The Hitting Zone
chapter-712

Unfortunately, Garret was left pouting at the sophomore the pitching coach brought back.

The pitching coach shrugged. "Hey, at least he has some experience." He slapped Garret on the shoulder. "Settle on the signs yourselves. After the initial warmup, you two can come to the bullpen." He left the sophomore with us and headed for Mr. Miller. "Hey Miller, we have to send someone over there to even out the numbers."

Noah scoffed as the coaches talked it over. "It's not like they need it. Better send them a freshman." He looked at the sophomore and nodded coldly. "Ethan."

Ethan nodded back at Noah, looking a little awkward. "Hey, Noah." He looked up at Garret. "Do you want to go with the basic signs? I don't think they would do some sign-stealing or anything like that."

Noah snorted. "I wouldn't put it past them."

Garret placed his hand on Noah's shoulder. "I know. I understand exactly the kind of people they are." He chuckled. "Because you're the same kind of player. Taking advantages where you can."

Noah stuck his tongue out at Garret.

Garret looked at Ethan. "Come on. Let's talk." He squeezed Noah's shoulder and left with Ethan to the other end of the dugout.

I looked at Noah. "You know him?"

He nodded. "Former friend, current acquaintance." He sighed. "I need to loosen up if I'm going to play with these guys again." He sat down on the bench and started to switch out his shoes for cleats.

I copied him, opening up my bag to get my cleats out. "You don't have to be nice to them in order to be captain." Zeke wasn't necessarily nice during his tenure. He was trustworthy and honest, and on the field he was consistently good.

"I can't hold on to the bitterness though." Noah sighed. He took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I have to focus on my play. Batting and fielding. I have to show my improvements."

As Noah tried to get his head straight, Mr. Miller had put together a lineup. As we lined up in the outfield, preparing to warm up, he addressed us. "The starting nine has been decided. Don't think too much about my decision making. It's only day one and I don't have much to go on." He looked around at everyone. "I'll do my best to make sure everyone gets a chance to play. No guarantee that it's the position you want to play. As stated before, the pitchers will have a chance to play on the field or get some work in the bullpen. With scrimmages all week, most starting pitchers should get a chance to go the distance. Relief pitchers should be ready to go whenever."

Mr. Miller talked a little more about the pitchers and what would be happening for them. When he announced that Garret would be starting and tentatively pitching the whole game, a lot of the pitchers chose to stay in the dugout for a chance to play on the field or to bat. Mr. Miller finally gave out the lineup:

1 SS Noah

2 P Garret

3 2B Jake

4 CF Ollie

5 3B Andre

6 1B Luke

7 LF Davin

8 RF Connor

9 C Ethan

Garret led us in warmups, teaching the freshmen what we do in our baseball program. All three levels followed the same basic warmup with static and dynamic stretching. As soon as we started to throw the ball around though, Garret and Ethan took their bags to the bullpen where the pitching coach was waiting.

Eventually Mr. Miller let a few other pitchers go to the bullpen too. They wouldn't get to play in the game this afternoon so the best they can do is play there in the bullpen. Of course, some unlucky soul would have to play catcher.

We didn't do the full-blown pregame warmup with batting practice and everything. Just enough to get loose and be ready to play some baseball. Some of the guys took practice swings off a tee into some netting that was set up, but that didn't interest me so I went to the dugout with Noah.

Noah got some water from the cooler as I looked over my two wood bats, trying to decide which one to go with.

"They're the same, aren't they?" Noah asked, squinting.

I shook my head. "Slightly different." I held the bats out to him. "Feel."

He put his water down and lifted my bats, one in each hand. Rotated his wrists then looked at me. "I think you're just picky. They weigh the same and look the same."

"Jake can afford to be picky." Mr. Miller had come into the dugout just in time to hear Noah's remarks. He stopped near us for a second. "Go with the bat that gives you a good feeling. The one you feel most comfortable with will always turn out good results."

I nodded in agreement. I took the bats back and decided on which one to put away.

Noah rolled his eyes. "Don't get superstitious on me now."

My lips twitched. "You're way more superstitious than I am. You have all these rules that you follow, including which cleats you put on first."

Noah cracked a smile. "Guess we're just two peas in a pod."

Mr. Miller left us to go stand closer to the home plate entrance. Players started to come back to the dugout and prepared to take the field. We waited for Garret and Ethan before running out to our starting positions.

After allowing Garret a few pitches off the mound, the other team had their first batter step up to the plate: Sean. From my team.

Behind Ethan was an umpire that Coach was able to bring in from...somewhere. I didn't know what kind of network he had to get an umpire to show up for a camp, but the man was fully decked out in the umpire uniform. Sadly, one was all we had. Close plays could go either way.

Garret got set on the mound and stared at Sean. Ethan signaled for a pitch, but Garret shook him off. Then shook him off again. On the third set of signals, Garret was finally satisfied and nodded his consent. He started his motion, throwing his fastball low and inside for a called strike.

Sean took a step out of the box and took a practice swing. Looks like he wasn't scared by the speed.

Garret had to shake off a few more signs from Ethan before agreeing. He threw the same pitch, low and inside; but he got even faster. Garret didn't waste his summer.

My fingers itched. I kind of wished I could play against Garret again.

For the third pitch, Garret threw away, outside of the zone, but Sean was already committed to swinging.

"Strike. Out." The umpire declared.

Garret's grin was covering his whole face as he caught the ball Ethan threw back to him. He gave Sean a small wave.

Sean rolled his eyes, heading back to his dugout.

Garret's confidence didn't waver in the face of Korrey, the second batter in the lineup. Korrey stepped into the righty's box. This would be the first time I would get to see him really bat against a pitcher.