The Hitting Zone

Ding.

I was caught flat-footed and didn't react in time for a ball going over my head. Luckily Noah had my back. And that the ball was more of a flare. Noah slid in the grass to make the catch before it hit the grass.

"Out." The umpire confirmed.

Noah threw the ball to me and got up. I hesitated to turn around to throw it back to Joey. I was afraid he would be mad that I zoned out on the very first batter.

Noah jogged to me. "Yo, you blinked?"

I frowned, not understanding.

Noah winked at me. "You must have blinked when the bat made contact with the ball. Don't worry, it happens." He took the ball out of my glove and threw it to Joey on the mound. "One out!"

"One out!" I heard Jason and Jesse echo.

Noah paused as he looked me in the eyes. "You good, Jake?"

I pursed my lips. "Dad and Jeremy aren't in the stands."

Noah patted my shoulder. "Maybe Dad had to go save him from a reporter. Don't worry. We can ask someone to ask Mom when it's our turn to bat." He forcefully turned me around in the right direction. "Two more outs. You've got this. Everything is fine."

I nodded slowly. Yea. Everything is fine. Noah got the out so technically, I didn't mess up. I glanced at Joey on the mound, but he was already facing Mitchell. As long as he wasn't glaring at me, I could calm myself down and focus.

Joey faced off with the second batter, getting to a 2-2 count before the batter hit a fly ball right to Tanner in right field. He did it better against the third batter, getting him to swing and miss on a 2-2 count, earning his first strikeout of the game.

Everyone jogged back to the dugout.

I was the slowest, too busy scanning the stands for Mom to see if Dad and Jeremy joined her yet.

-n0ve1、com Mom smiled big and waved when she caught me looking. I gave a small wave back and went into the dugout.

"Distracted?" Coach asked me with raised eyebrows.

I slowly nodded, glancing back out. "Dad...and Jeremy aren't here yet."

Kyle came over in a rush, maneuvering between our teammates. "Hold on, I'm coming!" He stopped between me and Coach. "I spoke to Dad through the fence just as you guys were taking the field. He-" Kyle stopped. "Uh, Jeremy...showed up with Carson..." He looked at me. And I looked at him. "Dad wasn't sure how you would feel so I'm supposed to ask?"

I frowned. "He just brought Carson? No...others?"

Kyle shook his head. "Nope."

I gave a small shrug. "Okay, then."

"Kyle, get back to your dad and give him the green light." Coach instructed. "Jake, you're on deck, get going."

Right. I hurried to my bag and changed out my gear. Noah already had his name announced and was walking to the batter's box. I got on deck and took a couple of light swings during Noah's at bat.

On a 2-1 count, Noah pulled the ball down the line. The third baseman was able to handle the grounder and made an excellent throw to first to beat out Noah's fast legs. One out.

"Now batting, second baseman, number zero, Jake Atkins."

I took one last look at the stands. I spotted a few bodies moving up the stands towards Mom. Dad led the way, Jeremy followed, and Carson was last. Kyle got the message out. I didn't mind if Carson wanted to watch. I could have used more of a head's up since I'm not the type to like surprises.

I stepped into the righty's box, casually dug my back foot in, then got ready, looking at the pitcher. Mr. Miller didn't sign anything specific; I was able to do anything I want. And what I wanted was to make up for that small lapse in the start.

The pitcher threw a fastball in the zone. Easy. Too easy. I swung fast and made solid contact. The ball soared to left field. I sprinted to first, rounding the base just as the left fielder watched the ball go over. It was gone.

The umpire waved his finger around to gesture a homerun. I slowed up a little bit as I rounded the bases. From third to home, I looked up in the stands for the millionth time. Mom and Dad were harder to spot now that people were all standing and clapping, saying my name. Bu they were there. Yelling, smiling, and waving. Jeremy and Carson were right beside them, clapping too but it also looked like they were trying to talk to one another. I tagged home, scoring the first run of the game. 1-0.

Back inside the dugout, the guys slapped my back or the top of my helmet. I made it safely to my bag where Noah and the twins were.

Noah was grinning. "Does it feel good to show off?"

I took off my helmet and put it away. "I wasn't showing off. I was trying my best to make up for my mental error."

Dave laughed. "You're so clear-cut. You don't have to constantly worry about doing well because you lacked in another aspect."

"Right? It's like he's a people pleaser." Kyle said

"But it makes me feel better." I sat down.

"Dude. You didn't even make an error." Noah shook his head.

"Yea, thanks to you." I sighed.

"Even without me, it wouldn't be considered an error. You didn't touch it. Bobble it. Mess up a throw. It would have just been a bloop single." Noah said.

"Yea, but that's still considered a mental error. And Joey would be mad."

"There's no fixing him." Dave shook his head.

Our conversation was cut by the loud sound of the bat hitting a ball. Garret hit a line drive right to center field for the second out.

"I think you're a perfectionist." Noah told me, getting back to the topic. "You constantly want to do well."

"I don't want to hear that from you." I cracked a smile. "Who said earlier that he wouldn't have any errors?"

Noah wagged his finger. "That's a goal. An aspiration."

"Two peas in a pod." Kyle said.

We only talked a little more during Korrey's at bat. He struck out to end the inning then Noah and I had to join the others in taking the field again.

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