The Hitting Zone
chapter-670

Noah and I didn't fill up our plates like we have been doing. Instead, we fixed up two sandwiches, grabbed a bag of chips and some fruit, then headed back for the door.

"Where are you guys going?" Landon was coming in as we were going out.

"Going to watch the game in the common area." Noah answered.

Landon furrowed his brows. "Game? What game?"

"The A's game, duh." Noah grinned. "I asked and it turns out that we don't have to eat in the cafeteria. But, if we leave, we can't go back for seconds." He lifted the food he was carrying. "So stock up."

"I want to watch too!" Landon looked at us. "Save me a seat if it gets crowded."

"I doubt that it would." Noah shrugged. "But sure."

Landon went in to get his food while we headed for the dorms in the next building. Inside the common area, there were a few guys going in and out, probably dropping off their bags in their rooms.

In front of the tv, there were small chairs and couches making up for four rows. Noah and I took two seats in the front row, and placed our food on the small table between us. Noah searched for the remote, but couldn't find it so he went up to the receiver and searched for the channel manually. His movements and my presence got some attention from the guys who were coming and going.

Noah found the channel and sat down. The A's were up 12-2 in the top of the 7th inning. Coincidentally, Jeremy was up to bat.

"He's been in a slump." Some guys who were heading outside made a detour to us. They made some remarks about Jeremy's slump and how his batting average is taking a nosedive.

"Shhh." Noah hushed them.

["Wow. What a night it has been for Patterson. This young man has definitely shown that the slump he was in, is over."]

Noah shot me a grin.

A few of the guys took a seat in the vicinity, interested in the game.

Jeremy had a 3-0 count, then took ball four for a walk. We watched him jog to first.

["I wouldn't necessarily say the slump is over just yet, but he is looking like his old self tonight."

"Two homeruns and a standup double. Now a walk. You can't get much better than that."]

"Two homers!?" Noah exclaimed after biting into his sandwich. "Dang! He's really bouncing back!"

"Who knows if it'll last though." One of the guys commented. "I think his average will come down to more modest numbers."

I glanced at the guy as I ate my sandwich.

"You must not be an A's fan." Noah looked at the guy.

The guy shrugged. "I'm not a 'fan' of any team. I like baseball and I know that if I make the pros, I won't necessarily make it on the team I prefer. No point in playing favorites. It's unprofessional."

Noah rolled his eyes. He opened his mouth for a comeback, but was interrupted by the tv.

["And Patterson takes off for second! The throw from Mathis is not in time. Jeremy Patterson with a steal. This kid is in high spirits tonight!"

"I don't think it's right to steal a base with such a big lead though. Very unsportsmanlike. I wouldn't be surprised if a pitch comes at him in his next at-bat."

"I respectfully disagree. You can steal at any point in a game. It's not like pitchers go easy on a batter who has struck out three times in one game. This is no longer little league."]

The pair of broadcasters started to talk about the unspoken rules of baseball as the game went on. Noah and I watched in relative silence as we ate our sandwiches. Other guys came in from outside, holding food from the cafeteria. I recognized Landon and a few others as they started to find empty seats of their own. It became a watching party for the last bit of the A's game.

The A's continued to dominate all the way through, winning 17-2. I didn't get to find out if the pitcher would try to hit Jeremy or not in his next at-bat, because the manager of the A's had pulled him out. Noah had let me know that it was common to pull the stars in a blowout win like this.

After the game ended, it went to a postgame interview between a woman and Jeremy by the dugout.

[Her: "First off, excellent game Jeremy. You played fantastic on the field and did even better at the plate. If anyone didn't know, they wouldn't be able to tell that you were in a slump. You just broke through like it was nothing. What's your secret?"

Jeremy laughed a little. "Tonight's win was a team effort. Seeing these guys compete and push themselves to the limit really makes me feel pressured. I have to do my part too." He grinned. "I also had some boys give me a call this morning, worried about my bat. I have a lot of making up to do."

"Can we asked who called?"

He nodded. "My brother and his brother. The two are currently at a baseball camp. It has come to my attention that it can be embarrassing for him when I'm failing in the box."

She laughed. "I wouldn't call any of your stats an embarrassment. A short stumble doesn't mean much in such a long season that covers months. Even after a bad week, you're leading in batting average and RBI's for your team and division. You're accomplishing some major milestones for only being 22."

He laughed and looked right at the camera. "You hear that, Noah?! I'm actually doing pretty good. Maybe you should be calling up Maberry and threaten to call his wife."

The lady kept her smile, but looked slightly confused. "Is Noah one of the boys that called this morning..?"

"Yes. He-"]

The conversation was cut short by one of his teammates joining the interview, practically tackling Jeremy.

Noah rolled his eyes. "Your brother..." He shook his head. "So annoying."

I laughed.

Landon came over. "You guys called him! Without me present??"

Noah shrugged. "It was before breakfast. Plus, we didn't say much. Just talked about the camp and asked if he would stop sucking."

"Patterson doesn't suck!" Cody joined our group. "Once in a generation kind of player!"

"It's only his second year being in the majors." Someone pointed out.

I listened as everyone present started to talk about Jeremy. Whether it was good or bad, everyone had something to say. After goofing off for a bit, Noah and I went to our room to relax until it was time for evening practice.

I went off with Rhys as arranged while he followed his teammates.

I paused at one point and pointed to the practice fields. "Aren't we going to the practice fields? Did our schedule change to a game?"

Rhys shook his head. "Nope. We're just going to do something different."

"We?" I asked.

"Yep. A different kind of practice for you." He said.

I obediently followed him until we reached the parking lot. He pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the doors of a midsized suv. "Get in."

I glanced back at the school. "Are we...allowed to just leave like this? Don't you have to coach?"

"Yep. I've got permission from Zeke, Coach Leroy, and even your parents." Rhys got in the driver's seat.

I hesitated for a minute, but Rhys patiently waited. Finally, I opened the door to the backseat and sat behind the empty front passenger seat, shoving my bag to be behind Rhys. It's not that I didn't trust Rhys...I was just...wary. I don't like surprises, yet Rhys doesn't show any signs of telling me where we were going.

Rhys didn't comment on my seating choice and just started the car, driving through town. He played a baseball game on the radio, listening for almost thirty minutes. I occasionally squeezed my knees to stay awake, watching the scenery pass by, wondering why we were going so far from the school. Would Mom really allow this?

After the thirty minute mark, Rhys turned right down a street and a stadium came into view. I straightened up in my seat as he pulled into a nearby parking lot.

"Are we watching a game..?" I asked, not understanding what was happening. The stadium lights were on, but the parking lot only had a couple of cars present.

"Nope. Grab your bag." He turned the car off and got out first, coming around the car to open my door for me. "Hurry up. We don't have a whole lot of time. I've still gotta get you back before curfew."

I got out with my bag, putting the straps on my shoulders. I followed Rhys to the stadium, still trying to come up with a reason on why we would come here.

Rhys took us through a side entrance of sorts, greeting the security guard and showing some ID. The guard nodded and let us through, not saying a word. Apparently he knew we were coming. Rhys also knew where he was going, leading me through hallways and then eventually going through a tunnel, leading to a dugout.

We climbed out of the dugout, standing on the grass of the stadium. I still don't get it...