293 pages
Realistic Fiction/Sports/Baseball

Every good sports novel is about more than the score of the game or the plays in it.  It develops characters and conflict that draw the reader in.  That being said, someone who knows what a 6-4-3 double play is will appreciate the story behind Batting Order with a bit more enthusiasm than the rest.  Matt and Ben are very different baseball players with different home lives too.  Both boys have their own baggage off the field, and for that they need to build some trust.  Matt is small but smart and mighty, and his softball-loving mom has utter respect for the game and all the intricacies of it.  Ben, on the other hand, is a power player who was raised to “Swing for the fence!” no matter what.  If the two of them don’t learn from one another, their team doesn’t stand a chance!