Tanner was about to step up to the batter’s box, but paused when he saw University Prep’s Coach come out of their dugout. A pitcher change. After one batter. Tanner retreated back to Noah. Mr. Miller came from the third base coach’s box to talk to them.
I looked to Coach.
He felt my eyes on him. “Got a question?”
I shrugged. “What are we going to do?”
“Naturally we play baseball.” He smiled and gave my shoulder a pat. “Don’t fret. We’ve got to see what they’re throwing at us first.”
The new pitcher came jogging in from the bullpen. He was huge.
“Damn. That’s a teenager?” I heard Logan utter in disbelief from the bench behind me.
I glanced back and gave a nod to show that I didn’t believe it either.
“What are the chances that that guy is their number one pitcher this year?” Garret asked no one in particular as he came up to stand near me and Coach, ready for his at bat.
“You don’t think they started with their number one pitcher?” I asked.
“Hard to say; looks can be deceiving.” He grinned, moving his eyebrows up and down. “We didn’t start our number one pitcher.”
I cracked a smile and tried not to laugh.
The new pitcher spoke with his coach and catcher before taking some practice pitches. The way the ball hit the mitt sounded very convincing to me. The first guy was fast-fast, but this guy seemed to have more control and power.
“He’s got to be a senior.” Alisha remarked. “I don’t think anyone in our school looks that mature.”
Garret straightened up. “Excuse you.”
Alisha shrugged. “He’s nearly twice your weight easily. He looks more like a football player than a pitcher. And I’m not talking like quarterback or wide receiver. He looks like a linebacker.”
I took a glance at the man on the mound and nodded in agreement again. We’ve faced some tall pitchers before; even some with facial hair. But none of them looked as big or as scary as this guy.
“As long as Tanner and Noah don’t hit into a double play, we’ll have a chance with you.” Garret said in a low voice, not wanting to be overheard. He patted my shoulder. “Don’t be afraid of his looks.”
My lips twitched. I was definitely afraid of his looks.
Our dugout got quiet as Tanner started his at bat. He went down swinging and missing three straight fastballs. He was a bit sheepish as he came back to the dugout with his head lowered.
“Sorry, Coach.” Tanner apologized, taking off his helmet. “That guy is a beast.”
Coach slapped him on the back. “Brush it off. The game isn’t over yet.”
I left the dugout for the on deck circle as Noah headed for the batter’s box. Before stepping in, he looked at Mr. Miller down the third baseline and did something unexpected. He patted his shoulder, moved his hand to his waist, then slid it across. That was the sign for a hit-and-run. But…it shouldn’t be Noah giving the signs. I tried to keep a blank face as I looked at Mr. Miller.
Mr. Miller seemed to hesitate, but Noah wasn’t stepping all the way in the box until he got an answer. Mr. Miller looked towards our dugout. He must have gotten the nod from Coach, because he ended up repeating the sign. Brian, at first base, touched his helmet in acknowledgment.
I gripped my bat tight and held my breath as the pitcher got set and started his motion. Noah showed bunt, drawing the corner infielders in. The ball was coming in high and a little wide. The pitcher must have known to make it a ball or maybe the catcher had some kind of game plan.
Instead of dropping the ball with a bunt or even taking the bat back, Noah reached out and gave the ball a push with his bat. It popped over the first baseman’s reach. He had a late jump being caught off guard. The baseball landed near first base and dribbled towards the outfield grass.
University Prep became a mess as the second baseman, who was originally coming over to cover the base, ended up chasing the ball down. Noah and the first baseman were in a foot race to the bag.
Meanwhile, I spotted Brian tagging second base and full on sprinting to third. My eyes widened.
“Three!”
“To third!”
The second baseman picked the ball up and turned around. Brian slid into third and Noah had already tagged first.
“YES!”
“Nice one!”
“Jake!”
“Jake!”
“Jake!”
The cheers quickly changed from cheering for Noah’s hit to chanting my name. I gulped and shivered. All the eyes from the stands were on me.
The second baseman walked the ball into the infield grass to hand it to the pitcher. He stayed there as the catcher and other infielders came in to join them. They were going to have a small team meeting.
