The Hitting Zone

After waiting ten minutes, Dave pushed himself off the car. "Maybe their game is going long. Let's go check it out?"

Kyle nodded. "Yea, let's just drive the car down to the lower lot. See what's going on."

We got in the car and Dave drove us down to the lower lot. We could see a few players hanging out up top, looking down at the field.

"They're still playing." Kyle confirmed.

We three got out of the car and walked over to the field, heading down towards the bleachers. We weren't the only ones to sit down to watch. Players and coaches sat around, spectating. I spotted Alisha sitting beside Coach Wilcox on the highest row.

The twins found an open spot and started to get comfortable, taking up two or three rows when they stretched out. I quietly sat on the other side of Dave, looking at the field for Noah. He wasn't hard to find. At first glance I found him playing shortstop.

On the mound was Bryce, pitching to a batter I didn't know. He got him to strikeout and then the field players headed for the first base dugout.

"Was that game?" Kyle asked, squinting at the field, trying to figure out where they were at in the game.

"No. They just brought in Bryce so it couldn't be." Someone said on the other side of Kyle.

Kyle nodded at what he was saying. "Must have been a brutal hit-fest."

The guy nodded. "Yea, I only got here when they put Bryce in." He pointed at the home team bullpen. "They had Brian warming up so I think he should be coming out soon."

Just as he finished telling us what had happened, Brian came jogging out of the bullpen.

"Do you know what inning it is?" Dave asked the guy.

The guy shook his head. "Visitors are up so all I know is that it's the 'top' of an inning. Hoping it's the seventh already, but it wouldn't make sense to bring in Bryce and Brian to close out just one inning."

Kyle got up. "I'll just go ask someone in the dugout." He went down the stands and tried to find someone to ask. He couldn't reach the dugout very well without going on to the field. But luckily for him, Noah came out of the dugout with his helmet on and bat in hand. He must be coming up this inning.

Kyle called out to him through the fence and Noah came over. They shared a few words before Kyle came back up. He had a weird expression of disbelief on his face.

"Well?" Dave asked, prompting his twin to tell us what he knows.

Even the guy on the other end of the row was looking our way.

"It's only the top of the fourth inning." Kyle said. "They're barely halfway through."

"No way." Dave frowned.

"That's unbelievable." The guy said. "Did you find out the score?"

Kyle's lips twitched. "Noah said they are winning 17-15."

My jaw dropped. I've never seen so many runs scored in a game before. It makes sense now why they're only in the fourth.

Dave sighed. "Guess the incoming freshmen aren't very good at pitching this year."

"None really stood out in the morning practices." The guy added. That gave me the hint that he was also a pitcher like the twins. I took another glance at him, trying to figure out what grade he was in.

"That's not saying much." Kyle shrugged. "You don't stand out either."

Dave nudged Kyle and gave him a look.

Kyle grinned. "What? It's true. Robbie isn't very impressive during bullpen sessions. Very bland." He glanced at the guy, still grinning.

Robbie shrugged, not looking bothered.

Kyle reached over Dave to poke me. "Be careful when facing this guy. He hides himself well."

I nodded obediently.

Brian had finished warming up and got the first out already, bringing Noah up next.

Dave stood up and started yelling. "If you get out, you're walking home!"

Kyle laughed and got up too. "Don't dishonor the family name!"

Noah didn't even look back. His complete focus was on Brian. Brian started him off with a fastball away. Then a fastball in the dirt. 2-0 count.

The twins switched from antagonizing Noah to jeering Brian.

"Boo! You suck!"

"Find the strike zone!"

"We want a pitcher, not a belly itcher."

"I've seen more heat in a toaster!"

I started to laugh as the twins went on heckling Brian. I wasn't alone. Anyone in the stands were laughing or even joining in.

Brian's third pitch was a little high, but it was exactly what Noah has been practicing on hitting. He smacked the ball just over the first baseman's head and sprinted to first as the ball dropped in front of the right fielder. Noah stayed at first as the ball was thrown back in.

The twins sat back down, done with yelling at poor Brian.

"You're not going to keep going?" I asked, curious as to why they stopped. They were close enough to Brian so I know he wouldn't be offended.

Kyle shrugged. "It's okay to do when we know both of the guys, but it feels wrong when he's facing someone else."

"Yea, we still want Brian to do well." Dave added. "He's a good all-rounder to have on varsity."

Brian was now facing a sophomore that I kind of knew from Noah. He wasn't a bully like Austin, but out of default I didn't like him from the way he ignored Noah. Brian got him to swing and miss early on, earning an 0-2 count. The third pitch was a curveball outside. The batter swung and missed again for a strikeout, but more importantly, Noah took off sprinting!

The catcher was Ethan. I watched as he struggled to get up and get the ball to second base. Noah slid into the bag before the tag came down. Safe.

"Ethan isn't good against steals." Dave mumbled. "Good of Noah to utilize that and show off his sprinting speed."

I looked at him. "You know Ethan?"

Dave laughed. "Yea. Of course. Pitchers and catchers know one another. In the mornings, we workout together and do some drills that need one another. Plus, we'll sometimes pair up for pitching practice so we'll get to know one another. We don't get to pick our catchers very often. When the teams are decided, that's when we'll get to work with a catcher that's on our level."

"Is there anyone besides Mitchell that will make varsity?" I asked, curious.

"There's a freshman that's pretty good." He mused. "Very quiet. Has the basics down."

"His name is Oscar." Robbie overheard us. "I've paired up with him the most I think if you count the drills we do."

Kyle snapped his fingers. "Yea. I think that kid is pretty good too. Definitely above freshman team material."

"Good shot at JV." Dave nodded. "Small chance of making varsity, depending on his batting. I haven't seen him in any of my scrimmages yet."

"I saw him in mine." Kyle grinned. "Struck him out."

"Once out of two at-bats." Robbie tacked on.

Kyle rolled his eyes. "Okay, and a groundout. Big whoop. Just saying that I can get him out so his batting isn't the best. Unlike Jake here." He looked at me with a smile.