1 LF Garret Knudsen
2 2B Jake Hollander
3 CF Zeke Atkins
4 1B Julian Wilson
5 RF Mahki Holstrom
6 3B Jason Morris
7 SS Noah Atkins
8 C Alex Farrell
9 P Kyle Atkins
Coach told us the lineup before the game and…it was different. Never mind the fact that Noah wasn't batting early in the lineup, but also, Zeke was no longer the cleanup hitter.
"I constructed this lineup this way for a reason. Sanchez is a good pitcher and has great endurance." Coach told us. "I want our best hitters to get the most at-bats so don't think too much."
"But, Garret's a lefty…he's at a disadvantage, yet you put him first." Noah said.
Coach nodded. "But he has the next best average and on base percentage after Zeke and Jake. It would be a waste to make Jake hit first and then Zeke second. I'm not saying it'll work out, but this is what I'm hoping for: an early lead. We get up on that scoreboard, and then pitching and defense will hold them down."
Kyle looked nervous. "How about we score lots of runs?" Some of the guys snickered. Kyle clung to my arm out of nowhere. "Please! Jake! You have to do your best!"
Noah pulled him off me. "Stop that. You know Jake doesn't like that."
"Get a grip, dude." Dave slapped Kyle's arm. "If you can't find the courage then just sit down. There are others who want to pitch too."
"You're not even allowed to pitch today." Kyle glared at his twin.
Dave sighed and put his hands on top of his head. "I wasn't talking about me. Just go hard. There are plenty of pitchers in the pen."
"I don't need you to tell me that." He huffed and headed for the bullpen to warmup before the game. Other pitchers and both catchers went as well. Everyone started to warmup properly now that the nerves had settled.
The game started at 3pm so it wasn't surprising that students started to fill up the stands as we were warming up. What was surprising was how many Servite students showed up. Especially since they're an all-boys school.
"This will be the biggest crowd we've played in front of." Noah told me after warmups. We were waiting in the dugout to take the field. "Even bigger than any tournament game."
I glanced at him. "How can you say that?"
He grinned and looked out in the stands that were completely packed. "Because this time, everyone here is here to see us play. There aren't any random spectators. Everyone is here to cheer for us or for Servite."
I shivered, not liking the fact that Noah was making this a big deal.
"Look! There's Willie." Noah pointed at the scout in the center, behind home plate. He was sitting with other men that didn't look affiliated with either high school. "I guess there are some spectators who won't be cheering." Noah corrected himself.
"Are they scouts?" I asked
"Should be." Noah nodded. "I see Mr. Cameron too." He pointed at the reporter. "Really makes you feel how important this game is." Noah grinned, excited to play.
The whole dugout seemed to share in his excitement as well. It felt like a championship game was about to take place. A winner take all.
I took a deep breath to relax.
"I don't want to see any freebies out there, Kyle." Coach instructed when he came back to the dugout. "Zeke, take it from here."
"Freebies?" I whispered to Noah as Zeke stood up.
"Walks." Noah told me.
"Let's give it our best today." Zeke said as the team gathered around him. "I don't care if you trip and fall. If you miss a fly ball or a grounder. If you make an error or three. As long as you get back up and continue to keep trying." He looked around to make eye contact with all of us. "We have a great team this year. The best I've been on. We'll go farther than any other team." His eyes narrowed. "We slipped up against Golden West. That won't happen again."
"Yea!" The guys chorused.
I nodded. I slipped up too. Just by not going. They could have used me that day, I know it. No one wants to blame me outright, but I know it's on their minds.
"Let's win this!" Zeke exclaimed with a light in his eyes.
"Win!" The team yelled together before the starters took the field.
I jogged out with Noah and the other infielders. Julian rolled us fake grounders and we threw them back to him to prepare ourselves. Kyle was throwing warmup pitches to Alex, and the outfielders were throwing long passes. Everyone looked ready.
The umpire only gave us a minute or two before calling up the first batter. Kyle got set on the mound as the batter got in the righty's box.
Kyle's first pitch was a called strike on the inside. His next pitch looked to be outside, but the batter swung and sent it out of the infield.
"Ahh!" The crowd let out gasps as the ball traveled to the outfield.
Mahki tracked it down until he got to the outfield fence. He put his right hand on the fence, then jumped for the ball as it got close. He was able to snatch it and prevent the home run.
The crowd clapped and cheered for Mahki's catch. I looked to Kyle on the mound, slightly worried how he would feel starting off with an almost home run.
"We've got your back." Noah clapped with his glove, letting Kyle know that he shouldn't get down on himself so soon.
Kyle nodded and took a deep breath before getting ready for the next batter. Even though he looked calm, he started off with two balls before getting the batter to swing at something high. On a 2-1 count, he connected, putting the ball into fair play. It was a pop up that looked like it could be a bloop single to right field. I immediately ran to cover second base.
Jason started to back up for it, but Noah called him off. "I've got it!" Noah tracked it down to the grass and made the catch for the second out. He smiled as the crowd clapped for him. He then threw the ball back to Kyle on the mound. "Two outs."
"Two outs!" A few of the players repeated.
The third batter stepped up after everyone got into position. He fouled off Kyle's first pitch to him. And then again. And again. I kicked the dirt, trying to remember what this batter had done in the Golden West game. It's hard to recall when I know that Servite didn't score any runs. Golden West had won 1-0.
"Nice pitch!" Noah told Kyle. "Keep it up."
Kyle threw the fourth pitch outside for a ball. Then the fifth was in the zone, but slightly high. The batter swung and the ball soared up high. But…it was just that: high. I backed up, heels to the grass, got under it, and caught it. Three outs. I rolled the ball to the mound as we all jogged back to the dugout.
