Peggy Harrison - We Love Baseball!

Copyright 2003 by Peggy Harrison. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Random House Childrens Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Harrison, Peggy, 1960 We love baseball! / by Peggy Harrison. p. (A Random House pictureback book) summary: Eli tells all about his baseball team, the Smashers, their equipment and practices, and their game against the Bears. eBook ISBN 978-0-385-37456-9 Trade paperback ISBN 978-0-375-81442-6 1. eBook ISBN 978-0-385-37456-9 Trade paperback ISBN 978-0-375-81442-6 1.

BaseballJuvenile literature. [1. Baseball.] I. Title. II. Series.

GV867.5 .H39 2003 796.357dc21 2002012215 randomhouse.com/kids pictureback, random house and colophon, and please read to me and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc. v3.1 For Evan, my favorite baseball player
Thanks to Pat, Abigail and Cameron Scharf, Karen Ryan, Mary Michaela Murray, David Murray, Jim Waite and the McIntire Little League, Barbara Murray and Charlottesville T-ball, Blue Ridge Graphics, Downtown Athletics, Alana Magri, Richard, Ayla, and Mariah Palermo, Cliff Hayden, the parents, and all the baseball players: Olivia W. Allen, Garret and Ryan Brown, Amir Carter, Keith and Meg Cassells-Hamby, River Dale Frazier, Jacqueline Gunning, Elijah Haden, Evan Harrison-Bibb, Daniel Jones, Seyoun Kim, Charlie Murray, Bryan and Henry Pollard, Joshua and Zachary Scharf, Vivek Srivatsa, Marco Sun, Ravon Tinsley, Dixon and Katherine White, and Tr Wood.

Hi, my name is Eli. This spring, Im going to play on my first real baseball team! Before the season starts, my dad helps me pick out my veryown baseball glove. He tells me to pound the pocket with my fist to see how the glove fits.

I try on lots of gloves, until I finally find one thats just my size! Now Im ready to PLAY BALL! At our first practice, Coach Pat gives out jerseys with our teams name on them. Were called the Smashers because were going to smash the ball way into the outfield! Our coaches say its important to always wearprotective gear. Batters wear batting helmets to protect their heads. Catchers wear chest protectors, leg guards, and masks to keep them safe from flying balls and bats! Whoa! Whos that under all that gear? Its my best friend, Josh! Hes going to be our catcher. Wow, we look just like pros! Whos ready to play ball? asks Coach Karen. Theres a lot to learn! Our coaches tell us the field we play on is called a baseball diamond. Theres a lot to learn! Our coaches tell us the field we play on is called a baseball diamond.

Thats because the four bases make the shape of a diamond. Inside the diamond is called the infield. Outside the diamond is called the outfield. We learn to catch different kinds of hits A ground ball is when the baseball comes bouncing along the ground. When we see a ground ball, we get in front of the ball, then bend down close to the ground to catch it. A fly ball is when the ball comes soaring through the air! Fly balls can be hard to catch. A fly ball is when the ball comes soaring through the air! Fly balls can be hard to catch.

Good try, Jacqueline! My favorite part of practice is when we bat. When were up, Coach Karen helps us find the right size batone thats not too heavy to swing! Then she shows us how to grip the bat, one hand over the other. Rivers right-handed, so her right hand goes on top. We wait for our turn on the bench. If you swing at the ball and miss, its called a strike. Three strikes and youre out! If you hit the ball and no one catches it, you can run to first base, or keep running until you get tagged out.

Now its Seyouns turn to bat. He keeps his eye on the ball! He swings!