The Hitting Zone



"We should have agreed upon a prize or a punishment or something." Kaylee mumbled as the bus was loading so we could head home. 

"I'll agree as long as you don't pick something so extreme." Noah gave a nonchalant shrug. 

"That's no good. Because then, is it even a punishment?" Kaylee thought about it. 

"Then pick a prize." Noah leaned forward. "Anything you want to have? Or anything you want to do?"

Kaylee frowned for a second before she perked up. "I do have something I want to do." She looked to Alisha. "Can we go to your house this weekend? Maybe Saturday?"

"Sure!" Alisha nodded. "You guys know my house is open. My parents are really cool with me having friends over."

"What are we going to do?" Noah asked. 

Kaylee grinned. "It's a secret." She glanced at the bus entrance as Marie and Kyle got on. "So your next game is Servite on Thursday? Yea, we'll be there to cheer for you guys." The topic change threw me off and I took an extra second to realize it was deliberate. 

"Yea, Coach hasn't picked a pitcher yet." Noah went with it. "Good chance it's Kyle again. With Dave as a backup."

"It'll be another pitcher's duel." Kyle had joined in after overhearing. "Me versus that Peace guy." He reached over to pat me on the head. "Counting on you Mr. Two. Try not to get picked off this time."

I slapped his hand away. "I won't make the same mistake twice." Against the same guy. Hopefully. I kind of do have a bad history with my baserunning. I frowned. 

"Don't psych him out." Noah hit Kyle in the stomach. "Get lost."

Kyle slipped into the row behind us again, sitting with Marie. "I'm not messing with him. I'm encouraging him to hit harder. Like a double. Or more preferably a homer."

We talked about the upcoming game for a good part of the ride home. By the time we got back to the school, it was late into the night. We all got off and got our bags out from under the bus. We said goodbye to our teammates and the girls before going our own way. 

"Did Mitchell catch for you guys in the bullpen today?" Noah asked the twins as Dave drove us home. 

"Nah." Dave said, shaking his head. "Even though his hand looks better. He still has to be cleared by Drew. He was just in there for emergency. Which, with Garret on the mound, unlikely to happen. Especially against a sad Porterville team."

"I remember when they used to not get blown out all the time." Kyle commented. "I wonder if they'll be dropped to a lower division."

"It wouldn't matter to us." Dave laughed. "We'll be long gone. Heck, even the babies will be out by then."

Noah rolled his eyes. "We're not babies. Just two years behind you." He scooted up. "I think it would be cool to switch up the leagues and face someone new."

I made a face. "I don't think so. I like knowing what's coming."

"You'll know after you play them the first time around." Noah shrugged. 

"We get enough 'new' in the tournaments." I pointed out. 

"Yea, isn't it fun?!" Noah grinned. "I also like tournaments because of how many games you can play in a weekend. It's definitely the best. I can't wait to go pro and just play baseball all day, everyday."

"Pitchers can't relate." Kyle shrugged. 

"Maybe if you turned into a relief pitcher." Noah pointed out. 

"That's lame." Dave said. "What relief pitchers do you know? Your name gets so easily forgotten."

Noah easily named all of the A's current relief staff. 

"You're a baseball geek. You don't count." Dave told him. "I want to be known in every household. Not just the team's fan base. I want every opponent fan base to see me on the probable starter list and groan at the anticipation of the beat down I'm about to give their team."

Kyle laughed. "Yea, yea. Me too. But also, I'll be there quicker."

The twins took over talking about pitching and which route would get them to debut faster. Kyle had the edge entering the minors this summer after the draft, but like Dave pointed out, it depends a lot on opportunity and luck. 

We reached the house and walked in just as Dad was setting the dining table. Mom and Dad showed up for our away game, still worried that I might pass out again but I showed them. I was okay. In the best shape of my life. We ate a late dinner, telling Grampa about the win and mostly talking about how he can't miss Thursday's game since it was home. He assured us he would be there.

Tuesday was a normal day up until it was time for practice. Coach gathered us before warmups and made an announcement. 

"Dave will get the start on Thursday."

Everyone was stunned. A lot of eyes shifted to the identical twins with identical looks of surprise. 

"You're going to want to know why, right?" Coach guessed, looking specifically at Kyle. 

Kyle wordlessly nodded. 

"You started both games last year." Coach reminded him.

"They weren't bad." Kyle defended lightly. "The second time was just a little rougher."

"Exactly." Coach snapped his fingers. "I've taken a look at their schedule history from this season and last. And the year before. They historically performed better the second time they faced a team. Their coach knows how to make adjustments. So we're making one of our own. They haven't seen Dave at all."

Dave stood tall. "Don't worry, Coach. I'll be in my best form."

"If you wanted to change it up, why let me pitch yesterday?" Garret asked. "Dave could have had Porterville and I would have taken Servite."

"They've seen you too." Coach shook his head. "It's better like this. Dave is good. Show some faith in him."

Dave puffed out his chest. "Yea! Why are you nitpicking? Coach trusts me so I'll get the job done." His eyes found mine across the room. He grinned and pointed at me. "Score me one run. And I'll handle the rest."

I nodded obediently. 

With a pitcher picked out for Thursday, we took the field and practiced as normal. Mitchell and Dave did their stuff off to the side with Drew hovering nearby. 

On the way home from practice, Kyle didn't seem upset as I thought he would be. Noah thought so too and said it for him to hear. 

Kyle shrugged. "Coach won't change his mind no matter how upset I get. I'll just be ready in the bullpen for when the time comes."

Dave snorted. "Might as well prep for the next game because this one is mine. I've sat for way too much this season. I want to go out with a solid performance at home."

"There's still a handful of games left." Noah pointed out. 

"Two weeks. Six games, including Thursday." Kyle stated. "Probably a start or two left for each of us, depending what Coach wants to do. You gotta think that Bryce and Brian might get one more start before playoffs."

"I don't know. Bryce has been good in the outfield and in the lineup." Noah said. 

"But he'll be taking on more responsibility on the mound next year." Kyle reminded. 

We got to the house and started to unpack. We met with Mom, Dad, and Grampa at the dinner table, where they were talking about Zeke's birthday tomorrow. We all shared laughs at the thought of tomorrow. 

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