The Hitting Zone

"There's another anomaly on this list." Kyle pointed out once we got in the car to head home.

"What is it?" Noah peeked over his shoulder to look.

"Robbie." Kyle pointed at one of the names. "Looks like a pair of anomalies. He's pairing up with that freshman catcher, Oscar."

Dave started to drive. "Hmm. That is indeed strange. I would even rank that higher than Garret wanting to challenge Jake. He hasn't tried until now. So why?"

"Because time is running out?" Noah suggested.

Kyle slowly shook his head. He turned to give me the paper back. "Watch out for this guy, Jake." He thought back for a second. "You'll recognize him from that time Noah's scrimmage went too long. He was there watching beside us."

I nodded. I remember. "What does he throw?"

Kyle twisted his lips. "A little bit of everything, but it's not like he's particularly good at any of them."

I stared at him blankly.

"He can throw it all." Dave said. "A curve, screw, slider. He just makes it up as he goes."

"I don't remember him that much." Noah spoke up. "I think I've only faced him a couple of times, and pretty sure I got out. But in my defense, I wasn't good at hitting then."

"You're not good now either." Kyle laughed.

Noah pinched him.

"Ow!" Kyle rubbed his shoulder. "You being this aggressive just shows that I'm right."

Dave pulled into the driveway of our home. "I don't know. You haven't seen Noah put in work at the cages."

Kyle rolled his eyes. "I see him everyday at practice. I can see the improvement." He hopped out first and headed for the front door with his bags.

"I hope to play against him tomorrow." Noah grinned.

***

Friday after school, we gathered and warmed up normally. For the most part. A good part of the pitchers and almost all of the catchers separated from us in order to start warming up for their pitching.

"Do us a favor and don't lose to Garret." Dave whispered as we stretched. "I can't imagine how big his head will get if he strikes you out."

I nodded. "I'll do my best."

Dave grinned and reached out to slap my shoulder. "I believe in you."

Coach took over, announcing the scrimmage teams taking place on the lower fields. My challenge would take place on the upper freshmen field because it had more space for the others to warm up. The field didn't matter to me. In fact, I liked the idea that Garret wouldn't get to be on the mound that he's most comfortable with.

Noah was also satisfied. Coach had put him on Dave's team...facing Kyle.

Coach came over to specifically talk to the twins. "I don't want any wild pitches. You even show signs of losing your control, I'll have the coaches pull you boys. I want to hear about a quality competition between you two. Not a fight." He looked down at Noah. "That goes for you too. No wild plays or doing anything dangerous that might cause an injury."

Noah grinned. "Coach, I'm not that kind of player anymore."

Coach narrowed his eyes at him.

Noah straightened up. "I mean, I was never that kind of player. That kind of vibe isn't suitable for baseball."

Coach rolled his eyes. "Don't make me regret this." He looked at the twins. "Batters from both sides are varsity caliber so take it seriously, just don't go above and beyond."

"Ugh. You're so particular." Kyle groaned. "Try, but don't try?" He looked at Dave. "This can be considered a rematch right? Now you can't say it isn't fair because Jake and Garret won't be on my team."

Dave pointed at Noah's face. "Don't let me down today."

Noah nodded seriously.

Coach was satisfied with their attitude and went to check on the pitchers warming up. Watching him go to that group, I realized...all catchers...are probably busy. I glanced to Noah and the twins, wanting to say something, but Dave beat me to it.

"Oh crap." Dave was staring at the group like I was.

"What is it?" Kyle laid down in the grass to do some back stretches.

"You don't have a catcher." Dave let out a short laugh.

Kyle sat up immediately. "Wait. What?"

Noah caught on. "All the catchers are tied up, helping the pitchers warmup and stay ready to challenge Jake. At least for the first bit." He shrugged. "Coach might want all the catchers to stay there to be fair."

Kyle frowned. "It's already not fair. Dave has you. You've been catching for us and even know the signs. Who the heck will I get?"

Noah grinned. "Not our problem. Maybe you should go find the coach in charge of your team and start checking for players that can catch. Or at least know the signs." He laughed and Dave joined in.

I cracked a smile as Kyle jumped up and started jogging to Coach Luis.

Dave held out his fist to Noah. "We've got this."

"Heck yeah!" Noah bumped his fist, smiling.

The two of them eventually had to leave me so Dave could warm up for the scrimmage. Noah also had to find some backup catchers gear from the coaches. All players participating in the scrimmages started to leave too.

It was a little lonely at first, especially with all the coaches gone, but then Alisha came over with her clipboard in hand. "Hey, Jake. You ready?"

I picked up my bag and gave a small nod. We headed for the home team dugout on the third base side. I put my bag down and got one of my bats out and started to stretch with it.

Alisha surprised me by sitting down in the dugout.

I paused. "Don't you have to sit with Coach behind home plate?"

Alisha shook her head. "Coach isn't sitting. He's participating."

I turned to look for Coach. He was walking and talking to the group of pitchers...holding an umpire's mask.

"He told me to document the at-bats for every pitcher-catcher combo and the result that you get off." She explained with a smile. "Hoping you make it easy on me and just hit the first pitch into fair territory."

I nodded. "That's the plan." Then I thought about the few troublesome guys on the list. "Well...maybe at first. There's a few that will probably get past one pitch."

She laughed. "I can't tell if you're being modest or serious. I remember Noah being excited that you could hit of Garret back in February. Things can't really change that much, right?"

I shrugged. "It's been eight months since then. I would say it's still in my favor though. Because I've gotten better too."

She grinned. "You've got this."

I stepped further out of the dugout to start taking some practice swings. After a little more waiting around, Coach came over and made sure I knew what the plan was. Then he called one of the freshman catchers over and let the first pitcher throw a couple off the mound.

It was time to start. I didn't hold back, hitting the first pitch to center field with ease. The pitcher stepped off the mound, looking embarrassed. Coach had me step back to let the next pitcher throw a couple of pitches off the mound. Then it was my turn again. One and done.