The Hitting Zone

The rest of the car ride to Golden West was more relaxed. It felt a little weird with Kyle missing, but slowly that void was filled by the sophomores. It wasn't until we got to the game and ran into some of our other teammates: Garret, Alex, and Tanner.

Garret glanced around us, searching for the missing brother. "Where did Kyle go? Snackbar already?"

Dave rolled his eyes. "No. He's too busy dating."

Garret laughed, but the other two looked unsure of what to do. Garret tilted his head to the center bleacher that was filling up as the two teams were still warming up. "Should we grab some seats? Who knows who else will show?"

Zeke nodded. "Let's just sit at the top. Good view. Some of the guys told me that they were going to come so save some seats." He looked down at me and Noah. "Snacks and drinks?"

Noah scrunched up his nose. "Can't we get them later? We just had breakfast."

Zeke lifted an eyebrow. "It was a yes or no question. I don't want to play vendor in the middle of the game. Nor can I trust you two to do it on your own without causing some kind of problem."

"We're not kids, Zeke." Noah rebutted. "We've never caused trouble before."

Zeke's lips twitched, unable to reply. Or maybe just refusing to.

"Let's go sit, Jake!" Noah put his hands behind his head leisurely and headed for the bleachers. Noah led me and the others to the center bleacher and climbed up to the top.

Zeke pulled out his phone and spent some time on it as Dave told the three about Kyle choosing to hang out with a girlfriend instead. The sophomores talked to each other about their shared classes, leaving Noah and I with one another.

"I see Sanchez in the bullpen." Noah mumbled to me, eyes on the field. He checked out the two teams as seriously as Zeke would. Or will. I glanced over at him to find him still playing with his phone. Okay, so maybe he's not interested in their warmups. "Can't tell who that is for Golden West though."

"It's the guy we played the first time?" Bryce joined in, halting his conversation with Brian. "I thought for sure, with Brady being unavailable, they would use the pitcher that was able to hold us down."

Noah shrugged. "I don't pay too much attention to the stats. Do you guys know if Golden West have other strong starters?"

Brian pulled out his phone. "I'll just look him up. What's the number on his jersey?"

Noah squinted. "90...they must get to pick their own numbers. So unfair."

Brian was able to pull up his bio from the sports page on their athletics website. "He's a righty. Sophomore. First year on varsity. So far this season he has five starts, but only a 1-1 record. ERA is a respectable 2.18, WHIP is 1.21. Wow. Pretty good. Not too many strikeouts though. He doesn't have a whole lot of innings...he must be their spare wheel." He nudged Bryce. "Like you."

"Rude!" Bryce shoved him away. "At least I get more work in than you."

Brian snorted, but couldn't refute that statement. After Garret and the twins, Bryce got the most innings.

As we got closer to game time, more and more of the team started to show up. Mahki, Julian, and Kelvin showed up together, and were the last of the seniors to show. The three senior pitchers we had on our roster didn't come. No one said why and it seemed rude to ask.

Jason showed up with Sean, Theo, and Matt, bringing you the total count to sixteen. Considering we only had twenty-two players on the roster and that this was an optional showing, I would say that this was a good turnout. Yet the look that Zeke gave after doing a head count, suggested otherwise.

"Do you think those that didn't show, will get in trouble?" I whispered to Noah.

He shook his head. "No way. It's just an optional event. Coach and him would like everyone to show, but that's life. Others have different priorities." He smirked. "Kyle though...might catch some grief. He lives with us after all."

I nodded. I could tell from this morning's silent treatment that tonight and tomorrow might be a little uncomfortable for him. "Are you mad too?"

Noah shrugged. "A little. Maybe, maybe more disappointed than anything. He could be potentially pitching on Monday so it would have been better if he could have came too."

I scratched my head a little, trying to find the words to say. In the end, I repeated what Kyle had said to me. "There's more to life than baseball..?"

Noah frowned. He stared at me. "I'm not saying there isn't. Just..you're only given so much time for baseball. All athletes retire at some point. After high school. College. Even pros retire. Wouldn't you want to take advantage of the time you have left?"

I nodded, understanding where he's coming from.

Shortly thereafter, the game started, claiming most of our attention. Sanchez started out hot, getting some early strikeouts to start off the game. The pitcher for Golden West was also getting the outs, but only thanks to his teammates fielding. The game held even until the fourth, when Sanchez was pulled after his 50th pitch. No doubt, they were saving him for us.

Noah, right beside me, started cursing them the best he could, hoping that they had jinxed themselves by pulling out such a good pitcher. Unfortunately Servite had a good relief staff that was on par with Golden West. The pitcher for Golden West start to crumble afterwards. He gave up a three-run homer before finally getting pulled.

Golden West tried for a comeback in the seventh, but could only tack on one run. So not only did Servite get the win, but Sanchez will be able to pitch too.

I sighed to myself. Lucky, but unlucky, at the same time. I'll be okay against Sanchez, but everyone else... I glanced at Noah.

Noah caught me looking. He rolled his eyes and slapped my shoulder. "Don't look at me with so much pity. I'm good. Tomorrow, we should try and get Garret to give us some batting practice."

"No way." Garret overheard him and answered curtly. "I might pitch Monday. I don't want to risk injury or waste energy on trying to help you hit against a lefty. Just go to the cages. Do some imagery training."

"Tsk. Stingy." Noah grumbled.