Back in the parking lot, we headed for the athletic fields together. Up until Marie and Kaylee had to split off to go to their softball field. Kyle chose to go with them.
Unexpectedly, Kaylee stopped beside me for a second. "You're the type to not say anything when you're in trouble. If you have to run, run to the softball fields. I've got your back." She slapped me on the shoulder and followed her sister and Kyle.
I lightly smiled. Kaylee had a tough-guy persona, but I knew she cared for others. You could see it in the way she defended her sister and now in the way she backed me up.
"But really, just come to me first." Noah said.
"Why you?" Dave asked. "I'm older. Come to me if any of the seniors or juniors give you any trouble."
Noah rolled his eyes. "Let's go."
We gathered at the upper baseball field, keeping our bags close. No one knew where they were going just yet. More players showed up after us and eventually the group of coaches.
Coach Wilcox took the lead as head varsity coach. "Hopefully everyone had a fulfilling lunch. This afternoon, we're going to do a set of scrimmages. We've debated whether to do two different games or three. In line with trying to see everyone play, we decided to go with three."
"That's good for the pitchers." Kyle grinned. He had rejoined us after walking his girlfriend back to the softball field. "More opportunities to shine."
"With us splitting the program into six different teams, we're going to be a little short on coaching staff." Coach explained. "We'll do one or two per team. And one per bullpen. That means the players will have to take turns being the first and third base coaches during their offenses. Bullpen coaches will coordinate with the dugout coaches on pitching, but I hope to have starting pitchers go at least five innings. Those left in bullpens can opt to play on the field as position players or just get some work in with the other guys in the bullpen. Warning, there won't be enough catchers for every bullpen to have one."
"Will we get graded on our fielding then?" A pitcher asked. "Like will I get docked points for missing a catch? I don't want to lose a chance to play on the baseball team just because I'm not good in the outfield."
Coach chuckled as the pitchers murmured in agreement. "Don't worry. Pitchers will only be graded on their pitching. And their fielding on the mound. Unless they want to play in the field like Garret Knudsen. We have a couple of juniors from varsity pitching that can also be used in a pinch-hit situation or if we need them on the field. It's good to be versatile."
"That's how Brian and Bryce made the team as sophomores." Noah mumbled to me. "Their pitching isn't necessarily better than the JV team's pitchers, but they could do more."
"I'll assign a team of players to every coach and pitching coach. Then a field. There, the coaches will make the decisions on positions and batting order. I'll be making my rounds to every game, checking each one out." Coach finished talking about how the afternoon would go, and started to call out names for team one.
I was thankfully put with Noah, and surprisingly Garret. We were sent to the JV field as team number four, given the home team designation and the third base dugout. Mr. Miller would be our only coach besides the pitching coach in the bullpen.
As our team filled up the dugout, I realized I didn't know very many of the guys. There were some from the lower-leveled teams, but at least half our team were incoming freshmen. Some of which I recognized from my morning group.
Mr. Miller and the pitching coach approached Garret beside us. "How are you, Garret?"
Garret grinned and flexed his left arm. "Feeling good, looking good."
The pitching coach chuckled. "We wanted to see if you wanted the mound today."
Garret was surprised. "The whole game?? Or what?" He squinted at him. "What's the catch?"
"No catch." He shrugged. "If anything, you have good support with your own hitting and Jake's hitting."
Garret looked around the dugout, observing the freshmen. "Okay, so I get a scrub team in return. Who is on the other team?" He looked to the other dugout. "Hey...did they even get one freshman on their team?"
Noah and I both looked over. Right off the bat, I spotted Korrey, the offensive mvp for the JV team. There were also two other guys who had won awards. Michael Tye and Joey Henderson. Michael was the JV captain and Joey was the team mvp. Joey stuck out to me because he was a pitcher and hitter like Garret. If that wasn't enough, I spotted Sean, Jason, Tanner, and Mitchell.
"I really don't see a freshman." Noah mumbled. He looked at Mr. Miller. "Is Coach setting us up?"
Mr. Miller laughed. "Of course not. We're just trying to get a feel for everyone's skill level. See if the returning players have improved or regressed." He looked to Garret. "You can choose not to pitch. We'll put you in the outfield."
Garret scoffed. "No way. I'll take the mound. In fact, it's better if you send the other pitchers to the other teams so they can get a chance."
The pitching coach shook his head. "No can do." He looked to Mr. Miller. "I'll ask around to find out who wants to come to the bullpen and who wants to stay to play on the field." He left.
Mr. Miller looked between me and Garret. "Who wants to bat in front of who?"
Garret looked at me. "I think you should go after me. You're better and more consistent. If I get on base, I'm confident you can drive me home."
"Of course he can!" Noah answered for me. He threw his arm around my shoulders. "Jake will be hitting homeruns."
Feeling the stares, I nodded confidently. I've never seen Joey pitched, but he couldn't be better than Garret and the twins. "As long as I aim for the right pitch." I gave it some more thought. "Maybe I'll foul off a few pitches in my first at-bat to see what he's like."
"Sure, kid." Mr. Miller nodded. "You do you." He looked to Noah. "I'll let you lead off. Then Garret. Then Jake." He took a glance at the rest of the players in our dugout. "I won't pick positions just yet. I've got to find out where everyone can play first."
He left us.
Garret looked around our dugout too. "Coach plays unfair. Giving Mitchell to those guys? Who the heck am I supposed to throw to?"
Noah frowned as well. "We weren't given any returning catchers? Dang. Brutal."
"Does that mean I get a freshman?" Garret groaned.
Noah got up on the bench and raised his voice. "Any catchers present? If so, please report to Garret here."
The dugout got quiet as everyone looked around, trying to spot the would-be catcher. Mr. Miller also looked around, but no one stood out.
Noah's frown deepened. "Okay, so no players that are normally catchers. How about someone who can play catcher or has played before? No need for perfectionists."
If possible, the dugout got more quiet.
Mr. Miller looked to the pitching coach.
The pitching coach headed for the exit. "I'll go ask the other guys if they have a spare catcher. We can't just have Garret throwing to a complete novice."
"Try to steal Mitchell!" Garret told him.