The Hitting Zone

Bottom of the second.

Kyle took the mound with confidence and a slight attitude. The first pitch was a fastball right down the middle for a called strike. The batter stepped back for a practice swing. As the cleanup, he was definitely a senior: tall, well-built, and almost looked like adult with a full beard. This was the first time I felt like we were playing against men and not boys. This would be the disadvantage in playing varsity as a freshman.

'DING!'

Kyle's second pitch was returned with force and power. The cleanup hitter smashed the ball to left field. We could only watch as it soared over Garret and then the outfield fence. A homerun. A solo shot.

Anderson High and their fans cheered for the batter as he jogged the bases with ease.

I looked to Noah, but he was just as stunned as I was. That was too sudden. We're losing by one with a swing of the bat. If we're this shock, I can't imagine what Kyle is feeling. I slowly turned to Kyle, feeling more nervous than I did when I was at bat.

Kyle was still facing left field. Disbelief was written all over his face. It was a good pitch. Speed. Placement. Movement.

"Next one!" Garret yelled from left field with some aggression.

That snapped Kyle out of his daze. He turned himself around to face Kelvin, who was waiting to give him a new ball. Noah and I exchanged worried glances, but since he didn't make a move towards the mound, I didn't either.

Kyle was obviously affected by the solo shot to left, and it showed in his next battle with batter number five. His pitches were off-mark and the ones that were close to the zone, were fouled off. It didn't take long for another ball to be launched towards the outfield.

I moved to cover second base, and Noah moved towards the grass to be the cutoff man. The ball was high as it traveled to center field. Zeke tracked it down with his eyes, his feet gliding across the grass as he sprinted towards the fence. He paused for a brief second before jumping, raising his glove high while using his free hand for balance against the fence. He snatched the ball before coming down hard.

He straightened up and immediately threw the ball in to Noah. "One out!"

Noah grinned, turned and threw the ball to Kyle. "One out!" He echoed.

Kyle nodded after catching the ball, then faced home plate. The sixth batter stepped up. Kyle had lost his focus after those two well hit balls. It wasn't a lie to say that the first out would have been another homerun if it wasn't for Zeke's great defensive play.

Kyle's pitching lacked the power from before, but that wasn't as concerning as his lack of placement. He walked the sixth batter on four straight balls. The batter jogged to first and Kelvin stood up to jog to the mound.

I looked to Noah and saw him jogging to me instead of to the mound so I met him halfway.

"What's up?" He asked, catching me by surprise.

"'What's up'...?" I repeated. Then glanced to the mound where Kelvin and Kyle were. "Should we go too?" Doesn't he normally go to the mound when the pitcher is struggling? Kind of like for moral support?

Noah shrugged, looked down and kicked some dirt. "I'm not sure what to do either. I don't want to make things worse. Kyle isn't like Dave. Plus, it's the playoffs." He stressed the last word. "I'm sure Kelvin knows what to say and do. He's a senior."

Noah was actually just as nervous as me. And Kyle. Probably the whole team was feeling it now. A sense of dread. I tried to smile. "It's only the second inning."

"Right!" Noah nodded enthusiastically. He then tilted his head to the mound. "It'll all work out, I'm sure." He started to jog backwards to his position after noticing that Kelvin was jogging back to home plate.

Kelvin's words must have had some affect on Kyle. He livened up and out in some serious effort to strike out the seventh batter.

"Two outs!" An echo rang through our dugout and players on the field.

Kyle looked fine and so did his pitching. We were back on track. Or so I thought.

On a 1-2 count, the eighth batter swung with speed and power, making contact, and blasting the ball to left field. Again, Garret could only chase it to the fence and watch it go by. Another home run. With an added RBI. We were now down by three.

My heart was pounding. I couldn't imagine how Kyle was feeling.

"Time." Coach called out while coming out of the dugout. He approached the home plate umpire and had a brief conversation before heading to the mound. Kelvin followed. The rest of the infielders went towards the mound as well, so I hurried to join in.

"Sorry, guys..." Kyle muttered once he was surrounded.

"Don't think too much about it." Coach patted himself on the back. "It's not uncommon to get banged around by such a good team. Today just isn't your day." He held out his hand.

Kyle put the ball in his hand then left the mound, going back to the dugout.

Coach looked to left field and waved at Garret. Garret immediately came running in, joining our crowded mound. "Garret. One out. That's all we need right now."

Garret nodded and accepted the ball from Coach. "Got it."

Coach looked at the rest of us. "Get your heads out of the clouds and focus on the game. It's only the second inning. Who cares if we're down by three?" He didn't wait for an answer and just left, going back to the dugout.

"Put away the depressing faces." Garret commanded. "We're not out of this just yet." He then sent us off the mound so he could throw some practice pitches with Kelvin.

While he warmed up, Sean came running out of the dugout. He ran to Mahki and Zeke in the outfield, taking over for Garret.

Meanwhile, I was feeling a little scared. Everyone kept saying not to worry, it's only the second inning. But that's the problem...it's only the second inning and we were in a hole. A good size hole. We were down, Kyle was out, Garret was up, and it didn't look like Anderson High would be pitching to Zeke. I swallowed a lump in my throat.