to show he’d heard.
    Alfie Maples was up next. The coach said a few words to him. Then Alfie adjusted his glasses and stepped to the plate. He
     let two of Sparrow’s pitches go by. Then, on the third, he suddenly squared his shoulders, slid his tophand toward the fat part of the bat, and tried to lay down a bunt.
    The ball bounced a few feet in front of the plate. Alfie took off to first. José motored to second.
    But Rudy was in motion, too. He scooped up the ball and hurled it to second base just as José prepared to hit the dirt.
    Nicky caught it and whipped his glove around and down to tag José. José’s slide was good, but thanks to Rudy’s accurate throw,
     Nicky’s tag was better. José was out.
    The play didn’t stop there, though. Alfie Maples still hadn’t touched first base.
    “Double play! Double play!” Rudy screamed.
    Nicky rifled the ball to Turtleneck just in time to get Alfie out.
    “All right!” Rudy cried.
    Coach Parker had substitutes Tootsie Malone and Jack Livingston take a rap, then went through the order two more times.

    Even though it was just a practice, Rudy kept a sharp eye on everything that was going on. Once, he caught Tootsie taking
     a big lead off first. He suspected Tootsie, a speedy runner, was going to steal second. Sure enough, as Sparrow completed
     his windup, Tootsie took off.
    Rudy had already jumped up. He caught the ball and rocketed it to Nicky. Tootsie was out by a mile.
    Shortly after that, Coach Parker called it quits.
    “Good practice, guys. Rudy, I haven’t seen you play so well in a while. I don’t know what brought on the sudden change, but
     keep it up!” The coach went on to compliment each of the other boys or to point out instances where they could improve.
    Rudy grinned from ear to ear. He peeked at the mask in his lap.
    It worked!
he thought gleefully.
Thanks, Yogi Berra, wherever you are!

6

    Two days later, the Mudders faced the Bearcats.
    The Bearcats were up first. Rudy crouched behind the plate, ready for action,
Y.B.
mask in place. He could hardly wait for the first pitch.
    The Bearcats’ catcher, Jimmy Sullivan, led off for his team. Jimmy was husky and muscular for a ten-year-old. He could deliver
     the ball a mile if he connected squarely.
    That’s just what he did this time. On Sparrow’s third pitch, Jimmy sent the ball to