The Hitting Zone

"He can't really mean that." Dave told me on our drive home. Noah had already recapped what Coach said to me about giving up my roster spot. "You're the best hitter in our league. Maybe even the state. Really. He can't bench you."

"He can if he thinks he can win without you." Kyle said.

Dave slapped him on the arm. "Why would you say that?"

Kyle hit him back. "Because it's a possibility, okay? Coach only has to win games. That's his only job."

"Can you two not hit each other while up front?" Noah said as he clutched the shoulder belt. "I think from now on, I'll sit in the front passenger seat."

"Denied." The twins said simultaneously.

Noah rolled his eyes. "Do it again, and I'll tell Mom. And then I'll also tell her my idea about separating you two." He looked at me, but my attention was still on the paper I was holding. The list of pitchers I was going to face. "Jake, don't think too much into what Coach said. I don't know anyone who can strike you out. Garret can't do it and neither can the twins."

Garret wanted to face me...

I scanned the list and didn't see his name. I sighed with relief.

Kyle laughed at my heavy sigh. "Were you worried that Garret wanted in on the action tomorrow?" I nodded. "Well, he thought about it, but we told him he should wait a little like us. The catchers are all booked up with a bunch of wannabes."

"Thanks." I told him sincerely.

"Sure. Plus, Garret can just meet us at the park anytime. It's not like he's in a rush."

I owed Garret a face-off. We thought about having one after the summer camp but then all that Jeremy drama happened. "Yea, if we stay home this weekend, we could do that."

"If we stay home?" Dave asked, pulling into the driveway and putting the car in park. "The A's are out of town. Where else would we go?"

I shrugged. "I kind of thought we would see Zeke and Rhys again."

Noah shook his head. "If there's no plan now, then it's probably not going to happen. But, that's okay. We can train on our own and even go to The Cages. It's been so long since we last went."

"Barely a couple of weeks." Kyle snorted and got out. "I don't mind staying home this weekend. Marie and I don't get a lot of time to hang outside of school."

"Noah, will you catch for me this weekend?" Dave asked. "I can drive you and Jake to The Cages in exchange."

"You can't just take the car." Kyle frowned at his twin as we worked on getting our bags out of the car.

Dave shrugged. "I'm not 'just taking' it. I'm driving our younger brothers to The Cages. Something Zeke used to do. Whatever you want the car for can't be that important." He raised an eyebrow. "If it's for dating, you can take Marie's car."

Kyle rolled his eyes and headed for the door.

Dave glanced at the list in my hand. "Want me to tell you about the pitchers you don't know?"

I hesitated. Normally, I would like the surprise to make it more challenging, but...

I nodded. "If you could just tell me who's a real pitcher and who's just trying to make the varsity team?"

"Sure thing." He said.

"It probably isn't too hard to point them out." Noah added. "Just the players who don't normally go with the pitchers group. Either because a coach deemed them not good enough or because they aren't confident enough to go for it."

"But confident enough to take on Jake?" Dave let out a short laugh. "Freshmen are always so arrogant."

"I wasn't. Jake wasn't." Noah defended the both of us.

Dave threw his arm around Noah and pulled him into his armpit. "What a lie! You were the most arrogant! Blind confidence, I tell ya."

We got inside the house and went to the kitchen table, dropping our bags in the hallway. Dave had let go of Noah and started to point out the players that didn't join the pitching group during practice. Both him and Noah started to add comments to everyone's name like what year they were and, if they knew, their specialty pitches.

Kyle, who had gone up to shower, came down after awhile and saw us sitting at the table, going over the list. "You guys...Mom's going to be upset if you don't clean up for dinner."

"I'm going!" Noah took off first.

Dave handed me my sheet back. "You've got this. Easy-peasy." He headed for the stairs too.

I nodded. I felt pretty good after Dave and Noah pointed out those players who were just trying their luck. I didn't see any returning varsity players wanting to go up against me. Even the seniors and juniors from JV was scarce. One name was missing that I just thought of: Joey. Joey Henderson.

With Noah and Dave gone, I had to turn to Kyle. "I don't see Joey on the list." In fact, I don't remember seeing him in the practices either. He was a pitcher who could hit so I feel like he stands out.

Kyle laughed. "He's busy."

I stared at him, confused.

"Football plays in the fall." Kyle expanded on why he was busy. "You haven't gone to any games so you wouldn't know, but he's the QB. Of the varsity team now, I hear."

"Is he any good?" I asked. "I mean, is he better at football or at baseball?"

Kyle shrugged. "I guess the same..? I don't know. I don't pay too much attention to football." His eyes widened like a thought just came to him. "Hey! We should go to the game tomorrow night."

"The football game..?" I asked, trying to keep up with his thought process.

"Yea." He nodded. "You have to have the full high school experience. And going to a high school football game is vital. We can invite Marie and Kaylee. Go as a big group."

"What time is the game?" We still had practice after school, and we even had to stay late.

"Not until 7pm." Kyle said. "It's a home game too, at the stadium down the street." He pulled out his cellphone. "I'm going to call Marie. You go tell Dave and Noah."

I nodded slowly.

Kyle paused before facing me head-on. "Tell Noah first. Mention that you thought of Joey and I told you that he played football. Don't tell him that it was my idea to go. The two of them just want to oppose me whenever I talk about hanging with Marie." He put his hands together. "Please?"

I nodded again. "Sure. I want a normal high school experience too."

"Yes!" He pumped his fist. Then patted me on the head. "Thanks, Jake."

I smiled. Kyle being happy made me happy.

"What are you two plotting?" Mom came in, wearing her work clothes.

"Mom! Hey, you don't have to cook dinner for us tomorrow." Kyle hurried to tell her about our plan to go the football game.

Mom grinned. "That's a great idea. I love you guys getting out and experiencing new things. Jake's never been." She nodded at me. "Give it a try. If you don't like it, you kids can leave whenever you want."

"Can we get money for hot dogs and popcorn?" Kyle asked. He bargained with her on how much we can get while I made a move to go upstairs to tell the other two.