The Boy Who Didnt Want to Catch

The Boy Who Didnt Want to Catch

By Michael Stahl

Davidwasagoodboy.Hehadaflockoffriends,a94%averageinschool,andalwaysate
dinnerwithhisfamilyinthediningroom,wherehepracticedgoodmanners.Davidnever
talkedbacktohiselders.Healwaysrespectedtheirwisdom.Likemostteenagedboys,he
enjoyedgoingforpizzaandicecreamwithhisfriends;heevenrelishedstudyinghistory
lessonsoutofhistextbook.ThethingDavidlikedtodomostthoughwasplaybaseball.Andhe
wasanoutstandingplayer,too.

Davidwasonlyintenthgrade,buthewasthestartingleftfielderonthevarsitybaseballteam.
Usually,sophomoreswouldplayonthejuniorvarsityteamandtaketimetogetreadytoplay
withtheolderkids,butDavidwassoadvancedthatthecoachofthevarsityteam,Coach
Adams,welcomedhimontotheadvancedsquad.

Daviddidnottakeplayingonthevarsityteamforgranted.Becausehewastheyoungestkid
ontheteam,heknewheneededtoputinextraeffortjusttocompetewithhisteammates.
CoachAdamsrecognizedDavidsdesireandabilityandwouldoftentelltherestoftheplayers
tofollowDavidsexample.Onedaythough,anunfortunateeventcreatedaconflictforDavid
likenoneotherbefore.

Itwasawarm,sunnyTuesdayafternoonandtheWoodsideHighSchoolWoodchucks,Davids
team,werepracticingatanearbypark.Davidwasoutinhisusualspot,leftfield,tossinga
baseballbackandforthwithCaesar,thecenterfielder.Suddenly,theyheardacryofpain
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The Boy Who Didnt Want to Catch

comingfromtheothersideofthediamond.Sammy,theircatcher,hurthisanklewhile
practicinghishandlingofwildpitches.TherestofSammysteammatesquicklysurrounded
him,whileCoachAdamspickedhimupandhelpedSammywalkovertoabench.Sammy
struggledwiththeshortwalk;hecouldbarelyputanyweightonhisleftleg.Still,fightingback
tears,Sammytoldtheteam,Illbealright.ImnotgoingtomissFridaysgame.Thatwasjust
likeSammy.Hewasatoughguy,whichwasexactlythereasonheplayedcatcherforthe
Woodchucks.

CoachAdamscancelledtherestofpracticebecausehehadtodriveSammytothehospital
whereSammysparentswouldbewaiting.David,liketherestofhisteammates,wasvery
upset.Theywenttothepizzeriatogethertotalkabouttheincident.

DoyoureallythinkSammywillbeabletoplaythisFriday?askedCaesaratonepoint.Itsan
importantgame.Weregoingtoneedhim.

Caesarwasnotexaggerating.TheWoodchuckswerehavingagoodseason,winningelevenout
oftwelvegames,butwereonlyinsecondplace.TheBaronsofRockefellerHighhadwonallof
theirgames,includingtheirfirstoneagainsttheWoodchucks.TheBaronsslaughteredthe
Woodchucks131.Inthatgame,Davidfailedtogetahittheonlytimethathadhappenedall
season.DavidwantedtobeattheBaronsbadly,justaseveryoneelsedid.IftheWoodchucks
wouldbevictorious,theydbetiedforfirstplacewithonlythreegamesremaininginthe
regularseason.

Thenextmorning,Davidwassittingathisdeskinhomeroom.

Didyouhearthenews?askedTyler,whosatinfrontofDavidandwastheyoungerbrother
ofCorey,theseniorstartingpitcheroftheWoodchucks.

Whatnews?repliedDavid,whohadturnedoffhisphoneearlylastnighttostudyforhis
Historyexam.

Isentyouatext,saidTyler.Sammyseverelysprainedhisankle.Coreycalledhimlastnight.
ItdoesntlooklikeSammyisgoingtoplayfortherestoftheseason.

