The Hitting Zone-Novel



I didn't really like Coach's choice to use Korrey as a pinch hitter due to his recent struggles, but he really came through on his very first pitch, knocking it back up the center. It was a one hop to the center fielder for a base hit. Korrey stood on first, energetically clapping his hands. "Let's gooo!"

The fans, friends, and family in the stands yelled for him too, excited with a runner on. This game hasn't had a lot of offensive action. 

Noah walked to the batter's box and I went out to the on deck circle. Before anything else could happen though, the Servite coach came out and signaled for a pitcher change. He went up to the mound as did all the infielders. Noah retreated back my way. Our own Coach called us all the way back to the dugout entrance where he was joined by Bryce and Garret. 

Coach covered his mouth as he spoke. "Noah, you're going to drop a sacrifice bunt again."

"It's not a sacrifice if I'm safe, Coach." He grinned. 

Coach patted him on the shoulder and then looked to me. "Jake, there's a good chance they'll walk you even with a pitcher change. It would be idea if Noah can get on before so we can load the bases. But be prepared for anything. If Noah is out but Korrey advances, you know you'll take the empty base. If that happens, I'm interested in trying a double steal. Try to be a distraction."

"Coach." I spoke up. "I want to be honest with you, I don't know what you mean."

Garret laughed. "Just be yourself and that should work."

"If you trip, then that should do the trick." Noah explained. "As long as Korrey can reach third safely, then it won't matter if you get caught in a pickle and get out."

I hated that plan. I looked Noah in the eyes. "Be safe."

The guys nearby all laughed. 

"Don't get down on yourselves if it doesn't work out." Coach told us. "This is the same guy that closed us out in one clean inning. There's not a whole lot we can go off of."

"He took out the bottom of the lineup." Garret recalled and reminded everyone. "Though he was the same guy that came over afterwards and wanted to face Jake." He glanced at me. "If that guy gives you a chance, just one pitch, you have to take it."

I nodded. "Yea." I wouldn't waste a pitch. Not now. And definitely not with someone on. 

Noah and I left the group and watched as the new guy started to throw his practice pitches. He was just as fast as the previous one. I didn't see him practice throwing a change up, but I could vaguely recall that he had one. Without seeing it for myself in the box, I didn't know how good it was. 

Noah was called back up to the plate and left me behind. Coach gave the signs to Mr. Miller already, who had relayed it to Korrey. Noah got set and stared down the pitcher. As soon as the guy kicked up his leg, Noah shifted his bat to a bunt and Korrey started running. The pitcher threw probably the fastest I've seen in high school. Noah's bat shook as it made contact and the ball dropped just feet in front of him. 

I could immediately tell something was wrong. The way the fastball came off his bat wasn't right. I was frowning as the play unfolded. The pitcher was quick to come off the mound after his motion was completed and fielded the ball cleanly to first, beating Noah by more than enough feet. Noah jogged back, clutching his right hand. 

"What'd you do?" I approached him and asked. 

"I dropped a bunt to advance the runner." Noah said with a grimace. He kept walking to the dugout, leaving me behind. 

I wanted to follow, but my name was being announced and the umpire was looking impatient. I didn't want to piss him off like that other guy did so I hurried to the plate. I got into the righty's box without even thinking. I was still processing that Noah might be hurt when the first pitch came and went. 

"Strike!" The umpire's yell and the crowd noise came back into focus. 

I stepped out of the box for a second to refocus. Things are moving fast. Noah advanced the runner and first was opened, but they weren't walking me. I missed my chance to swing and hit the first pitch fastball. Now I had two choices left: swing and hit the next one or watch a few more pitches. 

"You've got this, Jake!"

"Keep your eye on the ball!"

"Two more strikes to go, Danny!"

I stepped back in the box and the pitcher was set. He looked over his shoulder at Korrey at second. Then it was a quick motion. I clenched my bat, ready to swing at the 90mph pitch. But when he let go and I started my swing, something was off. It took a millisecond for me to adjust and awkwardly foul the ball back into the netting. 

"Good one!"

"You've got him cornered now!"

"Come on, Danny!"

"That was ugly, Jake!" A familiar voice cut through and sounded like it was right behind the fence. Kaylee. My lips twitched, but I didn't look back. This pitcher needed my full attention. 

He got set again. Same routine. Checked on Korrey at second. Quick motion. Pitch. I hurried my swing to catch up with the fastball. I fouled it back into the netting again. Unintentional. But I realized I've seen two different types of pitches. The first foul was his change up. The second was the real fastball. Difficult to tell a part and I needed to start my swing early enough for the fastball. 

"Stop messing around, Jake!" Kaylee hollered among the cheers. 

I wish I could tell her that I wasn't. I wanted a bit more than she did. I wanted to drive in the run. But right now, my hands were tied. His change up looked flawless so far. It wasn't like Cody's curve where I could see the difference in fingers. I frowned as the at bat became longer. Foul. Foul. Foul. 

In my hunt of finding a difference in the fingers, I found something different in the way the pitcher got ready. He was very mechanical in accepting the pitch selection, checking on Korrey, and then throwing with a quick motion. It wasn't something in his actual motion that I could see a difference in the two types of pitches, but by the seventh pitch, I noticed the weird thing he did on the rubber. Before throwing a fastball, he would toe the rubber twice, like he was impatient. Once for the change up. I couldn't tell how accurate it was in a small sample size, but I had to take a chance. 

On the next pitch, where he hit the rubber once after nodding at the catcher for the pitch selection. He got set and checked over his shoulder. Then it was back to me with a quick motion. I planned for a pitch in the low 80's. The ball met my bat across the plate and I pulled it to the left corner. My hands let go of the bat and I took off. 

Korrey had long started his run. The ball came back in just a beat to slow for a play at the plate. 3-2. I slid into second, breathing hard as the stands roared with excitement. I slowly got up and dusted myself off.

The pitcher was still staring out in left field like he was in disbelief. The catcher had to call his name twice before throwing him a baseball. The pitcher did a lap around the mound before resetting. He then got back in routine of nodding at his catcher's signs, toed the rubber. Checked on me. I stayed close to the bag, not willing to tempt fate. Plus I was interested in his anomaly. He did a quick motion to Bryce, getting him to swing and miss. 

I had the perfect view of watching him continuously operate. He made short work of Bryce and even Garret. Getting the pair to strike out to end the inning. I rushed back to the dugout and found Noah on the bench with Drew right beside him. He was holding an ice bag, covering Noah's whole right hand. 

"Bryce is moving to short and Korrey will stay in the game, going to left." Coach said. He had to leave the dugout to announce the pitcher change to the umpire. 

"Whatcha waiting for, Jake?" Noah asked. "Get your glove and get out there. We have three more outs to get."

I frowned. "Is it bad?"

"Nothing's broken." He grinned. 

I looked to Drew. 

"He's going to need x-rays just to be sure." Drew told me. 

"Hey, what happened to doctor-patient confidentiality?" Noah grumbled. 

"I'm not a doctor." Drew rolled his eyes. 

"Don't worry about me, Jake." Noah told me. "Get the job done and lets end this game here. If Kyle starts messing around, you have to be the voice of reason to bring him back to reality."

I let out a small laugh. "Kyle won't need it."