Chapter 4

Barry's team lost 6 to 5. As they were walking away, Susan, his sister, said "You're a big cheater" to Barry.

Barry asked his sister why she thought that and she said that he always cheats when he wants to win (like when they play board games).

Barry asked her, "What's wrong with wanting to win?"

She explained that it's not fun to win when you cheat.

Later at dinner, Barry's dad asked him how the game went, and Barry told his dad that he got 2 singles and a walk and caught a fly ball. His dad was really proud of him. Barry looked over and saw his sister quietly eating her food, not looking at him (because she knew the truth). Barry felt so badly that he finally told him that he dropped the ball. I think he felt better once he told the truth. I did that once and felt much better after I told my mom the truth.

I wonder if Barry will keep cheating. I think that his dad was disappointed. I wonder if he will ever be the hit-away kid again?

Chapter 3

Barry was out. I thought he was going to be safe, but when he got down on the dirt, the catcher had the ball and was covering the base "like an umbrella" (Christopher). The umpire said, "Out!"

Barry's coach got really mad because he told Barry not to run, but Barry ran to home plate. Barry felt very sad I bet; he was walking slow with his head down so that's what it seemed to me.

Barry had to sit out this inning because the coach said he couldn't play because he didn't listen to the coach. I think that was a good idea. If he listened, he would still be in the game.

The game soon ended and another pitcher on a different team said to Barry that the next time they play them, he wanted to strike Barry out. Will he strike him out? I don't think so because he's the "hit-away kid!"

Chapter 2

After Barry saw his brother and sister on the sideline, he told his sister to shut her mouth because he knew she would tell other people that he dropped the ball. I think that that was a bad idea.

Barry's team started batting and the score was 5 to 6 with the Mudders (Barry's team) having the 5. They needed a run to have the runs tied. Barry got a hit. He made it to third and Monk was up to bat. Monk hit it past first, then Barry started to run to home plate. But, the ball was close to first, so it was close. I think he made it to home because it seemed like he was past half-way to home, even if they did get Monk out.

I wonder if he actually does make it safely.

Chapter 1 -- The Hit-Away Kid by Matt Christopher

The first chapter is about baseball and I love baseball.

Barry caught the ball, dropped it, and he said to the umpire, "I've got it!" But someone on the sideline said that he saw Barry drop the ball.

I found out that the hit-away kid is Barry because on the front, the batter has glasses, and on a page in chapter 1, the player who is dropping the ball on the picture, has glasses, too.

I wonder if this really is Barry. I also wonder who the person on the sideline was and I wonder if this story is true.