The Hitting Zone

I was welcomed back into the team seamlessly as Dave dominated all conversations, talking about our offensive output. We slowly got ready, putting on our cleats and making sure our bags were packed with all the equipment.

Coach came over with his assistants and let Dave continue his chatter until it got closer to warmup time. "Alright, that's enough. Save some energy for the game, will ya?"

The whole team quieted down and Coach took center stage. "New lineup." He got straight to the point.

1 SS Noah Atkins

2 2B Jake Atkins

3 CF Garret Knudsen

4 1B Sean Isner

5 RF Jesse Shipman

6 LF Tanner Erickson

7 3B Jason Morris

8 C Mitchell Torres

9 P Dave Atkins

Coach paused, his sights on the pitcher section. "Brian and Bryce, you two will be in the dugout. Potential pinch hitters. The rest of the bullpen are on standby depending on Dave's performance. We saw the end of their win in game one. They've got the power hitters."

"Coach, I've got this." Dave stated, taking a stand.

"I hope you keep that same mentality when you take a beating." Kyle muttered.

"I'm tough enough." Dave declared.

"Two runs, Coach. Tell him." Garret spoke up.

Coach's lips twitched. "You three...give me a headache. Who's the coach here? You or me? If I say he's on the mound, then he gets the ball. If I say he's off, then he'll be riding the bench. Everything depends on the moment." He looked to the sky. "If I had it my way, all three of you would be in the bullpen to be someone else's problem."

"We'd have the noisiest bullpen in the world." Noah nudged me.

I grinned, not denying it.

"Don't say that, Coach."

"You know you'll miss us next year."

The twins started to riot.

"Kyle stays in the bullpen." Coach raised his voice.

"What? Why?" Kyle argued. "I'm done for this weekend. I should get to be in the dugout where the excitement is."

"Maybe tomorrow. If we make it." Coach's gaze sharpened. "I don't want you messing around when Dave's on the mound this afternoon."

"You never cared before." Kyle huffed.

"I want to win this one, boys. The whole tournament." Coach addressed the whole team, looking around.

Kyle settled down at that.

Noah stood up. "Me too. We beat the toughest team there was last year. It'll feel too shitty to lose to anyone else now."

"Yea!" Some of the guys echoed in agreement.

Coach motioned for all of us to get up. "Let's go." He led us to a field where the other team was already warming up. Once again, we were banished to the first base dugout as visitors. Despite beating University Prep, we were still the lower seed compared to these guys.

"I like batting first." Dave put his bag down in the dugout and got his glove out. "We'll get on early and I'll have room to work with."

"Sounding scared." Kyle smirked.

"Kyle, you don't need to warmup so come help Alisha." Coach pointed to our friend standing with the coaches. "She's still working on the stat sheet and what it should look like in the end. You'll supervise."

"Tsk." Kyle dragged his feet and went over.

The rest of us finished getting ready and left the dugout with Garret taking charge.

Come game time, the team was loose and ready for action. Coach sent Kyle to the bullpen as soon as Dave and Mitchell came in from their warmup. Kyle took his bag and left with the coach, relievers, and backup catcher, Oscar.

Noah and I were prepared for our first at bats, standing near the dugout entrance. We watched as the other school, Heritage Oak, take the field as their starters were announced.

"I don't think they're a private school." Noah said.

"Oh?" I glanced at him.

"They don't have the word 'preparatory' in their school name." Noah laughed. "Their school probably just has a big population."

"Jeremy went to a school with the name 'preparatory' in it." I told him.

Noah stopped smiling and got serious. "Yea, Dad told Mom, who told us. I was the one to check the bracket so Dad could know that we wouldn't face them for game two, nor would they be around. Their game two is a night game."

"Would they...be game three..?" I asked.

Noah scoffed. "IF they make it. They barely won their first game 1-0."

"Oh." I didn't know that.

"Anyways." Noah continued. "Keep them out of your mind. You're here to play some baseball. Have some fun. Hit some homers."

I gripped my bat a little tighter. "I think I'm going to play it a little safe first. Get a hit, get on base."

"Gotta restore the confidence." Noah nodded. "That's fine. This is the team to do it against." He lowered his voice and leaned in. "Don't worry. I won't let Dave give you a hard time."

I smiled and nodded my thanks.

The two of us moved out of the dugout and started to take some practice swings as we observed the pitcher.

Noah was soon called up to the plate and the game got started. Noah fouled two pitches down the third baseline before the third stayed fair. The third baseman was there though. He scooped it up and made a great throw to first, just barely beating out Noah's speed.

"Isn't the tie supposed to go to the runner?" I heard Noah grumbled as he went back to the dugout.

I moved to the batter's box with a small smile. Noah was the first out so that could only mean he's going to hear it from Dave. That'll take a load off of me.

The pitcher was average. I casually fouled some down the third baseline like Noah, drawing the third baseman closer to the line. I could see the shortstop start to shift over too. On the very next pitch, I hit the ball up the middle. It bounced in the outfield grass before the center fielder could get there. I had rounded first and slowly retreated back, content with my single.

Coach Luis gave a nod of approval, making me relax even more. The panic attack from hours before was starting to feel like yesterday. New game, new me.

Garret followed my single with one of his own, also to center field. We stood at second and first, with Sean up to bat. Sean was only 1-4 at the plate from the first game. Which isn't bad, especially considering it was against University. Mr. Miller threw out some signs. He wanted us to run on contact. Be wary if it was in the air and retreat back. Trying to avoid the double play here.

Sean fouled back a multitude of pitches, making the count near twenty already. He gave Mr. Miller a look and Mr. Miller changed up the signs. A sacrifice bunt...? I gulped. Gotta run it out as soon as the pitcher makes his move then.

I tried to stay loose as I took a few steps off the bag. The pitcher merely glanced back at me, then started his motion. Once he was committed, I made the commitment to run to third.

"Three!"

"To third!"

"Bunt!"

Everyone was yelling. I had a good view of the third baseman going in for the bunt and then got caught in no man's land. I didn't have to slide into third. The catcher had to come out from behind the plate to make the play, picking up Sean's bunted ball and then threw it to first for the force out. Still two on, but now with two outs.