The Hitting Zone

I don't know whether the pitcher was shaken by the hard-hit, one-pitch, homerun, but he was wild facing Noah, giving him a couple balls outside the zone. Noah knew the strike was coming and made great contact, sending the ball to center field. The center fielder sprinted in and made the catch for the first out. Noah came back, not looking disheartened at all.

Just as I was about to walk up, the catcher got up and went to the mound to speak with the pitcher. I turned all the way back around and joined Garret near the on deck circle.

"I think I'm going to get walked." I complained to Garret.

Garret grinned. "You make it sound like a bad thing. It's a free base! Couldn't be better for me. I feel more energized when I see one of you guys on base already. Just that much closer to scoring. If only you could make it to second."

I rolled my eyes. "Maybe Coach should let me bat after you instead. You get on and get to second for me."

"I'm sure he'll test it out." He replied. "Coach doesn't like to do the same thing twice. But we need the better batters behind you since you keep getting a free pass."

That's true, I guess.

The umpire went up to the mound to break up the meeting. He and the catcher got back behind the plate and stayed standing. I overheard the catcher tell him about the intentional walk and the umpire signaled for me to take my base.

Tch. I gave my bat a small toss back towards the dugout and jogged to first. It didn't stop there though. Before Coach Luis could say anything to me about the walk, Garret was given an intentional walk too. I stared blankly at the incoming Garret. I guess I would be on second base after all.

Coach Luis gave me a small pat on the shoulder. "Get moving."

I snapped out of it and jogged to second. We had two on. One out. Good chance. I glanced to Mr. Miller. He was signaling for running on contact. Be ready to tag if it's a fly ball. Jason got to swing freely. Gotta get the ball to the outfield though to help me make it beyond third.

Jason came up to the plate. If I were him, I'd feel pressured by the other guys. They rather make him hit than face me or Garret.

The pitcher threw the first pitch for a called strike. Jason swung and missed pitch two. Pitch three was a ball outside. 1-2. Jason connected on the fourth pitch. A grounder. To shortstop. I tried sprinting to third base, but I could still hear the 'Out!' calls by the umpires. They were able to turn a 6-4-3 double play.

I slowed down and jogged back to the dugout.

"God damn it." Jason was cursing up a storm. He took off his helmet and tossed it on the bench; it crashed to the floor and made me jump. I paused, unsure of what to do and where to go.

Noah was the first to react. He picked up the helmet and handed it back to Jason and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, hey. You're acting like you just lost us the lead. Chill out. We're winning, remember."

Jason let out a heavy sigh. "Just mad I couldn't capitalize after two intentional walks." He clenched his fists. "I need to do better."

"I'm sure there'll be plenty of opportunities in the future." Noah told him. He looked around the dugout. "No one here is perfect. Getting jammed like that happens. You can't let it get to you. It's in the past, don't let it become the future."

Garret nodded his head in agreement. He smiled and nudged Jason. "What's worse: you hitting into a double play or me giving up two runs? Baseball games aren't won or lost on just one guy. Pitchers have to pitch, hitters have to hit. It's a team effort."

"Why is Brian out on the field before everyone when he's the one coming from the bullpen?" Coach asked, coming back into the dugout after notifying the umpire of the pitching change.

"Small pep talk, Coach." Noah answered.

Coach looked to Garret and he nodded. Coach spoke again. "Garret to center. Jesse move to left. And Korrey, your spot will be taken by Bryce." He looked around at us guys. "Well? What are you waiting for? Take the field!"

Everyone got a move on. I was one of the slowest, still trying to calm my heart rate.

Noah must have seen me flinched or just knew I'd be thrown off by Jason's outburst. He stayed behind as I got my glove and hat. "Jason is just frustrated and mad at himself. Players can get heated like that after bad beats and errors. You'll get used to it." He smiled. "We usually have a chill dugout with our win streak so you won't see it often."

I hummed know acknowledgment. This wasn't a team problem, it was a me problem. I can outgrow it. I just need to work on myself more. I know Jason. He's a good guy. He may have shown an aggressive moment, but he's not an aggressive person. I get mad and frustrated too. It just shows differently.

Top of the sixth, Brian on the mound. This was his first appearance this season. He didn't see any play time in the Christmas tournament or so far this past weekend. It has to be tough to have patience as a pitcher. You see other guys being used as starters and then you have other guys being picked before you as reliefs. Besides the twins and Garret, Bryce had been on the mound most. And he was the same grade as Brian. And they joined the varsity team together last year as sophomores. I don't know if I could stand the constant comparison. The twins might know how it feels. Or...maybe all pitchers know.

Brian did well in his first game of his junior year. He went three up, three down. Fly out to center, groundout to me, and another fly out to center. Yea, the balls had been put into play, but it was a good team we were facing. Champions of their league last year just like us.

Bottom of the sixth, our offense came up with another dud. Mitchell grounded out to short. Jesse popped up, and the shortstop tracked it down in the outfield grass. Tanner went down swinging. The bottom half of our lineup was struggling to perform. It wasn't just this game either. Game three in the morning wasn't pretty for them. Game one and two were more evened out. I don't see Coach letting us use this lineup more in the future.

"Close it out, Brian." Coach gave him the green light to continue. Coach had originally planned on using the bullpen more this game, but it didn't look like it was needed after all.

We took the field in the top of the seventh with a 4-2 lead. Three more outs away from becoming tournament champions once more.