The Hitting Zone

Brian faced off with the third batter for the second time this game. He walked him when he first came in so I wasn't sure what to expect. Brian got the count to 2-2 before the batter hit a small flare to right field for a leadoff single. Brian struggled against the next batter, getting behind in the count before walking the guy.

Mitchell got up and walked the ball to the mound. The rest of us jogged in.

"I know. I know." Brian sighed before anyone could say anything.

"What do you know?" Noah raised an eyebrow.

"That I'm sucking up here." Brian kicked the rubber. "I don't know if I'm just getting stuck in my own head or if I'm just not feeling it today, but-ughhh."

"Do you want to continue pitching?" Noah asked.

"Of course!"

"Then get back to throwing strikes." Noah shrugged. "I'm more upset with walks than singles. Get them to put the ball in play and let us try to salvage things with a double play."

We went back to our positions and Brian had to reset himself. He threw the ball to really good spots, I thought, but the batter was just as determined. The batter got under one of the pitches by a lot, popping the ball straight up.

"I GOT IT!" Mitchell yelled for everyone to hear, calling off Jason who was coming in. Mitchell threw his catchers mask out of the way, tracked the ball, getting underneath it before making the catch in foul territory. First out of the inning. I sighed with relief.

Which was too soon. The very next batter, Brian struggled again, walking the guy and loading up the bases. This time it was Coach coming out from the dugout that prompted a mound meeting.

Brian handed the ball to Coach, downcasted.

Coach held the ball and eyed Brian. "What's this? Are you giving up already?"

Brian was taken aback. "Aren't I coming out?"

"Did I say you're coming out?"

Brian looked unsure. "Well, I'm obviously not doing well. I wouldn't blame you for taking me out."

Coach reached out to hold Brian's shoulder. "I know we find the trio of starters annoying sometimes with the way they fight for the mound, but sometimes that's a positive. A team needs a pitcher that wants the mound, no matter the circumstances."

"Bases loaded. One out." Noah commented. "That's double play material."

"What if...I give up some more runs?" Brian asked, still not sounding very confident.

"I'll pull you the minute you give up too many runs." Coach held the ball out to him. "What do you say? You trust me? Trust your team? Trust yourself?"

Brian took the ball back. "I've got a little more gas in the tank." He cracked a weak smile. "Besides, I think a scolding is waiting for me if I go back like this."

Coach grinned. He looked around at the rest of us. "Let's set up for a double play. We've got room to work with."

"Yea!"

Coach went back to the dugout and we went back to our positions again. Anymore mound meetings this inning and Brian would have to come out.

Batter seven stepped up to the plate. He had previously popped out to me in the third inning then reached first by that error by Jason in the fifth. Brian faced him head on, throwing the first pitch for a called strike. The second pitch was also in the zone, but the batter connected and pulled it down the line. Jason had to make a diving stop in the dirt. He jumped up with the ball but all the runners had advanced. 7-3.

Noah clapped with his glove. "Good stop! Throw it back."

Jason complied, giving the ball back to Brian on the mound. I think that classified as an infield single so Brian got charged with another run. His ERA and WHIP were going to take a hit after this game.

The eighth batter came up to the plate next. Only a groundout and a walk for him on the day. Brian did better on hitting the corners of the strike zone, getting to a 2-2 count. He threw the next pitch high, above the zone, getting the batter to swing and miss.

"There you go!"

"That's how it's done!"

"Two outs, one to go!"

Our team said a few words to cheer Brian on as the ninth batter came up. He was previously a pinch hitter that stayed in the game after hitting a two-run double. So he was good and he got Brian before.

Brian missed the zone twice and got to a 2-0 count.

"Don't be afraid to let him hit, Brian!" Noah yelled out. He was playing back with his heels on the grass.

"Yea! We've got your back." Sean said from first. He was playing normally, not bothering with the runner.

Brian threw his third pitch. In the zone. The batter swung and connected, blasting the ball back the way it came. Dead center. My head snapped to center field to watch the ball, not even thinking about my positioning or what I would have to do.

Garret sprinted back to the fence. He put his free hand on the fence and timed his jump. His glove snatched the ball before it could go over. Out! We made it out of the jam.

I could practically float back to the dugout with how good I felt.

Brian didn't look nearly as good as I felt despite getting out of the jam with only one more run given up. He went back to the dugout with his head down.

"Start your cool down, Brian." Coach gave him a pat on the back. "We're going to leave the last inning to Tyler."

Brian nodded and let out a heavy sigh.

"Great catch out there, man!" Garret was welcomed back into the dugout after preventing a potential grand slam.

Garret walked up to Brian. "Way to hang in there."

Noah and I finished getting ready for our plate appearances and headed back out.

"You pulled through so why are you hanging your head?" Dave asked Brian. "You did as many innings as me but had some tough breaks. Put it behind you. We're going to win after all."

Brian picked his head up to look at Dave.

"Let's do a cool down together." Dave got up for the first time since getting benched.

Top of the seventh, Noah was set to face that new pitcher that they had brought in previously. He was the best one we've seen today if you ask me. Probably if you ask Noah too. The guy got Noah to go down swinging, striking out for the first out.

I went to the righty box and Mr. Miller signed for me to swing freely. With a decent lead, I wanted to try for a home run. I watched a couple of pitches pass by to study the pitcher a little more. On a 1-2 count, I did my best to swing the hardest I could, hitting the ball straight up the middle. The center fielder caught it well before the warning track.

As I walked back to the dugout, there were plenty of cheers for the pitcher, praising him for getting me out. I tried not to make eye contact as I rushed back to the dugout.

Coach nodded at me. "Good swing, but the power isn't there yet. Aiming for the corners is still an option, you know."

I nodded back at him. "I know. I just wanted to give it a try since the pitcher was really good with the speed and location."

"I like seeing you try out new things in the right setting. Good thinking." Coach talked to me a little more about this pitcher. Garret poked a single through the infielders, getting a hit off the guy. "It's good to see him get a hit before the game ended." Coach randomly said about Garret. He glanced at me. "How do you feel hitting after him?"

I shrugged. "I think it's the same."

Coach shook his head with a small smile. "Might be that way for you right now. But I want to take some stress off of Garret. He might be trying to hard when he doesn't have to."

"Okay." I nodded.

Jason hit a groundout to the shortstop to end the inning.

Coach came out to talk to the umpire about a pitching change and soon Tyler came jogging in from the bullpen. He met with Coach and Mitch before starting to take some practice pitches.

A fresh arm on the mound did wonders. Or maybe Tyler had a lot of pent up frustration from not getting a whole lot of time on the mound. It's been over a week and a half since he pitched in the semifinals against Carson's school in the tournament. Tyler handled the top of the lineup with speed and force, throwing an occasional curve to get their timing thrown off. He struck out the side to end the game, putting everyone in a great mood.