The Hitting Zone

"Hold up." Coach stopped us from leaving the dugout. "Let's talk for a second."

"We're all ears." Noah said. I nodded along.

Coach lowered his voice. "Noah, if you get a chance to get on base, you'll have to make it to second. Get into scoring position." He looked at me. "Jake, there's quite a lot of scenarios that could happen. But realistically, if I were them, here's what could happen. Noah gets out, and they choose to take you on. It's a sidearm pitcher. You're a sophomore. They're probably convinced that you only bat from the left side since it's been awhile since you've switched. Then if they get you two out, they have options with Garret. Possibly walk him or pitch around him."

I was confused as to what Coach wanted me to do.

"Keep it simple with him, Coach." Noah understood me. "It's easy for me, because I'll always know what to do. With Jake, you have to give him a task. A problem to solve."

Coach nodded, seemingly understanding. "Right. Jake, bat from the right side. If they take you on, you have to try for a double at minimum. If they walk you-" He paused for a second. "If they walk you, you have to decide: steal second or I'll send in a pinch runner for you."

"Coach, I'll get on before him." Noah stated. Confident. "Jake won't need a pinch runner."

Coach made a clicking sound with his mouth. He looked at Noah. Then at me. Then back to Noah. He shook his head. "I can trust you two to do your best. But you can't always plan out what will happen in reality."

"Are you sending out a batter or going to forfeit?" The umpire had walked over and made his presence known. Apparently he was frustrated with how long we were taking.

"Coming!" Noah sprinted out first, heading directly to the batter's box.

I looked at Coach. "I believe in Noah." I left the dugout next.

I stood in the on deck circle. Noah took some big practice swings before stepping in the batter's box. I watched as he faced this sidearm pitcher. Swinging strike. Ball. Ball. Swinging strike. 2-2 count. The pitcher started his motion and so did Noah. Noah showed bunt, connected with the pitch, then took off. The ball rolled down the third baseline. The third baseman came sprinting in. He had to barehand the ball and make a hard and fast throw go first. He was just a millisecond too late. Noah was safe.

"Noah!"

"Woo-Hoo!"

"Get it!"

Our dugout was overwhelmingly loud. One on. No outs. I'm up.

A coach from the other dugout came out and headed for the mound. The catcher and infield went in too. Pitcher change? No. Didn't look like it. Must be meeting to talk game plan.

"Wonder which it'll be." Garret came out of the dugout ready to bat too. "Will they let him face you? What about me?"

I smiled. Either way, I thought we were in a good spot.

The meeting on the mound broke up. The coach went back to the dugout. The catcher came back to home plate and squatted down. Yes! I gripped my bat and happily got into the righty's box. He glanced up at me, but nothing was said. The ump called for the game to resume.

I got my first chance to see a real sidearm pitcher. I watched his setup and motion with my full attention. It was definitely a new experience. I can see why it would be beneficial against lefty's. Limited vision of his release.

The first pitch went wide of the strike zone for ball one. He got the ball back from the catcher. He checked on Noah at first but didn't do a check throw. He got set, started his motion, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see Noah taking off. A steal? Or did I miss a hit-and-run sign? Unsure of what to do, I chose to do nothing. I stayed upright.

The catcher caught the ball, jumped up and threw his hardest to second base. Noah went in sliding. The shortstop made a tag.

"Safe!"

I let out a sigh of relief. Gosh. That scared me.

The catcher turned to the umpire. "We're going to walk him now. Call up the next batter."

What? Is that allowed? The umpire gave me a look. I hurriedly dropped my bat and jogged to first. On the way, I could hear a few 'boos' from the stands, but our dugout was fine with it.

"Get him, Garret!"

"Crush it!"

"Captain! Captain!"

I stepped on first and turned to watch Garret come up to the plate. Mr. Miller told him anything close, swing. We run on contact.

"Be aware." Coach Luis told me specifically. "If Noah goes home, you go to third. That way, if he's thrown out, we still have a runner in good position."

I nodded.

"Anything to the outfield, tag up, go to second." He advised.

We needed a replay of the seventh inning.

The pitcher occasionally glanced back at Noah, but still didn't throw back. He looked like he was resisting the urge for check throws. He had to keep his attention on the batter at the plate. No outs. Two on. Garret up to bat. I felt my heart start to pound. I'm thinking it's already game over.

Garret must have been thinking the same thing. He came out swinging, fouling a few of the pitches out of the field of play. Parents and spectators were yelling 'heads up' every so often. It took him quite some time to get one straightened out and sent to left field.

"Tag up! Tag up!" Coach Luis was shouting.

I kept a heel on the base and watched the ball fall into the left fielder's glove, then I took off for second. I had a good view of the left fielder throwing the ball in to third base, going after Noah. Noah couldn't watch and wasn't tempted to. His eyes were on Mr. Miller, who was gesturing for him to go down for a slide. Noah complied, diving under and between the third baseman's legs. The tag came down, but he was already holding onto the bag. Safe.

I stood at second, happy with not having to slide and even happier that we both advanced safely. There may be one out but now no chance for a double play.

I looked to our dugout and saw that Coach was calling Jason back to the dugout. Seems like we're going with a pinch hitter. But who? Dalton? He was the other sophomore on the team and the only field player who hasn't gotten up yet.

I squinted when I saw Kyle coming out. What? That can't be right. Kyle's not a hitter. Let alone in a clutch situation like this. Even more unexpectedly, the catcher spoke to the umpire, and soon kyle was jogging to first. They intentionally walked him? Oh, they intentionally walked him. They're looking for a double play now. That makes sense.

Mitchell was 0-4 this game and 0-6 on the whole day. Yesterday was better for him. He came up to the plate. Ready to go. Him and Noah had the most attention on them. Mitchell had to get the ball to the outfield. It was necessary.

This time around, the pitcher committed to do check throws to Noah on third base. Had to keep him closer to the bag. Mitchell dealt with the weird pauses, not getting anxious or annoyed. He was patient. And it paid off. He got the ball in the air and lifted it to center field. Sure, it got caught. But Noah tagged up and sprinted home. There was no play at the plate. 7-6. We won!

Everyone seemed to swarm Mitchell and Noah at home plate all at the same time. I didn't join in completely, but got closer than before. I smiled and laughed as the guys pushed Mitchell around. The guys from the bullpen came sprinting in to join. We spent a good ten minutes in pure bliss.