The Hitting Zone

"You played well." I told Kaylee Tuesday morning in our first class, putting my backpack beside my chair.

"Thanks." She smiled.

"Are you and Marie coming to our game?" Noah asked.

"I don't think so. Maybe if Kyle was pitching."

"Wowww." Noah exaggerated. "I see how it is. We stick around and cheer for you girls, but you can't do the same."

Her lips twitched. "It's not the same. You were going to stay anyways. Plus, I heard that your Coach has been keeping some starters on the bench. And if that's enough, you have people to sit with. I won't. Marie is not going to stay when Kyle isn't pitching. It just won't happen."

"You don't have any other friends?" Noah was skeptical.

"Now you want me to bring my own friends? Am I in charge of your cheer squad or what?"

Noah looked to me. "Help me out here, Jake."

"How...?" I asked, unsure of what to say.

"Give her a reason to watch the game."

Mmm. I thought it over. "Well. It should end rather quickly? So you won't have to stay there for long."

Noah and Kaylee started to laugh.

"Where'd you get that from?" Noah asked me.

I shrugged. "I vaguely remember this school. It was one where we won in five innings. Mercy rule."

"Oh, yea? Who pitched?"

"Everyone? It was a bullpen game."

"Okay, if the batting prodigy is thinking it's going to be another called game then I'm in." Kaylee said, still laughing.

Noah patted me on the shoulder. "Don't let us down."

"W-w-what? Was that wrong?" I started to fidget.

"No, no. Don't revert back." Kaylee started to wave her hands at me. "You sounded so confident earlier. Don't let that go."

"He'll be fine again when the bat is back in his hand." Noah assured.

The two made fun of me until the teacher came in to start the class. During the morning announcements we heard about the softball team's win and then how we would have a game in the afternoon.

Kaylee stood up amid the announcements and raised her voice. "Come out to the baseball game after school to cheer for our classmates. Jake is guaranteeing that it'll be a quick one."

I buried my face into my hands, refusing to look at anyone. Some of our classmates laughed while others asked for more details. The rest of the school day passed by in a similar fashion. It was like everyone knew that I said it would be a called game.

Some guys from the team clapped me on the back, claiming to like my confidence but it was really just a facade. I was just repeating what happened last year.

Thankfully Modoc High School didn't have any major improvements. Joey started against them, going three up, three down. As we started the bottom of the first and I came out with my bat, I heard quite a few familiar voices in the stands.

"Let's go, Jake!"

"Hit a bomb early on!"

"Gotta start scoring early!"

"Jake! Jake!"

"You're so popular." Sean laughed as he came out of the dugout too. He was batting right behind me in the lineup.

I had a feeling that this wasn't popularity. Just marketing from Kaylee and Noah earlier. My body was getting warm despite the February gloom. I hope I don't trip. I don't think I'll be able to go back to school again.

"Batter up." The umpire waved for me to come up.

I inched my way as my name was announced. I got in the lefty's box, having a good view of my dugout. They were all standing up against the fence, almost willing for me to make something happen early on.

I did my best, blasting the first pitch down the left field line. It stayed high and cleared the outfield fence for a leadoff home run. I rounded the bases as the stands got super loud. I was too embarrassed to look at them and kept my head down as I tagged home.

Sean was the first to pat me on top of my helmet. "Keep your head up, Bambi! They're cheering for you!"

I hurried back to the dugout with my bat.

"Nice one!"

"Awesome!"

"Great job!"

"You're on fire!"

I reached the end and could finally relax my shoulders as I approached my bag. I took my helmet off and put it away.

"You really follow through, man!" Noah gave my back a harsh slap. "You should have pumped your fists to the crowd or said something back to them."

I rubbed the spot and gave him a look. "I couldn't." I was too busy watching my feet. I couldn't afford to step on my own laces.

"You'll get used to it." Noah tried to be more comforting. "Just look how far you've come. Last year, this time, you could barely make eye contact with Coach."

"He's a good coach." I remembered how bad I was early on. Coach really stuck with me. I cringed at the thought of the dumb errors I've made. Physically and mentally.

"Sure is! The best I've ever had." Noah smiled with agreement.

Noah was eighth in the lineup today so I thought we would sit together until we took the field again, but everyone on offense got a chance at the plate.

Sean hit a single. Jason walked. Jesse walked. Tanner had an RBI single. Mitchell did too. Then Logan. Noah was actually the first out but still earned an RBI on a sacrifice fly to left field. Mitchell and Logan both advanced to third and second base respectively. Joey hit a similar fly ball to left field which was also caught. Mitchell tagged up, but the throw to home was more on point and he was tagged out for a double play and to end the inning. Up 5-0 we took the field with high spirits.

Joey didn't transition well from batting to pitching, giving up a leadoff double to their cleanup hitter. He calmed down after Noah caught a line drive from the next guy. Struck out the sixth batter while the seventh batter hit a routine grounder to Noah.

Bottom of the second, I came out of the dugout amidst an even louder chant of my name. I ducked my head and pretended to take some practice swings. A part of me wanted to try for the fences again, but the more rational part said to play it safe. At the plate, I connected with an early pitch and earned a single.

That was enough for the Modoc coach though. He came out and called for a pitcher change. The starter did not fair well against our lineup at all. The new guy had a better start, getting Sean to strike out swinging. Jason popped up to the second base, leaving me on first as Jesse came up to bat.

"They should be trying to advance you to second base." I heard Coach Luis mumble under his breath.

I understood his frustration, but I didn't mind being left on first. We had a sizeable lead and I don't really like running. No hit-and-run plays mean I won't embarrass myself in front of all my classmates. At least not today. The turnout is just too high.