"Wrap it up, boys." Mr. Miller told us, breaking up our meeting on the mound.
Kyle waved us away. "Get lost. I don't need your sympathy or pity. I'm still a great pitcher. Even better than before. I just need to get my control back."
Garret smirked. "Let me know if you don't think you can pitch anymore." He dodged Kyle's gloved hand and jogged back to his spot.
Kelvin patted Kyle on the shoulder. "Just get the ball across the plate. Don't be afraid of giving up hits. We'll play defense." He grinned. "Besides, it's just for fun."
Kyle waved again. "Okay, okay. Get back already."
The rest of us left him alone on the mound, going back to our respective positions.
Kyle faced down Noah again. He bounced back from his wild pitch, throwing two fastballs right by Noah to earn a couple of strikes. On the next pitch, Noah got a piece of it, hitting a weak grounder to Garret. Garret charged the ball, used his barehand to pick the ball up and throw to Kelvin at first. He barely beat out Noah's run, but who cares, one out.
Garret grinned at me as he got back into position. "One out."
"One out!" The boys echoed.
Brian, who was still on second base sighed. "Man, it's just not fair how you're good at everything. Can't you just stick to pitching only?"
Garret let out a laugh. "You're a pitcher too. One that likes to hit."
Brian let out another sigh. "It's not the same."
He was right. It really wasn't the same. Garret was beyond good at everything. When he wasn't pitching, he was still allowed in the lineup to hit. Brian only occasionally got to pinch hit or maybe if there was an injury.
Getting that out seemed to help Kyle. His pitches weren't on point, but the speed was picking up and he could get it over the plate. After fouling off two pitches, Julian got caught looking at strike three, blazing down the middle.
Kyle didn't have time to celebrate with Zeke stepping up to bat next. His face became determined and his first pitch was a challenge: fastball inside. Zeke let it pass for a called strike. Kyle didn't show any hint of satisfaction as he got the ball back and got set again.
Brian's lead off second grew.
My hand twitched. I really wanted Kyle to look back and throw him out, but his focus was solely on Zeke. He started his motion and Brian took off. Zeke swung at the pitch, sending it back up the middle. Kyle dodged. Garret and I both dived at the ball, but it go through. Mahki came sprinting in, fielding the ball and threw it back in. He didn't both with us, throwing straight to Alex at home plate as Brian came sliding in.
The tag came down.
"Safe!" Mr. Miller declared.
Alex didn't pause, throwing the ball to Garret, covering second. Zeke, who had rounded first base, jogged back to first base after Alex threw the ball.
Darn it. Tied already.
Kyle didn't say anything, turning to Sean, the next batter. Sean also made contact, but it was a routine grounder within my reach. I used my glove, transitioned the ball to my throwing hand smoothly, then threw him out at first.
We headed back to the dugout.
"Hey! You're looking pretty confident out there." Garret threw his arm around my shoulders and leaned on me. "I feel like you didn't hesitate for a second. You've been practicing all summer?"
I nodded as we got inside the dugout. "I play with Noah all the time, but last week we went to a camp. The counselor in charge of my group really took the time to show me, I mean us, how to practice correctly."
"Was he better than Noah and Zeke?" Garret asked, separating from me as we sat on the bench.
I shrugged. "I don't know. I've never seen him play."
Garret laughed. "I meant, is he a better coach than them?"
Oh. I shrugged again. "I guess. He was showing me step by step. With Noah and Zeke...it's like...do it until you get it right...?"
Garret, and the guys that heard me, laughed.
I blushed.
Garret slapped me on the leg. "It's okay. We understand. It's always good to get a fresh pair of eyes to check you out. See what you're doing. Give you some insight on how to improve. I'm sure Coach will be able to personalize his coaching more this fall since we won't be rushing to prepare for games."
I nodded, understanding. Coach had to rely on Zeke to help me with the basics. He couldn't give me all his attention. Especially not when we had two or three games a week.
The top of the second inning started with James, Kelvin, and Alex.
"Do you even remember how to hold a bat?!" Bryce hollered from our own dugout.
James simply flipped him off before stepping in the batter's box.
Bryce chuckled. He continued to heckle James after the first pitch passed by for a called strike. "Yo! You gotta swing to put the ball in play!"
Garret laughed. "Who's team are you on, Bryce?"
Bryce cracked his knuckles. "Hey, you don't know how much James has bullied me in the bullpen. A few words never hurt anyone." He turned back to the field. "You have a $200 bat in your hands! Use it!"
James swung and missed for strike two.
Bryce's grin got bigger. "Whew! What a nice breeze that was!"
James rolled his eyes.
I cracked a smile. I've never heard this kind of stuff before. It was almost like Bryce was a comedian.
Garret laughed along with a few others as Bryce egged James on. "Bryce, what are you gonna do if he gets a hit?"
Bryce scoffed. "I'll make fun of Dave for the rest of the year! James hasn't held a bat in who knows how long. If Dave can't get him out, doesn't that mean we'll have a troublesome pitcher on the mound for the spring?"
James made contact with the next pitch, hitting a grounder to short. Noah fielded it cleanly for the first out.
Bryce leaned against the fencing again. "Woowww! Dave can't even get a PO to strike out! Maybe I'll have a chance for the starting lineup!"
PO? I turned to Garret. "What's a PO?"
"Pitcher only." Garret answered. "Means they don't practice batting at all. Would hardly ever come to the plate in a game too."
James came back to the dugout as Kelvin moved to the batter's box.
"Not so easy, is it?" Bryce smirked at James.
James shrugged. "At least I made contact." He smirked. "Mr. Strikeout."
The two started to jab at one another.
I don't know if Dave was affected by Bryce's smack talk, but he walked Kelvin on four straight pitches. Then gave up a single to Alex right after. Maybe he's a little rusty?
I grabbed my helmet and bat, preparing to get ready. Kyle was up to bat, and Garret had already gone to the on deck circle.
Kyle has undoubtedly not practiced hitting at all this summer besides the very occasional trip to the cages. He struck out looking, practically giving Dave a free out. Garret moved to the lefty's batting box and I moved to the circle. I still have a chance to bat.
