Free Super-sized Slugger by Cal Ripken Jr. Page A

something clicked immediately. He could feel it in his warm-up throws. He wasn’t teetering all over the place. Everything seemed so much smoother. Every pitch was around the plate, even when he threw hard. Joey didn’t have to make one sprawling kick save.
    With his newfound confidence, Cody set the Tigers down in order. The first batter grounded out to Jordy at first. The next batter hit a pop foul near the Tigers’ dugout that Jordy also gloved. Cody’s fastball was popping into Joey’s mitt. And the next batter—the Tigers’ number-three hitter—struck out to end the inning.
    This time Cody sprinted off the mound with a big smile on his face, accepting fist bumps from his teammates as he neared the dugout. Marty stood on the top step grinning like a proud parent.
    â€œYou’re a genius!” Cody said, wrapping the skinny kid in a bear hug.
    â€œThere are those who think so,” Marty said, shrugging. “Who am I to argue?”
    The Orioles were still clinging to a 3–2 lead when Cody took the mound for the sixth inning. But he was in a groove now. The Tigers’ cleanup hitter, a big kid named Manny, hit a fly ball to deep center field that scared Cody—until Yancy ran it down for the first out.
    But Cody got the Tigers’ number-five hitter on a slow grounder to second base. And when he fanned the next batter on three straight fastballs for the Orioles’ seventh straight win, Joey pumped his fist and ran out to high-five his pitcher, touching off a small celebration near the mound.
    â€œWay to close it out,” Coach said, beaming. “I knew you had it in you.”
    â€œ I didn’t,” Cody said, shaking his head. “But you were right about me not relying enough on the rest of the guys. Thanks, Coach.”
    After the two teams lined up and slapped hands, Willie pretended to interview Cody, holding his fist out like it was a microphone and he was a TV sideline reporter.
    â€œWe’re talking with one of the stars of today’s game, Orioles relief pitcher Cody Parker,” Willie began. “Cody, terrific outing. What was working for you out there?”
    â€œWell, I felt good today,” Cody said, playing along perfectly. All those hours of watching ESPN SportsCenter had actually paid off. “I was locating my pitches real well, changing speeds, able to keep the hitters off balance.”
    Willie nodded earnestly. “Now, I know you hadn’t pitched in quite a few years,” he continued. “That must have been a little nerve-racking, moving from third base to the bullpen on such short notice.”
    â€œI just want to help the team,” Cody said. “Whatever they want me to do is fine with me. The bottom line is, I just want to help us win a ring.”
    â€œThey don’t give rings in this league, Cody,” Willie said with a straight face. “They only give you a trophy if you win the championship. And it’s not very big, either.”
    Cody tried not to crack up. “Rings, trophies, it’s all the same to me,” he said. “I’m all about the team.”
    â€œWell, there you have it,” Willie said, pretending to turn to an imaginary camera. “A young phenom came of age today. Cody Parker closes out the Tigers in a thrilling three to two Orioles win. Now back to you guys in the booth.”
    With the “interview” over, the rest of the Orioles burst out laughing. Willie and Cody slapped hands and laughed too. For Cody, it had pretty much been a perfect day. But as he gathered up his stuff and said good-bye to his teammates, he had the eerie feeling that someone was watching him. Turning around, he saw Dante standing by the corner of the dugout, glowering at him.
    â€œYou think you’re pretty funny, don’t you, fat boy?” he said. He spit out a mouthful of sunflower seeds and nodded grimly. Without another word, he slung his equipment bag