🏴☠️ Softball, PiratesGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationWord problemsFractions of a numberOrder of operationsDivision
The Case of the Missing Golden Softball
The High Seas Softball Tournament was about to begin when someone stole the Golden Championship Softball right off home plate! Use your math skills and clues to catch the guilty pirate pitcher.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Signature Pitch | Pirate Gear | Batting Stance | Bandana Color | Softball Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Romero | Spinning Screwball | Parrot Helmet | Righty Stance | Crimson Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Skiff Skipper | Spinning Screwball | Anchor Cleats | Lefty Stance | Midnight Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Monica Abbott | Fireball Fastball | Eyepatch Visor | Righty Stance | Crimson Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Rudder Rita | Sneaky Changeup | Parrot Helmet | Righty Stance | Midnight Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Sis Bates | Fireball Fastball | Parrot Helmet | Lefty Stance | Crimson Bandana | Bunted Balls |
| Keilani Ricketts | Fireball Fastball | Hook Glove | Lefty Stance | Midnight Bandana | Bunted Balls |
| Calico Jack | Sneaky Changeup | Pegleg Bat | Lefty Stance | Midnight Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Cannonball Kate | Fireball Fastball | Eyepatch Visor | Righty Stance | Midnight Bandana | Bunted Balls |
| Tide Tim | Soaring Riseball | Anchor Cleats | Righty Stance | Crimson Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Wave Wanda | Spinning Screwball | Anchor Cleats | Righty Stance | Gold Bandana | Bunted Balls |
| Jennie Finch | Spinning Screwball | Hook Glove | Lefty Stance | Gold Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Salty Sam | Soaring Riseball | Pegleg Bat | Righty Stance | Crimson Bandana | Bunted Balls |
| Anchor Anne | Sneaky Changeup | Parrot Helmet | Lefty Stance | Crimson Bandana | Fast Grounders |
| First Mate Finn | Sneaky Changeup | Anchor Cleats | Righty Stance | Midnight Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Rachel Garcia | Sneaky Changeup | Pegleg Bat | Lefty Stance | Crimson Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Cat Osterman | Spinning Screwball | Eyepatch Visor | Lefty Stance | Midnight Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Scupper Scott | Spinning Screwball | Pegleg Bat | Lefty Stance | Midnight Bandana | Fast Grounders |
| Pegleg Patty | Curving Dropball | Pegleg Bat | Lefty Stance | Midnight Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Barnacle Bill | Fireball Fastball | Hook Glove | Righty Stance | Gold Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Jolly Roger | Curving Dropball | Parrot Helmet | Lefty Stance | Midnight Bandana | Loud Pop Flies |
| Plank Pete | Spinning Screwball | Hook Glove | Righty Stance | Gold Bandana | Fast Grounders |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
To find the first clue calculate total batting practice swings by multiplying drills by reps.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
144
77
42
11
99
108
108
100
99
1
80
4
42
21
1
4
T
144
60
21
42
100
1
42
54
42
84
100
T
144
49
77
11
99
21
4
5
12 × 12 =T
10 × 10 =A
7 × 6 =E
7 × 7 =C
1 × 11 =V
7 × 11 =H
5 × 1 =R
8 × 10 =D
3 × 7 =S
2 × 2 =O
9 × 12 =L
1 × 1 =N
5 × 12 =U
7 × 12 =P
9 × 11 =I
9 × 6 =Y
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
The team equipment manager organized softball gear across several ships to unlock the next detail.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
103
55
19
17
92
73
17
111
N
C
55
Catcher found 33 base bags yesterday and 70 more today. How many base bags in all?L
Catcher found 8 softballs yesterday and 11 more today. How many softballs in all?F
Catcher found 21 cleats yesterday and 71 more today. How many cleats in all?Y
Catcher found 43 base bags yesterday and 30 more today. How many base bags in all?S
Catcher found 13 cleats yesterday and 4 more today. How many cleats in all?T
Catcher found 26 bats yesterday and 29 more today. How many bats in all?E
There were 132 softballs. 21 were used up. How many softballs are left?A
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Fractions of a number
The deckhands calculated what fraction of the softball gear crates were packed for the game.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
8
11
30
6
21
36
34
T
8
30
17
34
9
9
14
T
8
17
34
T
8
17
11
11
21
37
11
29
14
28
4
6
14
6
26
29
21
30
32
1/6 of 48 =T
2/6 of 108 =R
3/6 of 64 =S
1/6 of 156 =F
2/5 of 10 =D
1/4 of 148 =G
2/10 of 140 =U
3/4 of 28 =I
5/10 of 22 =H
2/3 of 51 =A
1/6 of 54 =N
3/6 of 34 =C
1/6 of 174 =L
2/10 of 70 =O
2/5 of 75 =E
4/6 of 9 =P
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
Follow the umpire board rules step by step to solve the secret dugout formula.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
8
61
26
55
47
69
54
54
58
17
25
53
53
69
58
A
8
7
26
58
47
26
72
75
55
46
A
8
47
58
A
8
47
A
8
23
26
46
69
17
3 × 6 - 10 =A
44 + 7 × 4 =G
38 + 4 × 5 =D
2 + 4 × 6 =I
7 × 9 - 16 =N
10 + 6 × 6 =B
42 + 9 × 3 =E
12 × 7 - 9 =H
39 + 5 × 3 =S
17 + 4 × 9 =P
1 + 3 × 2 =M
25 + 6 × 5 =T
5 × 6 - 7 =F
15 + 2 × 5 =O
3 + 7 × 2 =R
7 × 11 - 16 =W
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Divide the dugouts equally among all pirate crews to reveal the final lead.
