The Hitting Zone

"I wouldn't call Noah reliable." Kyle snorted from a few feet away. "He's just a show off."

"I appreciate his enthusiasm at fielding." Dave grinned. "He covers so much ground. Name another guy on the team that makes as many stunning plays as he does."

"He's just fast." Kyle pointed out. "And he plays a position that sees the ball the most after pitcher and catcher of course."

"I say he's on the road of becoming a five-tool player." Garret grinned. "Better than Zeke when he was a sophomore."

"Don't tell Noah that. His head might get too big to stay on his shoulders." Kyle rolled his eyes.

"What are the five tools again?" I asked Sean. I remembered Noah saying something about Zeke being a five-tool player last year. I wanted to know how close Noah was to achieve that as well.

"Fielding. Throwing. Running. Hitting. And hitting for power." Garret answered before Sean could. He smiled as he flexed his arm. "I'm a perfect example."

I nodded in agreement. I thought so too.

"You're probably the most arrogant captain in the history of our school." Kyle rolled his eyes again.

Garret grinned. "You're just jealous that I have more opportunities. You can only blame yourself."

The trio kept up the smack talk as the bottom of the fourth started. On the very first pitch to the third batter in the lineup, the guy blasted it out, dead center. Korrey chased it back to the fence but it was futile, the ball cleared it easily. Santa Fe scored their first run to make it 5-1.

"Alright, alright!" Noah hollered. "Don't mind! You'll get the next one!"

"That's rough." Dave made a face.

"He's still doing well." Garret commented. "Just need to get back on track."

Bryce got a new ball thrown to him from the umpire and got reset. He now had to face the cleanup hitter who previously had a single. Bryce worked hard, using eleven pitches before the guy poked the ball down the first baseline. Jason scooped it up and tagged first for the first out. The next two batters grounded out to Jesse at third and Dalton at second respectively, to end the inning.

Bryce and them started to come back into the dugout.

"Way to bounce back!" Noah gave him a pat on the back before passing him. He hopped on the bench beside me, still talking to Bryce. "It'd be nice if you would be able to let them hit towards me. I've only touched the ball once today."

"I'm at zero." Sean sighed.

"Same." I shrugged helplessly.

Noah laughed and knocked his shoulder into mine. "Don't act like you want to be fielding. I know you. You just miss batting. Don't worry, we can go to the cages this weekend and you can get it out of your system."

I rolled my eyes. "We can't. Tomorrow night is the girl's game. Then Saturday we leave for Zeke's game. Don't come back until Sunday."

"Saturday morning." Noah pointed out. "We can't even check in at the hotel until 3pm so we probably won't leave until after lunch."

I paused. Then nodded. Alright. Not a bad idea.

Top of the fifth. Jason. Korrey. Tanner. Three up, three down. All swinging strikeouts. While I was talking to Noah and Sean, I didn't see that the opposing team had switched pitchers. He dominated the early part of our lineup so bad that our dugout lost the good atmosphere.

Bottom of the fifth. Bryce continued to let the ball be put into play. A groundout to second. A lineout to center. And a pop out in foul territory that Mitchell went to get. He got the job done and Coach told him so.

Bryce lost some of the air from within. "What? I'm done already? I can close it out, Coach."

"I believe it. But I want to see someone else on the mound." Coach rested his hand on Bryce's head. "You did well. Go cool down."

Bryce pouted. "But I'm first up. Can't I at least bat one more time?"

"No. It's decided." Coach nodded at Logan who had his helmet on and bat in hand.

Bryce could only sigh and start his cooldown to protect his shoulder. Logan, as the pinch hitter, reached first base after hitting a hard grounder off another new pitcher, down the third baseline. The third baseman fumbled with it and couldn't get the throw off.

Jesse followed up with a grounder of his own. To the second baseman, who flipped it to the shortstop. Shortstop stepped on second and threw to first. Double play. Brian, up next, got his first hit of the game, a single to right. But he was left stranded after Dalton's fly out to the right fielder.

Bottom of the sixth. Coach left the dugout to announce the pitching change. Soon, Joey came jogging out of the bullpen. After his practice pitches, he started off against the leadoff of the lineup. He crushed it, getting him to swing and miss three times.

"Yooo." Dave whistled, impressed. "Looking hot."

"I-" Garret was about to add to it but the very next batter hit a single.

The trio got quiet as Joey started to pitch against the third batter. He pulled the ball down the line for a double. Tanner got the ball in quick to keep the lead runner at third.

I nervously looked around, but no one said anything.

The cleanup hitter got jammed, popping out to Dalton. The fifth batter made solid contact, hitting a line drive to center. I held my breath as Korrey came sprinting in and made a dive at the ball, catching it just in time. He slide in the grass before popping up.

Sean let out a sigh of relief. "God dang, that had me nervous."

I nodded in agreement.

Garret approached Joey as soon as he came in the dugout and started to talk to him. I don't know whether he was giving advice as a captain, but it helps that he's a pitcher too.

Tol of the seventh and we started with the last player in the lineup. Mitchell struck out, ending his game with one hit and one run scored. Not bad. Noah, who had a hot start earlier, couldn't get the ball in play but he did earn a walk. Jason came to the plate, with one hit on the day. He added to his stats after hitting a big fly to right field. Another run and two RBI's scored for him. 7-1. Korrey also hit a deep ball, but it was too high, giving the center fielder enough time to get under it. Tanner walked, reaching base for the first time today. Logan pulled a pitch to the third baseman again, who was able to catch the pop up to end our half of the inning.

Bottom of the seventh, Joey got on the mound once more. He threw some great pitches, but Santa Fe had a good read on him. A single. Swinging strikeout. Lineout to center. Then the nine spot was replaced by a pinch hitter who did his job, hitting a hard single in the gap, pushing the runner to third. The leadoff batter hit his second single of the day, making the score 7-2. Number two batter hit a grounder up the middle, but Noah was there to scoop it up and beat the runner to second to end the inning and the game. We made it.

I followed everyone out of the dugout to high five the starters and congratulate them on a good game.

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