The Hitting Zone

As players, we had to leave the four of them behind and go find our field to start warmups. We weren't the first ones there, but we also weren't the last. The members of our team showed up in pairs or small groups, quickly filling up our designated dugout. For the first game, we were assigned to be the 'visitors' and got the dugout on the first base side.

I shivered as a big gust of wind came through.

"The ball is going to be flying today." Coach stated, walking into the dugout. He looked around as everyone finished getting ready and tying their cleats. "I hope you all did well on your finals, but also took the time to prepare for this weekend."

"I'm ready, Coach!" Dave stood straight. "I can start tonight!"

Coach chuckled. "You can have tomorrow morning's game."

Dave grinned, happy with what he heard.

"Hey! That's not fair." Kyle bumped Dave over, trying to get Coach's attention. "Why don't I start game two? I'm the better pitcher!"

Dave snorted and pushed him back.

Noah grinned at me. "Looks like we're back to normal."

"Garret, you have the start." Coach ignored the twins and moved on to the game one starter. "Ideally, I want to keep you under 50 pitches so you can be available for Sunday semifinals. If we get that far." The dugout got quiet under Coach's look. "I'm taking a risk here. If we want this to work out as planned, that means we need runs. Early run support and a strong relief." He pointed at Bryce. "You'll warmup alongside Garret. Before 50 pitches, we'll see where we're at in the game."

Bryce nodded. "Yes, sir."

Coach sent us out to start the pregame warmups. Midway, Garret and Bryce left with both catchers, Mitchell and the freshman, Oscar. We practiced fielding and got some swings in before gathering in the dugout again. As it neared game time, Coach announced the lineup:

1 SS Noah

2 1B Sean

3 2B Jake

4 P Garret

5 CF Korrey

6 LF Jesse

7 RF Tanner

8 3B Jason

9 C Mitchell

Mitchell and Garret came back from the bullpen as Coach sent the remaining pitchers to the bullpen just in case things went sideways.

"Keep it light in the bullpen." Coach instructed. "Tomorrow is a doubleheader and we don't know what to expect just yet. I'm talking to you two." Coach pointed at the twins. "If you want to start tomorrow, you better not fool around."

"Sure thing, Coach." Dave nodded.

"Probably some light throwing." Kyle shrugged.

As visitors, we got to bat first. I finally gave up on keeping my sweatshirt on, putting it in my bag. Thankfully Mom had made us wear long sleeves underneath the jerseys. She kept an eye on the weather so we would be prepared.

Noah and Sean went out with their bats and took some practice swings as the opposing pitcher threw some warmup pitches off the mound. I stood just inside the gate of the dugout with Mr. Miller and Alisha nearby. He was explaining to her how to scorekeep, probably wanting her to take on more tasks than she did in practice.

Coach stood beside me. "If they get on, aim for a homerun early. If neither of them do, keep the ball within the field."

I looked up at him, confused.

He patted me on the shoulder, not saying anything else.

The umpire called Noah to the plate and yelled out, "Play ball!"

"Go Noah!"

"Get a hit!"

"Start us off early!"

The shouts came from the few parents that could make it and from our own dugout. Mom's voice reached my ears and I turned to look for her in the stands. She sat high center with Dad right next to her. Rhys and Zeke sat one row in front of them. Next to Zeke, a man dressed in all black, including a beanie and a scarf was looking directly at me. He lifted his hand at chest level and gave a small wave.

My lips twitched as I fought off the smile. Jeremy really came to watch. I had mentioned the tournament to him earlier in the week, but he wasn't sure if he could make it for the first game thanks to some advertisement he had to film.

Ding.

I turned my attention back to Noah just in time to see him make contact with a pitch. He had hit a grounder to the shortstop for a routine play, becoming the first out on our side. After his sprint to first, he came back to grab his bat and take it back to the dugout.

"Tough break." Garret told him, standing just a few feet behind me. I nodded at his comment.

Noah shrugged. "I should have taken a few more pitches. He doesn't look like much. They might be saving their good pitchers for tomorrow."

"Too soon to say." Garret shrugged.

I went out to the on deck circle as Sean moved to the batter's box. Sean took a few more pitches than Noah, but swung and missed on a heavy curve that fell out of the zone.

No one on base. Coach wants a base hit, not a flat out homerun. I got into the righty's box, slowly examine the field for any openings I could exploit. The right field line wasn't covered well. The right fielder was also inching in like he expected a short bloop single from me.

I watched the first pitch for a called strike. The pitcher had a good amount of speed. The second pitch was a curve that was similar to the one Sean struck out on. Ball. 1-1. I pulled the next pitch foul of the left field line. 1-2. I fouled the next pitch again. 1-2. And again. 1-2. And again. 1-2. Once I could see his frustration, I made solid contact on the following pitch, hitting it to the right corner. Then I was off.

I sprinted to first and saw the right fielder chasing the ball so I went for two. I didn't need to slide and stood safely on second base as the pitcher got the ball back from the outfield.

Garret stepped up, in the lefty's box. The pitcher checked on me after nodding at the sign. Then he threw a fastball low and away. Garret swung, catching the ball at the end of his bat, hitting the ball the opposite way down the left field line. I was off on contact, knowing that there was no way the left fielder could make the catch. Mr. Miller waved me on to run home.

I rounded third and kept my eye on the catcher's movements in front of home plate. I could tell there wasn't going to be a play at the plate, so there was no need for me to slide. What a relief. I smiled lightly as I tagged home plate and heard the cheers of my teammates, my family, and the others. Up 1-0 in the first inning.

Garret stood on second with pride.

"Nice running!" Noah grabbed me as soon as I entered the dugout. "For once, you looked like a natural."

I laughed, thankful sliding wasn't needed. I have a funny feeling that I wouldn't be able to live my previous baserunning down if I didn't do well this tournament.