All-Star Fever (5 page)

Instead, Bus called out to T.V. to wait for him. Together, the two boys rode home.

It wasn’t until later that night that Bus found out who the strange man was. He and his parents had just finished eating dinner
when the doorbell rang. Bus answered it.

“Coach Parker! What are you doing here?” he asked.

Bus stepped aside to let Coach Parker and a second man in. He almost fell back in surprise when he saw who the second man
was.

“Hello, Bus,” the man said with a grin. “Bet you didn’t expect to see me again.”

Before Bus had a chance to answer, Coach Parker interrupted. “I think an introduction is in order. James Crandall, meet Bus
Mercer. Bus Mercer, meet James Crandall — head scout for the county All-Star team.”

Bus just stared, open-mouthed.

Bus’s parents came into the room. “What’s this all about?” his father asked.

“I wanted to talk to Bus face-to-face about the rosters for the All-Star team,” Mr. Crandall said. He turned to Bus and laid
a hand on his shoulder. “Bus, you’re a fine shortstop. But I’m afraid there are two shortstops in the county who have better
statistics than you. We had to choose those two players for the All-Star squad.

“However,” he added before Bus had a chance to react, “you showed me something in today’s game that impressed me. You showed
you’re not afraid to admit when you’ve made some mistakes, and you’re willing to work to correct them. Bus, I would very much
like for you to accept the position of substitute shortstop for the team.”

Bus looked up, confused. “Substitute?”

Mr. Crandall explained, “If for some reason one of the other two shortstops couldn’t play in a game or missed too many practices
or something like that, you would play for the team in his or her place. As a substitute,
you would practice with the team, get a uniform, and be at every game. Your name would be listed with all the other team members.
You might even get a chance to play in one of the games. What do you say?”

Bus didn’t even have to think about it. “When do we start?” he asked eagerly.

The four adults laughed. Then Coach Parker and Mr. Crandall said they had to be going.

After they left, Mr. and Mrs. Mercer gave Bus a big hug. “We’re so proud of you, Bus. It’s not every parent who has a good
athlete
and
a good sport for a son.”

Bus grinned. “And the best thing is, I have something to shoot for next year! Look out, All-Star team! Bus Mercer hasn’t given
up yet!”

Bus Mercer, shortstop for the Peach Street Mudders baseball team, would give his right arm to be picked for the county All-Star
team. And except for one error, his performance during the first game the All-Star scouts attend is good. Bus is determined
to improve his playing in the next two games but finds his concentration is broken by an unlikely distraction: his new mountain
bike! The day after he receives the bike, Bus makes the mistake of breaking the rules of riding set by his parents. When he
doesn’t confess to his disobedience, he is plagued by guilty feelings — and these feelings start to affect his playing ability.
Will Bus set the matter right and prove he’s All-Star quality — on
and
off the field?

Matt Christopher is the bestselling name behind more than seventy sports novels for young readers, including eight other books
in the Peach Street Mudders series. For a complete list of these titles, please turn to the inside back cover of this book.