The Hitting Zone
chapter-696

Bryce started with the number eight batter in the bottom of the fifth. Mitchell. Bryce started a little wild, missing the strike zone and ended up with a 3-0 count. With the need of a strike, he threw too good of a pitch. Meaning it was too good for Mitchell to pass up on. He swung and connected, sending a line drive to the right field fence. It hopped once then went over. A ground-rule double.

Bryce pursed his lips into a thin line, but didn't give up. He aimed his pitches a little bit better, catching the corners. Dave hit a slow roller just between first base and the mound. Kelvin raced to the ball as Bryce sprinted to first base. Kelvin made the play, getting the first out. Mitchell was abled to sprint to third base during such a slow infield play.

Bryce kept an eye on him while he faced down the top of the lineup: Brian. One hit and one strikeout. Brian is only one of four players that have gotten hits so far for the other team. He faced Bryce in all seriousness, hitting a grounder to Jason at third. Jason ignored Mitchell running home and simply threw to Kelvin at first to get the second out. The score was pushed to 5-4, us.

Noah came up next. He was 0-2 on the day, and after hitting another groundout to Garret at short, he was now 0-3. He went back to the dugout with a thoughtful look so I wasn't worried about him. He just started to change his swing yesterday so it'll be a while until he gets the hang of it.

Top of the sixth started with the top of our lineup. Garret and I put helmets on and left the dugout together with bats in hands.

Garret stood by me in the on deck circle, watching Brian warmup. "I think this might be our last at-bat unless we go on a crazy hit spree."

I nodded in agreement.

"I'm going to try for a homerun." He swung his bat around loosely. "Getting hits is fun, but I want to try for a big one like you."

I nodded again. "I'm going to try for a homerun too."

Garret laughed. "I like this new you. You're going to take over for Zeke, it looks like. Be responsible for driving in the runs so we can win games."

I looked up at him. "You hit very well too."

"It's hard to do when I have to pitch. I'm not that good at multitasking."

"You've done it before." I pointed out.

"Okay, okay, you can still rely on me to drive in some runs too." He chuckled as he walked to the lefty's box.

Garret and Brian faced off. Brian tried to keep his pitches low, but dug himself into a 3-1 hole. Unwilling to walk him, Brian threw it just a little higher. Garret took advantage and blasted the ball to the opposite field. Dave in left field chased the ball to the fence. He jumped, made the catch, then flipped over the fence. He got back on his feet and waved his glove, showing that he still had the ball.

"Damn." Garret mumbled as he jogged back to the dugout. "I thought that was long gone."

I moved to the batter's box and stepped in the one for righty's. I was going to pull the ball to the same spot as before...hopefully.

Brian hesitated on the mound before speaking up. "Should I just walk Jake..?"

"No way!" Noah spoke up immediately. He jogged to the mound to have a more private conversation with Brian.

Mitchell got up. "Just a second." He went to speak with them on the mound too.

"You're scaring your own teammates, kid." Mr. Miller laughed.

I turned at him, feeling embarrassed. "Do you think I should go easier on them?"

"Hell no. The only way they're going to get better is if they face you with confidence. They can't just walk every good batter they come across in the future." He nodded at the mound. "Looks like Noah talked some sense into him."

I turned back to see Mitchell coming back and Noah going back to his position.

Mitchell stepped behind home plate and squatted. "Don't mind him, Jake. Aim for the fences."

My lips twitched. "Whose team are you on?"

Mitchell laughed. "We're all one team here. So don't go easy on him."

I nodded obediently.

Brian threw his first pitch. A fastball just a little outside. Or so I thought until I heard Mr. Miller call, "Strike."

I glanced back at him.

He shrugged with a grin. "Don't look at me like that. Umpires aren't perfect."

I rolled my eyes. Mr. Miller is obviously messing with me. I shouldn't let any pitches pass unless it's for sure a ball. I fouled off anything that was close and waited for the right pitch. Something I could pull to left field. Brian wasn't perfect, throwing two balls in the dirt. Finally, he threw something I liked. I made contact with the barrel of my bat and pulled a line drive to left field.

Dave raced to the fence, and caught my line drive without having to flip over like he did for Garret's. He lifted his gloved hand proudly. "Two for two!" He yelled.

I went back to the dugout as Mahki stepped up to bat.

"Dang it, we'll probably hear him brag all afternoon now." Garret groaned as I put my stuff away. "I wish I went for just a hit instead now."

I laughed lightly. "It's not so bad. You can just remind him how you got a hit off him when he pitched. That should keep him settled."

"True, true."

Mahki singled, but didn't amount to much with Bryce hitting into a forceout at second to end the inning.

"Not hits for you today." James smirked when Bryce came back with Mahki right behind him. "Maybe you'll end up as a pitcher-only player."

Bryce switched his gear. "It doesn't mean much today. I'll get better before the next season starts." He grabbed his glove and jogged out to the mound with speed.

James just shook his head and followed him out, jogging out to left field.

Bottom of the sixth. Bryce had better rhythm and control but still gave up a couple of hits. Julian hit a fly out to Kyle in right field. Zeke singled. Sean struck out looking. Theo singled, pushing Zeke all the way to third.

"Maybe I should tell Coach to let me have some at-bats too!" Theo exclaimed happily from first base.

Bryce glared at him for a hot second, but turned to his attention to Andy in the batter's box. Andy has a groundout and a strikeout for the game so far, similar to Noah's stat line. Bryce didn't go easy on him even though he hasn't entered high school yet. He threw his best stuff, and Andy dealt with it the best he could. The count was full and Andy was fouling off pitches left and right. When he finally put one into play, it was just a routine grounder for Garret.

I sighed, feeling bad for him and Noah. They weren't the only ones to be hitless so far, but they were the ones I was closest to. The ones who had something to prove.