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!
Step 1 — solve these
54 ÷ 9 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
32 ÷ 8 = ?
33 ÷ 11 = ?
88 ÷ 11 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
20 ÷ 2 = ?
77 ÷ 7 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain launched a spinning screwball, then stamped with heavy anchor cleats.
2.The villain pitched a dropping curve, then squawked under a parrot helmet.
3.The villain tossed a sneaky changeup, then squawked under a parrot helmet.
4.The villain threw a fiery fastball, then caught with a sharp hook glove.
5.The villain threw a fiery fastball, then swung a wooden pegleg bat.
6.The villain tossed a sneaky changeup, then swung a wooden pegleg bat.
7.The villain pitched a dropping curve, then swung a wooden pegleg bat.
8.The villain threw a fiery fastball, then stamped with heavy anchor cleats.
9.The villain snapped a soaring riseball, then squawked under a parrot helmet.
10.The villain snapped a soaring riseball, then caught with a sharp hook glove.
11.The villain tossed a sneaky changeup, then caught with a sharp hook glove.
12.The villain threw a fiery fastball, then adjusted a shiny eyepatch visor.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Softball
Culprit: Pegleg Patty (Curving Dropball · Pegleg Bat · Lefty Stance · Midnight Bandana · Loud Pop Flies)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE AN EYEPATCH VISOR"12 × 12 = 144 (T) · 10 × 10 = 100 (A) · 7 × 6 = 42 (E) · 7 × 7 = 49 (C) · 1 × 11 = 11 (V) · 7 × 11 = 77 (H) · 5 × 1 = 5 (R) · 8 × 10 = 80 (D) · 3 × 7 = 21 (S) · 2 × 2 = 4 (O) · 9 × 12 = 108 (L) · 1 × 1 = 1 (N) · 5 × 12 = 60 (U) · 7 × 12 = 84 (P) · 9 × 11 = 99 (I) · 9 × 6 = 54 (Y)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFTY STANCE"Catcher found 33 base bags yesterday and 70 more today. How many base bags in all? = 103 (L) · Catcher found 8 softballs yesterday and 11 more today. How many softballs in all? = 19 (F) · Catcher found 21 cleats yesterday and 71 more today. How many cleats in all? = 92 (Y) · Catcher found 43 base bags yesterday and 30 more today. How many base bags in all? = 73 (S) · Catcher found 13 cleats yesterday and 4 more today. How many cleats in all? = 17 (T) · Catcher found 26 bats yesterday and 29 more today. How many bats in all? = 55 (E) · There were 132 softballs. 21 were used up. How many softballs are left? = 111 (A)
- Clue 3 (Fractions of a number): "THE PIRATE CANNOT CATCH HIGH LOUD POP FLIES"1/6 of 48 = 8 (T) · 2/6 of 108 = 36 (R) · 3/6 of 64 = 32 (S) · 1/6 of 156 = 26 (F) · 2/5 of 10 = 4 (D) · 1/4 of 148 = 37 (G) · 2/10 of 140 = 28 (U) · 3/4 of 28 = 21 (I) · 5/10 of 22 = 11 (H) · 2/3 of 51 = 34 (A) · 1/6 of 54 = 9 (N) · 3/6 of 34 = 17 (C) · 1/6 of 174 = 29 (L) · 2/10 of 70 = 14 (O) · 2/5 of 75 = 30 (E) · 4/6 of 9 = 6 (P)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A WITNESS DROPPED A MIDNIGHT BANDANA FIBER"3 × 6 - 10 = 8 (A) · 44 + 7 × 4 = 72 (G) · 38 + 4 × 5 = 58 (D) · 2 + 4 × 6 = 26 (I) · 7 × 9 - 16 = 47 (N) · 10 + 6 × 6 = 46 (B) · 42 + 9 × 3 = 69 (E) · 12 × 7 - 9 = 75 (H) · 39 + 5 × 3 = 54 (S) · 17 + 4 × 9 = 53 (P) · 1 + 3 × 2 = 7 (M) · 25 + 6 × 5 = 55 (T) · 5 × 6 - 7 = 23 (F) · 15 + 2 × 5 = 25 (O) · 3 + 7 × 2 = 17 (R) · 7 × 11 - 16 = 61 (W)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 7) → Pegleg Patty54 ÷ 9 = 6 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Word problems, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Softball — set in Diamond Lagoon Cove
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects