The Hitting Zone

"Yea, yea." Garret brushed him off. "Excuses, excuses."

Mahki shot him a glare, but didn't continue to talk about it. Instead, all of our attention was on Jason now. With bases loaded, what will he be able to do?

Jason fouled off a couple of pitches and let the out-of-reach ones pass for balls. On a 3-2 count, he made contact, and the ball shot off his bat, bouncing in the infield grass and finding the gap between the first and second basemen.

Everyone sprinted to the corresponding bases as the right fielder came in to field the ball and made a spectacular throw to home plate, just after Zeke tagged home plate. Julian quickly retreated to third, Noah stayed at second and Jason was safe at first. A single RBI. 3-0.

Alex moved to the batter's box and Dave to the on deck circle. I went back to my seat to put my helmet back on. I was technically 'in-the-hole' but I really felt like I would jinx this inning if I got up. Anytime there was an opportunity for me to show off, I feel like it ends just before I get the chance. Especially if I make it to the on deck circle.

Alex did one better than Jason, by hitting a two-run single to left field, pushing the score to 5-0. Jason stopped at second thanks to Mr. Miller's command. Yet Mr. Miller let Noah sprint from second to home to be the fifth run since he's one of the fastest guys on the team despite being a freshman.

I clenched my bat, hesitant to move.

Garret, who was putting on his helmet looked my way. "Jake? You're on deck. Get going."

Being called out like that caused most of the team to look my way.

I forced myself to stand up and move. I slowly headed for the opening.

"Are you scared or something?" Noah asked me, taking off his helmet. He shook his messy hair. "We have a solid lead so who cares if you get out."

"No, I'm afraid if I go to the circle, Dave will hit into a double play and ruin my chance to bat two times in one inning." I replied honestly.

A lot of the guys laughed and Noah joined in.

"There won't be a double play." Coach said, exasperated with me dragging my feet. "Dave was already assigned a job. Either if he succeeds or not, there'll only be two outs. Now get your butt out there before I pull you from this game."

I scrambled out of the dugout, in a hurry. By the time I got to the circle, Dave was on a 2-1 count. He nodded his head at Mr. Miller's sign, but I didn't catch it in time. It had to be something about batting since Coach could almost guarantee me that I'll get to go up.

The pitcher completed his windup, and threw the ball to his catcher. Suddenly Dave went into a bunting position and dropped the ball down the third baseline and both runners took off.

The third baseman was caught flat-footed and struggled to get to the ball. With the runners early jump and his late play, he could only throw the ball to first to get Dave out. It was a successful bunt, advancing the runners to second and third base.

"Don't waste my hard work, kid." Dave told me, patting me on the head before he went back to the dugout.

I wouldn't let him down! I happily moved to the batter's box, but was held up. The Quincy coach had seen enough. He came out to announce a pitcher change and talk to his team on the mound. It was a long pause in the game, but I didn't mind. I wasn't afraid of any particular pitcher.

After giving them time for the change and for the new pitcher to throw off the mound, the ump finally allowed me to step into the box. I picked to be a lefty again. I let some pitches pass for called strikes and a few balls, then fouled off some until I felt ready. There was a nice spot in left-center that was wide open. I just had to get the ball up and over the pitcher and shortstop.

Lucky for me, the pitcher chose a fastball in the zone. Slightly high. I swung and was able to get it to the outfield. Both the left fielder and center fielder were sprinting towards one another to make the catch. It fell through and everyone was running.

I saw the center fielder make the throw as I rounded first base, so I chose to retreat. No sense in trying for an extra base when up by so many runs.

The same couldn't be said for my teammates. Jason scored easily from third, but Alex was hustling from second base to try and make it home. The ball came from the relay and it was a close call at the plate. He slid and the tag came down.

"Safe!" The umpire declared, making it 7-0.

"Great job!" Coach Luis slapped my back a little hard without meaning it.

I stumbled in place, refusing to step off the base. Garret was up next and who knows if this inning will ever end.

Not even five minutes later...it ended. Garret hit a perfect line drive. Right to the shortstop. It was a hard hit and the shortstop had to take a couple steps back after the catch, but it was still an out. The third out. Of only the first inning!

I cheerfully went back to the dugout, taking my helmet off, and was soon caught into a headlock. I struggled to get out of Dave's arm.

"You thought I would hit into a double play?! You brat!!" He rubbed the top of my head ferociously.

"Mercy!" I tried tapping out.

Dave was relentless until Coach shot a glare our way. "Just because we have a comfortable lead, doesn't mean you can relax and do as you please. Take the field!"

The starters laughed as they took the field, and Dave finally let me go. I hurried to switch out my gear and join the others on the field.

Top of the second, and Quincy High came out swinging. They looked desperate to get something going, but it looked sloppy and nothing was working in their favor. The cleanup hitter struck out, swinging. The fifth batter hit a line drive right to Julian, but it's not like it had a whole lot of power to it like Garret's did. The following batter also struck out, pushing Dave's 'K' count to five. In two innings.

That meant more bragging from the boy himself as we got back into the dugout.

"Who cares if I had to take two weeks off." He gloated. "I can still catch up to Garret and Kyle at this rate."

Garret rolled his eyes. "You're lucky Kyle's in the 'pen' otherwise he'd be coming at ya."

Dave flexed the bicep. "Yea? I'd like to see him try."

"If your head gets any bigger, how will it affect your balance on the mound?" Noah laughed.

I was about to join in, but remembering what happened at the end of the first inning, I stayed quiet.

Dave started to reach out for Noah, but was slapped away by Zeke, who was heading for the on deck circle. "Behave. The game has just begun."

Dave straightened up and saluted him. "Yes, Captain. Anything you say, Captain."

Zeke just rolled his eyes and walked out of the dugout.