The Hitting Zone

We didn't have a whole lot of time to celebrate the win on the field. There were still games after us so we merely high-fived and hurried to the dugout to pack up. Coach didn't let us run free; instead he took us off to the side of the field and waited for all of us to gather.

I sat next to Noah as we took our cleats off. Our teammates were doing the same while talking about the game and what the next game might be like. The assistant coaches hung out behind us as Coach got in front to address the team.

"I'm happy with the way the game went. We got a nice solid win and it might just allow us to move on to the semifinals tomorrow." Coach said. "But to secure that advancement, we need to win this afternoon." He looked at Kyle. "I've got someone watching the Balboa game as we speak. We'll go over the game plan after lunch."

Kyle nodded.

Coach looked around and found me. "I believe Jake has lunch plans for the whole team. Jake? Want to tell the team yourself?"

I froze.

Noah nudged me.

I cleared my throat and tried not to look around too much. "Jeremy said he wanted to treat the whole team to lunch. If you guys don't mind..."

Garret was the first to laugh. "Why would anyone mind? A free lunch on the reigning MVP? We're living the dream!" He looked around. "If anyone needs a ride, I can take four extra."

"What about our parents..?" Logan asked, looking at me directly.

"Parents are included." Coach spoke up to answer him. "I'll be sending out a group text message to all of you with the address in a few minutes. Players and families are invited."

We finished packing up and started to get up to find our families. I followed Noah and the twins, finding Mom and Dad with Rhys and Zeke. No Jeremy.

"Jeremy and Rose got a head start to the restaurant." Dad caught me looking around. "It's not too far from the fields. We should get going too, that way we show up before the team. I don't want to put Jeremy in an awkward spot, meeting your teammates and their families on his own."

"Why? It's just like meeting his fans." Noah shrugged.

"I'm sure Jeremy could handle it." Rhys said in agreement.

"He probably doesn't want it to be all about him." Zeke shrugged, hands in his pockets. "He wants to treat the team to lunch for Jake's sake. Not to do an impromptu meet and greet."

Regardless of what we thought, Dad still rushed us to the restaurant, dividing us into two cars. The twins got to go with Zeke and Rhys, while Noah and I went with our parents.

"You both had very nice hits today." Mom said from the front passenger seat. "And those catches! What reflexes you must have to snatch those line drives out of the air."

"I just got lucky." I said shyly.

Noah laughed. "Would you say that about my hit too, then? That I just got lucky?" He slapped my lightly on the arm. "C'mon, you have to own up to your accomplishments, not just your mistakes."

"I saw nothing wrong with the way you boys played." Mom volunteered. "It was a great game. A complete shutout for the other team."

Mom had compliments for our game all the way to the restaurant. With her and Noah going back and forth, it was hard to refute their statements. No one would blame me for my error, or even let me talk about it. It was probably for the best, not to dwell on it.

We met back with the other four boys at the restaurant and walked in on a nearly empty place.

"Watsonville High School baseball team?" A lady asked from behind the hostess counter.

Dad nodded and looked around. "We should have two others already here? To make reservations for the whole group?"

The lady grinned and nodded. "Yes, Jeremy Patterson reserved the whole restaurant for your team and families."

"...the whole restaurant..?" Dad echoed.

"Jake! Over here!" Jeremy waved from a near empty table, standing beside a sitting Rose.

Noah pulled me along and we led the way back to Jeremy's table.

"Great game." Jeremy held out his closed fist to bump with the three of us.

Kyle declined. "I'll save my congratulations for after the game I pitch in. It's weird to hear 'good game' when I didn't even get to go out there."

"You're thinking too much of yourself." Rhys told Kyle. "It's a team thing. There are a bunch of bench players but they should still be congratulated on a win. They put it the same amount practice as the starters."

Rhys and the twins sat down one table over and started talking about how pitchers differ from bench players. Zeke, Mom, Dad, Noah, and I all sat with Jeremy and Rose, filling up the table. Slowly, the team started to trickled in. Coaches, players, and the families who were there to watched the games. Everyone stopped by our table first to greet and thank Jeremy for treating us to lunch. It was hard to get a word in while the parents all wanted to talk. It wasn't until everyone found a table to sit at the servers started to bring glasses of water around.

"I figured all the players will be restricted to water." Jeremy stood up and addressed the room. "Parents, coaches, and any non-players can order any drinks you guys want."

"I can't even get a lemonade?" Noah joked.

Jeremy laughed. "You have a slice of lemon in your water. That is good enough." He sat back down and smiled at me. "I caught your homer in the first inning; do you think I can get an autograph?"

I felt my face heat up.

"It's just one of many." Noah clapped me on the back. "Better get used to it. It's like how you document your broken bats now. Jeremy or you can write the date of the game and that he was able to catch it. It'd be cool."

"Want me to go get it from the car?" Rose asked.

"Nah, it can wait until after lunch." Jeremy relaxed in his chair and picked up the menu. "You guys have time until your next game so order what you want."

"Dessert for lunch!" Noah exclaimed, bouncing in his seat.

"Noah James." Mom said sternly.

"Kidding, kidding." Noah calmed down.

The restaurant had servers for every table, going around taking orders. Being the huge group we are, no one mind the order the food came out. Whoever's food was ready first, got to eat first. A lot of the players sat together or moved around to talk to other teammates. Noah was the most social, getting up and talking to almost everyone. The twins, Garret, Mitchell, Jason, Sean, etc.

I stayed in my own seat, mostly listening to the conversation around me. Mom and Rose were talking about the housing market, whereas Dad, Jeremy, and Zeke talked about Zeke's first semester at college. I really felt comfortable. And happy. My two families were blending quite well.