We warmed up and threw the ball around. I paired up with Kenny, who was quiet but easy to get along with. He didn't mind the looks I would get from our 'teammates' and didn't think it was weird that I only spoke with the pitchers.
Coach Nate put us in the starting lineup again. He would go up first and I would follow at second. As the home team for the game, we had to take the field first. Gavin was the starting pitcher today and performed well. He went three up, three down, with one strikeout.
"Man, after an inning like that, I really don't want to come out!" He sighed as we went back into the dugout.
"Who said you were coming out?" Coach Nate asked.
Gavin's jaw dropped. "What?! Aren't we only doing an inning each? Do you mean, I can keep going??"
Coach Nate nodded. "Yes. There are two games today. No point in making pitchers do both. Half will go this game. The other half will pitch tonight." He looked at the rest of us in the dugout. "Never assume you know what coaches are planning and thinking. Just because one thing may seem like a given, doesn't mean it can't change."
"So maybe we can expect Jake to sit an inning?" An outfielder mumbled under his breath, but it was still heard throughout the dugout.
It got real quiet.
"You guys playing or what?" The umpire came over to ask.
"Kenny, Jake, Ricky. Get ready for your at-bats." Coach Nate said plainly. Almost as if he wasn't staring down the player who had spoken up.
I didn't need to be told twice. I hurried back to my bag, switched out my gear, then hurried out, completely avoiding eye contact with everyone.
Kenny came out after me with a sad smile. "Don't listen to him. It's not your fault that Coach wants you to play every inning." He walked to the batter's box, leaving me alone in the on deck circle.
I knew that Kenny was right, I have no control over who plays or doesn't, but I still feel bad for taking up a spot. It's not like I had anything to prove. I didn't come to this camp to impress anyone. I just came so Noah can get to have some fun.
Kenny was able to hit the ball to short right field, making it to first.
I stepped up to bat, getting in the righty's box. This has lined up perfectly. I've gotten a homerun batting right, and now that I'm aiming for homeruns, I feel more comfortable batting from this side. There was a lot to consider when trying to hit a homerun. My swinging speed. The speed of the pitch. Have to hit the right part of the bat and have a good launching angle.
I watched the pitcher do his windup and throw a fastball inside. Strike one. It was different than from last night. Not that he was bad…just…paled in comparison. The second pitch was a curveball out of the zone. 1-1. The third pitch was high, but within reach. I swung high and got a good piece of it. I pulled it to left field, my favorite spot to hit homeruns, I guess. Might have something to do with it being the shortest distance for a homerun inside this stadium.
Unfortunately, the ball didn't carry over the fence like I had hoped for. It hit the wall as I rounded first base. The left fielder played it off the wall and got the ball back into the infield just as Kenny was sprinting home. Seeing that they were going to do a relay throw back to home, I didn't bother sliding into second.
Kenny and the ball both arrived at the plate near the same time. The tag came down as he slid hands first into home.
"Out!" The umpire declared.
Crap. I sighed, disappointed.
Kenny hung his head and headed back to the dugout.
The next two batters after me, both hit fly balls, ending the inning.
I jogged back to the dugout.
"Jake. You're moving to right field." Coach Nate said. "TJ will be taking over at second."
I froze and slowly turned to face him. "Right…field…?"
Coach Nate narrowed his eyes at me. "Did I stutter?"
I shook my head and hurried to my bag. Put my helmet away, put my hat back on, then grabbed my glove. I ran to the general position of right field and blankly looked at the center fielder. He ignored me and played pass with Kenny, who was playing left field today.
What the heck?
"Jake! Over here!" Someone in foul territory waved at me. Once he had my attention, he threw me a baseball. We played catch too until the game resumed.
I stood out in the field completely lost in open space. How and why did I come to play right field? I tried to think back to the original right fielder. Was he going to be pissed that I took over?
I had no answers to these questions and just had to patiently wait to return to the dugout. Thank god Gavin was doing well on the mound. Two groundouts and one strikeout to send us to the bottom of the second inning.
I sprinted back to the dugout, wanting answers, but didn't know who to ask. I swallowed a lump in my throat, looking for Rhys. He was busy speaking with Coach Nate, leaving me on my own.
"Jake." Kenny waved at me, standing at the end of the dugout, where I usually sat.
I went over and sat down near him. "Hey…what's going on?"
"I think Coach Nate got upset from Ben's comment." He noticed my blank look. "The comment about you playing. See, he was starting in right field. And now, he's not even in the dugout. When I got back after getting out, he was already gone."
I slumped in my seat. "Why does that mean I have to play right field? Aren't there other outfielders?"
Kenny shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe he feels the need to give other players a chance at second, but doesn't want you to give up your at-bats?"
That's a good point. If Coach Nate took me out, I wouldn't get to practice hitting homers. It's either tough it out in the outfield or give up hitting for the game and just watch. I don't want to watch. I want to play.
I glanced at Kenny. "Do you…know the center fielder?"
Kenny nodded slowly, looking a little awkward. "Kind of. We've been taking turns in center field after all."
"Are you not on good terms?" I asked in a whisper.
Kenny glanced down the dugout. "It's not like we're best buds. What do you want him for?"
"I don't know where to stand…" I sighed.
Kenny's lips twitched. "That's it?"
I felt despair. "That's it? Isn't that a lot?" I remember when I didn't know where to stand when I first started to play second base. Noah used to help me back then so I was hoping for the same help now.
Kenny looked relaxed. "Don't worry. It's not a big deal. You can base your positioning off mine. If I shift to the right, you should too. Same with the left. Or if I back up or go in. Just be my mirror. Playing in the outfield is actually the easiest position. You've just gotta have a strong arm."
I put a hand to my forehead, feeling more depressed. A strong arm..? It's not looking so good.
Kenny noted my depression. "Well…how's your catching?"
I sighed. "I think…I'm going to embarrass myself in this game."
"You're joking." He furrowed his brows.
"If only." I sighed again. "My fielding is the complete opposite of my hitting. I don't think there wasn't one time I didn't trip when practicing long fly balls."
Kenny reaches out and gave me a pat on the shoulder. "Maybe you'll be lucky and no balls will come your way?"
"Really?" I looked up at him.
He looked away, looking guilty. "Yea, it can happen."
…he was lying. Definitely lying.
The bottom of the second inning, our team got on a rally, scoring a few runs. It got to the point where Kenny and I both got to put on our batting gear. He made it to the on deck circle and I was sitting in the hole. With two outs, the ninth batter in the lineup struck out, sending us back to our bags.
"Just remember to look at me at the beginning of every at-bat for positioning." Kenny told me as we left the dugout together. He glanced down at me. "You know how to back up plays, right?"
"…" I stared at him, slowing my jog. I'm sure I've seen outfielders back up plays, but I know I haven't been taught. When would it ever come up? I hardly know how to play second most days.