Davidwasshocked.HeknewSammyhadhurthimself,butalsoknewSammysreputation.The
catcherofanybaseballteamhastoworkreallyhardandgothroughgruelingpractices,notto
mentionthegamesthemselves.Catchershavetobeabletocrouchdowntocatchallthose

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The Boy Who Didnt Want to Catch

pitches.Theyhavetothinkofpitchingstrategiestogettheotherteamsbattersout.Ifabatter
hitsagroundball,catchersmustrunupthefirstbaselinealongwiththebatter,justincasean
infielderaccidentallythrowstheballtoofarfromthefirstbaseman.Thecatcheristhereto
backuphisteammate.Catchershavetotakeoffalloftheirequipmentinthedugoutthe
chestprotector,themask,andtheshinguardsthathavesomanybucklesandstrapswhenit
istheirturntobat.Fieldingandbattingwashardenoughevenwithoutallofthoseextra
duties!Sammywassostrong,suchahardworker,andverytough.Davidsimplycouldnot
comprehendthatSammywouldmissanygame,especiallyagameasimportantastheone
againsttheBaronsthatcomingFriday.

Laterthatday,atthestartofbaseballpractice,CoachAdamspulledDavidasideandaskedto
speaktohim.

TheteamneedsyoutobethecatcherthisFriday,CoachAdamstoldDavid.Wemightneed
youtocatchtherestoftheseasontoo.

Areyouserious?askedDavid.Healmostneverquestionedadults,butthistime,hecouldnot
holdbackhissurprise.

CoachAdamsexplainedthatDavidwouldbethebestchoicebecausehewasthehardest
workerontheteam.Eventhoughhehadnoexperiencebeingacatcher,CoachAdamswas
confidenthewastheoneplayerwhocouldhandleit.Afterall,hehadtriedsohardtoplayon
ateamwiththeolderkids,andhadsucceededindoingso.

Well,Coach,whateveryouthinkisbestfortheteam,Davidsaid.However,Daviddidnot
reallywanttoplaycatcher.Heonlyagreedtoitbecauseofthelessonshisparentstaughthim
aboutrespectingadults,especiallycoaches.InDavidsmindthough,hethoughtplaying
catcherwouldbetoodifficultforhimandtherestoftheteamwouldsufferasaresult.

Davidwentintothedugouttoputonalltheheavycatchersgear.Ashewalkedtowardhome
plate,hesawCorey,Fridaysstartingpitcherandtheirbest,waitingforhimonthepitchers
mound.CoachAdamsstoodclosebywatching.

Dontworry,David,shoutedCorey.Youregoingtobefine.Wellworkoneverythingwe
needtogether.Thatswhatteammatesarefor.

Thatsright!agreedCoachAdams.

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The Boy Who Didnt Want to Catch

Davidappreciatedthewordsofsupport,butstayedquiet.Hewastooworriedabouthisnew
positionandthebiggameagainsttheBaronstospeak.

WhenDavidwokeupthenextmorning,hislegsweresosorethathewashavingtrouble
walking.Hethoughttohimself,Thisisabadidea.

Davidwentthroughthedaytired.HegothisHistorytestbackfromhisteacherwithascoreof
100%,whichmadehimfeelalittlebitbetteraboutmissingallofthosetextsfromhis
teammatesaboutSammytwonightsbefore,butdidnothingtohelphisknees.

Atpracticethatafternoon,whileputtingonthecatchersequipment,Davidheardavoicecall
outtohim.Hey!Theresmyreplacement!ItwasSammycomingtowardshimoncrutches.
Davidwasgladtoseehiminsuchgoodspirits.

Howareyoufeelingtoday?SammyaskedDavid.

Tired.Andsore,repliedDavidwithagroan.

SammylaughedandtoldDavidthatwasnotsurprisingatall.

Youllfeelbettertomorrow,insistedSammy.Believeme.Iknow.

Davidsaidhedhopedso.TomorrowwasthegameagainsttheBarons!Sammycouldseethe
worryinDavidseyesandcouldhearitinhisvoicetoo.

