I shook off the numbness in my arm. I headed toward the homerun derby and started to stretch.
“You okay, Griff?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
I turned to see my dad with a huge grin on his face. “So, looks like my son’s going to be playing for the Hurricanes next year!”
I smiled back. “Hope so.”
“Hope? Trust me, you’re a guarantee.”
I took a high five from him, glad he was excited for me.
Carson jogged to a stop. “Hi, Uncle Ted.”
“How you doing, Carson?”
“Good.”
“Don’t let me stop you boys. I’ll be in the stands.”
Carson hit first, smoking line drives, one after the other. After his ten pitches he was all smiles.
“Looks like you were never gone.”
“Can’t tell you how good that felt. Thanks, coz.”
“What did I do?”
“Griff, you cleared my name, got me back on the Sharks…”
“Oh, that. You’re welcome.”
Carson laughed and handed me the bat. “You’re up.”
I took the bat and stepped in front of the pitching machine. My eye was on the ball, but my mind was reeling with the events of the last few days. I took a deep breath. With this whole Wade thing taken care of, I could focus on doing my best. Maybe even lead this team to the playoffs.
The first ball came in high, and I smacked it over second base. I sent the next pitch way up into the outfield. My next hit had a nice arc and dropped deep over first base. Number four could’ve been better, but I was riding high. It felt great to have such a heavy weight lifted off my shoulders. Five, six and seven were hit low and hard. In a game, they all would’ve gotten me on base. Eight came in low, and I stretched for it. It was a line drive and I could’ve taken somebody’s head off with it. I swung hard
at the ninth ball. It had legs but started to drift foul. The tenth didn’t stand a chance. I got all of it, finding its sweet spot. Maybe lifting all those golf bags at the club was paying off.
I was surprised when I saw it going for the fence. I lifted my bat into the air and watched as the ball carried over and landed in Lake Wade.
Acknowledgments
Southwest Florida, with its endless beaches, golf courses and relaxed atmosphere, has been my home away from home for many winters. My family has always allowed me time to explore and piece together scenes and plots for my stories. Their support continues to be invaluable.
To Amy Collins, my editor, who helped me to sharpen the characters, boost the conflicts and flesh out the themes. Thank you.
Steven Barwin is a middle-school teacher in Toronto, Ontario. He is the author of Hurricane Heat in the Orca Sports series and several Lorimer Sports Stories novels, including Fadeaway, Rock Dogs, SK8ER and Icebreaker, which was chosen as a Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens selection. For more information, visit www.stevenbarwin.com.
Titles in the Series
orca sports
Above All Else
Jeff Ross The Drop
Jeff Ross
Absolute Pressure
Sigmund Brouwer Edge of Flight
Kate Jaimet
All-Star Pride
Sigmund Brouwer Fly Away
Nora Rock
Blazer Drive
Sigmund Brouwer Flying Feet
James McCann
Boarder Patrol
Erin Thomas Gravity Check
Alex Van Tol
Break Point
Kate Jaimet Hardball
Steven Barwin
Chief Honor
Sigmund Brouwer Haze
Erin Thomas
Sigmund Brouwer Hitmen Triumph
Sigmund Brouwer
Crossover
Jeff Rud Hurricane Heat
Steven Barwin
Dawn Patrol
Jeff Ross Hurricane Power
Sigmund Brouwer
Dead in the Water
Robin Stevenson Jumper
Michele Martin Bossley
Kicker
Michele Martin Bossley Thunderbird Spirit
Sigmund Brouwer
Maverick Mania
Sigmund Brouwer Tiger Threat
Sigmund Brouwer
Oil King Courage
Sigmund Brouwer Titan Clash
Sigmund Brouwer
Paralyzed
Jeff Rud Topspin
Sonya Spreen Bates
Powerslide
Anita Daher
Razor’s Edge
Nikki Tate Underhand
M.J. McIsaac
Rebel Glory
Sigmund Brouwer Venom
Nikki Tate
Scarlet Thunder
Sigmund Brouwer Winter Hawk Star
Sigmund Brouwer
Sidetracked
Deb Loughead
Slam Dunk
Kate Jaimet
Squeeze
Rachel Dunstan Muller
orca sports
For more information on all the books
in the Orca Sports series, please visit
www.orcabook.com.