A Baseball Mystery for Kids

The Disappearing Baseball Gloves

Suspects:
Mat
Joey
Clarence
Spike

Bayside Christian little league teams were getting ready for the first day of the season. The dugout was nestled snugly beneath a shady cypress tree. Little leaguers littered the baseball diamond as the coach and two of the players carried equipment to the fence near the third base line.

"Hey, Coach," Mat said, "I wanna be the pitcher."

"I'm a good catcher," Joey said, dropping the bag of bats. "Do you think I can be catcher?"

"I'm going to assign you your positions today," the coach said, "according to your performance."

"Mat, Joey!" Clarence called from the infield. "Come on out here and pitch some baseballs around!"

""We're coming," Mat said, snatching up his baseball glove. "Throw me a few fast balls."

"Wait for me!" Joey said, scooping up his glove.

Clarence pointed towards the dugout. "Look at that!"

The boys turned, grinning at a German Shepard who had wandered onto the field. "Hey Coach!" Clarence shouted. "Looks like we got ourselves a mascot!"

The German Shepard wiggled all over as the boys came running up to him. Matt let the dog sniff his hand. "Can we keep him for a mascot, Coach?"

"I don't see a problem with it."

"What should we call him?"

"Spike!" Clarence called out. "Let's name him Spike!"

Before the week was out, the coach had made his choices and as it turned out, most of the boys got the positions they had asked for.

It was their first real game, top of the third, and their team was up to bat. Spike came strolling around the dugout. "Hey Spike," Mat said, patting his head on his way to the field. Spike wagged his tail as the boys coaxed him into the dugout. Mat was the best hitter on the team, and pep shouts came from the dugout as he headed for the batter's box.

"Here batter, batter, batter," came from the other team as he stepped up to the plate. The pitcher relaxed, glancing at the first baseman, went into his windup, and fired the ball forward. The crack of the bat could be heard all the way into the outfield as Mat made perfect contact.