The next pitch was low and inside. I flinched back.
"Strike." The ump called out. "3-1."
I looked where the catchers mitt was and realized it was framed really well. I frowned at the call. I turned back to the dugout and saw Zeke rubbing his nose. Guess I'm going to foul. The next pitch came, also looking to be on the borderline. It could easily be called a ball, but with a catcher framing it, it could be just like the last one: a called strike. What a risky pitcher. I swung and fouled along the first base line. 3-2, full count. I looked at Zeke, still rubbing his nose. Foul if it's in, I guess I'll only take a ball four if it's an obvious ball. I fouled three more times before getting the fourth ball. I lightly placed my bat down and jogged to first. Battery's sure are interesting. This pair definitely worked much better than the first pitcher.
I stayed on the base until the pitcher was set on the rubber, facing Mahki, then I started to inch off. Mahki got the same assortment of pitches, all on the border of being strikes or balls. With a 2-2 count, he swung and hit a grounder to the shortstop, who easily fielded the ball to the second baseman and got me for the third out on second base.
I sighed with relief that nothing embarrassing happened this time around.
"Nothing to get depressed over." Mahki jogged with me back to the dugout as our teammates took the field. "No one has a perfect batting average."
I wasn't depressed. Just relieved. I gave a small smile to show that I was fine. We both changed out our gear and went to our own positions.
Top of the fifth inning brought the cleanup hitters for Villa Park, but Kyle easily shut them down. It was a simple fly out to left, pop up to me at second, and then a groundout to Noah. One, two, three. Kyle was on fire. He didn't waste a single pitch.
Everyone continued to stay away from him as our own cleanup batters went up. Zeke hit a stand up double. Julian grounded out, but Zeke was able to make it to third. Mr. Miller gave Jason a sign I hadn't memorized yet. I tugged on Noah's sleeve.
"Just watch. They'll be able to pull it off." He replied.
The pitcher went through his motion, but at the end, Jason showed bunt. The pitch was a little high, but Jason was able to push it down and take off for first. I didn't even notice that Zeke had already taken off from third and was charging down the line to home plate. The third baseman was holding Zeke to the base so he wasn't ready to field the bunt, and the pitcher was caught off guard. Zeke slid home, feet first and popped right back up. The third baseman was able to still make a play at first and threw out Jason. Two outs, but now up 5-0.
Unfortunately the momentum stopped there and Tony popped out for the final out of the fifth inning.
Top of the sixth inning, Kyle completely shut out the bottom of their lineup. Which made sense since even their clean up hitter was struggling, then what good could they do. It was a complete annihilation. Kyle didn't throw one ball, all strikes.
At the bottom of the sixth Noah put on his helmet with complete seriousness. He glanced at me. "Last at bat. Gotta make it a good one." He left me without any further ado.
I glanced at my helmet, unsure if I should put it on as well.
"Put it on." A voice from behind commanded. Startled, I quickly turned around. Zeke stood there. "If one of them get on base, and you get a chance to go up, you can hit freely."
Freely? Without any restrictions? I looked at him hopefully.
"No one will give you any signs. You can do whatever you see fit." Zeke patted my head and wandered away to talk to others.
I quickly replaced my hat with a helmet and grabbed my bat, then rushed to stand next to Noah.
He looked at my eagerness. "What's got you so excited?"
I lifted up my bat.
"Oh? You get to hit?" Noah grinned. "Ya better pray we get someone on base then. High school baseball is only seven innings. As the home team, if we lead after shutting them out in the top of the seventh, then we don't get to bat in the bottom of the seventh."
I nodded. I understood that part. That's why I immediately got my helmet and bat. This is what I was looking forward to.
Kelvin struggled in the box, swinging at bad pitches. But he hung in there and fought for a walk. I looked at Noah with sparkling eyes as he moved to the on deck circle. Someone's on base. I have a chance.
Kyle got in the box, but he wasn't there mentally. He just stood and took three strikes looking, then wandered back to the dugout like a man lost in thought. He was three outs away from a perfect game (high school version) so I could forgive him.
I moved to the on deck circle and watched Noah with extreme concentration. As long as he doesn't hit into a double play, I've got a chance. Noah was more calm in the box, compared to his other at bats. Very relaxed and focused. Ball. Ball. Foul. Foul. Foul. Ball. 3-2. You got this. The next pitch was a close one, he swung and connected with the bottom part of his bat. It took a high bounce right to the pitcher. The pitcher barehanded it and threw him out at first, and the first baseman was able to throw it to the shortstop at second base. Kelvin was just too slow...
I looked at my bat. I guess...it just wasn't meant to be, this game.