The Hitting Zone

We changed sides and went out for the bottom of the second inning. Robbie started with the cleanup hitter. On a 2-2 count, the batter made contact, hitting a hard grounder up the middle, closer to my side. I took three steps and stretched out my left across my body. The ball went off the palm of my glove and rolled to Noah. Noah picked it up, but no throw could be made to get the out at first.

I slowly straightened up and heard the claps and cheers of the home team.

"Tough play to make." Noah came over to say.

I sighed. "Don't worry. I'm not going to panic." I knew why he came over. I didn't have a good track record when it came to making errors and freaking out afterwards. I was more mad at myself at the moment. I had been practicing grounders for the last two days; why did I mess up now?

"Don't mind." Robbie had stepped off the mound and showed his glove towards us.

Noah threw him the ball and smiled. "Yea. Let's look for two!" He walked backwards to get into position.

I gave Robbie a nod and got back into position too.

Robbie went back to the mound. He nodded at Oscar's sign, checked over his shoulder to make sure the runner wasn't too far off first, then started to pitch. As soon as he lifted his leg, the runner on first took off. Instinctively, I started to move to second base too. The batter actually swung and connected; the sound made me stutter step, unsure if I should be fielding instead. Luckily, he pulled the ball down the line to third base. It was a slow rolled though. Jason had no play at second, so he threw straight to first for the first out.

The ball was given back to Robbie and we reset our positions. Noah and I played a little closer to the base since Sean and Jason didn't have to guard down the lines. They played a little more back, trying to get angles for any grounders. The sixth batter didn't give us infielders a chance though, hitting a bloop single to left, pushing the runner to third. Now we have runners at the corners with only one out.

I glanced at Noah, unsure if he wanted to say anything. Noah held back, making a face but ultimately deciding to say nothing. Everyone got set once more as Robbie took on the seventh batter in the lineup. The count got to 1-2 before the batter smacked one down the line to the left field corner. Runners took off. I went to second base to cover. Korrey picked the ball up and overthrew it, out of Noah's reach. Robbie was the one to get the ball on a bounce and checked the runners. Batters four and six made it home safely, making the score 4-2, and the batter made it to second base. A two-run double.

"Bring it in." Noah called out, signaling for time to the ump. All of us infielders joined him at the mound; Robbie and Oscar included. "A bit ugly, not gonna lie."

I cringed. "Sorry." That first baserunner was my fault after all.

"It happens." Noah shrugged. "But now we need to get back on track." He looked to Robbie. "Do you want to possibly walk the next guy and try for a double play?"

He shook his head and looked to Oscar. "I think it's time for you to start calling for the knuckleball."

All eyes went to Oscar.

"You don't have great control over it." Oscar stated.

"It's not supposed to be controlled." He told him.

"Coach doesn't like walks." Oscar made another statement. Not sounding like he was totally against it, but more like he didn't want to get in trouble. Maybe.

"Give it a go with the first guy." Noah said. "If it works out, great. If it doesn't, that's fine too. We'll be set for a double play." He clapped with his glove. "Let's go!"

We broke up the short mound meeting before an umpire came to break it up. Everyone got set again. This time Robbie started with a knuckleball. The batter swung and missed for strike one. Robbie switched back to a fastball high in the zone for called strike two. Oscar requested a fastball low and away, but Robbie shook him off. Back to the knuckle. The ball broke downwards as the batter swung, causing him to strike out.

"Alright!"

"That's the way to bounce back!"

"You've got this, Robbie!"

"Two outs, one to go!"

Batter nine was the pitcher. He went down just as easily with the same pattern of knuckle, fastball, knuckle. We got out of the second holding a two run lead.

Back in the dugout, Coach pulled Robbie and Oscar aside. I wanted to know what they were going to talk about but I was second up this inning.

"You okay?" Noah asked me as I got ready and he sat the bench. "You looking a little out of it." He added when he saw me looking at him.

I shrugged. "I can't say that the error doesn't bug me, but I'm no longer thinking about it. I'm thinking about Robbie and Oscar. I'm thinking about whether I'll be intentionally walked again or not. I'm also thinking about if Grampa is bored being home alone or not."

"First off, it's not your job to worry about the pitcher. Second, an intentional walk is a free base, don't complain. Third, Grampa definitely doesn't just hang around the house when we're gone. He's a social butterfly, probably making friends at the community center with other old farts." Noah broke down my thoughts real quick.

I grinned and grabbed my bat. "I'm going to tell him that you called him that."

"Called him what?" Noah put on a look of innocence.

Too bad the twins were in the bullpen and couldn't back me up. I headed outside of the dugout, passing Coach and the other two still talking.

"I want you to become more of a game caller, Oscar. Today's game is a great opportunity for you." I overheard before walking out.

I had complete faith in Coach that he could guide Oscar. He's great at coaching no matter the level. Even when I was a newbie last year, he could show me the way. He also did his fair share in shaping Noah and the way he is now. Of course, Zeke helped too.

I stood a few feet away from Bryce and started to take practice swings as the pitcher warmed up off the mound. Bryce was soon called up and left me behind in the on deck circle. The pitcher was a little off when facing Bryce. Just couldn't find the strike zone and ended up walking him.

I stepped up next, eyeing the catcher, who remained in his squat position. I guess they weren't walking me now. Maybe because first base was opened last time so it made sense to walk me then because they could go after a double play. But now, with a runner on first and no outs, maybe they were hoping I could hit into a double play. The infielders were definitely set up for one.

The pitcher still struggled with his control, throwing me two balls before landing one in the zone for a called strike. I casually scanned the outfield, thinking about aiming for the corners. I wasn't confident in my home run rate, but you never know. The pitcher isn't throwing slow by any means.

Another pitch landed for a called strike. 2-2. The pitcher got the ball back and got set again, glancing at Bryce at first. Bryce probably had the speed to steal, but Mr. Miller didn't make him. Maybe he didn't want to see the steal and then with first base open, Quincy High School would walk me despite the count?

The pitcher did his motion and the pitch was delivered. I took a step and timed my swing, connecting with the thickest part of my bat, pulling the ball to the left field corner just like their guy did. Except my hit made it over the outfield fence for a home run. I tagged the bases in a hurry, feeling a good high from the hit. I stepped on home plate, making the score 6-2. We got the two runs back.

"Awesome, Jake!" Bryce slapped my hand and then threw his arm around my shoulders. He steered me to the dugout and we celebrated with the team inside.

"That's number six." Coach told me, stopping me in my tracks.

"Six?" I frowned. I've had way more than that this season.

"Number six in the regular season." Coach said with a small smile. "Tournaments don't count to your regular season stats. But." His smile got bigger. "Six is how many Zeke had his Sophomore season too. And you still have a lot of games left to play."

I started to grin too.

"That's the most a sophomore has had in our school their sophomore year." Coach told me. "With ten games left to play, you'll crush it."

I nodded. "I will!"

Coach patted me on the shoulder and let me go back to my bag.