Listen,kid,beganSammy,whowastwoyearsolderthanDavid.Theteamneedsyoutodo
this.CoachAdamsdidntpickyournameoutofahattobethenewcatcher.Youretheone
playeronthisteamwhocoulddothiswithmebeinghurt.Thefactthatyouevenmadethe
teamasourstartingleftfielderasasophomoreshowedhowhardyourewillingtowork.Isaw
that;Coreydidtoo.NottomentionCoachAdamsandeveryoneelse.

Davidbegantounderstandwhatwasmostimportant.Itwasntjusttheresults.Itwashow
hardoneworkedtoachievethoseresults.

DavidgotthroughpracticethatThursdayand,sureenough,justasSammysaid,Davidfelt
readytogoFriday.Hejustneededtogetusedtocrouchingalittlebit.

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The Boy Who Didnt Want to Catch

Corey,thestartingpitcher,wasobviouslyreadytogotoo.Hepitchedthebestgameofthe
year,tellingDavidthroughoutthegamethatDavidwasgivinghimexcellentchoicesofpitches
tothrow.

TheWoodchucksbeattheBarons30,tyingthemforfirstplace,andtheyscoredtheirthree
runsallbecauseofthehomerunDerekhitinthesixthinning.DerektookDavidsplacethat
dayinleftfield.

Afterthegame,DavidwasthehappiestofalltheWoodchucks,eventhoughhedidnotgeta
hit.Davidknewthatabigreasonfortheteamsvictorywasthatheagreedtobethecatcher.
Fromthenon,helovedplayingcatcherbecausehecouldhelptheWoodchuckswininwayshe
nevercouldbefore.

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Questions: The Boy Who Didnt Want to Catch

Name:

Date:

1. What position did David normally play for the varsity baseball team?
A
B
C
D

right fielder
pitcher
left fielder
catcher

2. What conflict does David face in the story?

A Coach Adams moved David to the junior varsity baseball team after David failed
to get a hit in the last game against the Barons.
B Coach Adams welcomed David on the varsity baseball team even though David
was only a sophomore.
C David is asked to play left fielder in the big game against the Barons even
though he actually wants to play catcher.
D David is asked to play catcher in the big game against the Barons even though
he doesnt want to play catcher.
3. However, David did not really want to play catcher. He only agreed to it because of
the lessons his parents taught him about respecting adults, especially coaches. In Davids
mind though, he thought playing catcher would be too difficult for him and the rest of the
team would suffer as a result.
What can be concluded about how David feels based on this evidence?
A David was beginning to question the lessons his parents taught him about
respecting adults.
B David feared he would not be a good catcher and would hurt the teams
chances of winning as a result.
C David was annoyed that he had to practice being a catcher even though he
really liked being the left fielder.
D David was certain he would help his team win the game even though being
catcher would be too difficult for him.
4. How did the Woodchucks team benefit when David played catcher?
A David played so well as catcher on the Woodchucks team that the team was
able to easily beat the Barons.
B Other players on the Woodchucks team had to work even harder to make up for
the bad way David played as catcher.
C Other players on the Woodchucks team had the chance to play really well
because of Davids new position.
D The Woodchucks team was able to beat the Barons because of the number of
hits David got.
1
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Questions: The Boy Who Didnt Want to Catch

5. What is the main theme of this story?

A
B
C
D

the
the
the
the

importance of baseball in a young mans life

importance of moving on after loss
drawbacks of being motivated by fear
importance and benefits of helping a group

6. Read the sentence: Like most teenaged boys, he enjoyed going for pizza and ice
cream with his friends; he even relished studying history lessons out of his textbook.
The thing David liked to do most though was play baseball.
What does the word relished mean as used in this sentence?
A
B
C
D

enjoyed
detested
consumed
achieved

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

____________ David initially did not want to play catcher, David knew that a big reason
for the Woodchucks victory was that he agreed to be the catcher.
A
B
C
D

Although
Because
Instead
However

8. Why does Coach Adams ask David to play catcher?

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

2
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Questions: The Boy Who Didnt Want to Catch

