The Hitting Zone

1 1B Sean Isner

2 SS Noah Atkins

3 RF Bryce Finn

4 2B Jake Atkins

5 CF Garret Knudsen

6 3B Jason Morris

7 LF Korrey Alvarrez

8 C Mitchell Torres

9 P Dave Atkins

Wednesday was here. Since it was a home game, we only missed our last class of the day to head down to the field to get ready. We changed into our uniforms and got ready for warmups. After a short talk about our lineup, Dave and Mitchell were sent away. The rest of us were divided into two groups: fielders and batters.

Golden West showed up as we switched around, making sure everyone had a chance for batting practice even if they were starting on the bench today. I occasionally looked their way to see if that junior from last time was going to go to their bullpen for warmup, but instead I saw a much smaller guy leave with their catcher. New pitcher today, I guess.

Our positions were announced when we took the field for the top of the first. Claps and cheers rained down from the stands. We had a good showing today of family and classmates. I could hear a few guys call out Dave's name as he took his practice pitches off the mound. They must be seniors like him.

Golden West was good at making contact. The leadoff hitter smacked a hard and fast grounder by Dave's feet. He dodged and Noah came over to catch it on a hop. He was fast enough to throw the guy out at first.

Noah clapped with his glove. "Let's go!"

"One out, two to go!" Some of the guys hollered.

The second batter had made more solid contact, hitting a line drive over the infield, towards the right. Bryce came sprinting in, made the catch as he dived into the grass. He popped up and threw the ball back in. "Two outs!"

The third batter hit a fly ball to center field. Garret didn't have to move too much to get under it and make the catch.

"At least your pitch count is looking good." Noah laughed as he bypassed Dave on the way to the dugout.

Dave shook his fist at his brother's back. "You better get on base or watch how I'll come for you."

Everyone got into the dugout and the top of the order got ready for their at bats. Including me in the four spot. Cleanup hitter. My record hasn't been very good in there, but today was a new day. I just need someone to get on and I'll do my job of driving them in.

Sean was up first against the pitcher we haven't seen before. He was about the same height as Noah and as thin as me. We've seen quite a few average pitchers but this guys just was the opposite of the previous guy we saw for Golden West.

I mentioned it to Bryce as we sat in the hole.

"I don't know what their other pitching options are like, but I heard the guy we saw before got hurt in his game against Servite." Bryce told me.

"Oh. I forgot that Golden West played at Servite last week." I frowned. "Does that mean Servite won?"

"It was a beatdown." He nodded. "15-4 in five innings. Mercy rule."

My eyes widened. "15 runs? Off that guy?"

Bryce let out a small laugh. "No, no. Not all off of him. He gave up four before leaving with injury. I don't know all the details. I'm just speculating from what I read in the news."

I wanted to ask more about it, but Sean hit a fly out to right field, coming back to the dugout. Noah went to the plate and Bryce had to go out to the on deck circle. I glanced around and saw Garret busy talking with Coach so I couldn't ask him. No one else was close by and I felt awkward leaving the spot I was already in. I guess it could wait.

Noah got cornered on a 1-2 count. He fouled off three pitches, doing his best to defend the plate before chasing a breaking ball in the dirt. A swinging strikeout. He hung his head in defeat as he came back to the dugout.

"If you can't laugh at yourself, I can help you out!" Dave laughed at Noah as he walked inside.

Noah started to laugh too. "Okay. Not the best of starts. But don't worry, I'll keep my hitting streak alive, even if I have to go back to bunting singles."

Dave scoffed. "Where does your confidence come from? Share some with me."

"I'm confident you can let those guys hit more grounders my way."

I smiled and left the dugout to stand out on deck. It was just for show though. Bryce pulled a ball to left field and the outfielder was able to get there with plenty of time. End of the first.

I sighed and took my bat to my bag.

"It's only the first, Jake." Noah laughed at me.

I switched my helmet for my hat, took my batting gloves off and grabbed my regular glove. "I know. It's not really like I'm sad about it." I rubbed my nose. "I'm just a little paranoid. Whenever I'm cleanup, I never really get to do my best at the plate."

Noah rolled his eyes. "That can't be right. You've never had a bad game before."

"I didn't say I was bad." I frowned. "Just not at my best. Against Servite for example, I only had one hit. Then I was walked twice. And on one of those, I was picked off at first." I rubbed my face with annoyance at the memory. I think I hate intentional walks more than if I got out myself. At least I had a chance. But walks have their advantages too. For the team. If I don't get picked off like an idiot.

"Come on. You're being too hard on yourself." He led the way out of the dugout as we slowly jogged to our positions by second base. "That was a one run game. Hard for all of us to have any good stats."

I gave him a look. "Oh yea? What about against OLU? We scored four runs and I didn't have an RBI or a run scored. Just one hit with three walks. Not exactly screaming 'cleanup' if you know what I mean."

Noah laughed. "Okay. So you're not liking the vibe of the spot. That's fine. Tell Coach next time that you're becoming superstitious. He'll change it around again."

I paused to look at him. "Really? You think so?"

"No." He laughed again. "Sorry. But I'm pretty sure Coach would make it more permanent if you said something like that." He got close enough to slap my back. "Stop worrying when we aren't even losing. It's a bad look. How will you ever build confidence if you're always nitpicking?"

I sighed. Noah was right. We haven't lost a game yet; no matter what the lineup looks like. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and got into position.

The top of the second. Dave's pitch count nearly doubled when facing their cleanup hitter. On a full count, he threw his split finger fastball, getting the guy to swing and miss. Batter five made early contact on a fastball, smacking a line drive right at Jason. He reacted quickly and made the catch before anything bad could happen. Jason threw the ball to Noah, who threw to me, then I threw to Sean. He walked to the mound a little before tossing it back to Dave. Batter six went down as Dave's second strikeout of the game and the last out of the inning.

"Fudge." Jason faked curse as we jogged back to the dugout. "I thought that line drive was coming for my face. I was this close to having a black eye." He held his forefinger and thumb very close together.

"Or worse." Noah chimed. "Could have broken a bone in your face." He shivered. "That would have been nasty."

Everyone went to their bags.

I hurried to get ready as first up this inning. I was first out, taking practice swings as the other team did their warmup and throw around. Just as Garret came out to join me on deck, I was called to the plate.

"Get him, Jake!"

"Crush it!"

"Hit it out of the park!"

I tried to tune out the cheers as I got set in the lefty's box. The pitcher on the mound got set. He did a full windup and his pitch came across the plate in the low 80s for a called strike. Decent. He threw his second pitch, it was going to be in the zone. I didn't see any reason to waste time so I connected and hit a single to left field.

The ball came back to the pitcher. But more surprisingly, a coach came out of their dugout.