Bryce continued to struggle in the first inning. It was rough all around. Him and Ethan weren't on the same page; mix in a couple of fielding errors and it's a recipe for a disaster.
I had scored long ago and was sitting beside Noah, watching this horror show. Just as we were thinking that we could possibly have another at-bat in the first inning, the other team pulled off a double play to end it.
"Brutal." Noah commented as we grabbed our gloves and hit the field.
"Yea." I agreed. "I'm surprised how well he took it."
"Bryce has a good temperament." Noah said. "He doesn't know how to speak to his catchers though, because he's always been the underclassmen to the seniors. Now that he's a junior, he has to tell the younger catchers what to do and what to expect."
I nodded along. Bryce had to be like Garret and really guide Ethan. Or it's going to be a long game.
We had a sophomore pitcher, Marshel Butler. The only reason I remembered him was that he won an award for best sportsmanship during the banquet right before summer. I didn't know how accurate the award was, but I was skeptical since I remember him being close to Austin. Any friend of Austin deserves to have their integrity and morals questioned.
I couldn't question his pitching though. He held his own well, getting the batter's to hit into routine plays. We went three up, three down.
Back in our own dugout, Noah and I got ready for our second at-bats this game. He would go second and I would go third.
Mr. Miller greeted us at the dugout entrance. "Hey. A minute?"
"What's up?" Noah lowered his voice.
"I wanted to know if you boys had anything planned like you did for the first inning?" He asked.
Noah shook his head. "Nah. I don't know if I'll be able to get a hit this time around. And I think Jake still wants to practice hitting homeruns."
I nodded.
Mr. Miller hummed. "I want to see something in particular if possible. Don't know if you boys will be able to pull it off or not."
"Oh! A challenge?" Noah started to rock back and forth. "What is it?"
"Its going to rely mostly on you." He said to Noah. "You need to get to third base. During Jake's at-bat."
Noah frowned. "You want me to hit a triple?"
"Not necessarily." He said. "Just pull off something like last time. A single, then steal a base. And now, another base. I don't care what combination you use. Hit a double, steal third. Get walked, somehow get to third. While Jake is still up to bat."
"That's crazy." Noah said what I was thinking. "But I like the challenge." He thought about it. "Obviously getting on base is going to be the most difficult step. Bryce isn't going to give me a free pitch like last time."
As he was musing, I asked the most important question. "Why does he need to be on third?"
Mr. Miller grinned. "I want to see a squeeze play. A sacrifice bunt."
I just stared at him. "But…I can just hit into some open space. A single if you want." It's been months since I've tried bunting.
"This isn't for us." Mr. Miller told me. He gestured to the field. "It's for them. I want to see them in action. We all belong to the same high school. Seeing you hit homers is great fun. I love it. But, we also have to think about the future of the team."
Oh. Right. This is a camp for high school. I don't have to show off every time I come up. "I don't think anyone's going to believe that I'll bunt." I pointed out.
"You'll have to show it a few times." Mr. Miller told me. "If they don't go for it, then that's something us coaches will have to note down." He jerked his thumb. "Wilcox is out there talking with your brothers so I know he'll want to see this too."
"It's for the future of the team." Noah whispered to me, a grin covering his face.
I rolled my eyes. He can say that because he gets to see the most action. All I get to do is bunt.
"You have to make sure you get to third before Jake has two strikes." Mr. Miller told Noah. "You can't steal if he has to swing. This is the ideal situation anyways so if it's not working out, just play your game."
"Got it!" Noah gave a thumbs up and went to stand in the on deck circle.
Mr. Miller gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Next at-bat, you can try for your homerun."
I shrugged. "It's not really the same. Who knows if Bryce will still be in the game? And if he is, he might be tired."
"Or he might get in the groove." He offered up. "Maybe a new, better pitcher will come in. Ya never know." He left me to go talk to the batters behind me in the lineup.
You never know? I felt like I kind of knew. This program only had so many players…so many pitchers. I already knew the returning varsity players. There couldn't be any surprises from the lower levels, right?
The ninth batter spot, Marshel, struck out swinging. He returned to the dugout with a scowl, while I moved out to the on deck circle. Noah got in the batter's box. I guess if he got out, I could just try for my homerun immediately.
I shook my head, trying to lose that thought. I wanted Noah to do well, not to get out. Especially with so many eyes on him right now. I glanced up to the stands and found Jeremy and Zeke. Sure enough, Coach was there with them now. Alisha was also hanging out nearby, clipboard in hand.
Bryce was starting to throw faster, with more confidence. The only thing holding him back was Ethan. Constantly interrupting his rhythm, seemed to cause Bryce miss the spots he was trying for. Noah did his best to foul off the close pitches and easily earned a walk thanks to Bryce's loss of accuracy. Noah winked at me as he tossed his bat towards our dugout.
I controlled my face to not give anything away. I walked up to the plate and got into the lefty's box again. It seemed like it didn't matter which side I batted from. Or so I thought.
A sharp whistle from my dugout made me pause. I glanced back and saw Mr. Miller up on the steps looking directly at me. He waved for me to come over.
"Time?" I asked the ump.
He nodded.
I jogged over to Mr. Miller. "Yea?"
"Son, what are you doing in the lefty's box?" He asked.
I shrugged. "Getting ready to bat..?"
"If Noah gets to third, were you planning on bunting down the third baseline?" He asked.
I shrugged again. "I'm not sure."
He chuckled. "Alright. I know you're talented, but I'd like for you to bat on the right side for now."
"Oh. Okay." I glanced at Noah. "Will Noah still be able to steal without me obstructing the catcher?"
"That's up to Noah and his legs." He said. "You just show your bunt and don't make contact. Noah has to show his talents off now to get the ball rolling."
I'm not sure if I understood, but I nodded along.