9. Describe the two ways Davids position as catcher influenced the performance of other
players on the Woodchucks team. Use evidence from the story to support your answer.
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

10. The author states that David loved playing catcher because he could help the
Woodchucks win in ways he never could before. In what ways can David help the team
win in ways he never could before? Use information from the story to support your answer.
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

3
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Teacher Guide & Answers: The Boy Who Didnt Want to Catch

Teacher Guide & Answers

Passage Reading Level: Lexile 900
1. What position did David normally play for the varsity baseball team?
A
B
C
D

right fielder
pitcher
left fielder
catcher

2. What conflict does David face in the story?

A

Coach Adams moved David to the junior varsity baseball team after David failed to get a hit in
the last game against the Barons.
B Coach Adams welcomed David on the varsity baseball team even though David was only a
sophomore.
C David is asked to play left fielder in the big game against the Barons even though he actually
wants to play catcher.
D David is asked to play catcher in the big game against the Barons even though he
doesnt want to play catcher.

3. However, David did not really want to play catcher. He only agreed to it because of the lessons his
parents taught him about respecting adults, especially coaches. In Davids mind though, he thought
playing catcher would be too difficult for him and the rest of the team would suffer as a result.
What can be concluded about how David feels based on this evidence?
A
B

David was beginning to question the lessons his parents taught him about respecting adults.
David feared he would not be a good catcher and would hurt the teams chances of
winning as a result.
C David was annoyed that he had to practice being a catcher even though he really liked being
the left fielder.
D David was certain he would help his team win the game even though being catcher would be
too difficult for him.

4. How did the Woodchucks team benefit when David played catcher?
A

David played so well as catcher on the Woodchucks team that the team was able to easily beat
the Barons.
B Other players on the Woodchucks team had to work even harder to make up for the bad way
David played as catcher.
C Other players on the Woodchucks team had the chance to play really well because of
Davids new position.
D The Woodchucks team was able to beat the Barons because of the number of hits David got.

5. What is the main theme of this story?

A
B
C
D

the importance of baseball in a young mans life

the importance of moving on after loss
the drawbacks of being motivated by fear
the importance and benefits of helping a group
2013 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Teacher Guide & Answers: The Boy Who Didnt Want to Catch

6. Read the sentence: Like most teenaged boys, he enjoyed going for pizza and ice cream with his
friends; he even relished studying history lessons out of his textbook. The thing David liked to do most
though was play baseball.
What does the word relished mean as used in this sentence?
A
B
C
D

enjoyed
detested
consumed
achieved

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

____________ David initially did not want to play catcher, David knew that a big reason for the
Woodchucks victory was that he agreed to be the catcher.
A
B
C
D

Although
Because
Instead
However

8. Why does Coach Adams ask David to play catcher?

Suggested answer: Coach Adams asked David to play catcher because he was the hardest worker on
the team and was confident he was the one player who could handle it. Students may also note that
Coach Adams asked David to play catcher because Sammy hurt himself and could no longer be the
catcher for the team.
9. Describe the two ways Davids position as catcher influenced the performance of other players on the
Woodchucks team. Use evidence from the story to support your answer.
Suggested answer: Students should note the following:

Corey, the pitcher, told David throughout the game that David was giving him excellent choices of
pitches to throw, and Corey pitched the best game of the year.
Davids move to the catcher position allowed Derek to take Davids left field position. Derek hit a
home run in the sixth inning, helping the Woodchucks win. If David had been in left field, this may
not have happened.

10. The author states that David loved playing catcher because he could help the Woodchucks win in
ways he never could before. In what ways can David help the team win in ways he never could before?
Use information from the story to support your answer.
Suggested answer: Answers may vary and should be supported by the passage. For example, students
may explain that Davids position as catcher allowed him to effectively support the other members on the
team such as when he gave Corey strong choices of pitches to throw. More advanced answers may explain
that David became an even stronger positive example for his team members, as he stepped up and
became catcher for the team, even though it was a difficult thing for him to do. This may inspire other
team members to contribute to the greater good of the team and help the team win.

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