The Hitting Zone
chapter-403

Top of the fourth started with our best batter and player, Zeke. He faced the same new pitcher as me.

I sat with Noah and Garret.

"I was thinking while we were on the field-" Noah started.

But Garret cut him off. "You can think?"

Noah threw his glove at Garret's face, but Garret caught it with ease.

"As I was saying," Noah shot a glare at Garret before facing me. "Instead of some secret signal, we should just follow Mr. Miller's signs. I know he's been giving out fake signs for you, but it would really help me or other baserunners if we knew when you're actually going for a hit."

"Not a bad thought, Noah." Garret turned serious and agreed.

Noah was about to continue, but Zeke had smashed the ball to center field, grabbing everyone's attention. Noah jumped up and started to chant, "Go! Go! Go!"

The ball soared over the center fielder and then the fence. A home run! 2-0.

Zeke slightly slowed down from his sprint and tagged home plate before coming back to the dugout. All the boys rushed him to give high-fives and to congratulate him. Noah was one of the most excited players and was jumping around his big brother.

Zeke showed a rare, genuine smile and patted Noah's head. They shared some words that couldn't be heard in such a lively dugout. Noah didn't return to his seat...or to me. He and Zeke were having an animated conversation, looking closer than ever.

"Big brothers." Garret sighed. "They're born to be role models for the little ones." He glanced at me. "You should join them."

"No...it's okay." I looked to the field to watch the game. It'd be weird if I went over now. I would look needy. The twins weren't even going over to interrupt Zeke and Noah, so what right did I have?

Garret leaned over to peer into my face, but whatever he saw, scared him away and kept him silent. We both watched on as Mahki grounded out to the shortstop.

I was sensitive right now about 'big brothers.' I don't understand what Garret means when he says that they're role models for younger brothers. I can see that with the Atkins because Zeke was cool, smart, and great at baseball. He is what his younger brothers want to be.

But what about mine? He's MIA (missing in action). How can you look up to someone that isn't around? Maybe Garret doesn't understand that every older brother isn't exactly role model material. I'm sure there are people out there with older brothers who are criminals that would agree with me.

Julian hit a fly ball to right field that was easily caught. Jason followed it up with a ground ball to second base.

I put on my glove and jogged out with the others.

"Hey, why didn't you come over and congratulate Zeke?" Noah caught up with me while Dave went to the mound to warm up.

I shrugged. "Too many people."

Noah tilted his head and looked skeptical. "Most just gave him a pat on the back, ya know. Or just, 'way to go' and 'do it again'." He glanced to the outfield where Zeke was playing catching with Mahki. "He just tied his season home run record. You could have said something."

Oh. "I didn't know." Then I looked at the twin closest to me: Dave on the mound. "The twins didn't go say anything." Which makes it especially weird since it's also Zeke's birthday.

Noah grinned. "I'm sure they have something planned for later."

My eyebrows pulled together as I frowned. "Then I will join them."

Noah laughed. "If you say so." He jogged back to his position.

Dave started the bottom of fourth inning with the number five batter. It wasn't a smooth start. He's given up a hit every inning so far and this one wasn't spared either.

It started off with a double down the first baseline. Mahki chased it down to the corner while I ran out to the grass to be the cutoff man. Mahki threw his hardest towards me. I had to jump to make the catch and to make sure the batter wouldn't have an opportunity for third. By the time I turned, he slid into second base.

I threw the ball back to Dave on the mound. He kicked the rubber a time or two with a clenched jaw before facing the next batter up. The next batter made him work, and add in some check throws to Noah to keep the runner closer to the bag, and you get a tired pitcher.

Dave's fastball lacked location and just looked like slowpitch. The batter swung and the ball snuck under Noah's dive. Noah jumped up to play cutoff man and I move to cover second. Garret came in, grabbed the ball off the grass with his barehand and overthrew Noah.

When I saw that the ball was headed to Alex at the plate, I realized it wasn't an overthrow on his part. Instead, he wanted to stop the runner from scoring on a single. The throw was fast but not as accurate as if he was pitching. Alex had to back up, and jump up to make the catch. That gave the runner some time and space to try and dive at home plate.

The runner was close when he made his dive, and so was Alex. Alex had to make the tag on the player since it wasn't a force out. He extended his gloved hand at the runner and they both met at home plate.

All eyes were on the ump.

"Safe! Safe!" The head umpire extended his arms to declare the OLU player safe, making us lose the shutout. 2-1.

"To second!" I heard Noah yell.

I glanced to my left and saw the batter coming from first. I faced Alex, hoping he would hurry up. This would be my first tag attempt. I don't want it to be a close one. My anxiety skyrocketed.

It wasn't a close one. Mostly because there wasn't a play. Alex was tangled up with the other runner in the dirt at home, so he was unable to get up in time to throw me the ball. He called time as he walked the ball up to Dave at the mound.

Noah was the first to jog in, with Julian being a close second. Seeing them, Jason and I also jogged in to meet with Alex and Dave.

"My bad." Alex put the ball into Dave's glove.

"It's fine. We'll get them to leave that guy on second." Noah patted Dave's back with his glove. "Keep cool."

"Cool as a cucumber." Dave rolled his shoulders back to stay loose.

"Good." Julian spoke up. He looked to Alex. "Try and set up in better places for Dave to pitch to. It's okay if they make contact. We'll do better in fielding. We got gloves, let's use them."

With that, we broke up and went back to our positions. Dave did his best to keep his pitches in the zone, but OLU had a good read on him. The following batter connected, hitting a sharp line drive between short and third.

Noah was quick to react, jumping to his right at a high angle, and coming down hard with the ball in his glove for the first out. He faked pump to throw to me to get the runner, but flinched. He moved his glove to his right side. He must have landed hard on his ribs. He lightly tossed the ball to Dave, who took a few steps off the mound.

"You good?" I heard Dave ask.

Coach and Drew were looking to come out of the dugout to check on Noah.

Noah waved his right hand. "Good."

Dave nodded and went back to the mound. The following batter hit a long fly to left field, but Garret was able to get under it and throw the ball back, not giving the runner on second a chance to tag up and advance to third. The third out came from the number nine batter; a short fly ball to right. Mahki caught it with ease and continued running in so he could go back to the dugout.

Everyone seemed to let out a collective sigh of relief, knowing that we could have easily lost our lead this past inning.