The Hitting Zone

Top of the fourth was another good showing for Kyle. He repeated his first inning performance: Swinging strikeout. Groundout to Jason. Swinging strikeout.

I thought Noah would complain to Jason about the grounders he had been hogging, but he let him go on his way. Maybe because Jason was first up for us again. Or maybe because Jason continued to struggle at the plate. He got jammed on a 1-1 pitch, hitting a slow roller to the mound. The pitcher charged the ball, barehanded it, and threw Jason out at first.

In Jason's defense, not much was going on for anybody. Kyle hit another grounder to short for the second out and Logan struck out swinging.

We switched sides and Kyle got on the mound for the fifth time. He was back to their core, starting with cleanup again. On a 2-2 count, the guy connected and blasted the ball in the air. My head swiveled to look back, watching Garret chase it to the warning track. Garret reached the outfield fence, put his hand out to make sure he didn't run into it, then he timed his jump, going up and came down with the ball.

I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"Great catch!"

"Good job!"

"Nice work!"

"Nice catch!" Noah hollered as Garret threw the ball in to him. Noah then turned and threw it to Kyle. "One out, two to go!"

"Two to go!" We echoed.

The fifth batter came up. The lefty. We got in position and Kyle shook at Mitchell's first pitch. Nodded at the second. He got set, did his motion, and pitched. The batter swung. Connected. And ran.

I cringed as I looked to left field. Logan could only go so far whereas the ball could keep going. A mix of groans and cheers echoed around us. I looked to Kyle with worry. He wasn't looking back at the ball. Nor at the runner rounding the bases. His eyes were on Mitchell and his glove was held up, signaling for a new ball.

I looked to Noah. Noah waited for the runner to head to third before walking it in. I slowly followed along. Jason and Sean met us at the mound.

"Okay, okay, I don't need the pep talk so don't crowd me." Kyle rolled his eyes.

Mitchell was the last one to show up, handing the ball to Kyle instead of throwing it. "How about I say 'I told you so' instead?" He shook his head lightly. "We know that guy was us good. We shouldn't face him head on."

"Running away is demoralizing." Kyle told him.

Mitchell looked to me. "What do you think, Jake?"

I looked Kyle in the eye, feeling a little sorry for him. "I like pitchers who like to face me head on too. It's better for me. Demoralizing is getting a walk when I need a run."

"Right." Noah agreed. "You basically gave them the momentum now."

Kyle looked exasperated. "Damn. And here I thought it would be embarrassing for you guys to try to cheer me up after giving up a homer. It's worse when you're all lecturing me." He turned to Jason. "As a senior, shouldn't you be in charge here?"

"Honestly, I'm just here so I don't look awkward just kicking dirt." Jason joked. "There's a lot of eyes and I don't want to get caught doing something dumb."

"Like giving up a homer to the opposing star player?" Sean asked suggestively.

"Screw you guys." Kyle started to shoo us off his mound. "Get out of here. Go! I'll wrap this up soon enough."

Kyle followed through, striking out the next guy and then a simple fly out to Garret in center for the last out to end their offense. He slapped his glove and headed for the dugout.

"One hit, one run." Dave commented while nodding at his twin. "Very efficient. I would expect nothing less."

Kyle threw his glove at him.

Dave caught it and laughed. "Come on. It's not that bad. You got right back on track. In front of your agent and all those scouts. It's a good look. Don't ruin it now by throwing a fit in the dugout."

Kyle froze. Blinking at his twin blankly. "What?"

Dave lifted an eyebrow. "What part are you stumbling on?"

"My agent...with scouts...?" Kyle said in almost a whisper.

"Oh man. You didn't know?" Dave cringed.

Noah split between the pair, ready to go out to the on deck circle. "Who cares? Just stick to what you've been doing. We've got this."

Kyle immediately turned to me and put his hands together in a pleading posture. "Jake. We need the lead."

I laughed and his ugly posture. "Noah says we've got this. You're pitching very well." I tried to remind him. "Seven strikeouts in five innings."

Kyle grabbed my hands. "Jake. I'm serious. We need the lead."

I slowly nodded, realizing how serious he was taking this. "I'll do my best."

Our offense kicked off with a single from Korrey and we all started to move with excitement. Noah was up next and Sean was on deck. I got ready and stood in the hole.

Noah fouled off the first two pitches and fell 0-2 in the count. The third pitch was low and outside. Just as I was thinking ball, the umpire shocked us all by ringing him up.

"Strikeout!"

Noah dropped his hands to the side and turned to the ump.

"Get him back in here!" Coach ordered Sean.

Sean, who was closest, got to Noah in seconds and pulled him back. He gave a helpful push to get noah back in the dugout.

"What were you thinking?" Coach asked him. "Trying to get in trouble with the umps before playoffs? An ejection will still cost you a one game suspension."

"I was just asking if he was sure." Noah grunted.

I went out to the on deck circle as Coach started to lecture Noah, saying he shouldn't do anything dumb right before playoffs. This game is important, but not risk it all important.

Sean smacked a sharper liner to center. The outfielder only had to move a few steps in to make the catch for the second out.

I walked up to the plate, trying to tune out the yells and cheers either for me or for the pitcher.

The pitcher nodded and got set. His first pitch came. Low and outside. Similar to Noah's strikeout pitch. I let it pass.

"Strike."

Groans and complaints could be heard all around.

I got set again as the catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher. They reset and the next pitch came. I fouled it down the line. Then the next one. And the next. I don't know what compelled me to do so. Maybe the bad call on Noah. Maybe because the pitcher had been in for awhile now. Or maybe just because I didn't want OLU to have the momentum, but I kept fouling the pitches off. Anything close, anything within reach.

Finally one went too wide for the catcher. Korrey took off for second, advancing on that wild pitch.