The Hitting Zone

Bottom of the third. Kyle knocked out the rest of the lineup, getting back-to-back swinging strikeouts. The top of the order had previously been struck out, however he connected the second time up. Hitting a grounder within Noah's range. Noah scooped it up and threw to Sean at first to end their offense.

Back inside the dugout, Noah finally stopped hovering over me. I liked that he cared, but hate having him think that I was so weak. I mean...he's not wrong. It's just not a good feeling.

Garret led us off this inning, hitting a single to right field right away. Sean did the same, pushing him to second. As we cheered, the University Prep coach came out of his dugout.

"No complete game against us." Noah smiled with pride.

I smiled too. We weren't the same team from last year.

The new pitcher that came in didn't seem as fast during his warmup off the mound. Once he started his showdown with Jason, however, it was obvious that he was a different kind of pitcher.

"That was clearly a curveball." Noah muttered as we watched Jason swing and miss the first pitch.

"Looks as good as James." I remarked, referencing a senior that ultimately became a closer for our team.

Jason swung and missed the second pitch.

"Damn. That looks nasty." Noah muttered under his breath.

I nodded. Just from this view alone, we could see a lot of movement on this guys pitch. It's probably even more crazy at the plate.

The pitcher threw a fastball outside and Jason swung at it. He barely connected, hitting a grounder to second. The second baseman rushed it, flipping the ball to the shortstop at second base, who then threw to first. Sean and Jason were out on the double play, but we still had Garret safe at third now. Korrey was up next with Mitchell and Kyle behind him. As former offensive MVP from the lower level, I kind of expected something to happen. At least something more than a strikeout. I hoped for it.

I grimaced at his ugly swing and miss. And again.

"Trouble with a curve?" Noah muttered under his breath so only I could hear. "C'mon man."

Korrey went down swinging, leaving Garret stranded at third.

"Dang. Wasted opportunity." Noah stood up and got his glove on. "Why does University Prep get to have so many good pitchers?"

My lips twitched. "We have a lot of good pitchers too." Especially compared to those within our league.

"Let me complain." Noah rolled his eyes. "It's good for me to get the frustration out. I'm not like you, who keeps it bottled in."

I nodded slowly, understanding. I internalized a lot and it feels heavy. Keeps me weighed down. Noah isn't the type to do the same.

We took the field for our defensive end of the inning. Bottom of the fourth, Kyle continued to look good. He earned back to back swinging strikeouts. Then he was back to facing the cleanup hitter. The only guy who had a hit off of Kyle so far.

Behind the plate, Mitchell gave the sign for everyone to play back. The infielders nearly touched the grass. The outfield played near the warning track.

Kyle's first pitch to him was fouled down the third baseline. Kyle tried to get him swing at an outside pitch next, but he didn't fall for it. Ball one.

"UNIVERSITY! UNIVERSITY!"

The chants got louder, dominating all other cheers that were for Kyle and our team.

The unified chant became nothing but screams and gasps as their cleanup hitter connected on the third pitch, pulling it down the third baseline. This one stayed fair, falling beyond the outfield fence. Korrey had chased it back but there was no chance. That ball was long gone. A solo shot.

The guy held up a fist as he ran around the bases, slapping hands with his coaches at the corners. At home plate, the celebration continued and the cheers for University Prep was universal.

Noah was the first one to the mound. Jason, Sean, Mitchell, and myself had to hurry up.

"I'm not a rookie guys." Kyle frowned. "I don't need you guys hovering over me every time I give up a hit or run."

"I'm just here because Noah came here." Mitchell hurried to say.

All eyes went to Noah.

Noah had picked up the rosin bag from the edge of the mound. He tossed it up and down, catching it and then let it fall back to where he had picked it up. He looked up to see us looking at him. "What? I needed to use it to dry my hand out." He grinned at Kyle. "Next one within my zone, okay?"

Kyle rolled his eyes and turned his body away from us. "Get lost."

Sean laughed and left first. I backed up too. Mitchell said something else to Kyle before leaving. Jason and Noah also got off the mound, backing up into their positions. Kyle was alone again, waiting for the next batter to step into the box.

The fifth batter in the lineup attacked early, maybe thinking that Kyle would be shaken from the homerun. Instead, it was a good pitch, nice and low but still in the strike zone. The batter caught the top of the ball, hitting a grounder back up the middle. Kyle dodged. Noah was right behind him, covering the gap. He scooped up the ball with his glove, made the transfer to his throwing hand, and threw to Sean at first.

"Out!" That was it for the fourth inning. Score tied 1-1.

"Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy." Noah grinned as we jogged it back to our dugout.

"Why didn't Kyle field it himself?" I asked.

A heavy hand landed on top of my head. I glanced back to see that it belonged to Kyle. "Got a problem with it?"

I shook my head the best I could with him still holding onto me.

Kyle laughed and let go. "Don't worry. I didn't intentionally miss. I just knew that Noah would have a better result fielding it. I was in no shape to get the ball and make the play. Maybe if it was more to your side, I would."

I nodded. "Because I'm worse than Noah." That makes sense.

Noah pulled me away from Kyle. "You're not worse than me. You're just not as good as me when it comes to fielding. Don't listen to Kyle's nonsense. He's just lazy when it comes to fielding."

"Don't act like you didn't want that grounder." Kyle called out to us as we went to our bags and he went to his. He would be second up this inning.

"It's not a big deal." I told Noah, shrugging. "If I was Kyle, I would dodge too."

Noah laughed. "I have a feeling that you'll leave me for the outfield when you decide you have enough arm strength."

I shook my head very adamantly.

Noah was surprised. "Really? I would think you would like being in the outfield more. Less action. No fast grounders coming at your body."

"No way. There's a lot more than go wrong out there." I told him.

"Like tripping over your own feet." Garret laughed as he walked by us. "I'll never forget Jake's midseason tryout." He used his hands to demonstrate. "Jake went 'splat!'"

I covered my face as some of the guys laughed too.