Bryce's pitching didn't exactly inspire confidence in the chances of us winning, but it looked good on paper. Plus, he did well keeping his pitch count low. Under ten for the whole inning. He could wrap up this game for us if he kept up that pace.
In the dugout, Kyle was still pouting and looked unapproachable. Bryce stuck with Alex, and they were both talking to Kelvin, probably to talk about pitching signs.
"Hey, hurry it up." Noah nudged me. "You're up."
I nodded, exchanged my hat and glove for a helmet and bat. Out of habit I got into the lefty's box. I couldn't remember that last time I officially batted righty in a game. At least a month.
The pitcher started me off with a fastball away. 1-0. Then one inside enough to make me back up out of the way. 2-0. I fouled the next two to even the count, 2-2. He threw one in the dirt. 3-2. I fouled another three before hitting one in fair territory. It was just a single but it livened up the dugout.
Garret was given the sign to swing as he pleased. No special commands. He came up empty handed though, and struck out.
Zeke was up next. He had me slightly worried since his groundout in the first, but like Noah said, no one can be perfect. Zeke is just really close. He was able to hit a single to center, but it wasn't deep enough for me to get to third base.
With one out, and two on, Julian came up. He had previously hit that homerun off the lefty, but couldn't pull off a similar feat against the new pitcher. Instead, he pulled a grounder down the third baseline. The third baseman scooped it up, tagged third to get me out, then threw to first to convert the double play.
I was about to sigh, but stopped it. It's not good to keep my head down like that when we're still winning. There's no point. Just gotta be able to return the favor on defense. I sprinted back to the dugout and ditched the helmet for my hat and glove. Then I hurried to join the other starters on the field.
Bryce still had a satisfied smirk on his face as he started the bottom of the fifth. He had good control of his pitches today as he moved the ball around the box. The first guy connected on one, but it was a weak pop up, just foul of the first baseline. Julian jogged over, got under it, and caught the ball for the first out. Bryce used five pitches on that batter, almost 50% of the last inning pitches.
The next batter up was their number nine guy, so technically their weakest hitter. He swung on the very first pitch, a short hopper my way. I greeted the ball, and had a smooth transition from my glove to my hand, then a perfect throw to Julian at first. Out number two.
"Nice one!" Noah told me as I jogged back to my spot.
I smiled in response.
Bryce wrapped up the inning with the help of Noah. The batter hit a fly ball over Jason's head, but just short of Garret in left field. Noah tracked it down and made a diving catch near the third baseline.
He jumped up with the ball and threw it back to Bryce on the mound. Bryce caught it, then dropped it on the mound as he jogged back to the dugout. Two straight clean innings for him.
"Way to get that." Jason told Noah as we sat on our bench. "I thought I messed up and that it would be a single." He was first up to start the sixth inning so he was tugging on his helmet and batting gloves in a hurry.
"It's easier to trace a pop up like that when coming at an angle." Noah shrugged, making it sound like it was nothing. "It's easier to trip when you have to go straight backwards. Plus, I like making showy plays like that." He grinned.
Jason grabbed his bat, knocking it against Noah's feet. "Yea, yea. We all know you like showing off." He left us to go to the batter's box.
Jason led off the inning, but it was a rough start. A groundout to third. I guess it's better than his previous strikeouts, but an out is an out.
Jason came back and Mahki moved to the box. Jason put away his helmet and bat and sat by us. "Today is just not my day."
"Everyone has days like that." Noah said sympathetically. "I just started finding my rhythm again. A hit a game, that's what I'll be aiming for."
"Two hits." I corrected, thinking back to our previous conversation.
"Ouch!" Noah grabbed a hold of his chest, clutching as if he was in pain. "That hurts, Jake. Not everyone can be like you, okay?"
"Sorry." I said, feeling guilty.
He patted my shoulder. "That's okay, since it's the only thing you're good at, I won't take offense."
I felt relieved for a second before I realized what he meant. "Hey! Now I'm offended!"
Noah and Jason laughed at my outrage.
Then Noah started to put on his helmet after taking off his hat. Mahki has just walked, moving Alex to the box, Bryce to the on deck circle, and Noah to the hole. He stood up and grabbed his bat. "Ya know, I didn't mean it. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses."
"Unless you're Zeke." Jason snorted.
Noah laughed. "True." With a nod, he left.
"Do you think Zeke ever struggled?" I asked Jason out of curiosity. This was his first year on varsity as well, but he's a junior so he should know more than me.
"Oh, sure." Jason nodded. "Slumps aren't uncommon in baseball. I've watched a few games where Zeke went hitless. It's not often, but it's not impossible." He thought for a minute. "When he was a sophomore on varsity, I was on the freshmen team so I was able to see him bat in a few games. Not too many due to scheduling conflicts, but still. I distinctly remember him struggling against a left-handed pitcher on Servite. But that guy was a senior. He's already graduated."
"Oh. Was he super good?" I asked.
"Who? The lefty at Servite?" Jason nodded. "Yea, I think he was drafted. Then again, most of the pitchers at Servite are pretty good. They have a real pitching coach. Someone who had even coached in the minors before. I think there was an article on him settling down because of a daughter or something."
Alex had hit a single to left field, moving Mahki to second. Bryce walked up to the box next. I started to put on my helmet as Noah moved to the on deck circle.
"Good luck!" Jason told me as I made a move.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't need it. My teammates needed it more. Bryce had hit into a fielder's choice, shortstop to second base. He was fast enough to beat out the throw to first, but it didn't matter. Noah had popped out right to the second baseman, ending the inning. Again.
He caught sight of my aggrieved look as we switched out our gear. His cheeks had some color in them. "It's not like I'm doing it intentionally!"
I put my glove on, ignoring him.
"It's not my fault there's always two outs when I go up." Noah grumbled as we took the field.
"I know." I told him. I just wished he would stop being the third out.
