Top of the fifth started with our bottom three: Jason, Alex, and now Tanner. Jason didn't start us off on the right foot by striking out, but Alex crushed one into the outfield fence for a double to liven up the dugout. Tanner moved to the batter's box as Noah took over the on deck circle.
I stood by the entrance, helmet on, bat in hands, eager for another at-bat.
"Do you think they'll keep Sanchez in since they have a lead?" I heard Garret asked. I turned around to see who he was talking to, only to find him looking down at me.
I shrugged. "I don't know."
"Just tell me what you think." Garret said with a smile.
I blinked. My brain went empty as my thoughts were nonexistent. "I don't really think about the opposing team's pitching tactics."
Garret laughed, patting my shoulder. "Typical of a batting prodigy."
I blushed.
"No need to be shy." He laughed some more.
I looked down, studying my cleats. "I don't think that has anything to do with it. I'm sure other good batters have thoughts on this kind of thing. I'm just...too new to baseball. It's good enough for me if the pitcher can get it over the plate for me to hit."
Garret stopped laughing. "Sometimes I forget that you haven't played on a team before. Sorry."
I shook my head. "It's okay. It doesn't hurt."
Garret patted the top of my helmet. "You're a very peculiar kid."
I was going to ask what he meant by that, but a collective sigh from the dugout had me turning back to the field. Tanner popped out to the third baseman, Alex couldn't advance a base either. Noah moved to the batter's box and I stepped out to the on deck circle.
I lightly swung my bat back and forth, anxious for Noah to get a hit. Or a walk. A walk would do. I just want a chance after last inning.
Noah was patient for once, letting the first pitch pass for a ball. It was an outside fastball. The next one came inside. Way inside. Noah jumped back to avoid ball two.
I squatted in place, holding my bat between my legs. He was halfway to an earning a walk. Just as I was hoping for a walk, Sanchez threw a breaking ball into the zone, getting Noah to swing and miss. I gripped my bat extra tight. The fourth pitch was fouled back by Noah.
"Way to get a piece of it Noah!" Garret cheered the loudest from the dugout. "Stay calm! You've got this!"
That woke me up. I need to be more like Garret. I need to cheer for Noah to get a hit. I cleared my throat, trying to find the words to yell out, but came up empty handed.
Noah, on the other hand, succeeded. Sanchez tried beating him with just speed, but Noah started his swing earlier than normal, making a solid connection. It was a line drive down the first baseline.
Drop. Drop. Drop.
The right fielder made a dive at it, but the ball snuck through, rolling to the outfield fence. Noah, who was already running, easily made it to second. The question was whether Alex could make it to home before the tag. The throw came in as he had rounded third base. The second baseman received and then made the turn to throw to his catcher as Alex came sliding in.
The dirt was kicked up, obscuring most of the play. It was a close one. All eyes immediately went to the umpire for the call.
"Safe!" He yelled out, nice and clear for the crowd to hear as well.
Alex popped out of the dirt, jumping with his excitement. He picked up Noah's bat on his way back and pumped his fists as the majority of the crowd groaned in frustration.
Alex held up his hand for me to high five and I obliged. He deserves it. Alex made the team after Kelvin's injury and Jordan's quitting; so it was really impressive that he could keep up with their playing level and learning all the catcher stuff that goes with it.
"Bring him home, Jake!"
"Get a hit!"
"Make a connection!"
Our dugout was riding the high of Noah's hit and was cheering for me to do well. I flushed red in the face with all the attention. Just as I made my move to step in the box though, a coach for Servite came out to talk to the pitcher on the mound. I recognized him as the pitching coach.
I drifted back towards my own dugout, unsure if the pitching coach was thinking about pulling Sanchez.
"He's probably talking strategy." Garret said to me in a low voice once I was close enough to him. "Just stay calm."
"I'm calm." I told him, holding my bat on my shoulder. In fact, I was eager. With us down by two, I wanted to drive in Noah and make it an even closer game. If I could pull a Zeke and launch a home run, that would even be better. That could tie up the game! I shifted from foot to foot, excited for the chance.
The Servite coach finished talking to his pitcher and catcher on the mound and went back to his dugout. The catcher got back behind the plate and the ump signaled for me to step up.
I took long strides, arriving in the righty's box. My feet were shoulder length apart and my elbow was up and back, just ready to take on Sanchez. The only one that didn't look ready was the catcher behind me. He stayed standing. I glanced back just in time to see him holding his right hand out over the lefty's box. He was calling for a ball.
In disbelief, I looked to Sanchez. He played along though, doing his motion and then delivering a ball way out of reach. They were going to walk me. Intentionally walk me. A good pitcher like Sanchez was just going to put me on base...for free. My face dropped as each ball was delivered out of the zone.
Is this what their pitching coach told them? To skip over me?
After ball four, I lightly tossed my bat back towards my dugout and made eye contact with Garret. He was frowning too. He walked firmly to the batter's box, but I could see the nervousness in a flash of his eyes. He was as confident as he normally is.
I jogged to first and received a clap on the back from Coach Luis. "Don't look too sad about it, kid. They're just afraid of you." He intentionally raised his voice like he wanted the nearby first baseman to overhear.
The first baseman glanced our way but didn't speak up.
Garret's at-bat was a struggle. Sanchez threw only breaking balls, alternating between his curveball and slider. Garret did his best to foul a few off before launching one to center field. It was high. Too high. The center fielder got under it easily and made the catch for the final out.
"Alex owns him. Why face you when we can just get the easier out?" A deep voice chuckled near me. I caught the first baseman laughing to himself as he jogged back to his dugout.
I swallowed the cold air. It was true that Garret struggles against Sanchez. Lefty/lefty matchups didn't really work in his favor. At the plate or on the mound.
"Don't mind him." Coach Luis patted my shoulder. "Get back and change. There are two innings left for batting. You might still get another shot."
I nodded and took off.