Now We're Talking (Scrappers, 4)

The Scrappers have made it halfway through the season and are starting to look pretty good. If only Ollie's habit of talking himself through his pitches -- out loud -- wasn't getting so much attention from the other teams. Ollie knows that the other kids think he's weird, but if he doesn't talk he can't concentrate, and then he can't control the ball. With so much pressure to "act normal," Ollie is starting to think that he can't make it through the season. Whenever he messes up a play, he just knows that the Scrappers think he's the weak link -- especially that bigmouth, Gloria Gibbs. He is all set to quit...but a small part of him wonders if the coach is right -- that he has what it takes to pitch, if he can just believe in himself. If he can do that, the Scrappers may still have a fighting chance to win the championship. Now We're Talking is the fourth book in Dean Hughes's new Scrappers series. Each book focuses on a different member of this unseasoned but determined baseball squad. In one summerlong season, each player learns something about him or herself and what it is that defines a team.