Read Online Prime Time Pitcher by Matt Christopher - Free Book Online

driveway.”
    “Not hardly!” Koby said with a big laugh. “I think it’s from eating the famous triple-decker peanut butter and marshmallow
     sandwiches you taught me to make!”
    “Ugh, do you still eat those?” Chuck groaned, holding his stomach. “Great food for an athlete! Now, come on, let’s get home.
     I understand the camera crew is going to show up, and I’m sure you want to get a shower so you can be all pretty for them!”
    An hour later, Koby was clean and dressed in his best casual clothes.
    “Boys, Dan and Buck are here!” Koby’s mom yelled from the downstairs hallway. “I’m sending them up!”
    “OK, Mom!” Koby yelled back as he and Chuckheaded to the hallway at the top of the stairs. “Come on up, you guys!”
    Dan and Buck walked up the stairs. Koby introduced them to Chuck.
    “Thanks for throwing this opportunity to Koby,” Chuck said. “I bet he’s enjoying all the attention and being filmed by you
     guys.”
    “I don’t think we’re going to win an Oscar, but we sure are learning a lot about middle school athletics,” Buck answered.
     “Hopefully we’ll get some good stuff tonight that we can use for our promo ads. Those are going to start to run soon. The
     documentary is scheduled to air on Friday of the week after the last game, against Runkle.”
    “Cool,” Koby said, beaming.
    Koby started to lead them down the narrow hallway to his room. Dan peeked into the open doorway of Chuck’s room.
    “This must be your room, right, Chuck?” asked Dan. “Forgive me for nosing my head in there.”
    “That’s OK,” said Chuck. “Although I think it’s been cleaned up a bit since I’ve been away at school. I can’t find my favorite
     dirty T-shirts hidden under the bed anymore!”
    Dan chuckled.
    “Mind if we start in here with the trophy shelf in the background?” Dan asked.
    “Go right ahead,” Chuck said. “I’m pretty proud of what’s up there.”
    “Sounds good to me,” Koby said, trying to get a word in.
    “Great, then let’s get started. Buck, get a shot of the trophy case, OK? Then if you two will sit here, we can get the best
     angle,” Dan said as he directed Buck where to set up.
    Koby and Chuck sat down and stared directly into the camera.
    “Hey, relax, you guys. It looks like you’re sitting on a bed of nails!” Dan said.
    Koby and Chuck grinned at each other.
    “Good, now that you’re smiling a bit for the camera, we can get started. Chuck, let’s begin with you. I know that you also
     played for Monticello. What was the most memorable thing about playing for MMS, if you can think that far back?” Dan asked
     with a twinkle in his eye.
    “Now, wait a sec,” Chuck protested. “It wasn’t
that
far back! But, to answer your question, I doremember one thing above everything else. It was getting this award.”
    Chuck turned around and picked up his team spirit trophy. Holding it proudly, he said, “This trophy, given for demonstrating
     the most team spirit, meant a lot to me. It was a great honor to get. Now, I certainly wasn’t the greatest player — you can
     ask Coach T. about that—but I gave it all I had. That’s what it was all about for me.”
    The camera zoomed in on the trophy and then closed in on Koby’s face as he watched and listened to Chuck talk.
    “How much of an influence has your brother been on your ball playing?” Dan asked Koby
    “A lot! I remember watching him play at MMS when I was a little kid. They sure didn’t win many games, and—”
    “You can say that again!” Chuck agreed. “When I was in the seventh grade, I think we won only two games and one was from a
     forfeit. The other team’s bus broke down, and they couldn’t make it to the field. Their coach wasn’t able to reschedule, so
     we got the win. I think that was my best game!” He patted his trophy, then put it back up on the shelf.
    “Keep going, Chuck — this is great stuff! You’re on a roll!” Dan said.
    “But what about me?”