The Hitting Zone

1 SS Noah Atkins

2 RF Bryce Finn

| сom 3 2B Jake Atkins

4 CF Garret Knudsen

5 1B Sean Isner

6 3B Jason Morris

7 LF Korrey Alvarrez

8 C Oscar Garcia

9 P Robbie Harwell

The official lineup was given and warmups were done. The top of order got ready including me and Noah.

"I've let you boys have the last two days easy, focusing on just batting practice." Coach addressed the team. "Show me that it was worth it. I want to see hits. Any strikeouts and I might think to replace you."

"Yes, Coach!" Most of the team echoed.

"How do you feel about walks, Coach?" Noah called out, then patted me on the shoulder. "Some of us don't get a choice."

I pushed him away.

"Any baserunner is good in my book." Coach said before going over to Oscar and Robbie.

"Hear that, Jake?" Noah grinned. "You'll be okay with you intentional walks today."

"Do you know something I don't?" I frowned.

Noah shrugged as we finished getting ready for our at bats. "Statistically speaking, you'll probably be walked at least once today. I'm not saying every at bat, but it's been pretty clear that our league opponents are wary when you're up. Especially if there's a runner in scoring position."

I held back a sigh. Noah was right. There were a lot of scenarios where it made sense to walk me. I wonder if Zeke felt this helpless.

"Don't worry." Bryce joined us and patted me on top of my helmet. "A win is a win no matter what we do at the plate. Whether you go 0-4 or 4-4 or even all walks. Just have fun out there. If they walk you, make them pay by stealing a base."

"That's not the first time I've heard that." I muttered. "But that's not fun for me. That's stressful."

"A constant worrywart." Bryce laughed.

Him and Noah left me behind in the dugout as they went on deck for their practice swings. As soon as Noah's name was announced, he headed for the batter's box.

"Let's go, Noah!"

"Start us off strong!"

"Watch the ball, Noah."

Mixed in the cheers from our dugout, I could hear Mom and Dad too. I peeked out and found them in the center bleacher behind home plate. They weren't hard to spot since the stands weren't that full on a Saturday morning. Mostly adults with a few children, which were probably little siblings. Very few high schoolers showed up. Nothing like how our home games have been at all.

Noah got to a generous 3-1 count before hitting a single to right field. Bryce moved to the batter's box and I went out to the on deck circle. Mr. Miller gave out the signs, giving Noah the green light to try for a steal. Bryce had the option to swing or not. If he connected, it might even work out even better. The pitcher looked over his shoulder at Noah, then back to Bryce at the plate. He got set and did his quick motion, throwing a fastball going low. Noah had already taken off for second. The catcher had to dig the ball out of the dirt and made an ugly throw to second. Noah held second base safely as the tag came down late.

"Safe." The ump confirmed.

The ball was thrown back to the pitcher and then Noah got up. He dusted himself off before getting ready again. Bryce watched the second pitch pass for a low called strike. He swung at the third after deciding it was within reach. He swatted the ball to left-center field and Noah was off, knowing that it was a hit for sure. The two of them sprinted and our dugout roared with excitement. Noah didn't have to slide over home plate, but Bryce had to slide into second as the left fielder chose to throw the ball straight there to the second baseman covering.

The umpire extended his arms.

1-0. Great start. I smiled and slapped hands with Noah on his way back to the dugout. Before I had even made a decision on which side to stand in though, the catcher was telling the umpire, "We're intentionally walking the next batter."

"Take your base number zero." The umpire told me.

I ditched my bat and jogged to first as our dugout started to shout out.

"Make them pay, Garret!"

"Crush it out of the park!"

"Get it, Garret!"

"Has to be in the air!"

Coach Luis nodded at me as I got set on first base. Mr. Miller started to give out the signs as Garret stepped up to the lefty's box. He was to swing freely, but we're hoping for something in the air to avoid the double play.

Garret didn't get a hit against Golden West a few days ago, going 0-2 with a groundout into a double play and a fly out to center. Both times though, a lefty was brought in to face him. Quincy didn't make any changes like that so soon. They let their right-handed starter face Garret, starting with a low fastball for a ball. The second pitch went wide, 2-0. To try to come back, the pitcher threw one close to the middle. Garret's hot zone. He took full advantage, pulling a line drive to the right corner.

I wasted a second to watch to make sure it would drop before the right fielder could get to it. After tagging second, Mr. Miller was in sight waving me on. When I got closer to third, he signaled down to slide. I took off, jumping for third base, hands and head first. I didn't feel a tag, yet I could hear cheers.

"They tried for Garret at second." Mr. Miller told me as I got up and dusted myself off.

"Garret made it to second?" I was stunned and looked back to see him also dusting himself off before pumping a fist towards our dugout.

"He's got the speed. He's a real five-tool player. Six, if you add in the pitching." Mr. Miller said. "That kid is going to go far."

I nodded. I was a total believer in Garret. Some games, it felt like he does more than Zeke ever did. He definitely has to go higher than Kyle in the draft with his bat being included. I know they said that pitchers don't bat anymore, but Garret had a backup plan if his pitching couldn't make it.

Quincy's battery had a quick meeting on the mound before getting back into position. I thought they might load the bases to aim for a double play like before, but they decided to face Sean. Sean had been hot lately with the homers. He came close in this at bat, but the center fielder made the catch on their warning track. I tagged up and sprinted home, happy that he hit so far that there wouldn't be a play at the plate. 3-0.

Garret had tagged up too, doing an easy slide to third, popping up on his feet. So smooth. Not going to lie, I was jealous. I shared a fist bump with Sean and we went back to the dugout together, high fiving the rest of the guys. Everyone was in a good spirits with our hot start.

Mr. Miller must have felt that we had a chance to tack on more and gave Garret the signal to run on contact if it's a grounder and to tag up if it's in the air. Jason hit a hard grounder off the mound that went to the shortstop. The shortstop looked to home like he wanted to try to get Garret out, but some guys had yelled out for him to throw to first. He did so and took the easy out.

We were okay with it too, happy with our four run lead. Our first inning came to a close after Korrey hit a fly ball to left field. He left Oscar stranded on deck so it took some time for the freshman to get his gear back on. Robbie casually threw with Logan until Oscar came out, dressed and ready.

When the game was called to resume and for the first batter to step up, I started to feel nervous. This was Oscar's second game behind the plate this season and the first time he wouldn't be relying on Coach to make the calls.

The leadoff hitter popped a high fly ball early in the count. It carried down the right field line, hanging high enough for Bryce to get under it to make the catch for the first out. That wasn't so bad. I relaxed my shoulders and watched as our battery took on the second batter. He got to a 2-2 count before going down swinging. Batter three came up next, hitting a routine grounder to Noah to end the inning.

Back in the dugout, our battery had to get ready for their own at bats. Oscar would lead off with Robbie right behind him. Coach usually put the pitcher/catcher combo at the bottom unless that pitcher was Garret. Oscar didn't make the team because of his hitting and it showed. He went down swinging at three pitches; two of which, weren't even close. I could only cringe and keep my mouth shut. Robbie fared a little bit better, making contact, popping out to the shortstop. Noah didn't do anything like his first time up, hitting a grounder down the line for the third baseman to scoop up and throw to first. Maybe if it was slower, he could have beaten out the throw.

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