The Hitting Zone

Top of the fifth, Kyle took the mound with a look of determination. He had to start with the cleanup hitter, someone who had previously got a single. This time, he couldn't even touch Kyle's pitches and went down swinging. Batter five fouled off one, but also went down swinging. Batter six straight up missed all three pitches and became victim number eight. Kyle went back to the dugout, putting a hand behind his ear as he looked to the stands. Almost as if to say: I can't hear you.

"What a show-off!"

"Marie can do even better than that!"

"Try not to lose the shutout."

A bunch of comments came down from the girls.

"You can do it, Kyle!" Only Marie sounded supportive.

Garret, one of the last to get into the dugout, laughed. "I don't think I want them to show up for me on Saturday. They're more like a firing squad than a cheering squad."

"They've just never forgiven him for dumping Marie." Dave laughed too from his spot on the bench.

Bottom of the fifth. The second pitcher stayed in for another inning despite giving up two runs in his last inning. It worked out for him; performing even better. Jesse got jammed on an inside pitch, hitting a slow rolled just a few feet forward. The pitcher had to come off the mound, pick it up, and threw it to first for the first out. Jesse, Jason, and Kyle were the only ones who haven't gotten a hit yet. Jason did have a walk though if that was any consolation.

Sean struck out, swinging at a pitch that drifted low and away. Mitchell went up next, getting his second hit of the game, a single to right field. It didn't amount to anything with Kyle batting right after him with two outs. Kyle was able to foul off a pitch at least one time before striking out to end the inning.

"Don't worry. At least you can pitch." Noah grinned as the two of them walked into the dugout together.

Kyle rolled his eyes as he took his helmet off.

"I prefer batting with no outs anyways." Noah said a little more seriously. "Gives me more opportunity to steal if I get on."

"We're up 5-0 and you're thinking of stealing bases again?" Garret laughed. "You're ruthless."

"I'm perfecting my craft." Noah claimed righteously. He finished switching out his gear and headed for the exit. "If I can't hit homers like Jake, then I'll just have to turn every single into a double by stealing it." He grinned at Garret. "Just look at your three singles today. No RBI's or runs scored. That's just for show."

Garret bopped him on the head with his glove. "We're winning. You're not going to get me to feel bad about my singles. I already pitch and hit. I don't need to steal bases too."

Everyone jogged onto the field and got into position. Mitchell was slow again, needing extra time to get his gear on. Definitely a disadvantage for him to be on base and Kyle to be the last out. Kyle threw causally to Logan before Mitch came out in full gear. They did three pitches of full speed. Then it was time for the sixth inning to start.

Kyle didn't need any extra practice pitches anyways. He was hot and continued to do well. Batter seven went down swinging. Batter eight hit a routine grounder to Noah. And the ninth batter who was replace by a pinch hitter couldn't come up with anything. He became Kyle's tenth strikeout victim.

Kyle pumped his fist and let out a small roar before heading back to the dugout. This time the girls clapped and cheered properly for him. There was no denying that he was having a great game. He slapped hands with Dave before taking a seat beside him.

"He's going to break his own record." Noah said confidently as we changed into our helmets and batting gloves.

I nodded in agreement. Kyle was tied with his own personal record. Just one more to go with one inning left. "What's the school record? Is it by Garret?"

"Of course. It's 12." Noah moved his eyebrows up and down. "It's within reach. To tie it. And even beat it." He went to leave the dugout. So did Bryce.

I went to the dugout entrance with my bat. This would be our last time up for the day. Unless something terrible happens and we completely blow the seventh inning.

Noah was called to the plate, facing a new pitcher. The guy started off wild, getting to a 3-0 count before throwing one in the zone for a called strike. 3-1. Noah fouled off the next two pitches since they were close. The following pitch went low, nearly bouncing on home plate for ball four. Noah ditched his bat and jogged to first.

Bryce went to the batter's box and I went out to the on deck circle. Mr. Miller gave Noah the green light to do what he wanted and of course Noah was going to try to steal. Bryce knew it too. The pitcher didn't do a check throw; kind of a mistake I thought. He did his motion and once that ball left his fingertips, Noah was off. Bryce let the pitch pass for a called strike. The catcher caught the ball, transferred it to his throwing hand, made the throw, and the shortstop caught it and brought the tag down on Noah.

"Safe!" The umpire declared.

"Yes!"

"That's great!"

"He's so fast!"

"No one useless is allowed on varsity after all."

Bryce fouled the next pitch down the line. He barely fouled the next pitch too but the catcher caught for a foul tip strikeout. Bryce gave a small shake of his head as headed back to the dugout. He was probably disappointed in himself. I knew the feeling.

I went to the lefty's box and got set. The pitcher looked back at Noah at second before facing me. He did a quick setup, throwing a pitch within the zone. I mindlessly swung just as the ball broke outside. Shoot. I reached out for it and poked it just above the third baseman's reach. I made it to first easy, but Noah had to stay at third because that bloop single didn't go very far. Plus it was on the side he was running on. Not very good. I resisted the urge to face palm my forehead.

"4-4 today. Good work." Coach Luis congratulated me at first base.

"Thanks." I answered politely. With one out, I had to take a bigger lead to avoid the double play. And with Noah on third, the third baseman had to stay closer to the bag, making all the infielders shift. Including the first baseman. I was supposed to be out as far as him. I took a deep breath and worked up the courage to get over five feet off the bag. Six feet. Seven feet.

I was skittish while Noah was confidently faking a run every time this guy pitched. On a 2-1 count, Garret totally owned the fastball high in the zone, blasting it to right field. The outfielders didn't even chase it back. The ball cleared the fence and the stands erupted. A three-run home run.

I hurried my run around the bases, slapped hands with Noah and we both waited for Garret. He tagged home the score was bumped to 8-0. We went back to a rowdy dugout and Redwood's coach came out to speak with his players at the mound.

When the game resumed, it picked up with Jason at the plate. On a 1-2 count, he poked a grounder up the middle for his first hit of the game. A single to center. Jesse followed up by earning a walk. With that, everyone in the starting lineup but Kyle had reached on base. I thought Kyle might get a fourth chance, but Sean's hard hit line drive was amazingly caught by the left fielder. The left fielder even made the very next catch, chasing Mitchell's fly ball to the warning track.

We switch sides one more time. Mitchell took another long minute, trying to get his gear back on. Logan came out to catch for Kyle, but he waved him to go back. He settled for some shoulder exercises and waving his arms around before Mitchell was ready. They did three practice pitches and was ready to go.

Kyle was back at the top of the order for the third time around. However, that had no effect on him. He got the first guy to strikeout just as easily as he had started the game.

"Nice one!"

"Keep it up!"

"You've got this!"

The fans in the stands, including the girls softball team, was cheering Kyle on. Two outs away from winning this game with a shutout. But on a personal level, one strikeout away from tying Garret's record.

The second batter made contact for the third time this game, hitting a grounder to Noah's right. Noah reached across his body to make the stop, then made a terrific transition and throw to first to get the second out.

The third batter had struck out twice against Kyle. As soon as he was cornered at two strikes, everyone was clapping and yelling for Kyle to get this guy. Kyle did his best, throwing hard and fast. The guy swung too late. Strikeout! His twelfth of the game!

Kyle jumped up. Noah got to him first, tackling him with a hug. Mitchell a close second. Sean and Jason. Even I joined in. The outfielders, the bench, the bullpen, the coaches. It didn't take long for some of the girls to sneak onto the field. Classmates too.

Marie found Kyle in the crowd and threw her arms around his neck. "Congratulations!"