Joey Pigza Loses Control: Part 3

By JACK GANTAS

If the batter hits a ball that is caught by a fielder before it touches the ground, the batter has flied out. If a fielder catches a bouncing hit and throws the ball to the fielder guarding first base before the batter reaches it, the hitter has grounded out.

A hitter does not have to hit the ball to get on base. If the pitcher throws four bad pitches, or 'balls', then the batter is advanced to first base by the umpire (who crouches behind the catcher, who is squatting behind home plate catching the throws from the pitcher and secretly signalling what sort of pitches he thinks the pitcher should throw).

Once he is safely on base, the batter is called a 'runner'. The object of the game is to get as many runners as possible all the way around the three bases so that each of them can touch home plate and score a run.

Publisher: Random House

Price: $16.95

Age group: 8-11 years