"Honestly thought you were going to trip." Kyle told me as I passed by him.
"Did I look that unsteady?" I stopped to ask.
Kyle laughed. "Whenever the ball goes to you, you look unsteady."
I felt my face warm up and quickly left him for my bag.
"Don't listen to Kyle. He's just as nervous as you, if not more." Noah told me as I took off my hat.
I put on my helmet and grabbed my bat. "What if I really do trip next time? It's like he's jinxing me!"
Noah laughed. "Now you're a believer?" He waved me away. "If you fall, just roll with it and laugh it off. The only thing that matters is the score in the end." His eyes narrowed. "But if you drop the ball, we're going to have some problems."
My shoulders stiffened.
"Jake! Get out there!" Dave called for me. He was in the dugout since he wouldn't be able to pitch today.
"I'm just messing with ya." Noah laughed at my face. "Go. I've got some time before my at-bat."
I moved to the on deck circle. Garret was already in the batter's box, working the count against the pitcher. I thought it was interesting that Coach put Garret in the leadoff spot when he's a lefty going up against a lefty that has multiple breaking balls. The pitcher threw a curve just as I was thinking that, only for Garret to connect and send a hard line drive to center. He took off running.
Just as it looked like the ball would hit the grass, the center fielder made a diving catch, getting the first out.
"Awe man."
"That was well hit."
"Yea, Garret's one of the best players on the team."
"Not as good as Zeke though."
I could hear some murmurs from the crowd and it made me feel tense. So many people today.
"Relax." Zeke came out of the dugout to stand in the circle. "Block it out. It's just chatter." He patted my shoulder and pushed me lightly towards the box.
I made my move, holding a hand up to signal for timeout as I put my back foot in the righty's box. It was soft, as expected. Three of the Servite batter's had already made the box a sandpit. After getting comfortable footing, I put my hands on my bat and pulled it back.
Sanchez came out faster than other pitchers we've been facing. It almost felt like the guy from University Prep. Except, his placement and location seemed to be lacking. The curve had good movement...I probably could still hit it from the lefty's box. The slider might be too much though.
I fouled the first three pitches that were in or near the zone. Then Sanchez moved his location further out for back-to-back balls. I let them pass. 2-2. The next pitch was close enough for me to foul. Then another ball. Then another. He walked me.
I tossed my bat lightly to the dugout and jogged to first. Coach Luis has raised eyebrows, probably wondering why I didn't drag it out. After Monday's game against OLU, I decided to pay more attention to my own body's condition. If my arms felt heavy, I should accept the walk. Why force myself out? Especially with Zeke right behind me.
Zeke stepped up amidst cheers from our homestand. Everyone was pumped, like something was going to happen.
I took a lead off first base, but kept it relatively short since it was Zeke up to bat. Plus, Sanchez as a lefty, was facing me. It was kind of intimidating to be stared at when being on first.
Sanchez was a little wild when starting his face off with Zeke. On a 2-0 count, Zeke connected on the curve and hit it to right field. It went high, but feeling that it would be short, I didn't run to second just yet. I inched further from the bag, facing right field. Like I suspected, it was short and the right fielder caught it with ease to make the second out. I went back to first base.
Everyone that was previously excited, seemed to let out a collective sigh. It was a depressing atmosphere. I felt stifled by the crowd's disappointment. I couldn't imagine how Zeke was feeling. I glanced as he went back to the dugout and received pats from our teammates. He didn't look bothered.
Julian, who was now batting fourth, aka the cleanup hitter, grounded out to the third baseman to end the inning. So much for scoring early.
I jogged back to the dugout just in time to hear Coach. "Don't get down on yourselves after just one inning. Six more to go. I don't believe they can shut us out for the whole game."
I grabbed my gear and hit the field with the rest of the starters. Coach was right. One inning won't decide the outcome of the game. I'm guaranteed at least two more at-bats and so is Zeke.
Kyle got on the mound and warmed up. To start off the second inning, he would begin with Servite's cleanup hitter. Kyle came out strong, throwing a fastball just outside. The batter swung, connected, and sent the ball just foul of the right field pole. Dang. Kyle threw a pitch in the dirt. 1-1. A pitch inside for a ball. 2-1. Another pitch was ripped foul. 2-2.
The Servite dugout was hyped up thanks to those foul balls and started to yell for their teammate. Kyle didn't look good.
The very next pitch. Kyle threw a fastball high in the zone, but it was lacking power and speed behind it. The batter ate it right up and spit it out towards right field. Mahki didn't run back for this one; it was that obvious. A solo shot. They now have a one run lead.
The batter jogged the bases as Alex went to the mound to talk to Kyle.
I looked to Noah and saw him coming my way, so I met him halfway.
"Kyle's not looking so good today. Almost zero confidence." Noah sighed into his glove.
I lifted mine and spoke into it. "He's given up a lot of fly balls. Maybe he doesn't have great control today."
Noah nodded and looked to the bullpen. "Coach doesn't have anyone warming up just yet."
My lips twitched. "It's only the second inning. And we're only down by one." It'd be strange if someone was already warming up.
"I'm just saying." Noah shrugged. "Be ready to chase down any fly balls that you think the outfield can't reach. Keep your heels on the grass, okay?"
I nodded.
The umpire broke up the meeting on the mound, making everyone return to play. Whatever Alex said to Kyle, must have helped because he bounced back and got the next batter to strikeout.
The sixth batter in the lineup hit a high fly to left field. Garret came in and Noah went back to track it down, but Garret called him off and made the catch. Two outs.
Servite's batters really were getting under these pitches to be able to hit all these fly balls. There hasn't been one groundout yet.
Kyle faced the seventh batter and quickly pushed him to a 1-2 count, only for him to get under a pitch as well, popping the ball up.
I tried imitating Noah by following the ball in the grass and realized I could make the catch. I waved Mahki off, but somehow my feet got crossed up and I started to fall. I reached out and caught the ball before falling flat on my frontside. With my hands being busy, trying to keep the ball in the glove, I landed directly on my face and stomach in the grass. I groaned.
Freakin' Kyle.