Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish Adapted for Reader’s Theater by Courtney Zilliweger

Narrator Amelia Bedelia Grizzlies Tom Bob Jimmy Tornados

Narrator: Amelia Bedelia walks by the baseball team. The Grizzlies team is there.
Amelia Bedelia: I never saw such gloomy faces. Did something terrible happen?
Jimmy: We play the Tornados today, and Donny has the measles. Tom There is no one to take his place
Amelia Bedelia: What about me?
Grizzlies: You! Great!
Amelia Bedelia: But I do not know much about the game.
Tom: I will explain it to you. The idea of the game is to hit the ball and to run to each of the bases. The
other team tries to get the ball and tag you out.
Amelia Bedelia: That is easy enough. Bob Maybe we should warm her up at bat.
Tom: Good idea. Amelia Bedelia, you hit the ball when Bob throws it. Amelia Bedelia All right.
Narrator: Bob pitches the ball, but Amelia Bedelia misses it.
Tom: No, no, you must step in to meet the ball.
Narrator Bob pitches the ball again. And Amelia Bedelia steps in to meet it.
Amelia Bedelia: Ouch! This game hurts!
Narrator: The boys taught Amelia Bedelia how to bat.
Amelia Bedelia: All right, I'm warmed up. In fact, I am hot.
Jimmy: Then be here at two o'clock. The game starts then.
Narrator: Amelia Bedelia goes home and right up to the attic.
Amelia Bedelia: I know there is a uniform here.
Narrator: There was one. She takes a nip here and a tuck there. Soon that uniform was just right.
Amelia Bedelia: That's done, now what should I do until it is time to go? The cookie jar is empty! Well, I
will soon fix that.
Narrator: Amelia Bedelia put some of this and a bit of that into a bowl.
Amelia Bedelia: mixed and she rolled. Soon her cookies were all baked.
Amelia Bedelia: There now, that's done. My goodness! I better be on my way.
Narrator: Amelia Bedelia gets her things and goes to the ball park. Grizzlies Here she is! Here's Amelia
Bedelia!
Grizzlies: Then let's play ball.
Tom: The Tornados are up first. Amelia Bedelia, you stand here. Catch the ball if it comes your way.
Bob: Batter up! Narrator Bob pitches the ball. The batter hits it. He runs to first base.
Tom: Get the ball, Amelia Bedelia. Tag Jack before he gets to second base.
Amelia Bedelia: I must have a tag in here somewhere.
Narrator She tags Jack. Another boy comes up to bat. He hits the ball. The ball lands near Amelia
Bedelia.
Grizzlies: Throw it to first base. Put Matt out.
Narrator: Amelia Bedelia throws the ball to first base. Then she ran and grabbed Matt.
Amelia Bedelia: How far out do you want him?
Grizzlies: Amelia Bedelia! Put him down.
Amelia Bedelia: You sure do change your minds fast. You told me to put him out !
Narrator: Matt gets back on first base. And the game goes on. The next batter misses the ball. The catcher
throws the ball to the pitcher. The pitcher misses it. But Amelia Bedelia catches it.
Grizzlies: Hurry, Amelia Bedelia! Throw the ball! Matt is trying to steal second base.
Amelia Bedelia: Steal second base! That's not nice.
Narrator: Amelia Bedelia runs and picks up second base.
Amelia Bedelia: It's all right now, fellows. Second base is safe.
Grizzlies: For gosh sakes, Amelia Bedelia! Put that back.
Amelia Bedelia: But he was going to steal it.
Tom: It's all right to steal bases. That is part of the game.
Narrator: The Tornados had made two runs. It is the Grizzlies' turn at bat Jimmy has his turn. He hits that
ball hard. He makes it to third base. Now it is Amelia Bedelia's turn.
Bob: Come on, Amelia Bedelia. Make a base hit so Jimmy can come in.
Amelia Bedelia: Which base should I hit?
Tom: Just hit the ball and run to first base!
Amelia Bedelia: All right.
Narrator: That is just what she did.
Jimmy: scores for the Grizzlies. The team cheers. The next player strikes out. The Tornados are at bat
again. The score is Tornados 2,
Grizzlies: 1. The Grizzlies call a time-out.
Jimmy: Amelia Bedelia is not very good in the field.
Tom: She gets all mixed-up.
Bob: Maybe she could be catcher.
Narrator: The boys turn to Amelia Bedelia
Jimmy: You be the catcher.
Amelia Bedelia: What do I do?
Jimmy: Stand behind the batter and catch the ball then throw it back to the pitcher.
Narrator: Amelia Bedelia stands behind the batter. The pitcher throws the ball. The batter was about to hit
it. But Amelia Bedelia pushes him out of the way. And Amelia Bedelia caught the ball.
Amelia Bedelia: I got it, fellows!
Narrator: The whole team groans. The Tornados are very angry. Tornados Put her someplace else. Put her
way out.
Narrator: The Grizzlies put Amelia Bedelia way out in the field. But the game is not going well for the
Grizzlies. The score is Tornados 8, Grizzlies 5. Bases are loaded. Two outs. The Grizzlies are worried.
Grizzlies Please, Amelia Bedelia. Please hit that ball hard.
Narrator: Amelia Bedelia swings at the ball. And oh, how she hits that ball! Grizzlies Run, Amelia
Bedelia, run! Run to first base.
Narrator: Amelia Bedelia ran. Amelia Bedelia Tom says stealing is all right, so I'll just steal all the bases.
I will make sure the Grizzlies win.
Amelia Bedelia: scoops up first base, and second base, and third base. Home! Run home, Amelia Bedelia!
Narrator Amelia: Bedelia looks puzzled, but she did not stop running. And on her way she scoops up
home plate too. The boys were too surprised to say a thing.
Tom: We won! We won the game! Amelia Bedelia, come back! We won!
Narrator: Amelia Bedelia was running too fast to hear. She did not stop until she reached home.
Amelia Bedelia: That is a silly game. Having me run all the way home! Grizzlies Hurray! Hurray! Hurray
for Amelia Bedelia! Jimmy We won! The score was Grizzlies 9, Tornados 8. You saved the game.
Amelia Bedelia: I'm glad I could help you boys out. Bob Maybe we should keep Amelia Bedelia on our
team. She could be our scorekeeper.
Amelia Bedelia: I would be happy to keep your score. I have a nice box with a lock on it. Your score
would be safe with me.
Tom: You will never learn baseball. Now can we please have our bases and home plate back?
Amelia Bedelia: You sure can.
Narrator: Amelia Bedelia goes inside. She looks at home plate.
Amelia Bedelia: Now what kind of a home would use a plate like that? But it isn't polite to return an
empty plate. I will have to do something. That's it!
Narrator: Amelia Bedelia piles home plate with cookies
Amelia Bedelia: Here you are fellows.
Narrator: The boys quickly empty home plate. Jimmy Those are the best cookies I ever ate.
Tom: Maybe Amelia Bedelia will never learn baseball, but she sure can cook.
Grizzlies: Hurray for Amelia Bedelia! Hurray for her cookies!
Narrator: The boys go on their way. And Amelia Bedelia goes in to bake. The cookie jar is empty again!