The Hitting Zone

When Brian was ready, Noah stepped up to the plate. Brian didn't have any noticeable changes like getting more muscular like Bryce did, but he did look more confident in his pitching.

Noah fouled off the first couple of pitches, putting himself in a disadvantageous 0-2 count. Brian threw a fastball low and away. Noah swung late, just barely getting a piece of it. The ball dribbled down the first baseline, right into the glove of Julian. All he had to do was pick the ball up and kick first base for the final out.

Noah came back to me with a scrunched up nose. "Ugh. I'm 1-4 on the day. Not pretty for the stat sheet."

"You made contact during every at-bat." I tried to comfort him as we went back inside the dugout to grab our gloves. "You had a couple of line drives that just couldn't leave the infield. Just a bit unlucky today."

"If it makes you feel any better, Jake also only had one hit." Garret was able to say before running off to the outfield. I guess that dig was payback from what I said earlier.

"It's different." Noah wasn't pacified.

I shrugged, helpless. "I wish they would pitch to me. It takes a lot of fun out of the game for me."

Noah nodded. "It's a free base, but it really brings down the mood. If anything, you have to make them pay for it."

We went out to the field and headed for our positions.

"It worked once with Garret getting a double, but then he hit into a double play. 50% success rate?" I said, mostly talking to myself.

"No, I'm saying you personally have to make them pay. Like steal second every time they walk you." Noah laughed at the look I was giving him. "Come on now. It's not impossible."

"No. Just highly unlikely." I rolled my eyes and got into position.

"We'll talk about it in the dugout." Noah said as Kyle was now prepared to pitch.

Kyle shut them down in the eighth. Tanner struck out, looking. Brian hit a grounder to Noah, who handled it with ease. Julian was the only one to make solid contact, hitting a line drive towards center field. Garret came sprinting forward, dove for it, and made the catch to end the inning. Three up, three down.

Kyle and Mitchell went off to the side to talk about his plan for Zeke who would be coming up in the ninth. Meanwhile I got ready for my own at-bat.

"I'm just saying...if Brian walks you this time, maybe try stealing a base." Noah suggested again. "It's a scrimmage, right? This is when we test new things."

Before I could remind him that I suck at baserunning, a heavy hand landed on my shoulder.

"Great idea." Coach had appeared, giving my shoulder a pat. "Give it a go, Jake."

"Do I have to..?" I looked up at him.

He nodded. "It's a very real possibility that you'll be intentionally walked in the future. Maybe not in the beginning, but if you keep hitting bombs, then no one is going to want to face you."

I sighed, grabbed my bat and headed out. Garret was already in the on deck circle, taking some light practice swings. At home plate, Kelvin was already standing. I sighed.

Kelvin laughed. "Sorry kid."

Brian threw four intentional balls way out of reach. I sadly tossed my bat back to the dugout and jogged to first.

Julian greeted me with a smile as we both had a foot on the base. "Cheer up. The game is almost over."

That didn't make me feel any better. I frowned. Presumably, Coach had let Garret know that I'm going to attempt a steal. It would suck if there was some miscommunication. With Brian set, I took a few steps off the bag, slowly inching out.

"Are you trying to steal?" Julian asked.

I hurried back to first base, eyeing him suspiciously.

Julian laughed. "You're a bit too obvious. You never lead out that far."

I was in despair. "What do I do now?"

Julian shook his head. "I can't tell you that."

I sighed and slowly took a small lead again. Brian checked on me, went through his motion, throwing a fastball down the middle for Garret. Garret held back and I didn't move.

"Strike."

Garret looked my way, and I shook my head. Steal was off. I know Coach wanted me to try, but Julian could see it a mile away. Pointless to try.

Garret nodded, understanding my shake of head. On Brian's next pitch, he crushed it to left field, and I took off. Being able to see where the ball landed between Mahki and Zeke, I made a crazy decision to go for third. If I can't steal a base on my own then I'll just try for more.

I could see Jesse preparing to catch the ball coming in. I'll have to slide. I dove head first and slid over the base as the tag came down on my backside. Unfortunately I kept sliding and couldn't get a grip.

"Out." The umpire was pointing at me.

I sighed, pushing myself up out of the dirt. I turned to see that Garret didn't try for two, he stayed at first, frowning. Guess I wasn't the only one unhappy about the play.

"That was a decent slide." Coach told me when I got back in the dugout. "When you're going too fast like that, it's good for you to learn how to use your body to slow down."

I glanced down at my hands, full of tiny cuts.

Coach glanced down too, then frowned. "Go get it cleaned. We have to do better to take care of your hands. I know you don't like wearing gloves, but it might be time to rethink that."

I sighed again, heading back to my bag.

"You tried." It was Noah's turn to comfort me.

I put my helmet away and put my hat back on. Then used some water to clean my hands.

"Maybe try sliding feet first?" Noah suggested.

I shook my head. "Head first is easier for me."

"Yea, because you're already looking like you're falling forward." Kyle came over and looked at my hands. "Just wear batting gloves. It's good for your hands on all accounts."

I just don't like too. I held back another sigh.

The inning ended with Sean hitting into a double play. We really haven't been able to get much done, scoring wise, since the third inning.

Kyle hit the webbing of his glove a couple of times. "Alright. Let's close this out!" He took the mound, completely energized by his two clean innings. Haven't even given up a hit yet.

Mahki broke that on the very first pitch, hitting a line drive to the left corner of the field for a stand up double.

Zeke walked up to the plate next. Kyle grinned. Mitchell stood up and stepped away from him. Then Kyle threw an intentional ball. His plan was to intentionally walk Zeke? It felt anti-climatic from all his talk, but a part of me thought it was great. Yea. Give them a taste of the same medicine they've been feeding me.

With runners on first and second, the game could easily be tied. But with Kelvin having a hard time getting the ball to the outfield, it was still in our favor. Kyle kept his pitches low, but still in the zone. Mitchell probably knew what to ask for when facing Kelvin. Kevin pulled a grounder to the right of Jason. Jason charged the ball, scooped it up, tagged third, then threw to Julian at first for a hard-earned double play. Only Zeke was safe at second.

Kyle pointed at Jason with his glove. Jason waved with a grin. It was an awesome play. He was fast and accurate. Just what we needed. Kyle did the rest of the work to close out the game, getting Michael to strike out...looking.