The Hitting Zone

Garret looked beyond him and at me. "Ignore him and his so-called playmaking. Do what you can. If it doesn't work out, it's Dave's fault anyways for letting the batter touch the ball."

"I'm still in the dugout, you jerks." Dave pointed at Garret with his bat as he passed by. "I knew you were going to be an annoying captain." Dave was third up to bat this inning behind Jason and Mitchell.

"Aren't all captains annoying?" Garret laughed. "If you want, I can do my best Zeke impression." He turned serious. "Five laps if you strike out."

Dave shivered. "Gross." He headed for the dugout entrance. "That must be some bad juju. I almost believed you."

As the leadoff for this inning, Jason worked a 2-2 count before hitting a ball late, sending a slow roller to the second baseman. The second baseman charged the ball and flipped it to the first baseman very smoothly. I don't think I could even do that much. At least, not without falling on my face.

"His fielding is pretty good." Noah remarked. "I bet the shortstop is better though." He grinned. "That's where the best go first." He took off his hat and put on his helmet. He started to tug on his gloves.

"The best are always on the mound." Garret corrected.

Noah rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry. Remind me again, who's number one in the county?"

"Not you." Garret slapped him on the back of the head.

"Best at fielding go to shortstop." Noah said. "Is that better?"

"Center fielders are really good too." Garret rubbed his chin.

"You're so conceited." Noah stuck his tongue out at him before moving closer to Coach.

Garret looked at me. "Who do you think is better at fielding, me or him?"

My lips twitched and I chose to say nothing.

Thankfully, Mitchell put the ball in play, grabbing everyone's attention, including Garret's. The ball soared to left-center field. The left fielder tried to slide to make the grab, but the ball bounced under his glove. Mitchell rounded first and headed to second as the center fielder went to get the ball. Mitchell stood safely on second by the time the ball was thrown back in to the infielders.

We clapped and cheered as did the spectators. Dave moved to the batter's box and Noah went out to the on deck circle. I changed my hat to a helmet, and picked up my gloves and bat. I moved to the hole as I tugged my stupid batting gloves on.

"Make sure to note that the left fielder couldn't make the play on Mitchell's hit." Coach was telling Alisha, pointing at a spot on the clipboard. Alisha nodded and started to write. Coach noticed me approaching. "How are you feeling, Jake?"

I tightened the straps on the gloves and gave him a thumbs up. "I'm fine." I started to look over my bat.

"Anything wrong with the bat?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No. Just checking. I don't want to break any more if possible."

Coach laughed and Alisha also smiled.

Dave struck out swinging, cueing me to step out of the dugout. Noah must have said something to make Dave roll his eyes as they switched spots. Dave patted me on the head. "Revenge me, Bambi."

I let out a small laugh and nodded obediently.

"That'll be five laps for you Dave!" I heard Garret holler as soon as Dave got back in the dugout. Laughs echoed soon after.

"I'm saving my energy for the mound." Dave said with a raised voice.

I couldn't hear what was said after, but more laughs followed.

With two outs and a runner on second, Noah did his best to get the ball in play. He let the out of reach pitches pass for balls and then swung at everything else. With a 2-2 count, he got jammed on an inside pitch, barely pushing the ball just a yard or two in front of him. He dropped the bat and took off. It could be considered a bunt with where the ball landed. At first I thought it wouldn't be bad since the first and third basemen weren't prepared, but I didn't consider the catcher. He scrambled from behind the plate, got the ball, and threw Noah out at first.

I knocked my bat against my toes. Darn it. I went back inside the dugout to switch out my gear. Noah joined me.

"That catcher is very aware of bunts." Noah noted. "That or he has some very fast reactions. Be careful of fouling any balls back. Safer down the lines."

I nodded.

Bottom of the second inning. Dave started with the cleanup hitter. Just like the previous batters, he swung early. Unfortunately Dave's pitch was a little too good. In the zone. The batter hit a line drive to the corner of right field. I went out to be cut off man for the relay, but had no chance to throw the guy out by the time Jesse got the ball to me. He stood safely on second with the same amount of pride that Mitchell had.

I threw the ball to Dave, who had stepped off the mound. He looked a little bit angry. Wisely, no one said anything. Not even Noah.

Things only got sketchier from there. The fifth batter hit a short fly to right field. Jesse got there in this time and hurried the throw to prevent the runner from tagging up. I did a pump fake to ensure that the runner retreated back to second, then gave the ball back to Dave once more. The sixth batter got under one of the first few pitches, popping it up just past second base. Noah came sprinting over and caught it, stumbling a couple steps but kept his balance. He threw the ball to me and I threw it back to Dave. Noah got back into position.

I recognized the seventh batter as the pitcher. Dave did too and maybe that's why he tried for a strikeout, throwing his pitches back in the zone. The guy took advantage of that and hit the ball on an 0-2 count. The runner on second had immediately taken off during Dave's motion. He was definitely going home.

I moved to cover second base while Noah moved to the grass, arms up, waiting for the ball from Garret. Garret scooped it up out of the grass, switched the ball to his left and threw the ball in. Noah turned around and was about to throw it to Mitchell at home, but held back. The runner scored and score was tied at one.

Dave looked pissed off.

I looked to Noah, worried for the both of them. Noah called for time and headed for the mound. Sean, Jason, and Mitchell all looked to be coming in too. Once I saw that it was going to be a team meeting, I joined in.

"You could have thrown home." Dave muttered.

Noah put the ball into Dave's glove. "No. It would have been too close. It's not worth it."

"Easy for you to say. It's not your ERA." Dave wasn't appeased.

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