The Hitting Zone

Thursday, we followed a strict schedule set by Zeke and their parents. Before school we had to prepare what we would wear for the game. After school, Zeke took us home, where we switched into our A's gear and grabbed a well packed bag of snacks from Mrs. Atkins.

"Keep the music low. Make sure to double check your blind spots before changing lanes. Defensive driving." Mr. Atkins lectured Zeke, before turning to us. "Absolutely no fighting in the car. Preferably not at the stadium either, but I know you boys."

"We'll be good!" Noah announced, getting into the car. "We all brought our homework and will do it in the car."

"Dad, we know what to do." Kyle got in the front passenger seat. "I'll text you updates and be in charge of navigation. Just relax."

"We're even separating ourselves." Dave squeezed into the very back. "I'll be taking this last row so I can quietly study and prepare for finals."

Mr. Atkins looked at the packed car, then down at me. "They're growing up, aren't they?"

I laughed.

I wouldn't say that they were growing up. They just know when to prioritize being on their best behavior in order to go to the ball game.

I was the last to get in, sitting in the middle row with Noah. He already had his math book out and started to work on it.

Mr. Atkins walked to the drivers window Zeke had rolled down. "Watch out for them. I'll keep my phone on in the meeting just in case an emergency happens. I loaded your debit card with some money besides for dinner just in case something happens."

Zeke looked at his dad. "Mom isn't even this worried. I'll text you when we meet up with the team." He put the car in reverse.

Mr. Atkins stepped away and joined his wife. They watched as we pulled out of the driveway and down the street.

True to their word, the Atkins brothers all stayed relatively silent. Zeke drove as the radio played in the background. The rest of us did our homework, only making noise when we flipped the pages or scribbled down an answer. After an hour and a half drive, they started to show signs of restlessness. It only got worse as the stadium came into sight.

"Finally!" Dave yelled from the back after Zeke paid for parking and drove through a mostly empty lot. It was still over two hours before game time so we got a good spot again.

"I see Garret, Tyler, and Matt!" Kyle announced from the front, naming a few other junior pitchers. "They must have came together." He frowned. "We should have came with them. It would have been the junior pitchers car."

Dave laughed. "How lame. I definitely wouldn't have gotten all my homework done if we did that."

"You're the one who sounds lame." Kyle shot back.

Zeke parked and turned off the car. He glanced back at us. "Stay seated a minute while I text Dad." He pulled his phone out and started to text.

The rest of us packed up our school bags and passed them to Dave to put in the trunk. The only bag we really needed was the one Mrs. Atkins gave us. Only when Zeke gave us the green light, did we get out of the car and join a few familiar faces in front of the stadium right by the gates.

It wasn't just Garret and a few other pitchers, but a lot of the coaches were there too. Mr. Miller peeled away from the group and approached us.

The twins waved, but kept moving on to their classmates. Zeke stopped with Noah and I, just standing feet away from the big group.

"It's an honor to play with you boys this summer." Mr. Miller smiled. He glanced at Zeke. "Especially you before you head off to college. Remember us little folks too, okay?" He chuckled.

Zeke's lips upturned. "Of course. I'll have to have an inside man to make sure my brothers stay out of trouble."

"He's talking about the twins." Noah elaborated.

"Sure he is." Mr. Miller flicked Noah's hat downwards. "C'mon, I know you, Noah. You can find trouble by just existing." He grinned at me. "Ain't that right, Jake?"

I cracked a smiled, but didn't answer.

Noah nudged me. "Hey. You're supposed to deny it."

I looked at him. "It's not good to lie."

Mr. Miller laughed at Noah's offended expression.

"Glad you boys made it safely." Coach joined our small group. He shook Zeke's hand. "Good to see you, son. Looks like you've been keeping up with your workouts."

Zeke nodded. "Yes, sir." He glanced to Noah and I. "I've tried to get these two to join me, but you know how kids are."

Coach laughed. "Yes, I have a good idea of what's on Noah's mind."

Noah gave Zeke a shove. "We're teenagers just like you. Don't act like an old man just because you're preparing for college. You haven't even graduated high school yet."

"Just a few more weeks to go." Coach smiled. "We're proud of you Zeke. You have done this program justice and really made it shine."

"Hey!" Noah complained. "Shouldn't you be saying that to me and Jake? We won CIF too. It's not like he did it without us. He was practically useless in the championship game."

Coach chuckled. "Zeke put in four years of work to get here. He molded you and the twins, making you three competitive before you got to high school. Really, I should thank your parents for living in our school district. And thank our lucky stars that Jake came to us."

"That one you have to thank me for." Noah stated. "Jake wouldn't have even played if it wasn't for me."

Coach grinned. "Seems like someone is feeling under-appreciated."

Noah nodded. "Now you can tell me."

Coach gave Noah a pat on the head. "You have three more years before I thank you." He turned his focus on me. "But, I'll give thanks to Jake right now."

"What?! Why? So unfair!" Noah groaned.

Coach looked me in the eyes. "I know your relationship with Jeremy is complicated. It probably weighs on your mind more than any normal teen your age. I appreciate you giving the team a chance at this special opportunity. It probably matters more than you know." He slowly patted my shoulder.

I just stood there, awkward as always, unable to say anything in return. Honestly, I didn't understand what he was saying. At least...not until Zeke got the special admission tickets from the Will Call window and started to pass them out. The whole team was filled with a special kind of energy as we went through security.

It only amplified when we were escorted to the special entrance to get to the field.

"I can't believe this!"

"Amazing!"

"The grass is so perfect!"

"Do you think we can get some autographs?"

There was over thirty of us between players and parents taking up the space behind home plate where the opposing team were doing their batting practice. Some of the A's players were taking pictures with other fans behind the rope and signing autographs on miscellaneous items.

"Jake!" A friendly voice called out.