The Hitting Zone

I was afraid of being stuck with Drew for the next couple of days, but he actually wasn't that bad. He had Sean and I going to his trainer's room up near the lockers to get heat and then stretched out.

Sean and I took a small table, laying down with very hot heating pads.

Sean was looking up at the ceiling when he sighed and said. "This isn't a bad time to be hurt."

I nodded in agreement. "It's nice to be inside when it's cold outside."

Sean laughed and turned his head to look at me. "Jake..."

"What?" I couldn't move much with the heating pad on my back. It felt nice. Definitely loosening up my muscles.

"I wasn't talking about the weather." He laughed some more. "I just meant, that it was good to be hurt the week we only have one game. I basically have ten days to get better before league play. Not a bad deal."

"You missed yesterday's games." I pointed out. "Those were important."

Sean held his chest. "Ouch. I feel attacked."

I let out a small laugh.

"Man, it's great seeing you come out of your shell a little more." Sean said with a friendly smile. "Not gonna lie, I was a little worried for this season before it started. No Zeke. No seniors like Julian and Kelvin. You've really stepped up. With Garret and the twins, I have no doubt that we'll repeat being CIF champions."

I grinned back at him. "I feel good with the juniors on the team too. You, Mitchell, Brian and Bryce."

"Is it too much to imagine being champions until I graduate?" Sean chuckled.

"I don't think too many people like to imagine losing." Drew came over and took the heating pad away from Sean. "C'mon. Let's focus on getting you better."

"I think I'll be fine with just resting?" Sean looked at his heating pad sadly.

"Yea, I think so too. But we can work on some of your other muscles to keep you in shape." Drew told him. "You don't want to lose your starting spot so early in the season, do you?"

Sean groaned.

I happily watched from the side. Resting with and without heat. Drew did take a look at my bruise near the end of the scheduled practice time and asked some questions. He didn't see any worries, so I simply had to heal up.

"Wednesday, we'll go the gym together." Drew told me. "So don't forget to wear regular running shoes. I'll lead you through a light weight-lifting session." He looked to Sean. "You'll follow along and do some stretches. Arm workouts should be no problem for you."

Come Wednesday, we weren't the only group in the gym that Jeremy sponsored. We were joined by Garret, the twins, and their pitching coach. Of course, the trio were having a way more difficult workout. They were on a heavy circuit, constantly on the move with their coach instructing them.

Meanwhile, Drew kept telling us to take breaks and to watch for our injuries. Drew had me doing a little bit of everything while avoiding working out my lower back. Sean did all upper body work.

"You look like you're really enjoying your time with Drew." Dave huffed and puffed to me as I took a water break. "I thought you didn't like him."

I shrugged. "I like Drew. I just don't like running with Drew." I looked around the gym. "This isn't so bad. I can feel myself getting stronger by seeing that I'm able to lift more than last year."

"It's measurable unlike running." Dave nodded. "I get it. Plus, baseball players don't have to run much in a game. Just have to have fast reflexes."

"Noah runs a lot." Garret came over to grab a sip of water and to wipe his sweat. "He chases down those short fly balls all the time, thankfully. He also uses his legs to run that bases. It can also be measurable. Just time your sprints between the bases."

"Good idea." Drew snuck up on us. He smiled at me. "By Friday, you should be good enough to work on it."

I glared at Garret.

Garret laughed.

"Knudsen! You're up! Let's go!" His coach pulled him to the bench press.

After our workout session, Kyle handed Dave the keys. "Do me a favor and take my stuff to the car. I don't want to miss anymore of the softball game."

Dave accepted. "Yea, yea. I know." He looked at me. "Want me to take your stuff too? I'll drive Noah and I back up here to be closer to the softball field."

"Might as well." Kyle answered for me. "Don't forget to grab him a jacket from the car. He'll definitely get cold."

"Yea, yea. I know." Dave repeated. He waved us off and headed down to the lower field to collect Noah and the car.

Kyle and I started to walk to the softball field, which wasn't too far from the gym. Sean and Garret trailed behind us, showing some interest in supporting the girls too. The four of us found a near empty bleacher behind the visitors dugout and sat down.

"Is Marie pitching today?" Garret asked Kyle once we were settled. We seemed to come between innings and our school was jogging to take the field.

"No, she and her Coach want to save her energy for Friday night." Kyle said. "Even though there's no pitch limit in softball, doesn't mean she can do it all. That should be her in left field." Kyle pointed out.

I looked around the field and found Kaylee at short. I knew of another girl in right field from class. And I even knew the pitcher. "KJ is the pitcher."

The three of them looked at me.

Sean was the most surprised. "You know KJ?"

I nodded. "She played on the softball team last summer with us. She's Kaylee's friend." I thought about it. "She's a Junior now, like you. She used to be on JV. She's nice." She was quiet and just really liked to pitch. I remember Zeke getting an opponent's pitcher to talk about college with her and maybe pitching mechanics.

"Yea, I remember seeing KJ around last summer." Kyle nodded. "She was really quiet. Friends with Marie and Kaylee."

"Wow. Yea, I've had a few classes with her. She really doesn't say much." Sean agreed. "I just didn't expect that even Jake would know her."

I shrugged. It'd be weirder if I didn't say anything after playing softball with her for a month plus during summer break.

"LET'S GET IT, GIRLS!!" Garret hollered louder than anyone else as the inning started. He clapped and waved before taking a seat again. He looked at Kyle. "Don't let me do your job again."

"My job?" Kyle was taken aback.

"The team is led by your girlfriend." Garret pointed out, stretching out into a more relaxed position.

Sean nodded in agreement. "You should be their number one cheerleader."

Kyle turned a little red. "I think I'll just stick to cheering for Marie."

"Don't worry." I spoke up. All eyes went to me. "Someone louder than Garret will take over as soon as he shows."

As if on cue, we heard a yell. "COME ON KJ! YOU CAN TAKE THEM!" Noah. He and Dave were walking in front of the stands, practically right behind the backstop. Noah attracted all kinds of looks as he yelled out more cheers. "STRIKE OUT THE SIDE! I BELIEVE IN YOU!"

Our small group all laughed.