The Hitting Zone

Kyle guided me to the trainer's tent, obviously knowing how to find it better than I. He also was the one to speak to the trainer for the both of us. "We just need a couple bags of ice." He said to the trainer who was bandaging an ankle of another baseball player.

The trainer pointed to an ice machine that was plugged into an extension cord. "Fill up your own bags. Do you need me to saran wrap it to your body?"

I looked up to Kyle.

Kyle nodded. "Yea, I'll need help, but I can help my brother." Kyle nodded towards the ice machine, taking me over.

"Brothers on the same team? That's pretty cool." The player who was getting his ankle wrapped remarked.

Kyle's lips twitched. "Yea, we get that a lot." He filled up a bag of ice and tied a knot before handing it to me. "Go sit."

I obediently took the bag and sat down on an open chair as Kyle prepared another bag of ice.

"There's actually a team here that has quite a few brothers on it." The player kept talking. "I heard they won CIF last year. My high school isn't in their bracket, but if they win this afternoon, we'll play them tomorrow. I wonder if they all get to play at the same time." He chuckled. "Could you imagine half the players on the field being your family?"

Kyle laughed with him. "Yea, yea I can." He set his bag of ice down and helped me lift my foot. "We should probably take your shoe off."

I kicked my shoe off. Kyle placed the bag on the top part of my foot, letting the ice cover both the inside and outside of my ankle. He grabbed a clear roll of saran wrap and used it to keep the bag of ice stationary.

The trainer finished with the player and came over to help Kyle wrap his bag of ice to his right shoulder.

"A pitcher?" The player got up and started grabbing his bag. "How'd you do today?"

Kyle gave a friendly smile. "Our team won." The ice was firmly attached to him.

The player left the area first, giving a small wave. "Well, I have to get going. Good luck this season."

What a friendly guy.

I looked up at Kyle. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"About us being the team of brothers?" Kyle finished. He gave a small shrug. "He didn't ask. He'll find out tomorrow. Not like it's a big deal." He glanced down at my ankle. "Can you walk with that or should I carry you?"

"I can walk." I held my shoe and started to show off my walking skills while having a bag of ice taped to me.

Kyle caught up to me easily, but kept pace with me as we walked away from the trainer's spot. We met up with everyone rather soon since Noah had pointed them to our direction. Noah had also given our bags away to Zeke and Rhys to carry.

"Great game, Ky." Rhys told Kyle. "I was getting worried that you wouldn't last all seven innings."

"How's the ankle?" Dad asked me. "Did you have the trainer look at it?"

"I'm okay." I reassured him, dodging the question a little bit. "Did Jeremy and Rose go home already?"

"He was stuck signing some autographs." Dave answered.

"We'll meet them for dinner." Mom told me. She also glanced down at my foot. "I don't think you should be up on your feet with that ice bag. Let's get you to the car and prop your leg up for a bit." She turned to Dad. "Can you carry him?"

"I can do it!" Noah raised his hand.

Zeke stepped in front of him, giving the baseball bag he was carrying back to Noah. "It's best if I do it." He turned and squatted in front of me. "Jump up."

With everyone showing their concern, it was too hard to argue with them. Dad helped me climb Zeke's back and he carried me back to the car as everyone else followed.

"You played well." Zeke told me lightly as he maneuvered through the crowd of players and parents.

I sighed. "Not that well."

"Don't dwell on it now." Zeke told me. "When this tournament finishes, we can use Christmas break to work on your fielding. Practice those double plays with Noah so the chemistry will be flawless."

"Did you see the call that the ump missed?" I frowned.

"Yea, that can happen. Hopefully he won't be one of the umpires tomorrow." Zeke said. "I'm sure Coach will approach the tournament staff and say something about him." Zeke spoke more about the game until we got to the car. He opened the door and put me in the middle row, propping my leg up. "Ankle is okay?"

I nodded. "Really. It's just a little sore. Like knocking bone against bone."

He frowned. "It'll probably bruise, knowing you."

I was helpless when it came to that. My body had a weak start. I was only starting to put on weight and muscle these past few months.

"Coach says we're playing at 2pm tomorrow." Noah climbed into the car and sat across from me. "Branham High School...never heard of them." He looked to Zeke.

Zeke leaned against the car door. "Does it matter if you heard of them or not? It's the semifinals. No matter who they are, they have to be on a similar level as you guys."

"Garret's pitching tomorrow so I doubt it's the 'same level'." Noah snorted. "Plus, we have Jake. Best hitter around."

"The best in the state." Someone added. Just a few feet away from the car door was a familiar face.

"Mr. Cameron!" Noah jumped back outside the car and went over to shake his hand. "What are you doing here?"

"Covering high school baseball is my job." He laughed and held up his camera. "I took a few action shots today from the first game, but didn't have the time to see you boys afterwards."

"I just can't believe how far you travel for your job." Noah remarked.

Mr. Cameron laughed again. "You might feel like I travel a lot, only because I happen to be following you guys all the time. Everyone else can be settled with a short video or phone call. It's the top players I have to report on." He looked at me. "How are you, Jake?"

I gave a small nod. "Good."

He glanced at the bag of ice wrapped to my ankle. "Got hurt?"

I shook my head. "Just knocked legs with the other team in game two."

"He's only icing it because Coach said." Noah explained before asking, "What was that you said before? Jake is the best hitter in the state?"

Noah's question attracted the rest of our group. Mom, Dad, Rhys, and the twins all came over and greeted Mr. Cameron.

Mr. Cameron grinned and gave a nod. "I believe so. The county's top players have been ranked already and I have it on good authority that Jake is in the top three. Those rankings have been sent to state so I'm looking forward to where Jake will land."

My face got warm from all the attention directed my way.