The Hitting Zone

Chapter 501 CIF Finals: West Valley Prep 5

With Zeke’s sharp words, everyone started to move. Garret and Julian left the dugout with their bats and helmets, while the rest of us remained standing at the fence.

I got my own helmet in anticipation that we could make something happen. Plus, if the walk Zeke again, I will automatically go up to bat. I stood beside Zeke, who was in the hole spot. He was watching Garret’s at-bat with intensity like it should be him instead.

Garret let the first pitch pass for a ball. Then fouled the second down the right field line. Ball. Ball. On the fourth pitch, he drove it right up the middle, forcing the pitcher to duck. Both middle infielders missed, and we cheered as the ball bounced before the center fielder could get to it. A single. A solid single. Our team’s first hit.

"Nice!"

"Good hit!"

"Let’s get something going!"

Zeke moved out of the dugout as Julian went to the plate. With a clear view I could see Coach give out a sign. Mr. Miller repeated it for Julian to see. I felt a shiver up my spine. This is a clear sign that we’re in a desperate situation. Coach never calls for a sacrifice bunt. Especially when we only have a runner on first. He must be trying to avoid the double play.

Knowing what was supposed to happen, I kept my eyes glued on Julian. He didn’t look bothered in the slightest. If I hadn’t learn the signs, I would be clueless as to what he was going to attempt.

Garret started to take a lead, bigger than I ever would. He inches out further and further, and as soon as the opposing pitcher released the ball, he took off sprinting.

The pitch was clearly inside, going to be a ball, but Julian still tried to laid down the ball in fair territory. It echoed off his bat and rolled to the pitcher, who came sprinting off the mound. He picked the ball up, intending to throw to second, but Garret’s outstanding lead helped him secure the base. The pitcher could only throw the ball to first base to get Julian out.

Claps started to rain down as he jogged back to the dugout. It didn’t last long though. By the time Julian got back, the West Valley coach came out to talk to his pitcher and catcher on the mound.

"He’s going to replace him." Coach said to himself under his breath. Then he caught me by the arm before I stepped out of the dugout. "Jake."

I slipped my arm out of his grip.

"Sorry." He quickly realized his mistake. "My bad. Sorry. I just think...they might take him out. If they do, there’s only one pitcher they would put in to replace him to close out this game. And that might mean that we have a chance to tack on some runs. Understand?"

I nodded, then hesitated. "How do you know they’ll pitch to me?"

"Coach’s intuition." He smirked, glancing at their bullpen. "If they replace this guy on the mound with someone else, look to me for instructions, okay?"

I nodded again and went out to the on deck circle as the West Valley coach went back to his dugout. Unsurprisingly, they chose to intentionally walk Zeke again. However, the West Valley coach came out again, this time going to the umpire and told him about the pitching change. Coach was right. I blinked and looked back at him.

Coach lifted a finger as if telling me to wait a minute.

"Now pitching for West Valley Preparatory, Cameron Winslow." The announcer called out as a young man came jogging in from the opposing bullpen. The other pitcher went back to his dugout, while the fans gave him some obligatory applause.

Besides that though, there was a hum in the air. It was like everyone was talking about this relief pitcher. This must be the guy that Coach was talking about, right? I glanced back again.

Coach gave the sign to hit, but then lifted two fingers at the end of it. I frown. What did he mean?

"Eye on the ball, Jake." I heard Coach call out, clapping a little bit.

Eye on the ball? Was that a hint? I thought it over.

’Plop!’

The sounds of the ball hitting the catcher’s mitt was loud and clear. My frown stayed as I turned to watch the pitcher complete his warmups. He had tremendous speed. Easily hitting the high 90’s.

Coach thinks that they’ll pitch to me. He even gave the sign to hit. But added two fingers... it clicked: wait for the second pitch. That should be it! He wants me to make sure that they’re actually going to pitch to me. Plus it’ll let me time my swing.

I nodded to myself slowly. Yea...I can do this. It’s our best shot. Now, where should I aim? The pitching was very fast; it’ll be hard to control. I could do what I usually do in the cages, and hit up the middle, but the center fielder might be able to make that play. I have to aim for a corner. Opposite field or pull it to my right?

"Batter up!" The umpire called for my attention.

Seeing that everyone was waiting for me, I blushed and stepped up to bat. I watched as the pitcher checked the runners, then eyed me. He started his motion, then bam! The ball was already in the catcher’s mitt. Definitely a different feeling than the cages.

I stepped out of the box, trying to hear my thoughts over the crowd that seemed to be getting louder. I could no longer distinguish if they were cheering for me or for him. I glanced at Zeke on first, he was taking a risky lead even though the first baseman was playing stationary. Behind him, I noticed that the right fielder was shifted more in and to the center. They don’t think I can place my hit. Good.

I stepped back in the box. The pitcher checked the runners again, then started his motion. I gripped my bat a little tighter. The pitch came in a blink of an eye. I could only rely on muscle memory to swing my fastest and then open up my body, trying to carry the ball to right field.

’CRACK!’

There was a collective gasp from the crowd.

I sprinted to first, fists clenched, watching the ball fly. It hit the back board in the corner, just barely staying fair. But the right fielder was late getting to it. With Coach Luis command, I rounded first and headed for second.

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