“You good?” Garret asked me, hitting his bat against his cleats.
I nodded, very stiff.
“You’re not scared of him right?” Garret whispered under his hand.
I shook my head, still stiff. Very discreetly, I tried to motion to Garret that it was the crowd behind me.
Garret immediately understood and laughed. He slapped me on the back. “Gosh, Bambi. You’re ridiculous. You’re scared of our own fans?” He laughed some more. “Most players get a high from the cheers and chants. Take it in. Feel the love. They all want you to do well.”
“I don’t think all of them do.” I pointed out. There were definitely more University fans; they just didn’t have much to cheer for at the moment.
Garret nudged me, squinting at the mound. “Looks like they’re arguing.”
I looked out at the mound. The pitcher and catcher were nearly in each other’s faces. Before I could process what was happening, the University coach came out of their dugout and stormed up the mound.
I stepped back, almost bumping Garret.
“Stay cool, kid.” Garret held my shoulder in place, leaning down. “They’re probably talking about how to deal with you. A simple look at that pitcher, and I know he wants to take you on. Especially after giving up that blooper to Noah.”
My lips twitched. But then I frowned. “You think the others want to walk me?” I looked up at Garret. “But then they would have to face you with the bases loaded.”
“Yea, but there’s only one out.” Garret explained. “It’s probably best to have a force out at home. No matter who is at bat.” He straightened up. “Guess it’ll be up to me. Only fitting since I couldn’t drive in Noah before.” He was thinking about that play in the sixth inning. “This time I’ll get it out of the infield.” He stated it confidently.
The home plate umpire headed to the mound and broke up the meeting, sending the coach back to his dugout and the players back to their positions. He looked my way when he headed to the plate with the catcher. “Batter up.”
I nodded and walked to the batter’s box.
The catcher stayed standing. He looked at the umpire. “Intentional walk.”
“Take your base!” The umpire told me rather loudly.
The crowd let out a mix of boo’s and cheers as I dropped my bat and jogged to first. Noah jogged to second base and the stage was set for Garret. Our best player. Our captain.
Coach Luis gave me a nod with a small smile. I relaxed my shoulders and took a small lead. Mr. Miller gave out the sign. Run on contact. Avoid the double play. It was all up to Garret now.
The pitcher shook his head at the catcher’s first sign, then nodded at the second. A strong fastball. Garret fouled it back for strike one.
“Let’s go Garret, let’s go!”
“Let’s go Garret, let’s go!”
“Let’s go Garret, let’s go!”
Our fans tried to start a chant, but was soon overpowered by a louder one when the pitcher got Garret to swing and miss the second pitch.
“STRIKE HIM OUT!”
“STRIKE HIM OUT!”
“STRIKE HIM OUT!”
My hands started to shake. I rubbed them on my pants to dry off my sweat. When did it get so hot? It was still mid-morning in February.
“Second base, Jake.” Coach Luis said, sounding a little distant. “Put all your focus on getting to second base. That’s your only job.”
I nodded. Or maybe I was shaking. I swallowed a lump in my throat. Took a deep breath. Then inched a little more out. Second base was my job.
Garret fouled off the third pitch. And the fourth. Even the fifth which was clearly a ball. He was probably nervous too. On the sixth pitch, there was a clear ‘ding’. I bolted for second. My eyes were only on second. At second base, I’ll look around, but for now I have to be the first one to second base. I couldn’t be the first out of a double play. The shortstop was going out to the grass and the second baseman was standing at the bag. I watched closely. He wasn’t going to get the ball. I stop on second base, ideally safe.
I finally spotted the ball as the left fielder threw it in. The shortstop caught the ball and immediately threw it home. That’s when I realized that Noah had headed home after rounding third. There was going to be a play at the plate. Noah made a dive as the catcher caught the ball. They collided.
“Safe! SAFE!” The umpire extended his arms.
Noah jumped up, grinned, and waved to the crowd as he headed for our dugout with Brian. He did it! He really did it this time! We’re up 3-1!
I grinned. We have a two run lead. I looked at Garret at first and he was talking to Coach Luis. The game wasn’t over yet, but a huge weight had been lifted off my chest. It felt easier to breathe.
