The Case of the Missing Golden Softball
The Grand Slam Arena is packed for the championship game, but disaster has struck! The legendary Golden Softball has been stolen from its glass display case. As a top junior detective, you have been hired by the League Commissioner to inspect the scene, decode the clues, and catch the thief before the umpire shouts Play Ball!
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Signature Pitch | Bat Type | Stance Side | Visor Color | Batter Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana Fouts | Screwball | Hybrid Bat | Left Handed | Red Cap | High Outside |
| Rachel Garcia | Curveball | Alloy Bat | Left Handed | Blue Cap | Down The Middle |
| Sierra Romero | Curveball | Wood Bat | Right Handed | Red Cap | Down The Middle |
| Amanda Scarborough | Dropball | Wood Bat | Left Handed | Green Cap | High Outside |
| Cat Osterman | Riseball | Composite Bat | Right Handed | Green Cap | High Outside |
| Jayda Coleman | Changeup | One Piece Bat | Right Handed | Blue Cap | Down The Middle |
| Keilani Ricketts | Changeup | One Piece Bat | Left Handed | Blue Cap | High Outside |
| Valerie Cagle | Dropball | Composite Bat | Right Handed | Green Cap | Low Inside |
| Kelly Barnhill | Curveball | Wood Bat | Left Handed | Green Cap | Down The Middle |
| Monica Abbott | Screwball | One Piece Bat | Right Handed | Blue Cap | Down The Middle |
| Aliyah Andrews | Riseball | Wood Bat | Left Handed | Blue Cap | High Outside |
| Maya Brady | Dropball | One Piece Bat | Left Handed | Green Cap | High Outside |
| Kinzie Hansen | Screwball | Hybrid Bat | Left Handed | Red Cap | Down The Middle |
| NiJaree Canady | Dropball | Alloy Bat | Right Handed | Green Cap | High Outside |
| Lauren Chamberlain | Curveball | Alloy Bat | Right Handed | Green Cap | High Outside |
| Odicci Alexander | Riseball | Wood Bat | Left Handed | Blue Cap | Down The Middle |
| Tiare Jennings | Riseball | One Piece Bat | Right Handed | Green Cap | High Outside |
| Jordy Bahl | Riseball | Wood Bat | Left Handed | Blue Cap | Low Inside |
| Haylie McCleney | Dropball | Alloy Bat | Right Handed | Blue Cap | High Outside |
| Megan Faraimo | Curveball | Alloy Bat | Left Handed | Blue Cap | Low Inside |
| Danielle Lawrie | Dropball | Wood Bat | Right Handed | Green Cap | High Outside |
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The team managers lined up the gear bags in equal rows on the field to see if anything was missing. By multiplying the rows of equipment, you uncover a clue left near the batting cages.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Rounding
The stadium's digital radar gun got damaged during the heist and is only displaying speeds rounded to the nearest ten. Calculate the actual pitch speeds to decode a message on the scoreboard.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Addition
The equipment manager needs to add up all the extra softballs recovered from the outfield dirt. Tallying the total number of recovered balls leads you directly to a hidden note.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Subtraction
The umpire wants to find the exact difference between the starting weight of the team's bats and their current weight. Subtract the damaged bats to reveal a witness report.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The coaching staff is dividing the championship team snacks equally among all the players on the bench. Splitting these snacks evenly gives you the final piece of the puzzle.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Softball
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A ONE PIECE BAT"11 × 5 = 55 (T) · 9 × 9 = 81 (I) · 1 × 10 = 10 (O) · 8 × 12 = 96 (N) · 8 × 8 = 64 (C) · 3 × 7 = 21 (D) · 2 × 7 = 14 (V) · 4 × 4 = 16 (L) · 3 × 12 = 36 (S) · 8 × 10 = 80 (P) · 3 × 9 = 27 (H) · 7 × 4 = 28 (E) · 11 × 11 = 121 (U) · 5 × 5 = 25 (B) · 10 × 7 = 70 (A)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT BATTER STOOD ON THE RIGHT SIDE"Round 3,716 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (T) · Round 72 to the nearest ten = 70 (O) · Round 21 to the nearest ten = 20 (G) · Round 168 to the nearest ten = 170 (B) · Round 459 to the nearest hundred = 500 (C) · Round 1,068 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (A) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (D) · Round 247 to the nearest hundred = 200 (N) · Round 2,865 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (I) · Round 294 to the nearest ten = 290 (H) · Round 1,661 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (U) · Round 431 to the nearest ten = 430 (E) · Round 108 to the nearest ten = 110 (R) · Round 911 to the nearest hundred = 900 (P) · Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (S)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THEY FAILED TO HIT A HIGH OUTSIDE PITCH"5191 + 3471 = 8662 (T) · 5548 + 3765 = 9313 (I) · 1482 + 1219 = 2701 (O) · 1518 + 2124 = 3642 (A) · 1738 + 1502 = 3240 (P) · 693 + 1361 = 2054 (U) · 2154 + 2942 = 5096 (E) · 2589 + 3408 = 5997 (C) · 5632 + 4165 = 9797 (D) · 1112 + 1660 = 2772 (F) · 3005 + 4646 = 7651 (L) · 1276 + 2476 = 3752 (G) · 4059 + 4504 = 8563 (H) · 2919 + 2895 = 5814 (S) · 3163 + 4876 = 8039 (Y)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "THE DETECTIVE FOUND A GREEN CAP AT SECOND BASE"11321 - 4913 = 6408 (T) · 8907 - 4469 = 4438 (F) · 5757 - 238 = 5519 (U) · 8427 - 3196 = 5231 (V) · 8592 - 2746 = 5846 (P) · 9906 - 1316 = 8590 (B) · 5526 - 2474 = 3052 (D) · 4154 - 1864 = 2290 (S) · 2311 - 845 = 1466 (I) · 6878 - 3135 = 3743 (H) · 6046 - 822 = 5224 (O) · 4609 - 1253 = 3356 (G) · 8123 - 2251 = 5872 (N) · 4766 - 1456 = 3310 (E) · 9327 - 4249 = 5078 (C) · 5674 - 2837 = 2837 (A) · 6845 - 3274 = 3571 (R)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → NiJaree Canady30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 120 ÷ 10 = 12 · 108 ÷ 12 = 9 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 24 ÷ 12 = 2 · 3 ÷ 1 = 3 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Softball — set in The Grand Slam Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects