The baseball team sign up sheet was on the wall at school. Jordan looked at it every time he walked by. He really wanted to sign up. But he was worried. Most of the other kids had started playing baseball when they were in first grade. Jordan was in third grade. He had never played before.              

“Third grade is not too late to try a new sport,” his mom insisted. His dad agreed. But his older brother wasn’t so sure.             

“I tried soccer in third grade,” he said. “Everyone else had been playing since preschool. I never caught up.”             

“Well, to be fair, you never really tried very hard,” said Jordan’s mom.            

“True,” said his brother. “I hated soccer.”          

Jordan knew he wouldn’t hate baseball. He liked going to games with his family. They cheered for the Washington Nationals.       

Jordan asked his best friend Avery is he should try. She played softball. She was one of those kids who had been playing since first grade.       

“Sure!” she said. “You can catch up fast. I’ll help you!”            

“Thanks!” said Jordan. That decided it. The next day at school, Jordan put his name on the sign up sheet.            

The first practice was in two weeks. Every day after school, Jordan and Avery played catch. Avery taught Jordan the rules and how to run the bases. He used her bat to practice hitting. By the end of the two weeks, he could hit the ball three out of four times.              

“Welcome to the team!” said Jordan’s new coach. “We’re really glad to have you.”            

After practice, the coach asked Jordan if he had played on a different team in first or second grade. “Nope!” said Jordan. “This is my first time.”           

“I couldn’t tell,” said the coach. “You look like you’ve played before.”          

Jordan smiled. Then he ran home. He couldn’t wait to call Avery.