The Last Out 

Spring is the best time of the year for the students of Sutton Elementary. The sun is shining. It's always warm. And everyone in the fourth grade plays in the recess baseball games. This year, the games promise to be the best yet. Davy is the pitcher for Mrs. Halloway's team, and Johnny is the catcher. They've been practicing for these games since they were first graders. Even the teachers get into these games, acting as umpires.

The third game of the season proves just how good Davy is. The fourth graders of Ms. Leiland's class have the bases loaded with only one out. Tommy, the best hitter in the fourth grade, is at-bat with two strikes against him. Davy is on the mound, sweating. His team is up by only one run. All eyes are on him as he looks at the signs from Johnny. He shakes his head a few times and decides on a fast ball over the inside corner. Davy winds up and lets go of the ball. It races across the home plate into Johnny's glove. "Strike three!" Mrs. Halloway's class erupts with cheering. "We've won! We've won!"

Davy has a three game win streak Davy tells Johnny, "If it wasn't for my glove, I probably wouldn't have gotten that last strike. This glove, which I've nicknamed 'Rocket', is my good luck charm." No one ever touched Davy's glove. He kept it in a special place in the equipment room, and even the fifth graders didn't mess with it. So when Davy walked into the equipment room before the game against Mr. Belerin's team, everyone was surprised by what he saw. The spot where he kept his glove was empty! The fourth grade playoffs were about to start! "I can't be without my lucky glove during the playoffs."

"Davy, you have to pitch today. We can't let Mr. Belerin's class win a game," Johnny explains. "If they win today, they'll be tied with us for first place."

"I'll try but once this game is over, we are searching for my glove."

"Okay. Let's just think about the game right now."

The game was horrible. Davy just felt so unlucky without his glove that he gave up seven runs on nine hits and walked four. He didn't like to lose, but he didn't know how to pitch without that glove on his hand. It fit perfectly. It had a few tears and holes, but it was the best glove that had ever been worn by any fourth grader because it had a special meaning to Davy. His grandfather gave him that glove. He couldn't imagine not having it.

"Davy, I think I can help you," says Mike. "I like solving mysteries, and I'm sure I can find your glove. First, we need to go back to the scene of the crime, and we can start right after school."

When the final bell rang, Mike, Davy, and Johnny rushed to the equipment room. Mike looked over the room for any clues to what might have happened to Davy's glove.

"What's this?" asks Johnny.

"It's a piece of rope," replies Davy. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Hold onto it. It could be a clue," says Mike. They continue searching for clues but find nothing. "I wonder what that piece of rope could be used for."

Johnny says, "It looks like the rope we use in gym class. Maybe we should go into the gym and look around there."

"That's a good idea. Let's go," exclaims Mike. As they walked into the gym, they spotted some mud just inside the door.

"That looks like mud from the baseball field," says Johnny.

"It is," Mike responds as he bends down to look at it more closely. "The person who took your glove, Davy, has been in this gym. Let's split up and search for more clues. I'll go over toward the coach's office. Johnny, you look under the bleachers. You look around the outside of the floor, Davy."

Johnny and Davy searched and searched for clues but didn't find the glove. They did find out what happened to all those basketballs they lost during winter gym but no sign of a baseball glove anywhere.

"Come here," calls Mike, holding a small piece of leather in his hand.

"What?" ask Johnny and Davy.

"Isn't this a piece of your glove, Davy?"

"Yes. But what's it doing in the gym? How did it get here?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe we should ask Coach Owen if he has seen anyone suspicious walk through the gym." The three walk to Coach Owen's office. Davy was about to knock when Mike stops him. "Look! Coach has your glove."

"That is my glove! Why does he have it?"

"I don't know."

Johnny suggests, "Maybe he just wanted it for himself. Coach always tells you how much he likes that glove."

Davy couldn't understand why Coach would take his glove, but he was determined to get it back. He knocks on the door. Coach Owen turns and looks at the door then walks over and opens it. "Is there something I can do for you boys?" asks Coach Owen.

"Coach, my glove is missing, and we've been looking all over trying to find it. And, well, you see, I think that you have it," Davy says.

"You mean this glove? This glove was a gift to me from an old friend who use to play baseball. He made it to the minors only to get hurt, and he never was able to play again. He knows that I collect baseball gloves, so he gave it to me."

"Sorry, Coach, I thought it was my glove."

"That's okay, Davy. I know how much you like that glove of yours. If I find it, I will bring it to you."

"Thanks."

Davy is sad. There's another game tomorrow. This game determines if his team will be playing in the fourth grade championship game. The fourth grade champion always gets to play the fifth grade champion. And Davy doesn't have his lucky glove.

Davy's sleep is restless that night. He has a terrible dream about the game the next day. In the dream, he was facing Tommy in the bottom of the ninth. The bases are loaded with two outs. All Davy has to do is get one more strike. He decides on a slider, but it gets away from him. Tommy swings. Grand slam! Ms. Leiland's class wins and gets to play in the championship game against the fifth graders. Davy wakes up in a cold sweat. "I have to find my glove!"

When Davy gets to school, everyone is talking about that day's game. He ignores them and keeps walking. He has to concentrate. He can't think of anything during his classes because he is so focused on his glove and the game that he is sure he will lose. Finally, recess comes, and all the children rush outside to get the best seats for the game. Mrs. Halloway's team is up against Ms. Leiland's team to see who will play in the fourth grade championship game against Mr. Belerin's team. They secured a spot in the championship by beating Davy's team the day before.

The game starts badly. Davy gives up a run in the first inning but in the second, Johnny hits a home run to put Mrs. Halloway's team up by one. Davy gains control of his pitching but finds himself in trouble in the bottom of the ninth. Ms. Leiland's team has loaded the bases with two outs, and Tommy steps to the plate. Davy thinks back to the dream he had the night before. He knows what happened in the dream, but he is determined not to let that happen to him today. Johnny signals for a fast ball, and Davy sets himself. He winds up and lets go. Tommy swings. Everyone freezes as the sound of the bat hitting the ball fills the playground. Davy turns and watches the ball fly, certain that it is a grand slam. Ian is playing center field, and he runs back-and-back-and-back until he's up against the wall. He jumps. The ball lands safely in his glove. Davy leaps with excitement, and all his teammates surround him, congratulating him. They're going to the championship!

"I can pitch without my lucky glove," exclaims Davy with a sigh of relief.

"Sure you can, Davy," says Mrs. Halloway. "I knew it all along. That's why I took your glove during the playoffs. You don't need it to help you pitch."

"You took my glove?"

"Yes, I wanted to surprise you. I know how much the glove means to you, so I had it fixed. It was so torn and tattered but now it's brand new." Mrs. Halloway hands Davy's glove to him.

"This is so cool. I never thought it could look like this. Thank you."

"I'm glad you like it, Davy. Now you can use it in the fourth grade championship game next week."

"I will." And he did. He pitched a shut-out in the fourth grade championship game. His team went on to play the fifth graders, and he held them to only one run. Davy's team finished the year as the Sutton Elementary champions, and Davy was the MVP.